Sime
27-page epic poem about an invisible girl. Mahogany hair trimmed with tufts of fresh grasses Her moss-colored eyes rimmed with diamonds like dew Lavender peeks from her stone-colored pockets Sime leans forward to touch the fresh shoe. Over and over the traveler comes looking But Sime can't point to the shoe that he seeks Trapped by the tangled enchantments of Floris, Until the Enchantress is cured of her beaks Sime had foolishly laughed at Her Highness Though sorry she is, if the story be told – Trapped as a maiden to languish in silence, Visible not to the world she behold. Floris the Beaked One has seven small beaks On her head, on her ankles, and one by her eye. Ruling a mountain, respected and worshiped Is awfully hard with a beak on your thigh. Lost to the world, Sime sits in her treetop Admiring the forest and ocean so blue, Though it can't be quite as lovely or beautiful Knowing it can't be admiring you. Visible only to her gentle eyes Sime flits downward on bendy tree branch. A quick jump – and lightly she falls to the grasses. She reaches a hand out, the wood shoe to snatch. Down the dim road through the towering forest, Sime trips lightly, down roads dark with time. Down the petite, grassy hillside she whispers, Down through the lavender, roses, and thyme. There, on the seashore, across the last slope, Turn tall windmills above the small sun-whitewashed town. Red are the barn walls and white is the church and Sage green is the grass growing soft on the down. Pointless it seemed to go nearer the memories So Sime let go of the hard wooden shoe, Visible, fell it among the thin grasses. Surely the traveler would search here anew. Back through the forest she flitted – how nervous! For invisibility doesn't solve fear Though wild animals can't see her running She can't shake the feeling that they know she's here. Wrapped in her hollow inside a large tree trunk Sime awoke just an hour after dawn. Down through the heather and up the tall mountain, Sime climbed slowly, like some arid faun. Touching a petal, admiring its beauty, Sime was horribly startled as she Turned and the eyes of a man were upon her, Eying the forest where formless she be. "Speak!" said the man, waiting still on the hillside. "Be thou a Spirit, or be thou a Wraith?" "Neither," said Sime, in voice sweet and song-like, "I'm not immortal. Hear me in good faith!" Poor Sime knelt for her legs were so shaky. Silent the man stood and neither did breathe. "What is thou's purpose?" the man said at length and Sweet Sime replied, "I am Sime Quaynethe. "Maiden, I am – trapped by Floris the Beaked One, Mortal invisible – that's what I be. But I can see you're a man of great courage, Speaking to 'spirits' when most mortals flee." "What has thou done to incur such a bondage?" Asked the man, shedding his pack and rolled bed. "Laughed," said the sweet mortal maiden invisible, "Laughed at the beak she attached to her head." "Laughed at a beak! But what can thou be saying? Who is this Floris? This isn't a joke –? Say, if it is, then I think it a poor one – Jadin, come out! – if it was thou who spoke!" "Nay, my good master!" cried Sime in horror. "Think not me a liar - nor am I at play! Serious spoke I of Floris the Beaked One. Have you never heard of her Eastern display? "Queen of the Mountain she claims as her title. Chipmunks and badgers fear even her name. When I a visible maiden on Iree, Even the youngest ones knew of her fame. "She is the one who makes Easterly stars fall, Filling the sky with her fiery rain. Powerful is she; when I not eleven, Snarling, her minions took me and Norlain "Norlain my brother – and we were shoved roughly Up this very mountain by Entowr of Thrain! Roaring, the beasts threw us into her throne room Where wind whipped the cavern in howling refrain. "Turned she, her hood low, her cape of pure silver; Stepped off the dais and stopped before me. Pushing her hood back just slightly to see us, The beak on her brow, by her eye, I could see. "Children of Iree," said Floris the Beaked One, "Bow to the Queen of the Mountain – to me!" Glancing at Norlain I summoned my courage, Brave for dear Norlain I knew I must be! "'You're not a monster!' I said, and I laughed once. 'You do not scare me – you're not frightening at all!' Yet, though they bold words, they were not the truest, And screamed I when torn from Norlain and her hall. "Shrieking, I thrashed at the gates for my brother, But Norlain they dragged back, still calling 'Sime!' Two Guard Hounds sank their teeth into my ankles And dragged me down stone stairs like so much debris. "There I discovered a tall passing stranger, A journeying somewhere from I don't know where. Called I to him but he thought me a Spirit And called to his lagging companions, "Beware!" "Learned then I of the cruel nature of Floris – For though I had seen her I thought her a freak: Sweeping about in her cape of pure silver, Wearing that ugly and strange-looking beak! "For then I began my long journey of horror, Through cold moors and great heights and roads dark with time. Grown have I wiser in soft starlit hours, When no one would listen but me and the thyme." "But I have listened!" exclaimed the kind stranger, "And now I believe that thou's story is true. Thou is a brave one and no one be doubting! But what can thy blasted constraints now undo?" "Long have I wondered – for 15 I am now – But Floris neglected to tell me the cure. – Yet now impressed on my heart is the answer! 'Dip in the aqua lagoon by Ensoure.'" "What! Just now answers are impressed upon thee? What marvelous magic of elf-kind is this? I the conveyer of cures to enchantments! Chosen I must be, to help this poor miss!" "Oh!" gasped the maiden – her hands clasped together (The stranger, of course, still could none of this see), "Thou is an angel! And I but a fetter – Thank you, oh thank you – how grateful I be!" Sime – not thinking – quite threw herself on him, And with that the matter was settled for sure. The warmth of her arms was the thing to secure him – If doubts had yet lingered in kind heart so pure! Over his shoulder the man swung his pack With such ease that the maiden felt safe at his side. Friendship, to her, was as rain to a desert; Sweet Sime was quite simply drier than dry. "Tell me," said she, "How you came to this mountain, And where you were traveling to when you saw me?" 