The End

Deep within the hazel wood
a dyad sung her song,
and oft again a Knight began
a journey to her home.

Twirled step from knoll to grove
she danced and sang aloud,
and closer yet the Knight did walk
and lead his horse of gray.

Sparkled hair and leafin robes
she tended to her trees and land,
The Knight set out, for adventure
planned, armor, sword, bow.

While drinking from her secluded
brook, she stumbles slightly in,
the Knight sets foot into the Hazel wood
a gauntled foot in stirrup.

The dyad turns, her eyes alight
of fey mist and glowing moss,
our Knight is weary, cold and sore,
his tired horse plods along beside.

Hair like straw, loomed to silk
drapes down past her shoulders,
he sees her drift into his eyes,
and blures from joy again.

"Why have you returned to my
glade?" the dryad pleas aloud,
"To see you here." The Knight replies,
staring through his tears.

Gentle steps bring her close,
and roses fill the air,
His quickened heart, flutters the beast
and his plated fist settles the mare.

"Here i am, o' gentle One.
The rivers still quell with fear."
"My days of death are long since
fled and here i've promised mine."

She takes his arms, and leads him
down, teathering horse behind.
Despite the mail, steel and shine
he can feel her fingers warming skin.

The dryad treads through knee high water
and leads him to an island,
he steps upon, the moss covered stones,
and lies down in the grass.

"O' gentle one, your promise done,
I welcome you home again"
"Whisper not, my dryad dear,
I've little left to hear."

"Let my words then guide you here
to berth in my fair realm."
And with a sighing glance the Knight
does listen, to a tale of growing trees...

The dryad lifts up her head,
the leaves twirl around.
She takes his hands and crosses them
across his naked chest.
Slowly she sings her song
and walks along
the shores of her brook,
The Knight now fading
is changing shape,
a sprout of oak begins.

Her joy is felt throughout
the wood, Her song felt through
the wind. She has her lover
home again,
his promise filled in full.
Scralled upon a bark not far
reads:

"For the time spent here in pain,
the pleasures more I've never Known,
I promise full, my life for you,
My home, your glade, Become one."