Swords clashed in the moonlight night,
She could feel her strength begin to fade.
Smoke rose up to the pitch black sky,
As her home slowly melted away.
She new not where to turn,
And she was beginning to feel a great soreness in her feet.
The smoke made her eyes burn,
But she kept fighting, for the Saxons must be beat!
Oh, how she wished the destruction to come to an end,
For her family to live in peace once again.
But such a thing was not to be,
And she knew her life, this night,
Would certainly come to an end.
Nineteen-year-old Endlwyn quickly opened her eyes, a gasp escaped her ashen white lips as sweat beaded its way down her forehead. She quickly looked over to the sleeping forms on the other side of the small wooden hut. Her mother slept peacefully next to her baby sister, Aibhlin. Endlwyn's twin sister, Maelora, breathed contentedly beside her. There were no screams filling the air. No flames other than that of the small fire that kept the family warm at night.
Endlwyn sighed in relief. It was just a dream. That same horrible dream she had been having for the past few weeks. It had started the day her father and a couple other men went off to a distant village to hear word of the invading Saxons.
Saxons. The mere thought of the cruel and blood thirsty people sent shivers through her delicate frame. They were coming from the north and blowing in like the cold winter wind. And as the wind, they could not possibly be stopped. Endlwyn shook her head. She needed to stop thinking like that. After all, it was just a simple rumor.
But such a grave matter as this wouldn't be taken lightly, even in gossip, Endlwyn thought gravely.
The small hut began to feel stuffy and hot. Endlwyn tossed and turned on the straw pallet that she and her sister shared. But no matter how she lay, Endlwyn could not fall asleep. Her mind kept chewing on the possibility of a Saxon invasion.
Finally giving up on falling asleep, Endlwyn rolled quietly off the small makeshift bed. Her raven black curls fell forward on her sweaty face as she silently crossed over to the wooden door. Once she opened the door, Endlwyn felt the brisk fall air surround her body. She quickly closed the door, careful not to slam it lest she wake her sleeping family. The leaves of the surrounding forest rustled in the gentle breeze while the moon shone brightly over the village. Endlewyn made her way to the edge of the village until she reached a fallen tree. She sat down on the dirt covered ground and rested against the rough bark. Her clear blue eyes surveyed the quiet village and surrounding forest.
"Everything will be fine," Endlwyn whispered to herself. "Father will come home and tell us that there is nothing to worry about. I will have worried myself sick for no reason."
Endlwyn slowly fell asleep by the large oak. The dreams staying away from her mind and Endlwyn hoped it would stay that way.