Chapter 1
A woman traveled the land so brave
She wandered far and wide
Strapped to her a guitar she played
Making coin by night
One day she came upon a tavern true
And wandered deep inside
Playing the notes of a steady tune
The tavern master did abide
Packed in a corner were knights so fair
Who beckoned her to their side
“Play for me!” shouted one with glee
And she played a well-known melody
Applauded by the knights so fair
One spoke up in turn
“Play me a song all your own, and I may have more coins to spare”
She obliged the knight and took up her guitar
Fingering the melody of her heart
She looked at him played and sang
Mesmerized was he that he couldn’t look away
Instead once the tune was done he got up and handed her a gold coin pouch
And quickly walked away
She ran to his side and asked him why
He only shook his head
Following him anyway her curiosity would not rest
Hidden away from the town so fair
He let out a sigh
In front of her he removed his armor and
She found a woman staring back at her
The woman pondered over this a while
But went up to the knight and hugged her anyway
To which the knight replied
“Please keep my secret otherwise I shall be hanged”
The woman stared at her and said
“Your secret is safe with me but please give me your name.”
The knight looked at her steadily and paused in her own remiss
“My name I cannot give to you unless you give your love to me”
The woman bard stared for a long long while and said
“I can’t give my love freely to I know I have your own. It starts with but a name
And soon perhaps you may win my heart”
The knight obliged and patiently gave her name
“I am Jillia Hajester of the knights of Gwendya. My men know who
I am but to folk like you it is too foreign.”
The woman bard gasped at such a fortune and wondered all the while
“I’ll come with you please for you are known far and wide.”
So the two formed a party and rejoined the knights.
Jillia the commander
And the bard her companion and a favorite
Throughout the days they fell in love and battled side by side.
Jillia Hajester spoke at once one day,
“Bard I love you fair,
But what shall I call you when everyone else calls you bard?
What is your own true name?”
The bard relented and said
“My true name is not freely given so I ask you to keep it to yourself. My name
Is Elena the Warrior Bard”
“I’ve heard of you,” said Jillian
No wonder you can hold your own in a fight but I love you just the same”
“And I you, Jillian Hajester, it is you to whom I pledge my life”
“Elena I freely give you mine as well.
But a greater battle awaits
The one with a rushing tide
My queen needs me and so
I ask your patience and to join us in this fight
After this I shall ask her to make you a place in the castle where we can be together
“My love,” Elena replied
“I can’t offer more than my life, guitar, and sword.
You offer me something so great.
Let me sleep on it and I will reply to you in the morning.”
“You do that my love and then we shall march forth.”
