Laments of a Wanderer
Written by Arethene Darkwound
...
Those vast surroundings I must travel
Were daunting as I turned my head
The span of the land that I must search
To raise her from her eternal bed
...
The sunlight faded, the wind dispersed
From those high cliffs the shadows loomed
How I longed to escape from that place
And return to my land where flowers bloomed
...
So alone, so desperate to halt
I collapsed to my knees at the edge of a lake
I tried to be aware of the world all around
Never off guard lest I make a mistake
...
When I slept, I dozed with my sword in my hand
As I ate, I kept watch on the sky
Though I thought once perhaps I was strong
That empty place caused me to cry
...
At times it got to be too much for me to take
The death of a giant, a long terrifying fall
The sight of her lifeless body on the pedestal
How could the gods expect me to handle it all?
...
The sand of the desert that clung to my back
The dusted wind that whipped my face
I found cool, calm shelter in the oasis nearby
A momentary reprieve from that race
...
Still I was alone
Just me and my horse
My only friend left
Until fate took its course...
...
Ah, my sweet friend from that other life
On you bravely bore me
Though you resented me at times
You loved me, I could see
...
The dust of this land had left your coat dull
The strains of your work left their trace
Just as my hair faded grayer each day
Though with you it was not the same case
...
My poor friend, I had worked you too hard
Pushing you endlessly on
You galloped swift and strong for me
But now, my dear horse, you are gone...
...
I can remember the leaps you would take
The way you would rush back in
In the heat of a battle, if I called your name
You were there to help me win
...
The sadness of that land pressed in upon me
With only you to chase it away
You damn faithful horse, never leaving my side
Staying with me day after day
...
Racing across that final threshold to the end
Time seemed to move too fast
When the first block fell victim to that abyss
I knew that moment was your last...
...
I ask myself now, in tortured tones
Why oh why must I lose my oldest friend?
Was it a worthwhile trade for her life?
Was her life worth Agro's end?