Love Poem: Quest of the Heart: Chapter Four
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Written by: Jeff W. Watson

Quest of the Heart: Chapter Four

Grey Bane and the Dark Lord


Perched on a stalagmite jutting up from the floor
Hugo was staring at length across the cave
My eyes accustomed to the glow followed his gaze
Frozen in ice was my Love whom I had come to save!

In seconds I covered the distance to her side
One thought in my mind, “I must free my Gennifer now!”
I struck hard the ice with my fists till they bled
A futile attempt, “I must find a way, but how?!”

The anguish written on my Lady Wife’s sweet face
Tears frozen as they fell, much more than I could bare
My heart aching, wrenched and torn I fell to my knees
“Luna, I beg thee save my precious Angel Fair!”

In my grief of finding my Love in such grave state
I did not detect the sinister presence
Which was in stealth fully looming up from behind
Materializing its satanic essence

A high-pitched screech attracted my attention
‘Twas Hugo’s warning of my dire circumstance
As a frosty bolt struck encasing him in ice
My little companion never had a chance

I stood still as stone facing my adversary
A tall, thin ancient creature, grey beard and black robes
His leering blood-red eyes fixed piercing my soul
“I bid thee welcome, my son, to my humble abode”

His choice of  words were slick and as cold as ice
His voice venomous in contemptuous realm
The most malignant of grins cracked his old face
“To what do I owe thy visit young Wilhelm?”

A daemonic laugh issued forth from his cruel lips
I regained my posture and stood full to my height
“I am not thy ‘son’ thou evil spawn of Satan!”
“Speaketh not my good name, foul fiend, thou hast not the right!”

He stilled his laugh, “Thou art an impudent fool!”
“Thou speaketh of rights?” My ‘right’ is to taketh thy life!”
“To avenge the fate thy Father didst assign me!”
“Taketh all ‘tis thine and maketh thy Love my wife!”

“Get thee hence anon to Hades from whence thou hast come!”
I produced Grey Bane from within Wolven Stave
“Dally not, for if thou art not agreeable,”
“Grey Bane shalt hasten thy departure for thy grave!”

He revealed a staff of his own black and gnarled
“Geoffrey Wilhelm, thou art indeed an insolent knave!”
“Thou knowest not of whom thou confronts in challenge!”
“I shalt learn thee of thy grave error thou doth make!”

“I knoweth thee well, Vladius Draco!” I declared
“A blight on my family’s noble house thou hast been!”
“Thou art naught but a rank, vile  miscreant,”
“Do me battle, old man, for I wilt surely win!”

With that he leveled his staff at me and took aim
A blast of arctic air struck me full in the chest
I was blown off my feet and hurled against the wall
I rose “Do thy worst for I wilt passeth thy tests!”

I strode forth assured Grey Bane firmly in hand
Again his wintry stave found my direction
A lengthy spear of ice shot out right for me
This time I was prepared and ready for action

Dodging the icy lance I sliced it in two
Still running full stride to meet up with my rival
Bearing no anger or fear in my spirit
Only love for my Wife and thoughts of survival

In an instant I was within striking range
My feet flew as if they had Mercury’s wings
Like Mars I stormed to make war on my enemy
With the wisdom and council great Jupiter brings

“Have at thee!” I yelled as I approached the vile fiend
“I wilt have thy foul head as trophy this day!”
I closed on my foe bringing Grey Bane upon him
He raised up his grim stave to fend off my assay

“Curse thee and thy vexing weaponry!” Draco spat
For my impact splintered his staff into kindling
Slicing agape his black robe, skin and breast bone
Clutching his bloody wound he fell back strength dwindling

“Say thou doth concede and I shalt spare thee thy life.”
I was set to have done with this sad carnival
“Spare me thy pity, of it I have no need!”
He howled as a pathetic injured animal

“I wilt do thee worse an injury, I shalt mock thee!”
“Whilst I cleave thy head from offeth thy body”
“To be set upon the battlements of thy keep!”
“Avenging thy grave wrongs done my Wife and family!”

As I spoke thus I had not noticed his right hand
Where a formless ice mass was starting to appear
“Perhaps thou wouldst join with me in alliance?!”
The deception complete he hurled the frigid sphere

One move never quicker as I restored Grey Bane
With Wolven Stave whole I held the staff aloft
A bright blue ray blasted forth from the topaz
Consumed the frosty bolt then traveled up and on

It struck hard the ceiling of the frozen cavern
Breaking loose a shower of death from the roof
Stalactites rained down upon Valadius Draco
Impaled he was buried in an ice and stone tomb

Vladius Draco, the Black Magi was dead
I set to undertake the vital task at hand
Of freeing my good Lady Wife from her prison
To embrace my beautiful Love at long last

As I neared her cold cell I spied Hugo on ice
I took Grey Bane and smashed to pieces the block
I saw he was alive, this gave hope to my heart
To find my Love the same when her prison I unlock

At the base of the ice wall that held my Love
I gathered all of my strength still left to me
I swung Grey Bane far back, as far as I could go
Bringing him forth with all the power I could unleash