Five years hiding
preparing and binding
reading and writing
Five years bent over old crumbling scrolls
weaving old words into wards
molding spells of fire and lightning

Five years  plotting underground
in an unending round
of clandestine sabotage
with knives and lies

Five years to find men and women,
willing to help him atone
and the tyrant to overthrow
Five years to forge
them the swords and axes
shields and armour
that would crash and crack,
splinter and shatter edge to edge
for the sake of
his soul

Five years to the day,
the bells and trumpets rang
The horns were blown
and drums beaten
The earth was shaken
as the host marched forth

Five years to the day
the banners were flown
and in defiance of the dark king
the white pennants bore a fiery eye

At its head hooded
strode a man with a glowing staff
unbent unbroken and unbowed
proud, determined and uncowed
ready now at last

Over taken on foreign shores
the Once-King was caught,
brought in chains
before the Terrible Foe
seated up high
on a twisted mockery
of his throne of old

With a cold smile and
eyes shining with an unholy glow
the Foe spoke soft and slow.

Did you think you could flee?
that you wouldn't have to see
Your towers toppled
and your fountains smashed
Your works in ruin
and your power stilled?
Your kingdom of lights is done!

Your crown is on my head,
but your death is not yet
I shall see to it
that you live in regret
Till your dying breath.

His eyes they snuffed out
and his robe they tore,
branded upon his forehead
was a sign of woe.
His body to be broken
and his mind set aflame
guilt wracked
and shame flayed
to be shackled in the dark
locked away from life
never to see daylight again.

Chained to a dungeon wall
his eyes forever shut
Bathed in shadows and torch-lit glow
he brooded over all he had brought low,
glory and its gains, the price for pride
that led to this shame
He read by the light of inner eyes
words he thought he had mastered.
Could it be that he had lied?

Reforged in fires of failure
And reborn to serve as a sword
his pride to serve only one purpose
to ensure that he would someday
understand and atone.

Ten years to the day
he slew his guards
and made his escape
And in the place of his eyes,
there burned a terrifying flame.

Passing over mountains
and forging over fords
slipping though forests
filled with dappled shapes,
the Coward-King makes his escape

His heart is beating
and his mind is fleeing
As behind Him
burns all he has ever known

His kingdom ablaze
His cities razed
Fields salted
books torn and statues melted
His people fighting in the ruins
dying ,trying,
to let this not be the end

Flee Coward-King
as your nature becomes known
as the mailed fist torches your own.
**** whats been done!
the Great Enemy has come!
the dread Master
of a dark and terrible horde
and his servants seek you
with ****** swords

Dark Knights on vile steeds
Grim men of black heart
Exiles and renegades
each eager to do his part

To bring you low
to make sure you reap
what you've sown
Can you hear the hounds a baying?
Neath the trees swaying
was that the sound of horses neighing?
The shadows playing
Your wits derailing,

Coward-King,
Your fortress walls have failed
and your flight will be to no avail

Songs of courage
battle hymns and chants
Songs of defiance
echo in fortresses of stone
Wards woven in secret
to give the walls their strength
Lattices of power placed over the hearth
to keep it sound

But his misstep
led to the fall, and
his Ill-written runes
brought the towers down,
his world broke
in fire,  ruin ,pain and rage

There were no songs of safety
as the wards shattered that day,
for his arrogance and pride
the price had been paid
So The Hooded King wept
at the passing of an age.