Song Of The Ancient

[Music by J. De Ron and A. Tompkins]

The song I perceive as I wander through the woods through 
the
dim light of dawn, lilts as it?s carried on soft shifting 
winds
through the stillness of this early morn.

"Upon the hill, east of the woods, the old man stood rapt 
in
thought; gazing, contemplative and lost in himself. His old
 hands,
fingers long and thin, but rugged, grasped the wooden 
staff. It
was familiar in his hand; crooked yet strong. How many 
times?
How often had he before this stood on this very place, lost
 within
himself; rapt in reflection? A light breeze swelled about 
him
ruffling his hair and wisps of beard, grey with age and 
wisdom of
years. He had seen much, experienced much and known friends
in the Hidden Lands. But that was before; before the Fall.
Glancing downward, a sea of activity, the forest teeming 
with life
and lives. But lives are merely a doorway wherethrough can 
be
expressed the nature of the Ancient; the one who abides 
within
the Hidden Lands. The old man thinks 'I am become not what
was intended but through intent am become.' And so, in 
servitude
to human heart, he made forfeit that which was his; the 
intangible
for the tangible, the imperishable for the mortal."

By now I am intoxicated by the surreality of the tale, 
viewing
myself in the old man, and at last it dawns and I realise 
the very
nature of mankind, and of myself, and I lay down to cry.

"In his youth, the Old man wielded the Garensword, but not 
now.
And yet, the legend holds that one day, Man shall wield the
two-edged blade once more to the conquest of nations and
strongholds and powers beyond this realm."

I raise my eyes as the song comes to an end and a stranger
approaches as though she's a friend. Extending her hand I 
accept
it and rise. Standing, she looks into my eyes. "De-nyl, we 
have a
long way to go. There is so much, too much, that I have to 
show
you."

"If the truth is what you seek, it is only with the Ancient
 whose
face is never seen. He remains within the Hidden Lands and 
may
only be reached with the Garensword in hand. Let us depart 
from
this place."

I was relieved to learn that I would not be alone in my 
quest. For
that day, Destiny became my guide. I released my falcon, 
the bird
soaring high and free above the forest canopy. And yet 
there
remained within my heart the lingering memory of that 
tragic Fall;
the wretched nature of mankind and of myself. Am I who I 
think I
am? Am I even alive?