Nissa's Ride

tanned song scroll

You begin to sing "Nissa's Ride" by the famed bard Silvyrfrost.

"Lanival's eyes were the color of gray
  Cold as the ice on the lake
  Mantled he sat on his stallion Fairstorm
  Knowing that much lay at stake.

 "Knowing that all lay at stake.

 "Mantled he sat, in a cowl of woolen silver
  And stared at the lowering sky
  Teiro's men lay across on Mereshadow's shore
  And he knew to win, men must die.

 "Knowing in war, men must die."

"Weary he played with the plans in his mind
  Two years the war had gone
  Weary as he were his soldiers in tow
  Longing with him for spring's sun.

 "Aye, longing as all for warm sun.

 "When shining from the shadows on the back of a mare
  Came a maiden with hair toss'd wild
  Elven her features, frightened her visage
  Carrying with her a bleeding child.

 "Carrying a bleeding Human child."

"'Water!' cried she, leaping from her steed.
  'Water and someplace inside.
  This child is dying, I've no time for formalities,
  And my Elven face I shall not hide.'

 "'No, my hated face I cannot hide!'

 "Lanival saw her to his own tent,
  Saw her heal the child with her hands
  Saw her bandage the wounds then turn to him
  So tired she hardly could stand.

 "So spent she barely could stand."

 "Lanival helped her to sit in a chair,
  Held a cup as instructed to her lips.
  And grateful she drank, and thanked him in Common,
  Then into sleep she slipped.

 "Aye, deep into sleep she slipped.

 "And when she's awoken she's seen the child's well
  And turn'd to face Lanival once more.
  'Nissa is my name,' she said to the proud one,
  'Fresh coming from Teiro's own shore.

 "'A place I shall go nevermore!'"

 "And her tale then she told, of how Teiro's men
  Captured the child and brought it to pains
  And how Teiro himself brought down the whip
  And Nissa at last intervened.

 "Nissa had no choice but to intervene!

 "'War may be war,' she said clear and sure,
  'And blood may indeed be war's fee,
  But children are not soldiers, save in dreams and play
  And children are all the same to me.

  'Whether Human or Elven they be!"

 "'Lady, you are wise,' said Lanival to her,
  'And the gods smile on such kindness indeed.
  It can be forgotten in times such as this....
  Pray, would you stay to remind me?

  'I feel there is much you may teach me.'

 "Nissa spake clear as ice and snow
  And said to Lanival plain,
  'I've secrets to tell, and I'll gladly join up,
  If you promise I need not see Teiro again!

  'If I do I shall be his bane!'"

 "So it was that the Maiden did join with his men,
  And brought Teiro to thundering shame
  The battle was fast, and Lanival won
  But many battles would happen again.

 "But none would e'er be the same.

 "For there is a new soldier who does not fight
  And she rides at Lanival's side
  On a mare of all white, in a cowl like the snow
  And she reminds him that not all must die.

 "That to fight, one must not always die."

The song falls into silence like a winter's day.