Taken Heart

I wandered lost through stone and flame, Where beasts gave chase and none I’d tame. Through caverns black I fled in fright, And stumbled into lantern’s light, A halfling’s eyes that burned with game. His words were quick, his stance was strong, He laughed as though the night was song. My hunters fled before his hand, And by his side I chose to stand. A stranger, yet I felt I’d longed. He gathered blades of paid accord, For treasure locked in darkness stored. His voice could stir the hardest heart, From grizzled vet to green upstart. He bound them close with spoken cords. I walked with him through bends of stone, Yet never once I felt alone. His tales were sharp, his wit was flame, I thought his heart might bear my name, Though whispers warned his love was prone. The nights were filled with clever play, With words that turned my grief away. I shared my fears, my hopes, my fire, And he would feed my soul’s desire. I dreamed he’d never walk astray. But shadows keep what light forgets, And tongues weave chains like hunter’s nets. I found him cloaked in passion’s guise, With charms that bound another’s eyes. My faith undone in cold regrets. I held him still, though doubts did grow, Through mountain storms and valley snow. A desperate heart will cling too tight, To fleeting warmth in fleeting night, Afraid to let the falsehood show. At journey’s end we found the prize, An altar dark beneath the skies. His patron spoke with voice of stone, A kingdom vast, a shadowed throne. He chose her gift, not love’s replies. No pause, no thought, he turned away, No glance to me, no word to say. The bonds we built were cast aside, The flame I knew had quickly died. His greed had claimed his soul that day. He vanished then, to realms apart, And yet he carries still my heart. For though his love was false and vain, I keep the joy amidst the pain, And sing of him in sorrow’s art.