Ariel charged into the fray,
Holding his sword aloft that day.
His heart was thumping in his chest ;
His limbs were shaking with the stress.

And then, as the alien horde came near,
Time stood still, the present disappeared.
There was no field, no fear, no foe;
Only a strange, eerie glow.

And in the glow there was a voice,
“Ariel, you have a choice.
You can give in to fear and shame,
But you will end among the slain.”

“Or you can walk tall and free,
And finish the battle successfully.
You simply must control your mind,
That’s the secret, you will find.”

Ariel remembered now,
Long ago, the seer’s vow:
“You will be a leader great,
And control your nation’s fate.”

He saw the woman at the loom,
Spinning in the hearthside room.
Her fingers red, her face careworn,
While outside raged a thunderstorm.

She had a strange unearthly look,
It scared him and his body shook.
She was a witch, of that he knew,
And she had powers, strange but true.

She spoke of omens, ghosts and spells;
Her prophecies on deaf ears fell.
The people stopped their ears and eyes,
Save Ariel, who seemed hypnotized.

“The day will come when hatred’s claw
Will make a mockery of their laws;
They’ll need you then,” said she.
“Only you can keep them free.”

What was it she had told him then?
To listen to the voice within.
“You have the world within you, son.
Relax and let the spirit come.”

Relax? In such a place as here?
With monstrous hordes closing near?
And yet, he felt the blood within;
A spirit taking over him.

Somehow he keened an ancient song.
He knew not how, but he felt strong.
The battle came rushing back;
With primal rage he screamed: “Attack!”