Ballad 0f Ashen Crownv6

[Verse I] When the red moon climbed above the western wall, And the bells of Eldermere rang doom across the snow, A knight in battered silver answered fortune’s call, With a broken shield and nowhere else to go. Through the pine-dark pass where the cold winds moan, He rode beneath a banner torn and gray; From a mountain cave, a dragon woke alone, And breathed a storm of fire across the day. [Chorus] Raise the horn, let the high hills ring! Sing of the blade and the beast with wings! Through fang and flame, through night and fear, The brave stand fast when the end draws near. From every folk, let the old songs start— One oath, one road, one beating heart! [Verse II] In the ruined tower, mages drew their signs, While witches read the raven-clouded sky; Orcs came marching from the iron mines, And goblins grinned with sparks in every eye. The dwarves brought hammers from the halls below, The elves strung bows beneath the silver trees; Trolls and ogres joined the marching flow, While sprites went dancing on the midnight breeze. [Chorus] Raise the horn, let the high hills ring! Sing of the blade and the beast with wings! Through fang and flame, through night and fear, The brave stand fast when the end draws near. From every folk, let the old songs start— One oath, one road, one beating heart! [Verse III] They crossed the marsh where the dead reeds sighed, Past the hydra’s pool and the banshee’s cry; A griffin swept down from the cliffs above, But turned when it saw their courage and love. At last they climbed to the dragon’s throne, Where blackened roots encircled the mountain’s heart; The knight stood forth, but he stood not alone— Every hand raised a weapon, every voice took part. [Bridge] “Why burn the valleys?” the knight called out. The dragon lowered its ancient head. “Men stole my eggs,” it rumbled with grief, “And left my young among the dead.” Then silence fell on the gathered ranks; The witches lowered their thornwood staves. The knight laid down his sword in the ash, And the dragon bowed before the brave. [Verse IV] They found the thieves in the king’s own hall, Their gold bright with the dragon’s flame. The many-born folk brought the truth to all, And the crown fell hard from the liar’s name. No battle-song tells of a victory won By steel alone, in the smoke and the rain; They bound the old wound beneath the sun, And made a pact no greed could break again. [Final Chorus] Raise the horn, let the high hills ring! Sing of the knight and the dragon king! Through fang and flame, through night and fear, The brave stood fast when the end drew near. From every folk, let the old songs start— One oath, one road, one beating heart! [Outro] So if you hear wings above the mountain pass, Or bells that ring when the red moon’s high, Remember the knight who lowered his sword— And the dragon who chose not to fly.