The Knight And The Witch

O'er hill and bramble, 

Trots the horse in gentle ramble,

Sitting tall rides the knight, 

Shadows paint him in fading light, 

Rides he to find the cure, 

In his bold heart he is sure, 

He is unafraid now, 

To none will he bow,

He must find her in this sparse glen, 

He must find her and then, 

Saved his betrothed will be, 

And of this great burden he will be free, 

Quests he for the witch who dwells, 

Here amongst the flowerey dells, 

Strange find it a Christian knight to deal with such kind,

But for doubt this is not the time,

Though persecuted once had he, 

The same as this witch be, 

He needs her he knows it true,

So he searchs through and through, 

Fast comes the eventide, 

Weary is he from his ride,

But no time for rest has this man,

He must find the witch who can, 

Return his love to beautiful life, 

And remove this grave strife, 

Now dismounted from his horse, 

He stands still plotting course, 

That is when he sees her appear, 

Coming over the hill drawing near, 

Veiled is she with darken cloak, 

A little then in his throat choke, 

Speck of tightened fear, 

In the eye burns a tear,

Comes she closer now still,

As she descends grassy hill,

Finally comes closest and stands, 

And up to her hood moves her hands,

Tenses his own around his hilt, 

And in his Christian heart creeps guilt,

"Forgive me Father who I consort with now."

But this be the only way he knew how,

Pulls down then her hood, 

With fire kissed hair now she stood, 

"Why comes you here sir knight?

Do you come with sword or plight?"

Knots his belly now sore, 

More than anything ever has before, 

Foul glitter had her eye at the word,

For she held no fear for his sword,

Nor her evil sin,

And he feared for in fight she would win,

"I have come to beg boon of thee."

Soften her face then at he 

"And what might that be?" 

"I have heard whispers of the arcane

Of the things not spoke of in the sane, ,

That you possess the power in your head, 

In which to ressurecct the dead."

He swallowed then with tremble 

And she stepped closer nimble 

"Heard you have right, 

Good sir knight."

Chuckles she and his skin crawls 

Around the crickets croon with drawels 

A long silent moment passes between he and she 

Finally speaks up he 

"Would do this for me?"

Mirthful glitter in her eyes, 

"I would not despise, 

Now pray tell who you wish to wake."

More confidently than ever he then spake, 

"My dear lost betrothed." 

She pondered a moment and then she told 

"This I will do but first we deal, 

There is always a price for zeal."

She gave a look that caused a shiver,

And his legs to quick and quiver,

Now he knows he is at the last, 

Time for requiem is now past,

And says he in voice dire, 

"I will do all thee require."

Smiles she with crooked jaw,

And he knows he has broke natural law,

"I will require you to do one task for me, 

And then you on your way will be free."

Presents he his hand to shake, 

And after a tepid moment she does take,

Under rising moon makes he the pact, 

For which there is no taking back, 

Clears she her throat to give instruction, 

And frogs cry out in interruption, 

"Firstly you must bring her body to me, 

As quickly as you can you see, 

The sooner the better, 

To return her to this fetter."

The knight having once fancied himself holy, 

Rejected the idea fully,

How could he desecrate the grave? 

Where in lie the saintly saved? 

The sacred and hallowed? 

The witch only smiled,

"Then have you still no love."

Mournfully looks he above, 

Then he agrees to this foul deed, 

And away rides he on his steed,

Shamefully he takes a spade, 

The choice has been made, 

Soon rides he back to the glen, 

Glancing fearfully behind him now and then, 

The forest road plays tricks on he, 

In the side of his vision dark things he sees,

Under sheet of white, 

Illuminated in moonlight, 

The limp form of his love is rest, 

Coming to the glen he passes his first test, 

Waiting there where he left her is she, 

Beside a small gnarled tree,

The ground with candle and herb lined, 

Her face is serenely resigned, 

Motions he to place the body down, 

And then she arranges the candles around, 

The sacred spices and leaves, 

As the wind rattles the trees, 

Lights she the candles and announces then, 

"Come kneel and now we begin."

Fowl things then did she speak, 

And the branches above them began to creak, 

Filled his heart was with fear, 

And flowed free the tear, 

The ground begin to shake, 

Harder with each word she spake, 

The stars began to whirl, 

And with nausea did he swirl, 

Til finally he felt he could bear no more,

This devilish evil score, 

The reaching through the darkness window, 

The terrifying crescendo, 

Crashed like thunder and lightning, 

He closed his eyes for it was too frightening, 

Then falls silent the glen, 

And all that was there in, 

After a long moment he hears his lover sighs, 

And fearfully opens his eyes, 

There she is in front of him, 

Alive as she was then, 

The day he last laid eye upon her alive, 

Here now at his side, 

Now embraces her in his arms, 

And feels her the same in charms, 

Alive and warm fully, 

Her eyes brightened wholly, 

His heart swelled with joy, 

Perhaps this natural law to with toy, 

Was all right after all, 

Then he looked up to find the witch towering over him tall, 

And he remembered the debt, 

But he was not afraid to accept,

He has his love that mattered 

His heart would not by deed be troubled  

"Amazing now you have done this thing, 

Now what is the task you bring"

She smiled darkly then,

And he remembered he was in the presence of a woman of sin,

Impossibly wide seemed her devilish grin,

Feared he the mortal price then, 

"You shall wed me this very night,

Do not fear do not fright,

You shall not be in plight 

Living here you shall be given life, 

There will be no strife, 

I shall be your loving wife." 

Rose he up in fury and rage, 

He charged at her like a lion released from a cage, 

"You know I will not wed you! 

I have only my love one and true!"

She laughed then loud and deep, 

And then her trill did creep,

"Perhaps you should have asked for the price before the score, 

You agreed with the oath your swore. 

Now you shall be wed to me, 

I have held my bargain as you see." 

With mockery did she motion to his stone faced beloved, 

Who sat fearfully cowered,

In rage drew his sword to fight, 

But the witch brought forth a flash of light, 

And then his sword lay shattered,

Glittering in moonlight scattered, 

"You cannot defeat me." 

She said simply, 

And he knew it then, 

Now he will pay for his great sin, 

"Flee my beloved on the back of my steed,

I must remain her to pay for my deed."

Tearfully he watched her go, 

And he knew no joy again would he ever now, 

Wed he did the witch of the wood, 

Right there where dejected he stood, 

Shackled she him in her hovel, 

And til he died there he did grovel,

Never did his torment cessen, 

But you could say he learned a cruel lesson, 

In those years did he bitterly rue, 

Always know your payment before it is due.