He Came Knocking on my Door

He came knocking on my door
asking if I wanted to join him
on an expedition to the North.
I asked him the duration
and he said it wouldn't be
longer than five seasons.

I wanted to leave quick
but my darling wouldn't let me.
I told her that if I got sick
she can say "told ya so."
We left the next Wednesday;
oh, I wish I didn't go.

We went south at first,
until we came to the mouth
of the River, where we thirst
for its water. The current sang
to us softly, calling us north.
Forever after, our ears quietly rang.

After about a week on the path,
we chanced upon a glade
where sat nymphs in a bath,
a bath of golden water.
They played harps and
I never felt me heart better.

But we were only passing through,
and so we trecked on,
never looking back or stopping to.
We arrived at the highlands
at about a fortnight away from home,
a land of stars and fallen maidens.

He looked down to the Valley below
and wondered if he were wise
to go this way, I said let's go;
oh, how I reget that so.
One night, as we lay 'neath the heavens,
a fell wind did blow.

We both caught ill and fell cold.
Death surely would have descended,
save not for the arrival of a nightingale of old.
Her knowledge of healing nursed us to health soon.
In the distance, the spies of the Northern King watched,
and the nightingale held us till high noon.

We marched up the valley
until we came upon the sea,
gray and overcast, the air so salty.
A sad sea it was, and the trees
were weeping leaves with
the onset of autumn, the birds did flee.

We walked along the coast for forty days.
The gulls became quieter as the days passed;
and we did as well, for we do as they.
Upon the horizon, a ship we gazed
with our eyes and smelled the scent
of a city just raized.

The farther north we trudged,
darker became the land.
It was as if life was begrudged
by the land of the Northern Coast.
He shot a waterfowl,
and we had a roast.

Alas! The City of the North lay
just beyond our horizon.
Reach it by the next day
he claimed. And it was on that night,
that he explained our purpose.
He said he was against the Light.

At this moment, I made a vow.
That I would kill this man,
be it in a thousand years, or now.
That I would kill this man,
and will feel no sorrow nor remorse.
I'll kill him, any way I can.

On that night still, he showed
me his black diamond,
and said as we hit the road
that it will bring either
good fortune or true love.
I knew it was neither.

We approached the city from the main gate,
which faced East towards Dawn
in order to avoid suspicion on this date.
Now, you must know that what follows
is all according to my memory,
which is leaving as my pen goes.

We took the main city road
unitl we reached the third avenue
and turned right and dropped our load
at a small tavern.
In return for a load,
we took a lantern.

Although the city had recently been beseiged,
trade continued as before,
something very peculiar I percieved.
He took me to a blacksmith's forgery,
and he handed me a beautiful blade,
he said that what's to come is gorgery.

I thought it was my chance to strike,
and as I raised the blade my soul denied my strength.
So, he took me to a brothel he thought I would like.
In those days, I took great pleasure there,
and I would lie to say I did not enjoy it.
They each had soft skin and silky hair.

He said the next day would be the day,
the day for which we trecked this whole time.
The day for which he was to pay.
The day for which everything will change,
when the Light is gone,
when Darkness will extend its range.

I acted in all my skill with delight.
And at supper, I laughed and drank.
But when he slept that night
I entered swiftly, quietly.
I took my blade and put it to his neck.
I shoved the dull blade violently.

He said not a word but only smiled.
His eyes were calm and placid,
as where mine were crazed and wild.
He bled not a drop of blood,
nor did he moan in pain.
My sweat mixed with the dirt below into mud.

I started home that night, and looked not back.
I said not a word to no soul for more than a fortnight.
My soul was ruined I believed, tortured and black.
The sea was no longer overcast, but was blue and such.
The trees were growing leaves, and were flowering.
The valley river was ebbing and flowing a great much.

In the highlands, the wild mountain thyme was blooming.
And aside the road leading to my village,
I felt a surge of love for my darling and I began swooning.
She ran into me arms and I swirled her about,
never letting her go far, for I love her more than you can imagine,
and she's the one thing in all the world I never doubt.