she lies
in bed at night
hearing voices
of the world beyond hers
long past
and all but forgotten
but a mother's love
stays forever
she doesn't know
what she should do
these nights
when the wind is listening
to her blind confessional
are there things
hiding in the pitch black
of her bedroom, listening
carrying her thoughts
out among the people
traitorous thoughts, thoughts of despair
giving up
she would want to die
but she is a Shieldmaiden of Rohan
she must fight
and fight she would, if she
could see what she was fighting
darkness, shadows
illness, and corruption
a slithering man with
a slithering tongue
and wandering eyes
he would be the least of her worries
but for her dying uncle,
her king
and her people, who rely on her
if you would ask anyone else,
she is steel and cold
the strength and power of her people
they love her
she can't take it much longer
but she knows she must
for the rest of her life. she cannot
escape it
duty? he asks
and she sees he does not
understand those nights of her torment
the days of her worry
duty? is a question
that she can forgive
because he was not there to see.