'Saw me' she said with a trill of such pleasure The man felt he couldn't much happier be. "Over the mountain – not this one, but yonder – I dwelt, as Kirian of the Trembling Tree. There I left troubled, not weeks, but a year ago, Traveling to your town, the Isle of Iree." "Oh! Did you make it?" cried Sime of Iree, "Have you seen my parents? Has Floris come back?" "Know not I whether thy parents are sheltered, But this here I know," he said, shifting his pack, "Iree is ravaged – by Floris? – I'll guess For the nature of it matches thy description. Stolen are children – they said for her army, And servants and food for her monstrous henchmen." "Oh!" gasped poor Sime and fell to the ground where Not seeing her, Kirain tripped over her foot. "Oh!" Sime cried, "I am sorry – forgive me!" But Kirain sat up and said, "Nay – thee stay put! "Fear not, dear maiden – I'm in no way injured, And thy has just heard news that none should need hear. Terrible news of the fate of one's city – Thy grieves for the childhood friends thy held dear." Sime looked up, brushing tears from her face, And said, "Oh, gentle man, how am I blessed with thee? How to a maiden invisible, dreadful Is sent a protector kindhearted as thee?" "Fear not, dear maiden – I will not betray you. Now where is your arm? Let me help you arise. Is thou now hungry? Or thirsty? Or fearful? Please let me attend thee – thee's had a surprise." Sime, in silence of grief and of thankfulness, Touched Kirain's arm and he pulled her aloft. Brown bread, dried beef, and a morsel of venison Pulled he from inside his leather bag soft. Thanking him, taking the food from his fingers, Sime ate bread for the first time in years Given from human hands, not snatched or stolen – The strength of the guesture quite brought her to tears. Presently Kirian, who saw not her tears fall, Said carefully, "Does thou know where the lagoon, Bluest of all lagoons, fairest of Ensoure, Lies? Is it near? Shall we make it there soon?" "Nay, it lies East of here, round the cold moutain, Down in the valley of EmonEn Sooul. Still... the long distance will seem but a pleasure Knowing it ends with a dip in that pool!" Downward they traveled, around the tall moutain, Through heather and violets and sweet smells of spring. Finally they stopped as the sun hit the treetops And Sime in sleep thought she'd dreamed the whole thing. Yet when she woke, still Kirian was beside her, And she rimmed with stones so he'd know where she was, And not accidentally trod on her sleeping, When waking and moving about like one does. "Kirian, wake up!" she said, for it was sunrise. They set on their way round the mountain again. Finally they came to a road often traveled And Sime gasped – there, through the trees, was Norlain! Chopping a tree down and looking so old now, Compared to the boy she remembered as eight, He wiped his brow, which was sweating profusely. A thick man in black cruelly yelled to berate Norlain! He fell to his work with a courage, And Sime stopped Kirian by touching his arm. "There, through the birches stands Norlain my brother, I want to call out – but I'll cause an alarm!" "Norlain, thy brother! Why, fate smiles upon us! Does thou see a way to effect a rescue? Thee still invisible! Can thou get near him? – See if thy canst get him to follow you. "Will he still know me – without face or body – Will he still remember the sound of my voice? Will he not think me a Spirit immortal, And tremble with fear, and not, rightly, rejoice?" "Possible, that be," said Kirain, brow furrowed, "But more so I think that he'll know thy dear voice. Whether he chooses to fear or believe thee, I think we are bound now to give him a choice." "Grateful I am of your cousel and wisdom! I go with the wings of your hope in my hand." Sime crept forward, avoiding the strong youths Who labored around him at clearing the land. "Norlain!" she whispered, yet several feet from him. "Norlain, hear brother. It is I, Sime!" Heard her, he did not, so Sime crept closer, Leaned forward and whispered, "Norlain, it is me!" Norlain did nothing but wipe his tan forehead. Sime reached, trembling, to touch his strong back. Norlain stood upright, and dropping his axe he Glanced quickly around and looked taken aback. "Norlain, it's Sime – it's I, your dear sister. Fear not – I'm invisible – that's Floris' curse. Please don't be frightened, I'm no Wraith or Spirit – Is not my voice Sime's? Please don't make it worse – "Go back to chopping. I'll tell you my story. There's no need for you to get flogged 'cause of me. Speaking out foolishly already forced you To live four years solemn without even me!" "Sime? How can I believe you!" said Norlain, "Yet desperately want I to take it for true! Yet how could this be, how could you be invisible? - I saw you I did, when the Hounds bit at you! "Down those steep horrible stairs on the mountain – Saw I but little, but it was enough. You were quite visible: thou must be lying – And yet it's thy voice! Oh, the is notion tough!" "Norlain, dear Norlain! How brave be my brother! Now let me explain, so you'll know I am true. Traveled I once up the steep, windy mountain: Past the tree line, I am visible, too. " "Sime, oh Sime, your voice is so dear to me! Sime, how can I escape from these men?" "Courage, my brother, we have now a friend for us – Yonder, perched up in that tree like a wren! "There sits the first man I've spoke with in four years. Norlain, wait for me, let me go speak with him. Surely, together, we'll think