Songs and Ballads

Taking Exeter Back From the Wolves
Originally written by Esther de Stryke


The wolves of Sherwood were slick
When they took the Castle of Exeter
Employing every nuance and trick
To get the prize they were after

As the faithful citizens of Exeter continued to fight
To their side came others of the Cornish brave
Ready and willing to help them out of this plight
To rescue their capital from the deprave

Hail Exeter! Hail Cornwall!
Hail the true people of the land!
As long as the brave answer the call,
No brigand troop will ever stand.

While the wolves had dissention
And one of their best left in disgust
Messengers were sent in every direction
To contact allies the Cornish could trust

Out of the gates of Chard one morning
Marched the Somerset and Wiltshire troops
A force that came well knowing
They had an important job to do

They entered Exeter amid charges
They entered Exeter to face jibes
They countered with slogans
With the help of clever scribes

They fearlessly entered the tavern base
To face this group of jokers
And in the Heavenly Palace
They took the wolves money in poker

Hail Somerset! Hail Wiltshire!
Hail the faithful allies of Cornwall!
As long as the need is dire,
They will answer the call.

"No battle plan lasts past the first contact of the enemy," they say.
The same was true for the allied trust
The castle's fortifications caused dismay
And their first attempt went bust

But that their resolve didn't dampen
Or leave them in the dust
They took again to the taverns
Armed with singing taunts

The second time was more effective
Though it still did not succeed
Cooperation most directive
Was needed to achieve the deed

And once more all attacked the castle
With extra reinforcements abreast
When the havoc had settled
They were met with success

Hail Somerset! Hail Wiltshire!
Hail the faithful allies of Cornwall!
As long as the need is dire,
They will answer the call.

Hail Exeter! Hail Cornwall!
Hail the true people of the land!
As long as the brave answer the call,
No brigand troop will ever stand.

My Dearest Nimue
Written by Esther de Stryke

I saw my future on the river's edge
Doomed I was by your lovely smile
As long as I gave you knowledge
I could call you mine for a while

Such talent, such power, such grace
In one so petite and so young
A mind that could match mine in a race
To no one else could my heart belong

After all my years of loneliness
Can one blame me for my greed?
Or my hope when I knew it was hopeless
Even cursed seers need to believe

The day will come when you will tire
Of this old wizard's attentions
My wisdom you will no more require
And I bring you only aggravation

Then you will set a trap for me
To imprison me in the depths of a tree
And I will walk into it unhesitatingly
Better trapped by you than free

And when the wind blows
I will whisper your name
So you will always know
I love you still the same

Some Choices are Never Easy
Written by Esther de Stryke

A wise man once told me
That you won't always have the luxury
Of choosing the lesser evil in life
Sometimes amid the strife
The only choice you can make
Is to decide which mistake
You can live with

Damned if you don't, damned if you do
People will stand and revile you
Not understanding what odds you faced
Having never been in your place
Throwing your reputation into the hands of Fate
While the flames of Hell lick at the gates
From the widening rift

Standing bloodied, standing strong
You pray they will see that they were wrong
Standing tall, standing bruised
You cringed at the thought of being misused
Standing on the edge of Hell
You contemplate you position well
Like a sailor left adrift

The only hope for your repast
Is to remember that this too shall pass

My Gossamer Warrior
Written by Lady Esther for her friend Lady Umberlee


Thou spun such a brilliant image
Of a brave soldier leading his men
Into the valley of death and despair
Little did I know, I was actually the one
Being lead into that valley lair

Many nights I cried my soul into the darkness
Praying for thy safety
Wishing only that I could be there
To nurse thy wounds to health and kiss thee

We created a pretty tale, thee and I
One that would bring hope to the darkest night
A wonderful fairytale to make one sigh
Only to be destroyed by truth's harsh light

All the emotion I felt for thee
Was truer than the Northen Star
Blazed into agony then turned bitter cold
When I found out what you really are

I could have loved the truth
If I had known it then
But now the trust I had for thee
Has caused my soul to rend

Thou are only a gossamer warrior
Made of dreams and fantasies
Stories woven from lies and deceits
A will-o-wisp to lead the unsuspecting
Into a bog of regrets and disbelief

I don't need thy tale any more
I can make my own
Upon the basis of truth
A foundation stronger than stone.

Let me go, thou dream of a stranger
Let me heal from my misjudment
As the agony of a hundred hells burn through me
May I find rebirth and refinement

Little Bird From Eyre
written by Scarlett de Stryke

Little bird, little bird, where have you flown?
Over the stormy sea, from the land of Eyre
Little bird, little bird, what news have you borne?
Tales of a castle and towns surviving fires
Of battles lost and battles won.

Little bird, little bird, which castle had to fend?
Corcaigh, the shiny jewel of Munster.
Little bird, little bird, who won in the end?
Duke Daubigny and his loyal fighters,
Against the army of darkness, they did contend.

Little bird, little bird, where is the darkness now?
In the land of Scots, joined to a clan.
Little bird, little bird, to who do they bow?
They bow to none, but will follow a Roman
Rumored to want the English crown.