Kevin's Watch

I would like to introduce a longer poem than Unbound, which also has a place in the world I have been creating. Within the framework of that world, the Lay of Lihlal is the most famous and enduring poem from the ancient days, which is still considered by bards one of the most important, if not the most important poem and story of all time. Within my world, the Lay of Lihlal is composed of a poem, which follows and which is the part bards learn to sing, and a story in prose, which is the part learnt by storytellers, and which explores the themes of the poem in greater detail. I hope you enjoy it!

Just as a clarification: the story of the Lay is the story of a mortal warrior who falls in love for a mermaid on the shores of the now-vanished realm of Koyuref. She held the Ring of Talmaeril, "of which no mortal hand could create the equal". What happens next is explained in the poem.

LAY OF LIHLAL, Part I

Fair Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where dragon flies and griffon soars,
And azure sea past mortal sight,
As deep and calm as darkest night.

I saw her dancing, amidst the wave,
Her aching song all men could save;
Her eyes as blue as ocean deep,
I thought I dreamed, fall'n asleep.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Great Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where 'nicorn roams and eagle soars,
And on thy shores, my heart was born
An' I first felt love's sweet thorn.

In endless days of twilight bliss
We held each other, nothing amiss,
Mermaid and man, fated to love
Kingdom of sea and world above.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Dark Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where panther prowls and raven soars,
And in thy depths a thirst was born
Till all the world and us would drown.

And all unseen, darkness crept in,
And stole from me what could have been;
My heart and Lihlal's sweet embrace,
And all was dark without her grace.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Bleak Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where grim death lurks and vulture soars,
And sun had fled from cloudy sky
Mourning her loss, before it die.

I wept and knew my heart's lone quest,
That naught on earth would now be bless'd
Till darkness's pall cover'd the land
My Lihlal's ring on his pale hand.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Grim Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where wolves hunt and shadow soars,
And broken stone crumbles to dust
When all is dark and broken trust.

Through lands of ash I made my way
In endless night, in shadow's sway,
Till its abode I alone could see,
And heard its voice of cackling glee.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

LAY OF LIHLAL, Part II

Red Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where crimson flows and spirit soars,
And in those halls of pain and woe
I fought the dark lurking below.

Its hand was pale, its face as white,
Its cloak on lands, bringer of blight,
And on its finger, her ring did gleam
With evil light and a broken dream.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Worn Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where evil falls and white dove soars,
And in the midst of darkest hate
Even the dark met its grim fate.

And from its hand I pried the ring,
And in my heart my soul did sing,
A song of loss and deepest sorrow
For afterwards was no tomorrow.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Sad Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where shadows linger and seagull soars,
And all alone, facing the sea,
I cried my grief on bowed knee.

Her ring I took from my own hand,
Grieving on the clear white sand;
I saw its gem, and it did shine
With promise kept and light divine.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Oh Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where dreams are born and desire soars,
I held the ring, and heard her songs
And saw the seas where she belongs.

And all ablaze a sacred fire,
On ring and gem heard my desire;
To wave it came, and gave her breath
Stole Lihlal's soul from claws of death.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
Who all alone came from the sea.

Old Koyuref, on vanished shores,
Where I was born and my heart soars,
Grief's shadow left my aching breast
And she and I knew we were bless'd.

For all we saw and lived through
Led us to sail into the blue,
The endless ocean of our dreams
And joyous Talmaeril's ring's gleams.

And in my dream, she came to me,
And with her words, she set me free,
To love and give my heart to she
With whom I went into the sea.