Lullaby on the Wind

By: Sancero Posted on: January 30, 2006

What follows is the versified account of a Rajamalan Paladin's tragic encounter
with the citizens (and flora) of Caer Witrin as adapted from his own
progressively deranged record of a story he heard circulating among the
townsfolk.

-Lullaby on the Wind-
~ a song for Caer Witrin

A bold young knight, adventure bound, sets out to claim his fate.
He lusts for fame and glory, for the thrill of daring quests.
His feet lead him to a mountain peak, a cold and snowy place
where he finds not just a damsel, but a village in distress.

The archers greet him curtly with no more than simple nods,
and there amid the snowbound shops a raucous dancer whirls.
The knight looks on and trudges by, his eyes fixed straight ahead,
to meet this dark-eyed vixen with the flowing sable curls.

He finds her making snowballs with the children in the street.
She takes his arm, arrests his gaze, and gently cups his chin.
A tiny bloom she tucks into his palm and laughs aloud.
She whispers, "Try the blossoms," with a wry and knowing grin.

There within his hand the tiny fragrant blossom rests.
He watches as she leaps away; her laugh hangs in the air;
the children all run off to stir up mischief someplace else.
The knight still stares at open palm, at the blossoms lying there.

At last he makes his fatal choice and tastes the bitter bloom.
At once the cold invades him and begins to fog his mind.
Frozen visions dance before his eyes as in a dream...
He thinks he hears a lullaby, drifting on the wind...

"Sleep, my baby, sleep. And maybe
dream away your sorrows.
With this lullaby I pray
that all your darkened yesterdays
awaken to a bright and blessed tomorrow."

The sun turns in and darkness spreads across the snowy lanes.
Another night descends upon the tired town at last.
But still the addled knight remains, his ears so keenly tuned
as he listens for that melody, that whisper from the past.

"Sleep my baby, sleep. And maybe
pa will find his way.
The night is just beginning, dear.
Ma's with you now; you've naught to fear.
I promise he'll return before the light of day."

The footfalls of a leopard echo close behind the knight.
Its piercing eyes explore his frigid frame from snout to tail.
The rumble of its growl sends pangs of fear throughout his heart,
but still he stands and listens for the mother's tortured wails.

"Sleep my baby, sleep. And maybe
we'll be left alone.
A creature prowls outside our door,
but here we're safe. Love, cry no more.
Stay close to mother now, my dear, and cease your moans."

A pallid figure stands before the knight with tragic eyes.
She peers into his countenance and probes his tortured soul.
The icy wind howls on and makes his fur stand up on end,
and yet he listens still to hear the ghostly song unfold.

"Sleep my baby, sleep. And maybe
dawn will come again.
Your father's here, but you are gone.
My dearest child, what have I done?
Forever shall I bear the weight of inadvertent sin."

Slowly dawn returns to thaw the village from its sleep.
The knight looks on again with frozen tears upon his cheeks.
He leaves behind that tragic town and the dark-eyed vixen too.
Though he found not what he sought, this broken knight no longer seeks.

----------

Note: The knight's journal contained nothing beyond his documentation of this
event, aside from a collection of random scriblings and unintelligible poetry.
It is presumed he vanished into obscurity after losing his mind.

~ S.V.