Part 6/The Final Battle



All lay in quiet, firelight dying

Mead sozzled warriors embracing sleep sweet

Still now the rafters of our lord's hearthhome

Quiet the hall which once rang with song



Across the meadows shadow crept slowly

Evil its passage, death in its wake

No living thing stayed to tell of its journey

Only the foul things rejoiced as it came



Towards the great hall an ominous dread

Approaching menace made peasants quail

Then at the threshold it unleashed its powers

Doors burst asunder, its entrance it made



Dark bride of evil roared out her challenge

Deliver the craven who'd murdered her son

Deeds done that night cried out for vengeance

No wergild sufficient to assuage her loss



Tall stood she then, evil hag monster

Eyes red as ruby, hair black as jet

She opened her mouth, fangs dripping with venom

She stretched out her hands with talons of steel



Then stood forth Slayer, brave 'gainst the demon

I slew your son on yonder strand

But wergild I'll pay not, not rue his passing

His death came in battle, a battle he sought



He came upon us, his host all ferocious

Dark deeds of murder planned they that night

Wergild you claim, aye wergild should be paid

By demons' kin to counter our loss



The demon crone laughed at this display of honour

Then challenged the Slayer to a fair fight

She all alone just one feebled mother

'Gainst Slayer and two who would fight at her side



Then strode forth Xander, mighty in battle

Alongside him Wilhelm, cunning and strong

Together they pledged that against dam of evil

At Slayer's side they would fight to the last



But Buffy most noble declined their offer

In single combat the monster she'd face

Mine is the task to slay foul mother

As mine was the task of killing her son



Drew she then sword, steel shining in moonlight

Engaged the monster in duel to the death

Monster hag laughing, voice ringing in rafters

Sprung to attack her valiant foe



Sharp was the sword wielded by Slayer

But on demon hide no blow would bite

Again and again sharp steel did batter

But no sign of wound did evil hag show





And as Slayer hacked at ancient foul goddess

Hag leaped towards her, leaped to attack

Talons did rake downwards sundering mail shirt

Talons raked downwards sundering flesh



Quiet were we as we watched dread battle

Fearful were we lest Buffy lose

Slayer was wounded, lifeblood was flowing

Hag sensing triumph prepared for the end



Then from the hall Willow and Tara

Called out to Buffy to drop her sword

A charm was upon the evil crone goddess

A ward against iron, to protect her hide



Buffy did run from evil wight fleeing

Monster pursuing avenging her son

Then Buffy paused by Hall's great pillar

Goddess crouched silently preparing to spring



Then forth stretched Buffy, towards the pillar

A sword hilt laid buried in rooftree support

Holding it firmly, Pulling it gently

Slayer drew sword from out of the wood



Evil thing paused then mocking the Slayer

No sword of iron can pierce my hide

Come let us trade blows in noble fashion

And saying so she opened her arms



Buffy stood wavering, wounds taking their toll

Evil dam's venom firing her veins

But holding sword firmly deep did she push it

Piercing demon hide, piercing its heart



For Hall was called Bronze and with good reason

Bronze was the sword that pierced rooftree

Talisman, heirloom of our lord's family

Forged in the ages when midgard was young



Raided we a cheer as evil thing toppled

Raised we a shout of Victory Hail

Then stilled our voices as we turned to Slayer

As ashes our praises as Slayer fell



Wounded was she, mortal we judged it

Talons had rent almost to her heart

Blood filled with venom coursed through her body

Slayer of demons, by demon spawn slayed



But sister of Slayer pushed herself forward

Weeping and crying she lay by sister's side

Tears flowed freely bathing wounds bloody

Tears of such power that wounds would heal



So survived Slayer, though weak from the venom

Evil she'd conquered and evil had fled

Great was her honour, noble her bearing

Valiant and beauteous, mighty her deeds



So ends my tale of sword maiden mighty

Of her endeavours against the dark

Honoured I was to fight in her presence

To know of her beauty, to sing of her fame