Read in Landscape.

Maiden now dreamed of the place that she left
Home that for long she had strayed from bereft.
Times when in peace had she humbly there dwelt
Down in the valleys where her love was yet felt.
Easing her heart and yet calming her mind
Peace in this world did the maiden now find.

Good though this dream yet the maiden still stirs
Duty and mission her own heart does now spur.
Causing her toss in the place she was laid
Knowing that life of her love must be saved.
Jerking from thing that for long she did want
Still she must leave from this world that she haunts.

Waking from sleep she now found she was tied
Down on the ground that was muddy she's lied.
Looking about her, her fellows she sees
Tied to a stake as to captors they plead.
Mem'ries then filled her with deepest of dread
Brought to the forefront of mind where they're led.

Taken by foe when to ground they had fell
Knowing that doom had that wrack now yet spelled.
Sitting she gazes at place where she's bound
Staring in wonder at the people their found.
Nature was seeped in their work and their lives
Deep in the forest they long did abide.

Hides were their covers and earth was their homes
Bound in and hidden in the places they roamed.
Far from the eyes of what folk would yet pry
Deep in their trees where no foe could yet spy
Any of things that are bound in their hold
Secret was shepherd that's keeping this fold.

Turning she asked of her fellows their fate
Hoping they'll speak and her wonder abate.
Quickly they told her the cause of their stance
Captured by tribe that's now judging their chance.
Weighing the cost of the prisoners' lives
Whether they'll live or whether they'll die.

Cautiously maiden now set on her side
Watching the tribesmen who currently strive.
Going about their own day with a haste
Little the time did those people yet waste.
Working and striving to earn their own keep
All with a face that was ancient and deep.

Old were their souls like the land where they lived
Reaping not sowing what nature does give.
Hunting and fishing for food and their hides
Harvesting crops that the world does provide.
Ancient in actions and deeds were their ways
Like they forever in forest had laid.

Maid did not dare to yet question their lot
Fearing how dread their reprisal be sought.
Still she did know that they needed to speak
Hoping to garner some answers from chief.
Steady now maiden did bide yet her time
Waiting for moment she hoped she would find.

Watching their ways though the days and the night
Hoping that answer would grant some respite.
Letting them know what was trespass they made
Quick so that price for their crimes could be paid.
Steady she watched them as tribesmen now spoke
Watching while labor was made and then broke.

Patience her teacher she pieced out their words
Long so that message of sailors be heard.
Honing her craft in the still of the night
Steady avoiding some unknowing a slight.
Long for a captive but short for a student
Even for one who's so steady and prudent.

Many a weeks did now pass for the men
Still on their captors for needs they depend
Jean had now watched them and learned of their ways
Down on the ground where the maiden was laid.
Listening closely to all of their speech
Hoping some knowledge of folk she may reach.

Long was the time in this camp they abide
Hoping that chance at their freedom was lied
Closely at hand so that men may escape
Leaving their captor and shunning their fate.
Jean was yet only who manner did learn
Hoping that reason their fate could yet spurn.

Finally day does now come and she talks
Over to brave that now quickly does balks.
Rising surprised that his language she knows
Worried that mischief the maiden has sown.
Asking her quickly what cause she does bare
Wanting to know if her favor be fair.

"I bid you ask of chief that men are freed
To let us leave and mercy great do heed.
That all my fellows back to journey go
And far from land of Osage quickly row.

That folk may leave and far from place you trod
Depart from land your people lofty laud."

Hearing her words the brave did now turn
Down to the chieftain for favor she yearns.
Walking away for the briefest of time
Short from the place where she's bidding her time.
Straining at ropes with which maiden was tied
Down on the ground where she current was lied.

Knowing in heart that this act is in vain
Escape would bring what was suffering and pain.
Presently maiden must ask for reprieve
Granted by chief who their voyage did grieve.
Hoping her words would yet alter this path
Wrought by that warrior's greatest of wrath.

Quickly the brave does return with some men
Coming on mission that chieftain did send.
Cutting her ties they now bore her on high
Up to a place where their leader abides.
Taking her quickly to place where he's found
Leading her forward by hands that are bound

Slowly she enters the tent where he sets
Gazing at leader when first they had met.
Flanked on his sides by the medicine men
Crafty to chieftain their knowledge they lend.
Gathered by fire with heat but no smoke
Council of elders their speaking now broke.

