"I never knew how much was true / In stories that grew wilder / With each night’s telling..."
 

Strangers told me tales of you, Exploits I could scarce believe Of the man who sang softly by the hearth, Or read poetry aloud on winter nights So I’d not shiver when the wind howled. I never knew how much was true In stories that grew wilder With each night’s telling, Men claiming you led the charge In battles balanced on knife’s edge, Holding back darkness with your Songs until the Lords of Light answered, Swearing to the Gods below they’d Seen you change from hawk to man, And when need was great to scout The road ahead, back again. While they spoke I closed my eyes Trying to picture your face, Battle worn, weary lines etched deeper As you sentenced Dark Lords to death, Wondering how you endured, How necessity changed such a gentle soul. These strangers sought me out With tales of light rising To conquer glowering darkness, A reminder you’d not forgotten my Pleas to send word when you could, And some stayed to court my smile While lingering over wine and table, The kiss on my hand a breath too long, Fingers brushing my arm unremarked, A test to see if I’d forgotten you. Winter stalks outside the door, I sit by the hearth singing to myself Trying not to shiver with each icy howl, Remembering smiles and nighttime whispers Before darkness became an enemy, And I will wait here for you all my life, Through hollow nights and lightless days, Though I fear you’ll never come.