Read in Landscape!!!

Across the harsh terrain they go the man and peasant maid
Now filled with stock from bandit's keep that almost served as grave.
And springtime falls atop the land the cherry blossoms bloom
A sight that almost eases task and lifts from heart their gloom.

Yet even on a handsome path they dare not turn aside
Nor long in any leisure great does pair yet long abide,
But ever on their task their bent to find the ancient blade
So wizard's men and mage himself be laid inside a grave.

They onward press the winding trail not any little deed
For many dangers made by mount the pair are force to heed.
Yet still they go not turning back as days do turn to weeks
And place where ancient saber's laid the pair does ever seek.

Then finally cresting top of path they see in vale below
A lake of mighty breadth and width where thing they seek is stowed.
The peasant paused to see the sight and turns aside to man
To speak and tell the eastern knight that thing for which she planned

At last arrived and time does draw yet nearer still to end
Where only task that warrior's left is wizards will to fend.

"This lake below is place our lore
For long has said you'll find the sword.
Your daring ways and courage great
Convinces maid you'll alter fate

Of all my tribe and find a way
To wizard set as king to slay
And free us all from constant keep
The ever-pressing chores he seeks.

Yet still unknown the trial ahead does lay
At least that's thing the ancient stories say,
And heart of man to self's at time unknown
As found when maid her feudal questions honed.

Yet still I think the heart you keep
Will find a way to challenge meet."

So both the pair now downward go from mountain path they stand
Into the thrush of growing things and lower laying land.
They move their feet and pump their legs and dare not turn aside
For ancient saber bold and great's the thing the pair must find.

Then finally pair through thrush do come beholding ancient lake
That both had sought for great and long, their hearts then brief abate.
Then forward step they slow at time to see the thing beheld
Enchanted lake where ancient sword from elder times did dwell.

In midst of spring and heat of day no stranger story gave
Across the water thinnest ice in clearest sheet was laid.
Atop the sheet the cherry blossoms fell that herald spring
Their gentle forms across it lay and great attention brings

Below the surface forms do lay of many ancient men
Who in this cursed and cryptic lake did surely meet their end.
They bore the armor made in times that long ago had passed
Though floating still below the ice by eldritch magic cast.

In midst of lake atop the ice there sat the magic blade
By ancient art and secret mold this sword was surely made.
It vig'rous curve and sharpened edge reflected noonday sun,
And caused the heart of warring man to quickly beat and run.

For briefest moment man begins to step toward the sight
Like moth to flame his eyes were drawn onto the saber's light
Then sudden maid against his chest does push and break his stare,
And looks at man with gentle heart belying angry glare.

"Though man before this time has shone
No hint of greed or malice owned,
And kept me well on mountain road
While forth on quest our feet were goad

To such degree you risked your life
And waged for peasant hardest strife
Against the bandits high on mount
That numbered well beyond a count.

Yet still at moment avarice shows on face
That bids you move and seek the sword in haste
Despite the bodies kept in waters grave
That just beneath the ice we see yet laid.

Return to form you former held
A man where only courage dwelled."

And hearing words of maid the warrior shakes such thoughts from mind
Now knowing grave beneath the ice is only thing he'll find
If hasty seeking sword and reckless running cross the lake
For only death this path alone would ever grant as fate.

At maid the warrior nods his head and sorely starts to speak,
And thanks her well for stopping man when blade too quick he seeked.

"Watery grave and the thinnest of ice
Holding me under like magical vice
Surely is thing that to man would be wrought
Lo if not maiden her actions had brought.

Stopping the man from the grave that does seek
Deep in the waters my form to yet keep."

For moment peasants smiles to know the will of man was changed
And all this course and journey far's for more than just the pain.
Of early death that sure would come if hasty ice they dare,
And tread the thing without a heed that lakes a witching lair.

Then sudden laughter sprang about a wicked feyish thing
That once again a dreadful air to questing chore does bring.
From out of wooded shadows crept a woman sultry dressed
With palest skin that looked as one whose walking after death.

The air around them sudden chilled and heavy fear did fall
Atop the head of both the pair from woods so wide that sprawled.
Now quickly man did pull his sword and step in front of maid
To stay the Yuki-Onna witch the frigid one who came.

A wicked flirting smile she bore with voice a lilting song
The icy woman starts to speak with chiming words so wrong.