of a rescue. Hold tight, dear Norlain – work hard and look vim!" Sime was already moving toward Kirain. She smiled to see Norlain still swinging away, Strong in the sunlight with hope like a candle Alighting his eyes in a fierce, glad display. "Kirain, come down – or do you have a purpose For sitting so high in a tree, like a bird?" "Hush!" said Kirain, "Though thou's rightly excited, Do quiet thy voice or thy strains shall be heard!" "Right you are!" Sime said, dropping to whispers, "Yet, still, dear Kirain, oh, why are you so high? What do you whisper to high, tender tree leaves That calls you away from a mission so sly?" "Nothing, dear Sime, but thou makes me smile – When danger is near and I must be alert. Search, I, for Floris, the Beaked One thou spoke of. Those dangers and fears I should like to divert." "Oh! Do you see her?" cried Sime, surprised. "You're a bold one, a brave one, and ever so sly! But surely, she isn't here, is she, dear Kirain? We cannot leave Norlain! Oh, is she nearby?" "Fear not, sweet maiden! I seest her not there!" Kirain cried out softly, and made to climb down. "- Oh!" Sime jumped, for his voice held dismay: "Oh nay – there's her cloak, it's silver a crown!" "Oh no, it is she!" Sime cried, her hope waning, "Oh, she has found us! Now what shall we do?" "Climb up, dear Sime; sit still in the branches. Me she has seen! - but she shall not find you!" Sime rose from the brush, for her mind was quite made up: Ignoring Kirain, she strode straight toward the Queen. Careful she walked, so the grasses would sway not And betray the signs of a presence unseen. Sime crept slower as Floris' pale-ashen face Came into view under folds of her hood. Wretched and hooked, above her left eye, Sime Saw the cruel beak from where silent she stood. Sime spoke hotly as Floris strode closer, Her cloak wove of silver strands bending the grass, Golden and springy, that grew in the field where Sime, in rage, spent what courage she had. "I am the maiden you cursed with your magics! I the invisible maid of Iree! I come to defy you, and take back my losses." "And how do you find your entrapment?" said she. Sime took one wounded breath, then she rallied. "I come to defy you - defy you I shall! Give me my brother or take your slim chances - For I as a spirit an army do hail!" "Ha!" And the hard note rang out through the forest. "An army! Such impulse I never have heard! I have an army, and you have a rainbow! A flower! A feather! A rabbit! A bird!" "Aye, you have cursed me to terrible prison, Yet my voice I hear now, and my voice is strong. Your heart is weak and you know only power, But I have known weakness, and that I belong. "You think that you now own all of the whole mountain, And all of the citizens down in Iree. But you are wrong! My race shall defy thee. I'm small, but the strength of the mountain's in me!" "You shall defy me?" she screamed, then she turned. "Gurrug, upon her! - I shall thee defame! No more shall even your voice on the hillside My mountain, my treasure, my hills you profane." Guard Hounds quite tore at the ground where she'd stood Just a moment before Kirain lifted her high Into the branches. She sat there before him, Laboredly breathing, and watching his eye. "How are we now then to rescue dear Norlain?" She said when the Hounds had returned from their war. "Oh, I deplore her! And yet, by your face I think Maybe my rashness is more to deplore! "Have I ruined all of our chances? And yet they Were ruined by fate long before I touched them. Norlain, oh how can I leave him? His fate now Is worse than my own! Oh how sorry I am!" "Nay! Think not me angry, or that thy rashness Was not also equal to my country's Queen! - Brave, and impetuous, as the sea breaking Upon the high boulders of shores yet unseen!" "Oh," gasped dear Sime, relief sweet upon her. "Then what is afoot that so furrowed thy brow?" "Ah! - look, just there - right between those two branches -" "No! Floris is whipping that man - oh and how! "It is my fault! I have caused greater pain." "Sime, be silent, we may yet have hope." "Norlain I saw running swift like a deer there Straight into the forest, and down that steep slope." "Kirain! We have hope! And yet how shall I leave here Men that I've cursed with a terrible fate? I've brought yet more pain and sorrow upon them." "Thou must find Norlain, before it's too late." "You are right, Kirian. The Guard Hounds are yonder." "Come Sime, let me lift thee back to the ground. Where is your hand?" Sime placed her invisible Fingers in his, and he lowered her down. Swift through the bushes they flew, like two arrows, Kirain hiding carefully, Sime, look-out Quietly whisp'ring and watching for Norlain and Hoping to find him, beginning to doubt.... "Kirain, are you sure," Sime whispered, as slowly The light waned and shadows grew longer and fell. "Are you quite sure that you saw him - his black hair - As swiftly he flew down the slope to the dell?" "Aye, I am certain, yet strange be it still now - Why hast he not seen us? Where could he have gone? You know this dell, and the forest around it, Yet long we have looked, and it seems he is gone." "Maybe they caught him! Those Hounds with their sharp teeth - "Yet we have not seen them or heard them at all! "Where could he be? And what should we do now? Oh Kirain! I know I'm the fault of it all!" Sime dropped wordlessly onto a rock and Began to sob into her sleeve wet with dew. Kirian crept close to the sound and knelt, weary, And said, "No Sime, lies not the fault here with you." "Then who does it lie with?" Sime burst, and standing, She kicked at a log and she stomped on the earth. "No! I'm a whithering wretch and I've caused this Quite unending pain by my own misplaced mirth!" "Mirth it seemed not when thee told me thy story," Kirian said softly from under a tree. "Boldness and courage, and cunning, and love didst Inspire the act that has brought thou to me." "Gentle