Gazing at fellow who's brought to their place
Knowing not manner of man that did grace
Council of elders so crafty with wiles
Wrought by the ages of Osagen guile.
Setting before them the maiden now spoke
Hoping by words their convictions be broke.

"What offence brought your wrath on head of men
Who far from very distant land are send
By king on chore to claim a wealthy land
Yet far from place where village current stands?

Whatever wergild captain sure will pay
So current stance need not lead to fray.
I bid the warrior chief to turn aside from wrath,
And choose for friends and crew a diff'rent path."

Hearing the words the chieftain now spoke
Bleeding from heart what was all of her hopes.
Telling the maiden the reprieve's not grant
Draining her down to a hope that's so scant.

"Proud are our people and ancient our way
Wrought in a time that was distant in age.
Long in this land have we dwelled in our peace
Making with labor this comeliest keep.
Never by hand of our foe have we feared
Far from the ravages of war have we veered.

Seeing your people though deep in my heart
Strange and foreboding a fear was my part.
Pride of my people will wash from the face
Leaving us little of honor in place.
Deepest humiliation is path that I see
Great if to maiden I harken to plea.

Far will we fall from our place that was good
High from the loftiest throne we are stood.
Wrought by your weapons and wrought by your guns
Far from our homelands the Osage will be run."

Hearing his words did the maiden now speaks
Cautious but will of her captor she'll meet.
Bidding he grant them smallest of goods
Found in the lands where the Osage now stood.

"Then let your caution rule the day oh chief
But still I bid request I ask you meet.
For honors judged by gracious hosting found
In man who holds his foes so men are bound

Not hurt by sting of baleful wind and rain
That brings on pris'ners great unyielding pain.
Instead I ask that better quarters give
That men with ease in comfort forward live."

Chieftan then hasty does nod his own head
Quick so that grant of the maiden be sped.
Showing his honor in dealing with foe
Most would have granted but little than woe.

"I ask that men are given house of earth
So foes might know what Osage's honor's worth,
And let to roam this place though closely guard
That current bind is neither great nor hard.

These favors sailor ask of tribal king
In hopes they lessen hurt and comfort bring
For fellow men who sail aboard my trip
Those great foreboding seas on simple ship."

Chieftain then claps and nods his own head
Hastening task so her grants are now sped.
Out to her fellows the maiden now goes
Bearing a message of lessening woe.
Telling them all of the favor she found
Gave by the chieftain in council now bound.

Up from the ground they are taken from staves
Place where their holding by warriors was made.
Taken to lodge with some beds that were hides
Down where in comfort their bodies where lied.
Safe for a time from the ravage of war
Crew had yet faced on the riverside shore.

Better their dwelling and place in that tribe
Lo though in deepest of suspect they lied.
Still they were free in the path that they took
Long as their guardians they never forsook.
Steady they studied the whole of the woods
Waiting for time that they deemed would be good.

Hoping for chance to now break from the fold
Fleeing so far from their captor's own hold.
Hiding their actions from rest of the camp
Hoping and praying for briefest of chance
Still did none come to the crew in those days
Heavy the guardsmen on neck did now weigh.

Watching them cautiously come and then leave
Careful in way that the sailors it grieved.
Knowing the orders that chief had yet give
Ever to words of their leader they bid
Shadowing men as they walked through the tribe
Giving no chance for the sailors to hide

'Fore they did flee in the night from that place
Leaving to wander the world in their haste.
Lo, they must wait for the day they can go
Leaving from place that was tribal abode.
Fleeing to river where captain did live
Fast so that quick to his side they are give.

Reaching the lands where they promise to go
Down to the place where their bidden to bode.
Given by king who had granted their task
Filling his will as their lord had yet ask.
Still in this place they must rest for the time
Short for they soon would be fleeing this bind.

Weeks do now pass in the place where they stay
Learning the thoughts and the paths of Osage.
Maiden is watchful the most of the men
Helping whenever her strength she could lend.
Still with the captain her heart does now lie
Back on the ship where the prince does abide.

Shortly she wearies of place they are kept
Looking with men for a plan that's adept.
Hoping that quite through manner obscure
Men of their problems may quickly be cured.
Deep in the night from their lodging they sneak
Out through a hole they had tunneled so deep.