"Twice from arms this handsome man
By a peasant girl is took
Twice I'm spurned by warring man
And for serf am quick forsook!

Warn I well of woman scorned
By a man for which she longs
Know now woman seeks your heart
With a vigor fell and strong!"

The icy woman ended speech with dreadful flirting smile
That spoke of little love yet more of deepest cunning guile.
Yet still the pair did pause at Yuki-Onna's twisted words
That caused a briefest glimmer wrought by thing in heart they stirred.

"Voice on the wind and a lake that's afar
Both are a deception proving what's hard:
Promises given by nature and man
Seldom are truthful and good for a plan

Made for the sake of yet any their give
Careful when venture these things to you bid.
Also your words with a falsehood do ring
Saying we met when this's first I have deemed

Ever my eyes to yet lay on your form
Though you do clam to be woman that's scorned."

For moment long they all then held their breath at words he spoke,
And two did know the truth they say and one unknowing notes
That both the man and icy witch have turned their daunting gaze
Atop the head of woman stood to look at peasant maid.

Beneath their questing eyes she stood and fidgets hard at glare
That ask the woman give her faith to either one who dared.
Then sudden peasant speaks and tells her daunting will to all
By breath of maid this quest at time would either stand or fall.

"This man has helped to aid me long
With sword that's sharp and back that's strong
To cross this country's many holds,
And proved his faith in manner bold.

And furthermore he strikes not maid
As one to whom deceit is gave
As just a way to gain his wants
Though wants are great and heart does daunt.

But still a shortest time this man I've known,
And easy wears the weight of mask alone
The thief who knows reprieves in nearest sight
Though heart they own be filled with purest spite...

But still his words and way I'll heed
For sake of goodly deeds I've seen."

At hearing words the mouth of witch did turn and sudden sour
To know her speech did bear no weight or sway their will or power.
So on she spoke and gave them both a warning well to heed
In hopes that daunting chore of lake would prove to great a deed.

And daunt the will of both the pair to turn them far from task
For thing they sought was only thing that conscience lone did ask.
Of many master's men did serve that one they heed the least
Yet even more when knowing such would grant them little ease.

"Thing that blinds the maiden fair
Yet a many other blinds
Making things so hard to see
And the truth so hard to find,

Many maids before you fell
To the force that bids your ways
Making one that never dies
Yet to fear the maw of grave.

Be it so and follow through
On the questing chore your give
Do it so and follow through
On the thing that also bids

Maid in future time to long
For a death that's never gave
Long though maid may ever wish
That her death was thing that's bade."

The eerie words to core of maid did send a sweeping chill,
And causes blood inside her veins to present cool and still.
Then sudden turned the witch to warrior speaking well this tale
Of many men who ice did dare the many men that failed.

"Long before you both did come
In the age of distant past
Many men across this land
Did yet come on questing task.

Seeking sword you both do seek
Though to gain it's very dire.
Raising both the rage in heart
And the risk of witch's ire.

Gain the sword that stands in lake
By yet laying down what's near
Ice can only bear the weight
Of the one not bearing fear."

And speaking well this warning give the witch retreats a ways
Then turned and sat and watched their wills as both did work their ways
To try to think of meaning Yuki-Onna gave to pair
Before the icy lake now stood would either one yet dare.

"Warning of foe though there's truth in their words
Works not for good but yet only to stir
Fear in the hearts of a man and his friends
Hoping to bring their own working to end.

Still we must test what is thing she has said
Though her deception we both do now dread,"

Once saying thing the warrior took a stone and tossed it far
To test the ice and see for self the weight that thing does bar
From sinking deep to icy depths where only death would lay
And all beneath the surface held for long at length would stay.

To great surprise of both the stone across the surface skid
Though great the weight that thing atop it's flimsy surface bid.
Not even crack on top the ice for briefest moment showed
Though many men in armor clad did lay beneath it's tow.

For long at thing the questing pair did cast unsteady gaze
At stone that's calmy held atop the icy surface laid.
Then warrior knowing test was held now showed them strength that's bore
By ice would let them quest yet far achieving vaunted chore

Then man to maid did tell of plan that warrior current holds
To test the lake the witch enchants in manner very bold.

"Weight of the stone and the strength of the ice
Eases my worry that's pressing like vice.
Surely the weight of a man this would hold
Thing we do need is to merely be bold."

