Epic

Whilst walking in the hills one day I came upon a cave
I entered and to my surprise an old man met my gaze
His hair was white as driven snow it hung down to his waist
The lines across his wizened face bestowed a face of grace
He said to me come sit awhile and listen to my tale
Your Ancestors await for us; we must soon leave this vale

His eyes were piercing as the sun, though of the darkest jet
I felt that he was family, not someone I’d just met
Yet trust was all that he conveyed, his voice was rich and kind
And so I sat down on the floor to listen to his rhyme
He murmured words I’d never heard nor ever will again
Then suddenly he raised his arms and chanted words arcane

A flash of light lit up the cave and visions I did see
No longer was I in that cave but in past history
And all I saw was marvellous, mere words cannot explain
I lived the lives of several men, their struggles and their pain
I fought in battles eras past as though they were my own
And all the while accompanied by ancient mage of old

Their lifetimes melded into one, the battles they had fought
Were all against a sorcerer, such evil he did wrought
In dungeons depths he cast his spells enslaving man to thrall
Transforming every living thing to answer to his call
He bound the goblins and the orcs, enslaved high kings of old
He wielded power absolute and demons he controlled

His armies marched in darkest night intent upon his will
All those who would not call him Lord, he ordered to be killed
But heroes rose to take a stand they battled hard and fierce
And wizard’s lore supported man to rise and fight this curse
Elves and sages spread the word of one who was to come
A noble prince, by birthright king, who’d fight and not succumb

For prophecies had once foretold of evil’s darkest bane
But hope itself was fashioned from a child he could not slay
And though the Dark Lord and his thralls killed many noble lords
Throughout the ages Elves preserved the lineage and sword
Each generation fought and died awaiting boldest knight
Who could defeat the Darkest Lord and free them from their plight

Then came the day when prince was born but magic had revealed
Precisely where he would be born his fate the Dark Lord sealed
With incantations magical the Dark Lord cast his lore
And banished babe to future times to trouble him no more
He set a seal on arch of time; he bound the age with wards
He hid the babe from magic’s eyes expending all his lore

The cost of casting such a spell was unknown to the bane
His body vaporized to dust, though his spirit did remain
His armies vanquished one by one were driven from the land
And peace returned to middle earth though forts were built and manned
The mage revealed to everyone the Dark Lord was not dead
For magic had postponed for now the Dark Lords greatest dread

The babe was found and raised with care by gentle folk and kind
A woodsman and his pretty wife did raise him in their time
One day whilst working in the woods the boy did find a stone
It glistened as he picked it up and so he took it home
He gave it to his mother as a present for her love
And o’er the years she treasured it, her son she was proud of

But came the day she passed away, a smile still on her face
The young man buried her that day and then he left that place
He took the stone that they had loved and hung it from his neck
And asked the Gods to care for her, her spirit to respect
He wandered over distant lands, he entered Elven woods
He spoke with many learned men and learnt of ancient Gods

On visiting an elder sage his stone dropped to the ground
The leather strap, hung from his neck, had now become unbound
And as the sage espied the stone his manner became fraught
He asked him where he got the stone and if it could be bought?
The young man smiled and said good sir this stone and I won’t part
It holds a special memory; I keep it close to heart

But pray do tell what knowest thou of such a stone as this?
For never have I seen its like, such stones do not exist
I’ve wandered over hill and dale and sought to find another
I hoped to find its like once more and place it with my mother
Young man said he with gravest frown, that stone is from the past
It holds the key to mankind’s fate, we all thought it was lost

And then he told of all he knew of ancient times long past
A sword was crafted round this stone and runes of Elvish craft
Were set into the blade that day to bind the stone to sword
So precious was the blade and stone they named it their first ward
All Power came to he who held the sword and stone on high
And all the whilst he wore it, it was claimed he would not die

Whilst hunting in the woods one day the Elven king on horse
Espied a stag of silver white and chased him through the brush
The stag reared up and gored the king his antlers caught the hilt
The sword and sheaf was lost to king as stag dragged on his belt
The stag was lost and so was sword and many years did pass
When sword without the inset stone was found near woodland grass

