[Member#127]: 127.Saga Part 1

Part 1

I step out into the sunlight,
And close the door behind me,
I must find my way through this world,
This life of joy and agony.

Down the path, out of the gate,
Away from what I know,
If I leave it all behind me,
I’ll need somewhere to go.

I walk down the road,
Houses on either side,
My life as I have known it,
Left me empty inside.

I come to the end of the street,
To my right there is a track,
The left’s the same, but I know this:
There’ll be no turning back.

I look again, left and right,
Which way, I can’t decide,
My heart and soul say different things,
And so, too, does my mind.

I take a chance and choose the right,
The path does bend and wind,
Taking me to my future,
My old life left behind.

The winding path continues,
A forest looms ahead,
It looks so dark beneath the boughs,
I now feel fear and dread.

I reach the gnarled and ancient trees,
I step into their shade,
I pick my way between the trunks,
Becoming more afraid.

At every step I think I hear,
Some fearsome, deadly beast,
A Jabberwock or dragon that,
Would eat me as a feast.

And then, I see a creature move,
Mere metres out in front,
It looks at me and sees its prey,
And so begins the hunt.

I pull my dagger from its sheath,
The creature starts to run,
It comes at me as quickly as,
A bullet from a gun.

My movements are like lightning,
I quickly step aside,
As the creature runs right by me,
I cut into its hide.

It falls beneath my shining blade,
And lays still on the floor,
I’ve slain one of my demons,
But there are many more.

I leave the body where it lies,
And continue moving on,
The trees are getting thicker now,
And the sunlight’s almost gone.

I look up to the canopy,
And see a ray of light,
A patch of sun in contrast with,
This forest’s endless night.

Then suddenly, not far ahead,
I hear a soothing sound,
A river running through the woods,
Across this tainted ground.

The river soon comes into sight,
I stand beside its bank,
The water within is pure and clear,
Though all else here is dank.

I crouch and drink the liquid,
It fills me with its strength,
It gives me hope for this strange quest,
No matter what the length.

As I rest by the water’s edge,
I hear behind a tree,
“Oh brave one with uncertain heart,”
A voice speaks out to me.

I turn to face the heav’nly sound,
And see a maiden fair,
Adorned in robes of finest silk,
And luscious flowing hair.

She sits down right beside me,
“Why are you here?” she asks,
“I see into your heart and yet,
Can’t comprehend your task.”

“My life was empty,” I begin,
“Why is it I exist?
My life must have a meaning, but,
It’s shrouded in the mist.”

The maiden sits and listens,
Then sits and thinks a while,
She looks at me and as she does,
I think I know her smile.

“Your journey is a noble one,
You wish to know yourself,”
Her fairness makes my heart beat fast,
With beauty like an elf.

“Continue on,” she says to me,
“You’ll find yourself one day,
But on your own would be too hard,
I’ll help along the way.”

But with these words she disappears,
Before my very eyes,
I’m sure that I have seen her face,
Without that silk disguise.

I walk across the stepping-stones,
And leave the stream behind,
I make my way through thick, dark trees,
The maiden on my mind.

The time is dragging on and on,
My muscles start to ache,
The night must be approaching soon,
So I can’t take a break.

Then suddenly, the trees thin out,
I spy the red sunset,
I quicken, then I see ahead,
The large dark silhouette.

I slow my pace again, and creep,
To make sure it can’t hear me,
The creature’s over eight feet tall,
Close up I see it clearly.

The behemoth’s not noticed me,
So should I fight or run?
This monster represents my doubts,
It hurts my heart for fun.

At such close range, I feel its strength,
Though it’s not seen me yet,
I close my eyes again in thought,
Do I run or face the threat?

Inside my head, I hear a voice,
I’m sure I’ve heard before,
The maiden’s words speak out to me,
And warm me to my core.

“To stay and fight this enemy,
Although you have a choice,
Will rid you of your heart’s great doubt.”
Where have I heard that voice?

As I move even closer still,
My foot falls on a stick,
It snaps beneath my shoe, and makes,
A loud and echoing click.

The behemoth looks down on me,
With red and fearsome eyes,
Though human-shaped outside,
In it, no humanity lies.

It draws a fist back to its head,
And thrusts it to the floor,
I dodge it by just half an inch,
And it lets loose its roar.

I draw my blade, still stained with blood,
And cut the creature’s arm,
It screams again in rage and seeks,
To do me greater harm.

For what it has in size and strength,
It greatly lacks in speed,
I run around it swiftly,
With my knife I make it bleed.

It keeps on roaring from the pain,
But isn’t fast enough,
My blade cuts through its flesh, although,
Its skin is hard and tough.

After a while, I’m tired out,
The ground is soaked with blood,
I try to run around but can’t,
I slip in this red mud.

I fall to the floor, but as I do,
The creature falls down too,
Its lifeblood all upon the floor,
Its death is surely due.

I stand and look upon the corpse,
Embodiment of my doubt,
Encased inside a monstrous shell,
Now with its life snuffed out.

I notice on the behemoth’s chest,
A scar of strange design,
I cut at it, I don’t know why,
Right down the jagged line.

Inside the large chest cavity,
I see a treasure chest,
I pull it out and open it,
With curious interest.

Inside the box, before my eyes,
I see a beauteous sight,
A gem of darkest black, and yet,
It gives off shining light.

I put the jewel in my pocket,
And leave the forest’s shade,
The sun has almost set, and so,
The light will quickly fade.

I see ahead, upon a hill,
A building at the crest,
I walk towards it hoping,
I can stop there for a rest.

I reach the building on the hill,
I knock upon its door,
There’s no reply, so I walk in,
And see the note on the drawer.

‘Welcome, brave one,’ the writing says,
‘Please do enjoy your stay,
I’ve cast a spell upon this place,
To keep your foes away.’

It isn’t signed, and yet I know,
The maiden left that note,
I walk upstairs to find a bed,
My mind on what she wrote.

I find the bedroom easily,
First door up on the right,
I lay upon the double bed,
Exhausted from the fight.

I fall asleep so rapidly,
Into a slumber deep,
I feel refreshed, I feel relaxed,
In this enchanted sleep.