But maiden uncertain stayed and kept then turning wary eyes
Across the ice atop the lake where stone does current lie.

"Though maiden knows that man is brave
And fears yet little even grave
For sake of honor long you've sought
From early time when man's begot

And willing dares the hand of death
To grant the folk of hope bereft
A stay from all their weary toil
They make on other man's own soil.

Still maid must question tact you present take
And whether thing does tempt the hand of fate
To smite you dead and bring you down to grave
Where ever more the warring man be laid.

Yet still I trust your way and word
Though thing against my heart be stirred."

Then man to ice did turn his form and shuffling slow did move
To careful tread the icy lake was thing that well behooved
The one who went across the vast and dreadful terrain held
Where many dead who laid beneaths own bodies current dwelled.

But just as man did put his foot on very edge of lake
He hears a cracking breaking noise that spoke of dying fate,
And swift retreat he quickly made to draw away from thing
He current knew that swiftest death on head would surely bring.

Then warrior turned his face to maid and spoke his worried words
In deepest voice and manner strong so things were swiftly heard.

"Ancient enchantment and spells that are vile
Make of this ice what is deadliest trial.
Lake is unnatural made at this time
Serving so men it may trap and then bind."

And hearing words the maiden nods her head at man who speaks
Then turns her head from warrior's face and sight of witch does seek.
Again she sets and smirks at both not moving inch from place
Not given well to any task or showing any haste.

Like one who looks at works of ants to bugs unrushed may seem
Though only one with life so long this thing would ever deem
To gaze for time on works yet wrought by those of lesser make
Or deem it well to try and watch their fleeting works and fate.

And little help that gave to ease the maiden's troubled mind
Or aided solving thing that shows the way through current bind.
So back she turned to task at hand and speaks her current will
In hopes her words the heart of warring man might help to still.

"Yet long we own to ponder thing
Before we any answer deem
As right and true for riddle gave
For answer risk an early grave

So fear not, long on thing we'll dwell
Until we're grant an answer well.
That helps attain the tool we seek
To lend us all the wrath it meets.

But twice you've hasty lept too quick and soon
And almost faced the maw of rising tomb
I bid you well to wait the way I ask
So man may live through thing that maid has ask.

Then soon the sword will be in hand
As maid from long ago did plan."

And both retire a little ways from lake that tempts their hand
To rush yet forth and seek a way to gain the sword for man
For still they dare not go and take the witch's fiendish test
Though thing they know before they leave they need to try and best.

For rest of day and through the night they set and think on thing
To see if any answer all their heightened toil brings.
But none appears though long the hours they ponder problem gave
Nor any way that life of man for sure they both could save.

And also claim the sword they want the thing they mighty need
For quest to take the sword from lake is also mighty deed.
Then mind of man does turn to many daunting tasks they faced
To earn what's only defeat after running whole of race.

The many dangers pair did face to bring them down to lake
Were simply nill before the fact and such was current state.
No need had maid to brave the months that man in bed had laid
To bring him food and steal him goods to keep him far from grave.

Nor danger mountain pass had long present to pair who went
Along it's road on deadly task and maw of death yet sent.
And even bandits man had faced were all yet beat in vain
Though sheering cliff and breaking mount had granted most their pain.

Then sudden man did stop at though his mind began to turn,
And think of way that man the sword from witch might try to earn.
He thought on way that bandits fell beneath the weight of whole
When group had dared to harm the maid and goods of men yet stole.

The fear they felt had sheared the cliff and caused the ledge to break
The weight of all had broke the ledge and sent them down to fate.
Though men if brave would surely overcome his curving sword
Yet even though the thing was cast by ancient ways and lore.

Yet still the lack of courage killed the men and brought them down
From height of mount to little more than broken forms on ground.
The warrior looked yet down and knew his form their armor bore
The stench of fear did man not also current keep and wore.

And all the men that rest below the icy surface kept
Do also wear their weapons well though sure with things adept.
He sudden stood and turned to maid a fire gleamed in eyes
That told the peasant girl a plan the warrior sure derived.

"Sheering of rocks and the death of the thieves
Bring yet a thought that I'm forced to yet heed.
Witch who had spoke and had told us the tale
All who do bear what is fear will yet fail.

Surely the weight of my armor and sword
Long on my person those things have been stored
Causes the spell on the ice to yet give
Breaking away as the witch has yet bid."

