Peri'el's Song

"Peri'el's Song", by Saesealm Faoilean.

"Listen...

"Elanthians hear

the tale often told

How the world we love

weathered great woes

The Immortals conjoined

to keep from the cold

The wide world

with its wondrous moons,

The strong sun itself

safe from spoil."

"Their courage count great

their efforts immense

Guardians of all peoples

guide to this day

The wyrd of the world

safe for a while.

"Each played his part:

hear now of Peri'el's."

"Soft slept in a cave,

in a cradle cavern

Peri'el counted her crystal

as it formed for the world

Cocooned in a crevice,

Peri'el dwelled

Surrounded by beauties

unborn to the world."

"Drew delight in the colors

and crystalline shapes,

Infinitely sweet

she sang to the earth

Coaxing forth song-shaped

pieces of joy

Pyrite and diamonds,

idocrasse, cerussite,

Tourmaline, celandine,

Hav'roth's toys."

"Then came the Dragon....

"Moved on the surface

the shape of sound

Wings o'er the world,

like a sigh in the trees

A sound-storm gathered,

as the Dragon descended.

Swiftly the fire-drake

sought fuel for Its heart

Cracked open the heavens,

blotted the stars."

"Its moon-shell falling

plummeting down

Elanthia flooded.

The Immortals amazed

Called forth to battle

kindled to war

The skies scorched

Elanthia flamed

All burning in battle

the Dragon came."

"Then came the Dragon....

"War-wrath of Truffenyi,

stirred by the scorch-storm,

Immortals sword-swinging

a terrible toil

To wrestle the world

from the dragon-devourer.

A week they warred

weary but willful,

The fire still unquenched,

the Dragon unquelled."

"The battle abated,

the Dragon still lived.

Weary the Dragon,

weary the warriors

Many were worried

the world itself died.

Phelim angered

ambushed the Dragon

Sanded Its eyes."

"Then slept the storm-worm,

"Though the Dragon was bound,

disaster was dealt,

The World was bereft,

fire drained to its depth."

"Peri'el warrior,

eyeless and useless

Crippled in combat,

no rune could restore,

No magic remake her,

no salve should save her.

Endured to endure

the dark world's death.

So softly she sang,

singing she swept

Her hair from her face

and single, pale eye."

"Peri'el pointed --

the silent serpent

Would warm the world

with Its wing.

Clearly she cried

in a voice that could vibrate

The earth itself

to order and shape,

'Bury the beast

in the heart of the earth

'Let Its fire

return what it took!'"

"A new lair they gave It,

the Dragon they covered

In a cold cavern

Peri'el found

In the heart of the earth

its heart It became

The hot-serpent slept

as Peri'el sang."

"Phelim's sands she scattered

swift if It stirred,

Lullabye lured

the Dragon to lay

Slumbering still

It sleeps to her voice,

Her voice clear

as the quartz she once made."

"She sings It the heavens

she sings It the soil

She sings It the wonders

buried below

She sings It the stars

faint but still falling

She sings the fire of her heart

and her soul."

"Thus sleeps the Dragon....

"Put your ear to this shell,

thus Peri'el soothes It

It slumbers and warms us

we rest on Its wing."

"Listen oh children

she sings to It still

In the breathing sleep

of a babe

Or a loved one,

in a sea-shell

Or shush of the sea,

you might hear

How Peri'el put aside

singing bright stones....

"To sing soft the heart of the warm world."