Beneath the Raven Banner [Overture – Spoken over distant horns, waves, and choir] The sea remembers every name… But men remember only kings. Still… Even the smallest oar Can change the course of destiny. ⸻ Verse 1 Morning breaks on iron water, Frost still clinging to the shore. Hands of ash and backs of labor, Bound to row forevermore. No great blood runs through my veins, No hall will sing my name. Just another soul beneath The raven banner’s flame. ⸻ Pre-Chorus Every wave… Another scar… Every mile… Another war… Yet somewhere past the endless sea, The gods still whisper… calling me. ⸻ Chorus Raise the raven! Raise it high! Let the northern thunder cry! Though I’m nothing… Though I’m small… I will answer Odin’s call. Steel may break, And kingdoms fall, But fate remembers one and all. Beneath the raven banner… I will rise. ⸻ Verse 2 The village fires burned like stars, Ale flowed beneath the moon. War drums echoed through the valley, Victory had come too soon. Then she walked through smoke and torchlight, Shield upon her back. Every warrior turned to watch… My heartbeat never turned back. Eyes like winter… Cold yet bright… Meeting mine across the night. In one silent breath, The world was changed. ⸻ Pre-Chorus No spoken word… No touch… No vow… Yet every god was watching now. ⸻ Chorus Raise the raven! Raise it high! Let the northern thunder cry! Though I’m nothing… Though I’m small… I will answer Odin’s call. If she never speaks my name, I’ll still embrace the fire and flame. Beneath the raven banner… I will rise. ⸻ Bridge The king stood crowned in iron glory, Feared by every man alive. She stood beside him, Unbroken… The strongest soul I’d ever seen. I should have looked away… Instead… I dreamed. ⸻ Guitar Solo (Soaring melodic lead over pounding toms, choirs, and orchestral strings.) ⸻ Final Chorus Raise the raven! Raise it high! Let the black wings fill the sky! Every battle… Every scar… Has carried me this far. If the Norns have spun my thread, I’ll walk the path they’re weaving yet. No longer nameless… No longer bound… I’ll carve my legend From this ground. Beneath the raven banner… My destiny… Begins. ⸻ [Outro – Choir and distant sea] The sea remembers… And so… It begins.