And maiden sitting still in seat when hearing words of man
Did greatly fear the things he said though things were only plan
That either one had made at length though given night and day
To find a way to near the sword without yet nearing grave.

"A mighty warrior's man who speaks
Who often mortal danger seeks
And also gives himself to harm
Though thing would bring to most alarm

And current seeks for sake of clan
A way to set them free as planned
Thus grant for both our peoples sakes
A way to 'scape a dying fate.

But still I wonder well if words you've spoke
Are really true about how spell is wrote
If gleam of sword's not warped your noble mind
So answer quick you rush too fast to find.

Yet still before the man I'll heed
And grant the man whatever deed."

The warrior nods his head at the maid then turns himself trial
That's gave by icy witch's way in manner very vile.
Onto the lake the warring man alone by self would dare
To brave the ice alone by self while bearing little care.

From body warrior armor takes and braced against the cold
Now soon the man a venture owns in manner very bold.
His sword he lays beside his garb and first of steps he takes
Onto the ice to test his will against a dying fate.

Inside his heart he hides his fear as master long had taught
A skill that many years of work for man had surely wrought.
Alone he goes no friends to help on journey man now goes
And death preserves ignoble state he took to reach his goal.

But none these thoughts the man allows to cloud his wearied mind
He chills his blood like ice below so not a fear you'll find.
Inside his form or heart no threat of snowy witch prevails
As man does ever onward push and threat of ice assails.

From shore the maiden daunted watched as warrior crossed the lake
Just daring look for briefest time her fear refused abate.
Beside unknown to maid the Yuki-onna came with scowl
That shrouded witch in deepest fear a sight that most would cow.

They both do watch him nearer draw to ancient sword they sought
That long ago by secret craft in elder days was wrought.
The closer man does go the more the ice begins to crack
How strange that such a mundane sound's so fearsome filled with wrath.

But still he onward goes not daring turn to left or right
Yet steady pace he ever keeps to stay aloft the ice.
And maiden sudden speaks her mind forgetting witch's stance
Not meaning ask or say a thing she cast not even glance.

But still her words by witch is heard and quickly answered well
A thing that maid had dared not thought and word the witch might tell.

"Like bird the ice below his feet
Whenever ice and sole do meet."

Then sudden came the famed reply that gave the sword its name
The thing for which the witch now cried and granted well it's fame.

"A Thousand Birds..."

At sudden speech the maiden jolts and turns away from witch
Who current spoke so close to maid her icy breath a mist.
Yet still she dared not turn away from man who ventures back
With sword in hand and gleaming eyes that speaks of daring wrack

He'll dare to reign atop the head of wizard wicked made
And grant immortal man what's always early given grave.
Onto the shore he came at last and breath she held released
And granted well in maiden's heart what's pleasant little peace.

"Riddle of foe by the help of my friend's
Solved and now brings your own snare to an end.
Go from this place that for long you have grieved
Leaving these many below yet bereaved

After the realm of the wizard's attacked
Lair of the witch I will scour and sack!"

And man did gather garb and wound his way from vile crone
Though maiden stayed for moment long and left herself alone.
But only moment witch at present place and time did
need
To plant inside the maiden's head a little doubt like seed.

"Long though days of man may stretch
And yet cling on life though lorn
Woman's own, for little time
Will my wiles the man yet scorn.

Twice I almost took him fast
From the hand of maiden's keep
Twice I almost sent him down
To a great and final sleep.

Both these times the peasant stole
From me man of warring ways
Arrows shot and ice he dared
Yet you pulled him back from grave.

Time though bids that man is mine
As yet every man shall be
Though yet every man does think
He alone of all is free.

Days will pass he'll older grow
And you young shall always stay
Though you'll long as mortal kind
To then lay yourself in grave.

Man will watch the world yet pass
And me claim yet more of kin
Know you soon he'll long for me
And covet my arms in end.

Though faithful maid shall ever be
Will his heart then ever stray
Long so man will long for great
What's the ending of his days.

Maid shall know this thing does pass
And of death she'll jealous grow
Though in life he holds your warmth
Do yet all embrace the cold..."

And maiden hearing words did quickly scorn the witch's ways
Though feeling deep in heart a growing fear at maw of grave...

Hey guys!!! They finally got the sword! What do you think about all this? What do you think about what the witch said? Was she just being evil?