Part II: Lilyeth

(Day 27 of 1st moon. Year 190)

“The poets of this castle love tell tales like this to hear,
“As how it came that she should tame the beauty strong and sheer.
“For in the light of morning bright, he brought fair girl to rest.
“Upon his bed he laid her head, as if she were his guest.
“Then to the wall he took his call, proclaiming loss of king.
“But he was made, as all men bade, the ruler, as they sing.
“So queen he took, and wife forsook; beauty over law,
“And so once more the devil's whore took heart in pretty claw.
“The kingdom fell, though none could tell the enemy did bed
“Inside their queen as beauty gleam like blood in satins red.
“She laid with king, and so did bring a prince into this land.
“The boy was pure, and to be sure, he had a gracious hand.
“The king did play but every day with prince and queen so fair.
“Their joys complete and love so sweet: A happy triple pair.
“She was faithful to king in soul, turning all men away.
“But wives were not, due to their lot, inclined for queen to pray.
“Husbands once true forgot of you, liked work more than your breast.
“If to hearth came, always the same, not you, but for their rest.
“Tears shed alone on grinding stone mixed flour into dough.
“The loneliness of emptiness maids' hearts did overthrow.
“Now all children were gaunt and thin, and mostly fatherless.
“Women pregnant were mostly spent, no man to them caress.
“Yet so happy the royal three they noticed not the pain.
“Their love intense, much like a fence, in ecstasy to chain.
“The queen had found a love that bound, so she now free of spite.
“In fact each day she found a way to make her soul more bright.
“Eternal youth and growing truth more made the king merry,
“So why should he still need to see burdens maidens carry?
“Gretchen so sweet did claim defeat; with daughter born, she died.
“Husband she had, now king so glad, and he for her not cried.
“Child given to now live in as daughter to the queen.
“With joy received like she believed this girl was hers to wean.
“Same moment born, one joy in scorn, these twins met months apart,
“But from that day, all people say, 'Their love grew from the start.' ”

But hush! A sound.
Oh were they found?
Dared they not to breathe.
She held his hand.
A small twin band:
Girl with boy on sleeve.
Yet nothing showed,
So hearts now slowed,
So they from there did leave.
Now once again
She took the pen
Of voice, a tale to weave.

“Three years did pass, then four and five, now older, like her brother,
“But something in the stride of time forgot to take her mother.
“As children grow in body, mind, these two followed such course,
“And she did learn the trick of blade along with mounting horse.
“A man there was who spent his days standing on the green,
“Always with face turned toward the sky to glimpse the fairest queen.
“Like thus she found to beg his help in learning steps and steel.
“She was so short he bent his head even while he did kneel.
“ 'Young lass, you are a pretty thing. Why learn the art of death?
“ 'But if you must, tell me your name.' I said, ''Tis Lilyeth.'
“ 'Good name,' quoth he, and with one swoop, his shoulders I did ride,
“And then onto the Armory, we two went right inside.
“From the treasures there safe kept he let me choose a blade
“With diamond studded silver, and that for wood did trade.
“ 'Too sharp,' said he, 'but have when skills enough you've learned.
“ 'I promise that will be before the age of six you've turned.'
“So from that day we met to play at meeting as in war.
“He taught me tricks and proper skill, his mind a treasure store.
“To stab like thus, or slash like so, and dodge and parry too.
“And so I mastered knife and blade, the art of war most true.
“To home he often took me, his wife there I did meet.
“She knew my past and history, real mother and lost heat.
“I heard from her the fall of king, and loss of husbands dear.
“She also said he had returned now that I was here.
“And as father with your mother I saw them at their play.
“ 'Love makes us into foolish things,' they used to laugh and say.
“And here I learned the art of scribe, the secrets runes can tell.
“I learned the past's deceptions, and for what men's souls sell.
“A child's simple hatred now harbored in my heart.
“My mother died in agony; our mother played a part.
“And so I looked for opportune the deal in vengeance quick.
“My mother if she be ageless would bleed with dagger prick.
“Events would come, oh little one, before I would succeed.
“A king across the water, to take this castle speed.
“His ships and soldiers plenty surrounded this our town.
“With twenty-two and twenty the gate came crashing down.
“At first she would not meet him, knowing eternal charms,
“But husband king did prod her, and bear her in his arms.
“And when the king of Wog-tari saw her, this perfect gem,
“He turned and took his men away, no more to hear of them.
“The purest love that king beheld; desires from him fled,
“And so the king and queen returned to their marriage bed.
“The gates remained in ruin so all who would pass by
“Would know that none would take her, for men would rather die.
“I should have seen the subtle change, the eyes a different wet,
“But I was blind in my resolve, my will and soul were set.
“I see that now the men were home, the tears were ones of joy,
“That change had come to everyone, but memory is coy.
“Bitterness remembered, and tales of pain and woe,
“Thus changes I just couldn't see, and only hatred sow.
“A year did pass, and thus I six received my knife to bear,
“And his wife in her goodness made tunic that I wear.
“The blade did glisten bitingly. I reveled in the gift.
“Thought of every grudge I held then from me did lift.
“That day I was so joyous. Our parents praised us both.
“That night before I sleeping, I gave myself an oath.
“With love so great for king and queen, I swore them both to guard,
“Not knowing in my youthfulness this task would be too hard.
“I woke last night from horrid dream: Gretchen as she died.
“She pleaded for my vengeance, her blood still on my side.
“As I was still a baby I could but swear I one day would.
“She now woke me with her presence; 'twas time to make it good.
“I slipped into this tunic, and took up naked knife,
“Then padded to their bedroom, he with his naked wife.
“They two asleep, she slept on him, her back looked soft and white.
“Stealthy approached them, I death to strike tonight.
“Silently slipped in the steel, more silently slid out.
“Her blood stained red their marriage bed, and now the time to doubt.
“And thus today we fled away, for death did strike again.
“The king murdered without mercy. The jealous had long been.
“And now with beauty draining with every bloodied drop,
“The men, rash minds returned, his reign did quickly stop.
“So guard us now, oh gods, as we from here make haste,
“And try to cross the barrenness that makes up marshy waste.”

And so they go,
Driven like snow
Before a gale unseen.
Both children clad
In sorrows sad
And garments surely mean.