Twas in the days when Kael was young, before the shadows ceased to be.
When sun and moon and stars above gave light to land and light to sea.
When night air, hummed with lutes and pipes, and sounds of feet on wooden floors
clapped like thunder to the tunes and all who danced called out for more.
Kael sang and played the fife, a handsome lad, with girls all smiles,
and worked the days on Father’s farm, herding sheep and mending stiles
So it was no chance of fate, that Friday found him at the dance,
calling steps, playing light, placed young and old in music’s trance.
So happy was this hamlet’s folk, that word of such spread far across the land,
From the cliffs above the sea thru valleys and up the mountain side again.
And so it fell upon the ears of all that joy and peace could there be found,
and as with all that exude life, there are those who’d take it down.
Far to the North, so far away, that Shishire folks had placed no name,
were castles built of solid ice, where the cruel Ice King held his reign.
“I’ll send my son, to see first hand, this verdant land and wondrous times
and having none here claim this day that if tis true will make it mine.
Eron was the Ice King’s son, and held no love where none exists
but as the King commanded such he filled the duties of a Prince.
“Go, and cross the Southern lands and find this place, see it’s gleam
and gather things that I would know; return and tell it all to me.
What is this joy; what is this peace? It angers me to think it true.
Go, find these peasants, seek them out, I await the word from you.
And music? Dancing? Merriment? I’ll strip them all from out their hand
and place my mantle o’er their village, silence, cold will fill their land.”
And thus, did Eron set for Shilshire, riding on a ice gray steed,
hooves clicked upon the frozen bridge, to the bidding of the King
Night came soon as Eron rode, towards the borders of the shire
to reap the wind and ice rain down serving at the Kings desire.