you are, and you're kind beyond reck'ning, But fear I your character sketch has a lack: Wisdom I heeded not when it would warn me, And laughed when I should have stood silent and slack." "Thou has gained wisdom the hard way, but dearest, Believe in the virtues that guided your voice. Though thee invisible, thee has that voice still, And thee can yet labor to amend that choice." "Wise art my guide; I will trust what you say and Believe in my heart that your hope shall come true." "Listening to wisdom is wise in it's way. Let us stop here and rest, and partake of some food." "Oh Kirain, where could he have gone, and why didn't He come to us right when we entered the wood? We've traveled for hours in any direction. He must not have seen us, but surely he would!" "Calm be, dear Sime, and quite your worries. We haven't heard Guard Hounds. He must be nearby." Sime fell sleepy when once she had eaten and Kirian stood silently, ever so sly. As twilight deeper fell over the woodland, And shadows surrendered and blended to one, Darkness encased quick Kirain as he crept from One tree to another, whistling a bird song. Norlain would be listening, and surely in silence, He'd notice the birdsong did not quite belong To forest or enemy, even to strangers, And make his way towards it, before very long.... Three hours in darkness searched Kirain the hopeful Until lowered hopes were at last lifted high. From deep in the forest, and off to his left, from The darkness there answered a wavering reply. A trembling bird song, as though from a whistler Quite long unaccostumed to whistling at all. Doubtless there were not great chances to whistle, Thought Kirain, when serving in Queen Floris' hall. "Norlain? Norlain!" called Kirain, and softly He climbed a branch lower and prayed it was he. "Aye, it is Norlain! And where is my savior? Are you the quaint wren Sime spoke of to me?" "Yes, and I cannot express my deep gladness At finding thee whole - oh, thee is, I hope, well?" "The finest! At being set free I think nothing Could dampen these spirits. With freedom they swell!" "Come then; let's back to dear Sime at once, She's resting, but lightly, she aches to see thee." "Of course, then let's hurry, for I yearn to see her - Or hold her, if true that invisible she!" "Indeed she is!" "Ah, then let us go quickly, But what is your name, rescuer of us both?" "Kirian. Kirain of the Trembling Tree. I come from the country on yonder West coast." "Well met, Kirain. I'm forever indebted. But let us away, for my sister is left Without your protection." "Aye, let us move swiftly. It would be a horror to find us bereft." Swiftly they ran through the woods, on for miles They forded a creek and they searched for the tree Beneath which lay Kirian's brown pack and Sime Sleeping gently, if still she was - they couldn't see. "Sime!" they called, as neared the small clearing Nearby which she slept, and Kirian saw his pack By the strong moonlight which fate set upon them And saw a strange shadow shaped like a girl's back. "Sime!" Kiriain reached for the source of the shadow. "Wake up, dear Sime, thy Norlain has been found!" "What?" said Sime, who was groggy from sleeping. "She's here," said Kirain. "Patience, she'll come round." Norlain knelt softly and reached out his fingers Toward the body which made a shadow. "Sime, is it you? Sime, how I've missed you!" "Norlain!" Sime cried and sat up. "And how!" Kirian watched Norlain embrace the small maiden; His arms clutched the air and Sime's shadow moved. "Sime," said Kirain, when Norlain released her. "Thy shadow's apparent when sunlight's removed!" "In moonlight I've seen it, and only in springtime. Oh how did you find him, dear Kirian, and when?" "Yes, he has brought me," said Norlain, in wonder, "And brought you to me. - It seems fate is our friend!" "Found him by birdsong: I whistled, he heard me, O'er yonder, past creek, in the evergreen wood." "Kirian, I thank you a million times over! How could you, my friend, be so kind and so good!" "Think nothing of it. Thee's happiness warms me A thousand times over, and makes my heart swell. Shall we continue round mountain to Ensoure And see thee made visible in that deep well?" "Yes! Let us continue at the first light! - Yet - Norlain, what see I now impressed on your face? What be the meaning - these lines on your forehead - When all that we've lost now returns to its place?" "Sime, forgive me, I've missed you to aching, But all of those boys left behind me are not Freed yet, as I am, and as you shalt soon be: I wish all of Iree would finish her off! "And send that horrible Queen to the to depths With stones tied about her, and that silver cape, Sword-sliced into shreds, and her Guard Hounds appointed To taste the valcano, and see what they make!" Sime pulled back from him, frightened, astonished, Yet somehow she knew the same feeling. She said "I understand, Norlain my gentle brother. Go back and begin to stir them with your tread." "Bless you, my sister, I did not expect thee To carry my vengance in such a soft heart. Yet you were alone these four years, I expect. Gentle sister, please know, I've been torn all apart." "By me," Sime wept. "My laughter betrayed you To waste the long years there without even me." "No Sime, if you had not laughed, we'd still be Far up the tall hillside, not happy or free." "Oh Norlain! Brother, your good heart will guide you. Don't hesitate, Norlain, to do what seems best. When I am visible, I then will join you. Now go, my dear brother. Get on with thy quest." "Farewell, precious Sime, and farewell Kirain! I thank thee, and know that I'm deep in your debt. Protect her for me, and I hope we'll meet someday. Farewell, for time being, farewell and well met!" "Farewell!" called Kirain. Norlain left the clearing. "Let's onward, sweet Sime. Or would thou now sleep?" "Sleep? No, I cannot. I think if we go now We might reach the path before birds start to