The niphredil grew fragrant white upon the hills of green
In days beyond the memory of men
Branches full in blossom bowed to cold and bubbling streams
Ah, the golden trees of fair Lothlorien!
A maiden clad in gossamer gray tossed petals in the breeze
A net of silver stars upon her hair
The handsome hunter laughing sat above her in the trees
He watched her dancing, willowy and fair
“A song, my love,” he shouted down, “to ease a weary mind!”
“Will not my true love sing of star and sea?”
“Nay my lord, sweet music here is everywhere to find,”
“The rushing stream is song enough for me!”
A shadow on the Golden Wood was pressing ever near
And tainted Nimrodel with foul orcs’ stain
The mighty hunter’s duty to send foes away in fear
They cowered faint before his arrows’ rain
But on this day the hunter’s eyes were drawn to fairer sights
His love’s bright smile more sweet than words could tell
Neither lover noticed arrows streaming through the air
‘Til at her feet the mighty hunter fell
She clutched his hand into her own; the skin was cold and wan
“No, my love, you cannot leave me so!”
“I fear my time is at an end, but you will carry on.”
He weakly smiled and kissed her hand, “Now go.”
And soft the maiden weeping drew her hand across his brow
Slowly did her fingers close his eyes
She screamed her grief to far cold stars above the golden boughs
And then somehow she found the strength to rise
She cursed her fate and begged the gods and cried in disbelief
At how such pain and doubt cruel fate could bring
“This cannot be the end,” she cried, and through her crushing grief
Across the Golden Wood began to sing
She sang of dawn new-breaking upon wide and stormy seas
A spray of salty mist upon the air
Of far green hills and sandy shores and tall and sheltering trees
And how one day her ship would meet him there
As she sang a host drew near to honor one so brave,
A fighter bold, so peaceful now in death
But as the song grew louder at the mighty hero’s grave
They saw the fallen hunter draw a breath
A silent glance between the two said more than words could tell
He had returned when all her hope had gone
A twinkle in his eyes revealed a strength no wound could fell
“All I ever needed was a song.”
Though long ago the Golden Wood has faded into dreams
‘Tis said that if you ever pass this way
And pause along the flowering hills beside the rushing streams
You can hear her singing to this day
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