Song of Hrormir

Hrormir 
Son of Hrorgar 
Summoned to the Court of Vjindak, 
Son of Vjinmore, King of Evensnow.

"Mighty caster of magic, 
I charge thee to go to Aelfendor, 
For its hoary Warriors do threaten my Land 
And bring forth their cousin Demons 
To terrify my People." 
Hrormir 
Son of Hrorgar 
Heard the Words of Vjindak Evensnow.

"By Icestaff, 
Surely I would help thee 
But I have already a Quest to drink 
Twelve Flagons of Mead in one Hour, 
And then to bed four Wenches, 
Twice each. 
So I must with grace decline." 
The King he did not smile 
At Hrormir and his jolly Spirit.

"By thine Honor 
Must thou aidest my Cause 
For must thou takest up the Sword 
Of thy Companion Darfang 
Who took the Quest and failed." 
Hrormir laughed.

"Now I know thou jest. 
My boon Mate Darfang wouldst not fail. 
There be no finer Bladesman. 
If thou chargest him, he wouldst not fall."

"I did not say he fell. 
He joined the Dark Kings of Aelfendor 
And by doing so dishonored 
Himself and thee, his Friend."

Hrormir could not believe the Words, 
And yet, he knew Eversnow 
Didst not lie. 
So for twenty Days and three rodeth he 
To the Land of Night, the Kingdom of Fear, 
Where the Peasants ever carried Candles 
Knowing what Evil awaiteth them 
Should they stray beyond the Glow. 
The Sovereigncy of three Dark Kings: 
Aelfendor. 
There, Torch in Hand, didst Hrormir 
Pass through haunted Countryside 
And frightened Villages, 
And through the black Gates 
Of the blacker Castle of Aelfendor. 
The three Dark Kings didst sneer 
At the sight of mighty Hrormir 
And summoned they their Champion 
Darfang the Blade.

"My boon Companion!" 
Hrormir called in the Hall of Night.

"I dare not trust my Eyes, 
For then I wouldst believe 
That thou hast joined with Evil, 
And turned thy Way from Honor 
And Brotherhood!"

"Hrormir!" 
Darfang the Blade didst cry.

"If thou dost not go now, 
One of us must die, for I hate thee!" 
But Hrormir was battle ready, 
And in the echoing Halls of Night 
The Blade of Darfang 
And the Staff of Hrormir 
Didst strike again and yet again. 
Mighty Warriors and Mages both, 
The boon Companions now Foes, 
Shook Mundus with their War. 
They might have fought for a Year 
If there were Sun in Aelfendor 
To mark Time, 
And either Hrormir or Darfang 
May verily have won. 
But Hrormir saweth through the Dark 
The Tears in the Eyes of his former Friend, 
And then he saweth the Shadow of Darfang 
Wert not his own. 
And so with Icestaff, he did strike 
Not Darfang, but his Shadow, which cried.

"Hold, Mortal Man!"

The Shadow becameth the Hag, 
Bent and twisted, in her Cloak and Hood. 
From her faceless Shadows, she hissed.

"Mortal Man called Hrormir 
The Soul of thy boon Companion 
Is my Plaything, 
But I will take thine in trade, 
For though ye both have strong Arms, 
Thou hast the more clever Mind 
Which my Sons the Dark Kings need 
For a Champion of Aelfendor." 
Hrormir the brave didst not take a Breath 
Or pause before he boldly said.

"Shadowy Hag, release Darfang, 
And thou mayst use me as thou will." 
The Hag didst laugh and freed Darfang.

"To save thine Honor this thou hast done, 
But now thou must be without Honor 
Mortal Man, as the Champion 
Of the Dark Kings, my Heirs of Gray Maybe, 
Thou must help them divide Aelfendor, 
And love me, 
Thy Shadowy Hag and thy Mistress well."

For his loss of Honor, 
And his dear Friend's Sacrifice, 
Noble Darfang prepared to take his Dagger 
And plunge it in his good Heart, 
But Hrormir stayed his Brother's Hand and whispered.

"No, boon Companion, 
Wait for me at the Village Banquet Hall." 
And then did Darfang the Blade leave the Castle 
While Hrormir took the withered Claw 
Of the Hag, and pressed it to his Lips.

"Shadowy Hag, to thee I pledge 
To only honor thy black Words 
To turn my back on Truth 
To aid thy Dark Kings' Ambition 
To divide their Inheritance fairly 
To love thee 
To think thee beautiful." 
Then to the Chamber in the Heart of Night 
Hrormir and the Hag did retire 
Kissed he there her wrinkled Lips 
And her wrinkled, sagging Breasts, 
For ten Days and Nights and three did Hrormir 
And his Icestaff 
Battle thus.

Then Sweet Kynareth blew honeyed Winds 
O'er the Hills and Forest Glens of Aelfendor, 
And the Caress of warm blooded Dibella 
Coaxed the Blossoms to wanton Display 
So that Aelfendor became a Garden 
Of all the Senses. 
The frightened Servants of the Dark Kings 
Woke to find there was naught to fear 
And through the once dark Streets of the Village 
Came the Cries of Celebration. 
In the Banquet Hall of the Village 
Hrormir and his boon Companion Darfang 
Embraced and drank of rich Mead. 
The Shadowy Hag too was smiling, 
Sleeping still in her soft Bed, 
Until the morning Sun touched her naked Face 
And she awoke, and saw All, 
And knew All saw her. 
And she cried out: 
"Mortal Man!"

Night fell fast upon the Land 
As the Hag flew into the Banquet Hall 
Casting blackest Darkness in her Wake 
But all the Celebrants still could see 
Her Anger 
In her monstrous Face 
And they shook with Fear. 
The Hag had said the Kingdom was 
To be divided among her Heirs. 
But Aelfendor had been kept whole 
While her Children divided, 
Drawn and quartered. 
Hrormir was mightily amused. 
He swallowed his Laughter 
In his Mead, 
For none should laugh outright 
At the Daedra Lord Nocturnal. 
Without her gray Cowl of shadowed Night, 
Her hideous Face forced the Moons 
To hide themselves. 
Hrormir the mighty did not quail.

"Wherest be thine Hood, shadowy hag?"

"Mortal Man hast taken it from me unaware. 
When I awoke, my Face unmasked, 
My Kingdom cast into the Light, 
My Dark King Heirs in Pieces cast, 
And here, my Champion smiles. 
Yet in truth, thou kept thy Promise truly, 
To never keep thy Promise true."

Hrormir 
Son of Hrorgar 
Bowed to the Hag, his Queen.

"And evermore, 
'Til thou releaseth me, will I serve thee so."

"A clever Mind in a Champion 
Is a much overvalued Trait." 
The Hag released Hrormir's Soul 
And he released her Hood. 
And so in the Light of darkest Dark, 
She left Aelfendor evermore. 
And after drinking twelve Flagons of Mead, 
And bedding four Wenches 
Twice each, 
Did Darfang return to Eversnow 
With Hrormir 
Son of Hrorgar.