cheep." "On then! And let us make haste to restore thee And follow thy brother, and make us a war." "Kirain, this war is not yours, be not troubled, For anytime you can return to your shore." "I came seeking something elusive and subtle, And now I have found it, and now I am glad. I have found purpose: to fight this injustice, Until I'm defeated or till I go mad." "On then! And may wings of fate be around us, Sweet angel wings guarding our path and our way. Let yonder ev'ning be filled with the sunrise Of justice delayed and for years held at bay." Off through the forest, Sime's shadow leading, They both moved on quickly, through forest and dell, Until, as the day began clearing the shadows, Sime's faint one stopped as they saw a great hill, Covered with grasses that swayed in the moonlight, Steep as the mountain whose side it was on. Sime said breathlessly, "Here, we have found it. Climb up and across; we shall make it by dawn." Faster they climbed up, as dew from the grasses Soaked into their clothes and tipped Sime's long hair. "Say," said Kirian, as the dawn began slowly, "Is that her strong castle? Is that it up there?" "Yes, yes it is. There's the hall where she paces, While wind whips the caverns and throws out her cloak, And Guard Hounds creep snarling at all of the lasses Who bring up her suppers to tables of oak." "Ask did I not for descriptions of fury, But how does thou know all these details, the same?" "Saw I them, as I knelt frightened, at mercy Of Floris and Guard Hounds and Entowr of Thrain." "Say, my dear Sime, may I ask a question That troubles me awf'lly, and may trouble thee? How shall Norlain rally forces of Iree Who long have been cowed by her cold tyrany?" Sime was silent, till Kirain spoke softly Her name to the twilight that's just before dawn, Which had quite erased her faint shadow completely. "I'm here," said Sime. "I am pondering long. "Know not I what to answer to your question, Yet Norlain will ponder it and he yet may By his quick rescue and news that I'm living, And knowledge of Floris, come up with a way." Onward they pushed, and quite just as the sun dawned They reached the stone pathway that lead to the bay: Three-feet-wide only; three hundred feet skyward. Kirain looked right over and then looked away. "Surely there must be another way, Sime." "Nay, surely there's not - unless far we went down, Down, down the hillside, almost to Iree, And there forded the river quite close to my town. "This pathway slips us right under the falls. It will Get us to Ensoure as quick as birds fly." "You're quite sure, Sime? It may be our ending, For we would be dead if a foot went awry." "Shush. Hug the cliffside - I'm here - see? I'm fine." And so they crept on, as the sun lit the sky, Turning the cliffside from moon-gray to golden And waking the eagles to circle on high. The roar of the waterfall grew as they neared it. Finally they turned a sharp corner to see, Falling from clifftop above them like thunder, Into a great river and out to the sea, The waterfall, shot through with dawn like a rainbow And turning the water to bright liquid gold. Light turned the droplets to crystals which made the light Dance on the cliffside, in colors untold. The pathway grew thin, down to merely two feet. Wet through from the spray, they quite caref'lly crept on. Light through the waterfall turned the cliff colors - A life-size kalidescope, bright as the dawn. Kirain called to Sime, to ascertain often, If she had not fallen, and was not held up, So he would not trip on her, coming behind, And tumble them both into nature's huge cup. Finally they made it - dripping but safely. Kirian, breathing heavily, leaned on the stone.Yet... One act of viligance lowered can ruin All that one has worked for and labored to own. Slipped, did Kirian, o'er edge of the cliff - But by fate he was caught in the nest of a hawk, Sime turned quickly to see what he yelled for, And saw to her horror him there on the rock! She screamed in terror; he screamed in blind pain. "Oh Kirain!" she shouted. "Kirain, oh Kirain!" "Help me!" he said, and she knelt at the cliff edge. "I'm here, but I'm small, and you're big, and in pain!" "I think it is broken, my leg! Oh, it hurts so." He crawled to one knee. "Put your hand in my hand." She did, and he slowly, while gripping the hillside, Said, "Hold tight, I'll make it. I'm going to stand." Gripped she his hand quite as hard as she could; He rose to one foot with his teeth clenched in pain. "There, I am standing, now make thyself heavy, I'll heave myself up and our goal we'll obtain." Heaved he, with all of his might, and she cowered, Against the strong rock, and they pulled with loud cries - She with as much as her thin arm could muster - All at once the weight eased, and she opened her eyes. "Oh!" she gasped. "Kirain! We made it all right! But your leg! You're quite injured! Oh, what's to be done?" He heaving said, "Sime, leave me here waiting; Go down to the pool and do what's to be done." "Leave you, alone, on this mountain, in pain? Oh, quite never, I cannot - Oh, what shall I do? I quick as a current could cross right back over And run down to Iree and tell them of you!" "No! Thee shall not! No, they would not believe thee. Do just as I say and then quickly return." "Norlain believes me!" "But I'll need a stretcher, And we are so near now. Don't feel such concern! "I'll quite be all right, with the hawks as my friends, And the sunrise still beaming. Go quickly; go now!" "I feel so harsh leaving you!" "Go at my urging!" "Alright, I will go. I'll run quickly; I vow!" "Go! Let the speed of the lighthawk be with you!" Sime spun and ran, her feet light on the stone. Kirain watched emptiness. Only her footsteps Betrayed she was leaving. He let out a moan. He would not utter it in her dear presence, Where heart, though invisible, surely should break. As wind swept the high, thin air free of her presence He felt himself