The king had died some time before, his son now ruled as King
The sword was never used by Elves but sometimes used by men
Whenever evil chilled the land or danger was foretold
The sword was given to the one whose heart was brave and bold
Entrusted to return it after danger was no more
The sword was used throughout the age it fought in countless wars

The mage continued with his search to find the stolen son
He travelled over paths since lost and questioned everyone
Poring over tomes of wizards long into the night
And casting such enchantments that would aid him in his plight
He searched for him relentlessly ‘til one day in a wood
He met a woman dressed in rags face covered by a hood

Her foot was encased in a trap left out to catch a beast
He found a stick and levered ‘til her foot could be released
He dressed her wounds and bathed her feet and magicked up some broth
Then fed her gently asking her if she knew of Asmeroth?
Kind sir said she, old as I am, that place is long since gone
Why do you seek the place of God’s you’ll only come to harm

That may be so replied the mage but find the place I must
For hell itself can’t stop me now and though the place be cursed
I must go there and wake the God’s, their help is what I need
For they alone can answer, though they kill me for this deed
A son was stolen as a babe, he must be found once more
The fate of mankind and the Elves is riding on such lore

That prophesied so long ago that all could be undone
By letting Darkest Lord of all return without this son
The bane is growing stronger and his spirits growing flesh
His wraiths are driving armies from his homeland Karamesh
Unless the God’s can tell me where the Dark Lord hid this child
Then all shall surely perish as far more become beguiled

He raised his head in wonder as she transformed to brightest light
And heard the Goddess tell him where the boy was there that night
You passed the test of virtue and our help is your reward
The boy shall be united with the high kings Elven sword
The mage was then transported as he passed through times own arc
Awaiting for the young man he had sought to fight the Dark

The Goddess true to all she said cast back the ward of night
She opened up a portal and She drew me to her light
So when I entered and sat down all that which had been done
Allowed the mage to cast his spell for us to both return
Once back we found the Dark Lord had regained his earthly frame
And ordered all his armies to destroy the world of men

A sage with seven saffron spheres cast spells of ancient lore
And ghosts appear before our side to even up the score
My sword held high I cut and thrust ‘gainst evils darkest beasts
Enchantments crackle in the air cast by the Dark Lord’s priests
At moments when all seems in vain my sword aflame with fire
Bursts out with tongues of savage light as blue as iced sapphire

And swathes of foes all fall down dead for blessed is my blade
Made by some ancient Elvish lore to withstand Darkest Shade
Dragons breathe and eagles claw smash down on foes galore
Whilst orcs and demons made in hell are slain in their furore
Wizards, sorcerers and elves cast ancient spells of old
Dwarves stand close and fight with men as prophecy foretold

We battled on in darkest night outnumbered by the score
Determined ne’er to give the ground to Dark Lord’s hellish spoor
The Dark Lord proud joined in the fight, I met him face to face
His magic seared my very frame when struck by Dark Lord’s mace
Falling down onto my knees the Dark Lord sneered at me
You’re still a boy and not a man I’ll end your misery

He struck away the sword I held, it flew far from my sight
And then he struck a blow that others died from on that night
The stone inside my vest grew warm then blazed into the gloom
The sword and stone united and the Dark Lord saw his doom
My hand was grasping precious sword, I struck into his heart
His deathly cry resounded out across the murky dark

A flame of darkest green shot forth it fought with regal blue
His spirit fought  the magic that the sword and stone imbued
I struck again and caught his helm I cleaved his head in two
A putrid stench then filled the air so foul it made me spew
His final breath gave out his curse and those around stood dazed
But mage responded victories ours the Goddess should be praised

And as he chanted to the Gods the sky began to clear
What once was dark was turning light foul beasts began to fear
As sunlight streamed upon their backs they burned like torch aflame
Whole armies of the Darkest Lord were burnt to death that day
The prophecy of olden days fulfilled to every word
A king restored to royal throne and stone restored to sword.

The passing of the Elven Lords of Dwarves and beasts of old
Were written in the sacred texts their stories often told
Heroes all who fought that day who souls were laid to rest
Are still recalled in ancient tales remembered by the best
The mage departed so they say, although I know the truth
The Goddess took him back to her, Immortal Son Her Youth