A Maker of Crowns

Once upon a time
Their were four Knights and a King
Who gathered in the dark and gloomy deep
They watched their King, these four Knights tall
In a pillared hall, 'neath fortress keep

The world has never seen their equal
So noble were these armored giants

Yet they were not alone
Something else was there
Lurking quietly in the darkened room
Call it Pride or call it Greed
It cloaked itself in shadowed gloom

And searched each heart to find a weakness
Like a sharpened dagger poised as

Deep in the dungeons the forge-fires are burning
They stand watching their King
Peering from shadows, his eyes full of Greed
One stands watching his King

Now he watched the King, his lord
With envy and awe
More than the rest, he craved what he saw
He fought himself, and vowed to be true
As o'er his heart the shadow grew

Clawing deeper with sharpened talons
Deep it burrowed, melding with his heart

Deep in the dungeons the forge-fires are burning
They stand watching their King
Peering from shadows, his eyes full of Greed
One stands watching his King

And who would wear that precious jeweled thing
Soon to emerge from the fire, bright and shining
Full of magic
Alive with power
The King Speaks
"Look my brave ones,
Look and behold.
This crown of silver, and of gems
And precious gold;

Power, perfected
To grace the brow of a maiden.
And this secret I have kept from you
But now you know!"

The Knight of the North Speaks
"All of our labor,
All of our warring and conquest;
To forge her a kingdom to rule.
All this for her?"

What had he crafted from sweat and from lead
To the beat of hammer and tong
No simple crown did he raise from the fire
Shimmering of silver and gold

He can envision a princess to serve as his heir
A daughter to love him
She'll take his hand and will walk at his side
Singing the darkness and gloom
Away

The Knight of the North Speaks
"All this for a maiden, not yet born
All of creation to share with her King, her father.
How dare he give it all away;
All my labor,
All his glory,
Given, not to me!"