To Sheathe the Blade

Crownless a king
Death in his eyes
Into the slaughter a single man rides

One battle left
All on the line
Here at the end under darkening skies

Arrows aflame
Bright as they fly
Blazing a trail through the enemy lines

Out of the fray
Drawing his blade
Facing the man he's sworn to slay

One final lesson to apply
Death is a feather
When it's time to sheathe the blade
Once more the golden crane will fly
Duty a mountain
Time to face it unafraid

Will against will
Ancient blades clash
Steel meeting steel in a fast, frantic dance

Each perfect step
For this he trained
Scars from a lifetime becoming the blade

Bleeding and bruised
Breath running thin
Outclassed and tired but he's not here to win

One final act
Risking it all
Two blows and both of them shall fall

One final lesson to apply
Death is a feather
When it's time to sheathe the blade
Once more the golden crane will fly
Duty a mountain
Time to face it unafraid

As the third age winds down
On the last battleground
Down where two bodies lie
One of them starts to rise

Inches from death but still
Breathing by force of will
Crownless a king he stands
Over a battered land

One more forsaken slain
Once more the golden crane
Flies on a rising wind
To be reborn again

Out of the darkest days
Promise of a coming dawn
Ready to wear the crown
Of a kingdom once thought gone

Clouds breaking overhead
To reveal the ancient sign
A symbol of light yet to shine

One final lesson to apply
Death is a feather
When it's time to sheathe the blade
Once more the golden crane will fly
Duty a mountain, time to face it unafraid

One final lesson to apply
Death is a feather
When it's time to sheathe the blade
Once more the golden crane will fly
Duty a mountain, time to face it unafraid