Covered with hides in the midst of the day
Hoping that far from the place they can stray.
Quietly filing they all do now leave
Striking from place in which they're bereaved.
Sudden a shouting is heard and they turn
Back to the place that they hasty had spurn.

Braves had now seen them their plan had been caught
Fast to their ruin by guardsmen they're brought.
Quickly they run and yet fast are they chased
Down through the paths of the forest they raced.
Closely they're followed by galloping steeds
Quick to the will of their masters they heed.

Close to the men they now ride on their heels
Hoping that back to their camp they may steal.
Adriene low in her stance does now stop
Knowing it's matter of time till they're caught.
Screaming she bids them to run and does turn
Facing the men whose own prison she spurned

Grabbing a limb she does swing it now hard
Hoping for moment their path she may bar.
Horse does now rear at the sight of the maid
Throwing the rider from path he had made.
Quickly to feet he does scramble now fast
Hoping that down will the maiden he cast.

Suddenly allies of foe do now come
Forward from village of which they had sprung
Seeing the struggle, the maiden they grasp
Firmly the one who does struggle they clasp
Still does she fight them with all of her strength
Forcing their anger to edge of the brink.

Suddenly rap she does feel on her head
Falling as one who is stricken and dead...

...

Shaking the peasant arises from sleep
Stirred on the floor from a slumber that's deep.
Setting in tent that the Osage had made
Tied to a post in a ground that was staved.
Looking about her at place she was bound
Inside the wigwam where maiden was found.

Mind of the peasant was cloudy from blow
Gained when in secret the maiden had stowed
Off in attempt to yet flee from the tribe
Hoping again on La Chair she'll abide.
Long in confusion the woman now lays
Knowing not price that she soon would yet pay.

Sudden the chieftain did enter in place
Rising to height with a swiftness and haste.
Face of the man was now angry and grave
Eye on the face of the maiden was laid.
Long in his anger he paced in the tent
Patience by act of the maiden was spent.

Finally halting he speaks of his woe
Telling the maid how his anger is goad.

"Foolish your efforts along with your way
Surely these actions have led you to grave.
Rise not you warrior your days have now past
Down to the depths of the dead you'll be cast
Soon as the sun has yet risen in sky
Man who abused me surely shall die.

Stricken for deed he did make in escape
Bearing a gratitude surely that's fake."

Turning he leaves her inside of her tent
Long where the rest of her night shall be spent.
Letting the maiden to ponder her fate
Praying to God as the length she does wait.
Stirring she looks for a way she might cast
Hoping escape, she will find and yet fast.

Knowing that morning does bring what is doom
Maiden now looks to yet climb from her tomb.
All to the side her own eyes she did cast
Hoping to find what might aid in her task.
Pot that's of clay does the peasant now see
Thinking it's way that herself she might free.

Reaching with foot she does grab at the thing
Scooting it closer to self she does bring
Pot she does grasp to her side with feet
Hoping that need of the maiden it meets.
Hasty she smashes the jar to a shard
Scooting it over to binds that are hard.

Grasping a piece, she does saw on her ropes
Slowly she works in the greatest of hopes
Maiden by cunning may soon be yet free
Able to rise and from village to flee
Saving herself from the judgement at morn
Time when the maiden's own body is torn.

Slow is the progress that the maiden does make
Trying to free from what's dying as fate.
Slowly through night does the rope now yet wear
Shard from the pot do her bindings now tear.
Fearing that hasty the morning arrives
Causes the maiden to harder yet strive

Still are her bindings too thick to yet strike
Hard though the maiden for life does yet fight.
Night does now flee at the greatest of speeds
Caring not ounce for the servant's own needs.
Light through the flap of the tent does now show
Fear of the maiden with sight does then grow.

Sudden a crack of what's thunder is heard
Startling the peasant who fear did yet spur.
Out of her tent she did hear what's a wrack
Great with the sound of a howling attack.
Maiden when hearing the thing did yet strive
Harder in hopes it would keep her alive.

Close was the rope to now snapping in twain
Freeing the maiden from oncoming pain.
Sounds of the battle now harsher then grew
Crying of men who by steel had been slew.
Finally, ropes did now break from her hands
Freeing the maid as how first she had planned.

Rising she went to the racket to see
Hoping that battle would render her free.

...
Pleas Vote and comment!!! Do you think Jean abused the chieftain's trust?