trembling and started to shake. Down the tall hillside, flew Sime, her stone-colored Dress flown behind her, though no one could tell, Except for the way that it made the grass whisper, As if it had secrets it wanted to yell. Flew she so fast that she almost went tumbling When came she to quite a steep drop in the slope. Stopped she, and stared at the sea out before her, And at the lagoon swirling deep with her hope - She leaped off the ledge in a hurry and fell on the Grasses below, but she stopped there, quite still. Occured, like the sunrise - long coming, yet sudden - A horrible truth was made known on that hill: "I can kill her," she spoke to the sunrise, The ocean before her, lagoon down below. "I alone granted this gift - not a curse! - She has given fist. I shall deal her a blow!" It seemed the lagoon - sweet relief come so near - A less hindered perspective it gave to her heart. The line between curses and presents went blurry... I come now to think - are they often apart? Turned she and flew up the hillside with passion For now a new purpose was added to fear: Hope, and strained thoughts of how Kirain fared skyward. She pressed on: though tired, she would persevere. Kirain depended upon her. And Floris Was sure not to stay in the forest for long. Ran she with hope that the day was just dawning For which she had lived out her lonely life long. The cliff, which had faded to hillside, came nearer, And Sime was forced to slow down to a walk. Her thoughts had a chance to catch up to her footsteps - As neared she Kirain and she'd soon need to talk To tell him why she had returned, still invisible, Up to the cliffside, and onward to war. Would he understand her? Surely he'd plead her To turn on her heel and go back to the shore - But he had not lived with cruel Floris for decades! His people had not been imprisioned by her. He could not know what they lived with, the terror That struck every man when they passed in a blur - Riders on horseback, and Entowr of Thrain, And great Guard Hounds with teeth bared - they came for more slaves. Nor what a child felt, as Queen Floris' cloak silver Swirled madly about as wind whipped through her caves, Shadowing eyes lit with embers of charcoal, Draped around body in jumpsuit of black, Covering muscles with strength like pure iron, And beaks of orange molted with bronze and topaz. Awful and terrible, was the sad day that Imprinted upon Sime's mind such a sight. Slower she walked, and she closed her eyes briefly, Stilling the memory and stopping the fright. Realized she then that she must not tell Kirain. Invisible, was she not? She could slip by - Quietly, quietly, careful as starlight, And hope he'd forgive her deceit by the by - When he saw and aquiesed to her reason, He'd surely forgive her! - And killing the queen Was worth quite a price; surely this was a small one! Yet Sime felt badly. "Oh, isn't that mean?" "Quiet," she said to herself after bursting - Kirain might could hear her, just round the next bend. Biting her lip and resolving to pass him She tenderly crept toward Kirain, her friend. Round the last corner she beheld the man who sat Breathing with heaviness borne of great pain. Sime stood motionless, shocked at the torture She saw on his face - white and grimaced - so plain. "Oh!" she thought, startled. "He's severely worsened! Or, maybe, perhaps, oh dear Kirain - could he? Could he have hidden the pain he was feeling To urge me to go to the pool, not Iree? "Oh how much I feel I've ill used him! And yet I've Not even stepped over his still, moaning form.... I could yet reveal my plan and my mission - But he'd not agree and tempt me to conform. "Oh what a choice I am burdened to make and Dear minutes slip by while I stand here and think. Now I must go, I must act while in courage." Carefully Sime crept up to the brink Of the thin pathway, and scooted around him. He sat with his hands to his face, forward bent. Careful to stifle her gasp of relief Sime Made it around him, and more quickly went Along the ridge and slipped under the waterfall, No longer shot-through with rays from the sun. On the far side she stopped, holding the cliffside, To dry off her feet - then she started to run. Along the precipice, down, down the hillside, Onto the meadow and to the river Which separated her town from the mainland, And saw such a sight that it made her shiver. There, just across the wood bridge, on the Isle, Axes and hammers and swords in their hands, Stood the fair farm-folk of Iree, their leader None other than Norlain, her brother, with bands, Up far on his arm, a signal of warfare, The metal was thought to be frightening to sprites, Also, it girded the strength of the sword which Would cut down their enemies. Oh, what a fright It gave poor Sime, to see them just so, And Norlain was giving a speech to the men: "On to the mountain, up into her lair, we shall Frighten the Beaked One right out of her den! "No longer shall we fear the woods on the hillside. No longer shall evil taint all of our lives! Never shall children be taken for slaughter, Or slaves for her tables and tunnels, or wives! "Free shall we be from the Queen of the Mountain, No longer we'll fear the great monster, the freak! Shredded shall be her long cape of pure silver, And from her forehead I shall take her mean beak!" "Rah!" yelled the men, till the hill shook like thunder To Sime, who stood by the bridge, on the shore. Rushed the whole village of men 'cross the river And up the steep hillside, seven and four-score. Trembling, Sime ran quickly beside them. She thought to catch hold of her brother and say, "Norlain, I'm coming," but then she thought better, For he, just like Kirain, would beg her to stay. Ran she, like she had not just run three miles. Ran she like Northern wind blew at her back. Ran she with purpose and determination. Ran she for Kirain; ran she to attack. There, in the forest, where Norlain had labored To