The Ballad of Rhómar and Àrtarané

Thither to the fight, thither to the flame
thus went Rhómar, scarlet prince of Evernight,
and his betrothed, fairest queen Àrtarané

Fiercest of hearts and fearless in peril
theirs was the courage that braced the coming night,
and against blackest skies defiant
There it was, the kindling of valour's light,
shields against the darkness,
swords that echoed forth into memory
Anvölor and Elressië,
starlight and steel
to drive the fell servants of Dragondom away

But hither came the hour, hither came their fates
On the field of fire and doom they stood,
and fought beneath the roaring thunder
Alone amidst the fallen,
unyielding before the hosts of Nárva's brood
with banners burnt and hope torn asunder,
there, their great fates were sewn
Their shields were splintered and their starlight lessened,
but with hearts ever steadfast and sword-arms bloodied

So thither to the fire, now thither to their ends
and Rhómar sang in the face of death:
"Àrtarané! Àrtarané! For Evernight and my crimson star-maid!"
and he went forth and perished in the flames
but Àrtarané lingered and her strength did not fade
for seven-and-ten black drakes she'd hewn down
Until at the last her sword-arm was taken
and Anaya Àrtarané, whose likeness again shall never be, was overcome,
the last and brave, greatest queen of ill-fated Vystarién