The Angels Were Generous

To Join the Host

A knight in armor freshly donned,
Seeks to find his way beyond.
He picks his way through fields of pain
Littered with the warriors slain.
Flies aswarm among the dead
Some so fresh that still they bled.
Yet others older, were only bones,
Flaking leather and moldy grown.

Approaching close the circle host
He passes by the warrior ghosts.
The warriors stand with weapons drawn,
Shoulder to shoulder, broad and brawn.
Protecting what does lie within,
These men would guard unto the end.
And long they'd been unto their post,
These warriors old, this fearsome host.
Their armor shows the age they feel,
Rust spots fill their precious steel.
But worst of all he saw their eyes,
He saw the death in thin disguise.

Their lives and souls had long since fled
The fires within were also dead.
Yet still they stood and would protect
Their steel resolve commands respect.
The bright young knight he bent to kneel
His awe he struggles to conceal.
For these are men just like himself,
Not gods to fear, not myth, not elf.
Kneeling down, he humbly asks
To speak and thus reveal his task.

"Good knights, I beg you hear,
My sword is not what you must fear.
I trained for years until my skills
Did match the virtues priest-instilled.
Ever since my day of birth,
I've tried to gain some sense of worth.
I sought you long and hope had died,
But ever more I prayed and tried.
With blessings from the gods I thanked,
I ask you now to join your ranks. "

The rusty knight so long since spry
Did answer with a weary, "Why?"
"This company of knights ideal,
It is the goal, the dream too real.
Let me take my place among you,
Let me stand among the queue.
For I would fight to save your prize,
I, like you, would sooner die
Than let it loose among mere men
To be lost, not found again."

He shook his head and lightly spoke,
"Do not question. Do not provoke.
We know of you and of your deeds.
We know of skill, we know of speed.
We know you're brave and and ever daring,
Kind, and chivalrous, always sharing.
Leave us now for we have deemed
Your quest goes now unredeemed.
We would protect you from the price
You'd pay to wear our sad device."

The bright one now he does object,
Why would they now to him reject?
He had done all that was asked,
Every chore, every quest, every task.
His folk approved what he aspired,
He had fulfilled all that was required.
Puzzlement showed all through his face
Yet still he stood with charm and grace.
His dream was not to die that quick,
His voice was quiet, his whispers thick.

"Why would you of all the knights
Deny what is mine by trial and rights?
I have the right, I have the will,
I have the soul, I have the skill.
Yet here you are and you say nay
I cannot join, please go away.
Know you not how much in awe
I hold this host of knights basha?
What will it take for me to stand
Amid your ranks and join your band?"

"Little boy, you are too eager,
for rewards that are too meager.
That you are worthy matters not,
Do not put us in this spot.
For we will deem you one of us
When we would with no mistrust.
Get thee gone, you little boy,
For you have robbed us of our joy.
Our task is clear and none shall pass,
We will protect this, to the last."

The bright knight's face went all a-red
For what he'd heard and what they'd said.
He could not trust these men of rust
Who spoke of worth and joy and trust.
He choice was clear, for he was true
To all he'd learned and eschewed.
They denied him what was earned,
What in his soul still raged and burned.
The light was lit and would not dowse,
His dreams of knighthood still espoused.

Let them defeat him on the field
Let the swords hear his appeal.
There be but one way to bestill him,
Let them tear him limb from limb.
The rusty one stepped from the host,
Just one more sorry fighter ghost.
The battle raged but careful still
The bright knight flat refused to kill.
To fight the good fight they'd not done
It took not much once they'd begun.

The armor rust settled in their bones
The knight soon fell among the stones.
He fought on through and broke their line
Into the center, into their shrine.
He fell on dust but quickly stood
In just a moment he understood.
The treasure prized by rusty men
He could not see, and could not kin.
Whatever here had one time lain
Was gone to dust, and dust again.

The host remained still facing outward,
The broken line, it was restored.
The warriors stand with weapons drawn,
Shoulder to shoulder, broad and brawn.
Protecting what does lie within,
These men would guard unto the end.
The rusty knight he tried to stand
No aid was offered, no helping hand.

The bright knight stood and held his breath
His fought to keep his dream from death.
The tear that crept from cheek to chin
Was all that showed of struggle within.
With a sigh, the fight was done,
He had to finish what he'd begun.
He reached inside his armor plate
He'd won his fight, the dream awaits.

The ribbon he removed from heart
Was symbol of his love apart
The one he loved and would to marry
His love, his life, his elven fairy.
What now was dust and ash and dead
'twas on this pile, his ribbon spread.
The sunlight played and satin shined
It spoke of love and lives entwined.
A smile replaced his saddened tear,
Now he knew what not to fear.

He stepped beside the rusty knight
To take his place as was his right.
An arm he put around the man
To prop him up and help him stand.
The warriors stand with weapons drawn,
Shoulder to shoulder, broad and brawn.
Protecting what does lie within,
These men would guard unto the end.
He still shown brightly in his eyes,
He learned a bit and was more the wise.

In the distance they saw a man
Begin to cross the battle span.
Among themselves the host did speak
"The man is wrong. He is too weak.
He cannot join. He is not ready.
His arm unsure, his speech unsteady."
The bright knight raised his hand to greet,
"Welcome friend, 'tis good we meet."
The rusty knight raised his hand, too,
"Come join us now, for we are few."