chop down the trees that would furnish deep caves - There Norlain stopped, at the head of the party, And crouched in the bushes, and whispered, "The slaves "There, at their chopping, do not mean she's hither, For often she sent us with Entowr of Thrain. Crush all the Entowr and Guard Hounds this moment, And if you find Floris, whistle this refrain:" Softly he whistled, and softly he turned then, To carry the whistle to all of his crew. Suddenly, there in the crowd, was her father, And knew she, that instant, just what she should do. Quietly crept she away from the others, And into the edge of the clearing slaves chopped, Avoiding the Guard Hounds, and up a small incline, She tiptoed like breeze, until finally she stopped - There, through the forest, she saw the pure silver That enveloped Floris, and there was her beak, Visible in the bright sun, o'er her eyebrow, She spoke to an Entowr of plans and critique. "There, on the mountain," she said pointing yonder, Through trees that her slaves had cleared not long ago. "There on that cliffside will be my defenses, These logs piled up high - one cut! - down they go. "This, of course, tharqin, is just a small part Of all the great plans I have made for my hall. Soon I'll be able to reach out my hand and take More of this continent; soon I'll have all!" "All you will have," growled the Entowr of Thrain, Bowing low with his black, hairy hooves stepping back. "Your Majesty, nothing that is shant be yours. You will reign over all, with your whip at their back." "Everlasting dominion -" But there she did stop. Outside the clearing a disturbance she heard. War cries, and clanging of axes on swords, Swung wild by the slaves, who had hope long deferred - Sime turned to watch. Cruel Floris strode toward The opening where Sime stood. And as she passed, Sime thought that she might plunge in a sword, Then realized she had not one; she had not asked! Far, far more quickly than Sime thought possible Noise died to the dying breaths, growls, and screams, Of those who had fallen, and Sime quite blanched. It was so unexpected. Not even in dreams Had she ever come upon such a dread sight As some of her kinsmen, with teeth in their chest, As great Guard Hounds shook them until they were dead - Then dropped them and angrily turned to the rest. "Iree! You fight me?" said Floris, surprised. "Oh! There - I see now - that slave of my hall Inspired you falsely? Well, that shall be changed. You will die or be workers for me, Queen of All!" "Not so! I am Norlain, not slave of your hall And you will die now. We'll not live with your stain Of evil upon these poor mountains we love. We have come to defeat you, to vanquish your reign!" "Aha!" laughed cruel Floris. "Not so, son, with me. I'm not a dead tree you can chop at your will. I'm Queen of the Mountain, and soon I will be The Queen of the World. You will do what I will! "KILL THEM!" cried Floris, and Entowr lept forth With simetars brandished, and slashed at the men. But as they spoke briefly - Norlain and cruel Floris - Sime climbed a tree and sat perched like a wren With knife poised above the neck covered in silver For Floris had raised her hood when she emerged From the small clearing. Sime drove it downwards But as the tip touched the fair cape something urged Floris to turn, and the knife fell through nothing: It dropped from her hands and fell out of the tree, Visible, landing among the trod grasses. Floris stared up at the branch trembling free With Sime's weight, and the surge of her stabbing. Floris frowned slightly, then walked underneath, Back to the clearing, while men still fought, raging, Against Entowr's scimetars, and the Hounds' teeth. She jumped down behind her and picked up the knife, Which then vanished within her invisible hand. Sime, her heart pounding wildly, followed Floris. As she walked, the clearing she scanned: None guarded Floris; her warriors were fighting. She entered the clearing as Sime moved close. Turning to gaze at the battle, she almost Walked into Sime. Sime tried to compose All of her feelings; the rage and the terror, The horror which told her she ought not to kill. Yet this dark destroyer had killed many children And Sime would kill her, with all of her will. Raising her knife, she stepped forward to drive it Into Floris' belly, but Floris caught wind Of the slight motion of leaves, and she drew back. The arch of the knife Sime could not resind; The long, ragged knife drove into Floris' thigh With a slice and a crunch that forever would stay In Sime's memory. Floris reeled backwards And stared at the knife of quite visible gray Which stuck from her thigh just above her right knee. Blood poured from what seemed to be quite a deep wound. Floris seemed about to scream, then she stopped and Her face went pale white, and she there almost swooned. But realizing danger was there and not dealt with, She seemed to take courage and conquer the pain. "Who art thou, vermin," she growled with anquish, "Wraith! You have wounded me; make thyself plain!" Sime lay breathless on leaves where she'd fallen Not knowing whether she should run or should try Somehow to kill her completely - how could she? Her only knife was inches deep in her thigh. "You." Something deadly had come over Floris. "Sss... Sss... Sime. I think that was your name. Funny, you thought me. And now am I funny When beyond this clearing, your kinsmen lie slain?" Low was the hiss in her voice, and the power It held made Sime start to trembling hard. "Sime, the little invisible mortal. Did you free your brother? You got past my guard.... "Ah... You are responsible, little invisible. You've brought your kinsmen to their very deaths. You'll watch them die, but I'll leave you to linger, In forests of torment, with anguishing breaths! "No longer the forest I mercifully granted To you as your homeland - not ever again! Slave girl, you'll live in my dungeons, with spiders Two feet long