Ally…

when I first met her

it was on the road to our homeland

the sun shone bright

and the birds sang praises to the gods

she and I shared words

of beauty

written on the pages

with our blood in the ink

when next I met her

she cupped her hands

around an ember of my heart

and breathed courage across it

a flame danced and flickered

in the dark of my doubt

and so lit the way for my dreams to walk

when last I met her

it was on the road to war

I stood by

as she leaned upon a shattered fence

I attended her wounds

while she caught her breath

and it was my honor

to hold her shield while

the pain of battle ebbed

in her weary limbs

and while tears dried upon her cheek

I renewed my oath

and I

will walk with her

toward home