[Drudic Grove]Beseechment

[Ankou]

Late Winter, Era XIV, Under Milo the Regent.

It had been a simple matter
To inquire with subtle clatter,
The location of the famous druids
Known for their generous moods.
Throughout Alleria.

Less simple was the walk
Creeping past the ancient stalk
The Big Folk who so often
Came this way, may soften
The path, but he flew above
With wings like a dove.
Less than easy.

Still with heavy determination,
In the desire for his salvation,
By the fire of his servants way.
That carried him everyday,
That defined him so
Though the going was slow,
He carried on.

And so, exhausted, a winner.
He stood guilty, like a judged sinner.
Yet he saw not a soul, and thought
Perhaps rightly, that those he sought
Watched from trees themselves, with curious eyes.

"Druids, knowledgeable and All-knowing,
Keepers of Ancient Lore, controlling
The habits of Nature, of this Beautiful place.
I, Ankou, come, without grace
Or reasonable reason, to ask
A boon of your wisdom, to bask
In your venerated knowledge.

My cousin's cousin's cousin,
And thrice more cousin,
Llanwyn, although born a faerie.
Lives now larger than any dare he
Reaches heights only the humans could.

While I am not worthy of deliverance,
To beg of your Divine Interference,
I wish only the power of Height!
To watch the world with different Sight.
If my distant relation can grow tenfold.
Why not his relation, a friend old,
Who stands before you now?

I wish for the kind of height
that might
Mistake me for an elven child. Four feet
Is not too much to ask, of the rumored kind and sweet
Druids of Natura, is it?

I know I shall not have my request granted
For free, I have money, but it is unenchanted
I doubt severely that your desires lie in Gold.
I will pay you in any way you've extolled,
Using my Faerie magic to the best
To resolve any quests
Or any other requests.
That you may make of humble servant Me!"

With a desperate flourish he bowed to the trees
That surrounded him, he reached not their knees!
And o'er the distant drone, of lazy honeybees.
He waited for his answer, and prepared to pay his fees.

[Aqua]

H'annaeryth, the dryad and the mage,
Held long the faerie there within her sight.
"A strange and wondrous gift that you desire --
If you would truly have the gift of height.

"Did not the gods decree each mortal here
Should pass his days in his allotted form?
Or--" here she laughed -- "would you here end your life,
And hope to be as something else reborn?"

But then her eyes grew darker, and her face
Ceased laughing, and grew serious and dim.
"Ankou, if larger you would wish to be,
Then tell me this," she slowly asked of him.

"The spell is difficult, the process long,
To cast it is for me a worthy trial.
What do you think that you can give to me
To make this great, great effort worth my while?"

To turn the question back on Ankou's head --
It might have seemed to him to be unfair,
But from the twinkle in the Dryad's eyes,
It seemed as though she didn't really care.

[Ankou]

The faerie had been put on the spot
A position never enjoyed.
Was it up to him to ask for prize and payment?
He tried not to get annoyed.

He stood a moment
And his brains he racked,
For prices he could pay.
But artifacts he lacked,
As a matter of fact,
He knew not what to say.

"My son, handsome boy,
who lies now in his sleep.
One price I will not pay!
If he is lost, I will weep.

You cannot lack power,
Yet if it is your desire.
Take my magics,
Of them I tire.

Take every potion
I have collected,
Take every treasure,
I have neglected.

Take my soul,
Once it leaves me,
Take my manhood,
I'll pay that fee.

If it is darkness you want undone.
Take my black heart from its chest!
Remove my memories of my foul deeds.
And lay me down to rest.

If some distant treasure you covet:
Some rare flower by the sea,
Send not your druids to do the task!
Instead, as payment, send me!

If one of your order has strayed,
And gotten lost from the pack,
I'll go on wings of purple:
And come and fetch her back.

If loyalty you desire,
Take mine for a year
Even if the work is hard
I will shed no tear.

Let me stop my blackest deeds
And repent for my foulest sins
Cast me into Carmelya's holy glow,
And I'll join the paladins.

Take all this and more
Only leave me the delight
Of waking up to find
I'm a human kemite."

He had nothing more to offer
He had emptied his coffer.

[Aqua]

The dryad listened carefully to him,
Considering just what she had to do.
At last, she said, "I've now made up my mind.
I'll tell you what it is I want from you."

She looked him in the eye and said, "This gift
Is one that to be given, must be earned.
I need to know that you deserve this gift.
And, more than that, I need to know you've learned."

She raised her hands. "I bid you now to go,
And in one era's time, return to me.
And in the intervening time, you must
Do good to all the people that you see.

Serve those in weakness, lift the heavy hearts,
Help those in need, and comfort those in pain.
Bring evidence that you have done all this
When you come and return to me again."

She raised an eyebrow, saying, "If the gift
Of height is as important as you say,
I do think this is not too much to ask.
I wish you all the best along your way."

This said, H'annaeryth folded her arms,
And pursed her lips to show that she was through.
And what would happen next? what great event?
Well, that would be up to the fae, Ankou.

[Ankou]

To say that the druid's words were a shock would be an exaggeration.
Although Ankou had not quite expected this kind of price.
He was not unwilling to do good deeds for an era, 'round this great nation!

And though he wished she'd change him first.
That's simply not to be asked.
And better this than false lines rehearsed.

So rather than speak another word,
To the dryad that had geas'd him so,
Ankou lifted off the ground like a bird!
And turned to finally go.