The Ballad of Arnush Vale
By Amaranth Rose
Copyright 2004
Its verdant pastures, leafy green
By human eyes are now unseen.
Its paths are trodden by wild beasts
Where lovers once shared secret feasts
When young Lord Gilliam, dark and strong
Swam its rivers and strode along,
Young and proud, his father's son;
The next Lord Arnush, well begun.
Gilliam's eye roved far and wide
Searching for a pretty bride.
They set upon Tolata Verdosh,
A beauty pretty as a thrush.
Her voice was like the song of Dawn;
Her hair was forge-fire red and long;
Emeralds paled beside her eyes;
Lips of ruby told no lies.
But a prior claim lay on heart
By Jazor Talbish, young upstart
Their parents knew the two were troth;
The match approved by families both.
When Gilliam found his want denied
He vowed he'd take her to his side.
He kidnapped her in trait'rous ambush,
Dragged her home to Castle Arnush.
Jazor found her gone and cried,
"Who will help rescue my bride?"
Their families and half a planet more
Beat their way to Gilliam's door.
Jazor Talbish, tall and golden,
By his rage and anger goaded,
Slew dark Gilliam and his kin,
Tumbled all his buildings in.
The blood of Arnush gushed that day
For Tolatas death Gilliam would pay.
Not a stone left on another
Not a child, nor a mother.
All was destroyed in Jazors ire;
The valley scoured with such fire
That naught alive was left within.
Then Jazor sowed those fields again.
He sowed them thick with poisoned fruit;
All waters there he did pollute;
And last of all to mark the deed,
He sowed the valley with snare weed.
Now meadows grow verdant once more.
The water's long since turned back pure.
In Arnush Vale men no more breed;
Now tis home to Jazor's weed.