The Legend
There was a proud and noble stag
Who in Shadow Wood was born
And there he grew and there he met
And loved a unicorn
He served her long, he served her well
He served her whole and part
Until one night in Shadow Glade
He told her all his heart
She did not mock, she did not laugh
But softly told him nay
He did not grieve, but chose to leave
And plotted to betray
He sought out then King Garr's men
His words were cold and blunt:
"Sentry hosts, desert your posts"
"I offer you a hunt."
King Garr's men were duty-bound
To guard the wood from fear
The king in pride set sword aside
To bargain with the deer
"There is no hunt for me" said he
"Of any creature born"
"Unless I could in Shadow Wood"
"Hunt and kill the unicorn"
"None know so well where she may dwell"
"As I who did her will"
"If you will heed, then I will lead"
"And you will have your kill"
But one guard forewarned the king:
"This hunt is evil starred"
"For those with arms and potent charms"
"Against who we must guard"
"No more will wait with eyes of hate"
"And souls and hearts of gall"
"But purge the wood of light and good"
"And, Gods, forgive us all"
Still Garr boasts:
"Step down, my hosts"
"And hear the hunting horn"
"Let men invade both wood and glade"
"We hunt the unicorn!"
The stag led on from dusk till dawn
From sunset into morn
And in the shade of Shadow Glade
Betrayed the unicorn
She spoke to him, her voice was grim:
"What have you done for pride?"
"You know your destiny"
"And yet you still turn aside"
"You would betray me to my death"
"And forsake your vow"
"Then servitude lent without consent"
"Is all that you will do now"
She touched him twice with her horn
And there he fell
And rose a unicorn
The guards have fled their trusting land
All undefended lies
And through the wood intruders ride
With darkness in their eyes
Without alarms they practice charms
That drive away the light
And Shadow into Darken Wood
Is made this evil night
And, afterward, with sword and spear
And horse and hound
They hunted Garr's men
And ran them into the ground
The king was slain
His corpse was lain
Amoung his dying men
But they were told to rise and hunt again
For every wraith who breaks his faith
Must wander without cease
And, cold, must perform
What he did warm
And never rest in peace
So every night the stag betrays
The love he could not keep
And king and host desert their post
To hunt and never sleep
And so they shall betray and hunt
Until the day they show
That they somehow fulfill the vow
They broke so long ago
The shadows in the wood are now plain
And mingle now with light
They flow and play with light by day
And dance with moon at night
From Darken Wood has Shadow Wood
Been granted it's release
Those killed in vows fulfilled
Have finally been granted peace
**SilentBlade**
