Balladeer Aeronwy Caddick's Body of Work

[Loops]

[A rare few works of Aeronwy Caddick, Balladeer of the Grandmaster Elizabetha d'Auvergne, that perhaps may be glimpsed amidst the storied arcades of the College of the Lost Hearth.]

Mourning Dove

Amidst the drifts of ash, where shadows claim the remnants of a world that once did bloom...
My heart finds sanctuary in a name I dare not utter,
My Mourning Dove, aflutter--
Amidst despair and gloom.

Thou perchest high upon the Krak des Roses,
A spectre of the dawn, so fair and fleet.
Thine eyes, like orbs of day, mine soul encloses.
In every furtive glance, our spirits meet.

O' Mourning Dove, thy tears for knights that fell,
Thy Lyrist hero, lost to war's cruel tides.
Within thy grief, a love thou dared not tell,
Beneath thy holy veils, where sorrow hides.

Let us speak not of the love that dare not sing--
In silent vows, what hearts doth bring.
With every sunrise, thou art with me still,
In whispered winds that cross that barren hill.

Though bound by sacred oath to tread apart,
Thine image weaves itself within my heart.
For thou art the dove, and I, the shadowed knight.
Together yet apart, in fading light.

This love, unspoken-- through the ages unknown,
In cloistered halls and sandy wastes, alone--
I write these lines to skies both dark and dove.
A paean to the silent flight of love.

[Loops]

In Mem'ry

In realms beyond, a city cast,
By shadow's tide, her fate is past.
A million bodies silent there,
Lost to dark, without a care.

The remaining souls on winding ways,
Their flick'ring hope begins to sway.
And under that demon sun's cruel light,
What doth fate bring to endless night?

In mem'ry of a youth, a maid so rare,
A dream of Paradise beyond despair.
Each bitter step, the struggle won,
A brighter dawn for children to come.

Through doom I march, undone by strife,
Dashed upon the rocks of life.
Alone, I fall on shattered stone,
My hands in ash, lost and alone.

And wicked weeds consume my heart,
'Till piece by piece I'm torn apart.
These twisted vines my heart confine,
As petals break and fates align.

Yet from this fall a bloom shall rise,
A rose to meet the morning skies.
For man and maid, and child unborn,
A brighter world where hope is sworn.

That mem'ry still-- a youth, a maid so rare,
To dream of Paradise beyond despair.
Each damned step, a journey done,
To brighter days for those to come.

[Loops]

Dream On

I behold the ruins of Ephia's Well,
There Pra'raj's harsh grip dost dwell;
Tales of Knights Cinquefoil 'ere told,
Whose valour shone as brightly gold.

Without their strength, thou would have known,
The sands' cruel thirst, thine life o'erthrown.
Those gallant bannerets, in armour clad,
Against that darkly spawned dyad.

With sword and shield, they cleaved the way,
Through godless lands, where shadows sway.
They rallied souls of fire and fate--
To arms, to stand afore that gate.

That old, rosy gate held fast and true,
Whence blood and ash in promise grew--
A promise for all, of worth unbound,
Sanctuary and grace to be found.

A place of green, of shelter fair,
Verdant boughs for all to share.
What of it now? What of it, then?
I gaze around and recall again--

Their pledge, a realm free and bright,
All creed and kin to dwell wi'out blight.
O' Knights Cinquefoil, in slumber deep,
Dream on in peace; your vow we keep.

For we, the heirs of your valour true,
Shall bear your banner, as you well knew.
With pride, we'll fight to hold this land,
As once ye stood, thy sword in hand.

[Loops]

Steadfast Squire

Saria Silverlocke's blade bled that profane Mojem;
Courage brighter than yon rarest of gem.
In steadfast resolve, she faced that starry night,
Beacon of justice, champion o' light.

Laughter didst echo halls whence shade now creeps.
A melody cherished, now silenced she sleeps.
But though she hath past to Edutu's far shore,
Her deeds shall endure, name evermore.

In hearts of her kin, her spirit shall stay,
Guiding their steps 'pon life's winding way.
Saria, dear squire, thy valour we claim.
Forever we shalt honour thy steadfast name.

[Loops]

Ye Eight

Ye mighty, ye wise, ye stalwart, ye prize,
Who faced the fell djinn 'neath the shadowed sun,
Ye friend, ye kind, ye light of mine eyes,
Whose valour did shine 'till the battle was won.

For eight didst march whence few else tread,
Their hearts unyielding, their purpose clear.
Through frozen time where the spirit fed,
They ventured forth as death drew near.

Sword in hand and prayer on tongue,
They braved the djinn's cruel art.
And ho, though their fate is done,
They bore this world in their heart.

Them the bold, their blade struck true,
Alongside their brethren, both fierce and kind.
Together they stood-- a resolute crew,
Ao banish the fiend and nay soul left behind.

Ye who now sleep 'neath the Wheel's relentless tread,
Know this, thy sacrifice none shall forget.
Thy lives were flames in the darkest of stead.
Thy memory lingers. I cherish thee, yet...

One day, by the dark of the Edutu's flow,
Whence the river meets shadows, and souls alight,
I'll find thee again in that twilight glow,
And sing thee a tale in the still of the night.

So we sing, 'o eight, of thy honour bright,
Ye mighty, ye wise, ye stalwart, ye pride,
Ye friend, ye kind, ye light of our sight,
Forever in glory, by thee we abide.

By the Balladeer's vow, I shall save one refrain,
When the river's dark tide bears me hence to thy sides,
A tale of thy courage, thy triumph, thy pain,
Our songs shall rejoin right 'ere on the tides.

[Loops]

Ye Strong, Ye Kind

So rest now Grenth, 'eneath that burning sky.
Thoust gentle strength shall ne'er die.
For in these halls whence heroes tread,
Thy kindness lives on in thy stead.

With wisdom's voice and steady hand,
Thou built up hearts, thou lead the band.
Through war and flame, through peace and strife,
Thou raised the axe in noble life.

And thou led thy band so darkly oathed,
On doomed quest 'gainst them so-loathed.
Wouldst they break? Not now, not then,
A rightly cadre of the bravest men.

Go on, onto this next journey, mine son!
This garden o' life, thoust walked, thoust won.
A leader bold, yet gentle too;
A guide for many, steadfast and true.

Go on, my son, to that sacred shore.
Destiny awaits; thoust leads e'er more.
And when we meet 'ere the Edutu's dark,
We'll share one last tale, that song, that spark...