He travelled north and followed rumours told by common men

but elves were rare enough that they would not be seen again

the war had seen the end of many far and wide

the only means for many was to leave their homes and hide

So when an elf appeared somewhere, the rumours quickly grew

surviving on in myths and legends told by very few

he heard about a elven mage who braved the northern cold

searching every battlefield to find a love of old

The farther north he travelled he would hear a little more

of stories, myths, and legends of a widow of the war

rumours of the widowed elf who wandered far and wide

searching for her soldier once again to take his side

The pilgrim didn’t feel the years it took to track her down

compared to all the time he’d wasted building his renown

he went through towns and villages and deep into the wild

an ancient pilgrim searching like a lost and helpless child

Deep within the forest where his war had once been fought

he found village full of mercenaries to be bought

they lived by hunting monsters for material and fame

and there he heard some mention of his elven lover’s name

He told them he was searching for his oldest elven friend

and if they helped him find her he’d be grateful without end

they quickly recognized that he was not a simple man

suspicious of his presence there, hostilities began

Some approached him meaning to intimidate and scare

telling him to leave regardless of his business there

the pilgrim was uncertain but suspected they might know

but why would they conceal the truth and then force him to go

“Tell me please, if you have seen the elf of rumour here”

the pilgrim didn’t falter and his voice was loud and clear

“you might be the oldest yet of those who seek our friend

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but all who seek to challenge her will meet a sorry end”

The mercenaries drew their swords to threaten him again

the pilgrim looked in boredom at the postures of the men

when he thought of swords and fire again, he had to laugh

so this time using ice, he summoned forth a magic staff

He waited for the men to strike and held them off with ease

they panicked when their swords and armour all began to freeze

as gently as he’d ever played with children, with a smile

he stopped them in their tracks, then sat and waited for a while

As they thawed and noticed none were injured, maimed, or dead

most of them we speechless with their faces turning red

embarrassed to be beaten in so little time as that

feeling like a dozen mice before a playful cat

The pilgrim once again requested they cooperate

and reunite him with the elf with whom he shared his fate

they slowly came to feel he didn’t mean them any harm

despite his overwhelming powers causing them alarm

“You’re a kindred spirit whose seen many years of war

we’ll take you to our leader, but don’t freeze us anymore”

the pilgrim’s eyes were widened when he heard that she was there

resting in a tent nearby and in their doctor’s care

“Though her skills are legendary, now she’s old and weak

but still her reputation is a prize that many seek

for several generations she has led our northern band

raising up our little army with a steady hand”

The mercenary carefully explained their history

as he led the pilgrim to a tent beneath a tree

“to keep these forests safe from evil, our band was amassed

but always she was searching for a remnant of her past”

The pilgrim stood before the tent, then slowly stepped inside

and for the first time in so long, beheld his lovely bride

as beautiful as he recalled, he knelt beside her bed

older now but just as fair as when the two were wed

Her arms were weak but found their way around the old man’s back

he helped her sit upright but feared her frail old frame could crack

without delay he summoned all the healing that he could

but soon he’d healed her just as much as any power should

“Please don’t waste your miracles on one as blessed as me

I’ve lived so many more years than was likely mean to be

the Fairies in between the worlds were right to lead me hear

now with you before me here, it’s all becoming clear”

The old man healed her every scar, and all her pain was gone

but he had no such cure for age as time kept moving on

“I found our family out east, they filled me up with pride

how was I so foolish not to stay there by your side”

Lamenting that he’d found her in the twilight of her life

he wondered if he’d be forgiven by his lonely wife

“don’t be so dramatic, we all had our lives to lead

you were true to your design in every choice and deed

Once our sons were men with loving children of their own

I couldn’t bare the thought of you out fighting all alone

you tried and failed so many times, but you were never free

you can never know how much you always meant to me

We knew it wasn’t destiny for you to be at home

and knew that you were suffering wherever you would roam

a prisoner of your desires and fate misunderstood

to us you were a hero, and we knew that you were good

I love you as I loved our sons and wanted you to know

that we will always be with you, no matter where you go

so follow fate a little further, live so you can smile

I’ll be going on ahead and waiting for a while”

~