Forgotten Ground Regained

Oathbinder

“Father, why this rapid rushTo reach the king’s bright sword?”“Hush, now Child - I’ll tell the tale.Near a score of Dragon Kings had dubbed new knightsServed by swords at their own sides.Then Prince Laurelen, hammer holding,Forged Oathbinder, a sword to be the Dragon’s own.As soon as crown caressed his brow he calledThe four great Dukes of Dragon’s fame:Andrew, Dagan, Finvaar, MerowaldKnew they not why their King called them.Then was brought forth Oathbinder, sun-bright shining.A warrior’s weapon of watery steel, singing soldier’s song.The Dukes each held her, hand to hand,Then gave her to Laurelen’s grasp.
She was A weapon fit for kingsMade for making knightsWhose oath of fealty ringsAnd lifts all to new heights.
Sadly, sword was sore mis-usedBy some who sat the Dragon Throne.Wronged as wood-axe, camp gate-marker,Reduced to rust, a ruined relic. Reclaimed by maker,He cleaned, revived, restored her radiance.Decades passed, and blade was bending.Skillful swordsmith, Gwilim called,Re-forged sword in Dragon’s blaze.Birthed new blade for Tanist’s use:Humilitas. Merging metal old and new.Oathbinder once more blazes bright.
She’s madeTwo hundred knights and moreAnd kings o’er five score served*. And now you know her loreWhy her esteem’s deserved.”
The poem is based on the account recorded in the Middlewiki, a publication of the Middle Kingdom of the Society for Creative Anachronism, as well as personal correspondence and conversation with His Grace Sir Laurelyn Darksbane, for which the poet is eternally grateful. In persona, the poet, while writing after the form of “Gawain and the Green Knight”, is of Hiberno-Norse extraction, hence the strong vowel-rhymes.
*This line was “And kings near four score served” when the poem was originally written. It was updated after Seto and Ynes took the throne as the 100th King and Queen of the Middle.
Copyright ©2017 Corrie Bergeron
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