in size. They will feast on your skin!" Sime moved backward, as Floris' own voice, Covered the sound in the leaves that she made. Eight feet away, she stood softly and said, "I came here not to stab you with merely a blade!" "Ha!" And her laughter, rushed over the hill, On out to Norlain, as he fought from a tree, Desprate to kill the Guard Hound who leaped at him, And turned his head Eastward. The voice of Sime Laughing the way she had done in the halls! When Norlain and Sime had knelt and the Queen, Tore them away from each other. Could Floris Be dead? Had she killed her? Yet no - that high scream Could never be Sime's; it rang with a fire: Deep envy, and jealousy, self-pity, rage. It rang above everyone. Norlain in awe, Shoved his sword in the Guard Hound and ran forth to wage A war for his sister, if she was alive, And war on sick Floris, a war for these harms. Sime scrambled backward; scrambled for her life, But Floris reached deftly and grabbed round her arms With black gloves on fingers as pointed as claws. She felt for the throat that she knew that she would feel. Grimacing with the hot pain in her thigh, Floris climbed slowly upon her to kneel. "Sime, I'm human." She said with clenched teeth. "But no one would know it because of my beaks, Given to me by the Enchanter Hye, As but a child. Since then I a freak! "Respect. There is nothing that now can remove That single sweet homage from me, not your sly And failed little ambush. Your ignorant ways Forever are silenced - for now you will die!" "Ahhh!" screamed Norlain, running fast through the branches. He drove his steel sword through her back as she raised One black clenched hand to drive down into Sime. Sime blanched and watched Floris' eyes go half-dazed. Norlain yanked hard on his sword and it slid from The back of cruel Floris. She fell to the ground. Sime moved backward and sucked in deep breaths. Floris convulsed and Norlain came around And knelt near dear Sime, and called, "Oh, where are you? Are you quite okay? Are you safe? Sime please - Answer me, Sime - Where are you?" "Dear Norlain! "I'm here!" "Oh Sime!" Sime got to her knees And reached out to touch him. He gathered her hand In his death-stained fingers, and pulled her to him. "Floris is dead?" she whispered as he held her. "Yes. She is dying. - And so are our kin!" He stood up quite suddenly. "Climb up a tree, Sime. I must go and help!" And he ran for the hill. "Floris is dead!" Sime heard him proclaiming. She walked to the brow of the hill, feeling ill. Their kinsmen gained courage when hearing that Floris Lay dead in the clearing just over the hill. Entowr came running, and Sime took cover, Avoiding the scimitars swinging with will. Seeing the body of Floris the Beaked One, They turned from their leader and ran toward her throne. Norlain said, "Chase them!" and ran for the monsters. They chased down each one of them; each killed his own. Later that night they quite plundered her throne room, They freed all the slaves and they killed the Entowr. But two of the men, and Norlain and Sime, Walked Eastward to Kirain and precipice far. "You go," Sime told Norlain as they neared him, Carefully walking along the cliff ledge. "Why shall I tell him?" "Please do it," said Sime. "I mean to go onward, along this cliff edge, "Down, down to the lagoon whose waters will make Once more my skin visible." "How do you know?" "When I met Kirain, it was impressed upon me." "Then you shall do just that. I bid you to go." For now they were near him, his head on his shoulder, His face softly grimaced in sleep. By the moon Sime could see her shadow on the cliffside As softly she passed, to return by the noon. Slowly she picked her calm way down the hillside, Remembering all that had passed in two days. Dawn was just blooming when she reached the steep drop Where she had turned back under yesterday's rays. The grass turned to seashore, of boulders and seashells, And gulls in fresh salt air and glistening waves Crashing melodiously on the seashore. And off to her left in the cliffside tall caves Gathered the sunrise. But Sime looked right Over sun-christened waves to the Isle of Iree. Soon it would see her as she had long seen it. Soon she would return to her life and fam'ly. Long had she lived in the woods like a wood sprite, Long had she ceased to pretend she had faith, That Floris vanquished could be, and that she could Be proved as human, and not as a wraith. Hope long deferred, and yet hope given wings, Rose high in her heart as the aqua lagoon Neared. In the pool, five feet wide, ten feet deep, Ripples swirled on the rocks in a calm yet fresh tune. Off came the stone-colored dress and fell visible, There on the stones whom it mimicked. One toe, Reached, trepidatious, to touch the green waters, And then her foot lowered to enter its flow. She raised her head dripping, with long strands of hair In front of her face: mahogany slides For clear drips of water, to slip back within The pool which she hoped unenchantment provides. Slowly she turned for the proof she would find Written black just behind on the broken gray stone: There, stark as midnight, by sunrise of gold Onto the rocks her dark shadow was thrown, Visible in sunlight, and not just in moon. She sat in the pool with her back on the rock, And pushed at her soft hazel eyes with her hands, And sighed with relief, and with wonder and shock. The long years were over! The deep solitude Broken by Kirain, was broken for good! "NOW I AM SEEN!" she felt inclined to shout. She let her hands splash in the water, then stood Smiling at her dripping shadow on sand, And donned her gray dress, and moved quick up the hill. Throwing her hair back, it dried in the wind, As onward she ran in a rhapsodic thrill. All I've to say at the end of my tale, Is that if you have understood Kirain as I, You'd know that he stayed with Sime all his life, And together they traveled, as far as the sky. 2012 |