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The Watery Ballad of Two Loves

ShanShan Stormwind

In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of
Lord Neraeos' Ascension to the Throne of the Seas

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Ordinarily speaking
A coralled sea floor
Would have lent sweet escape
To our young paramours
Oh contraire, this lass fair
And her finely wrought beau
Whispered courtship's soft words
On a wind-swept plateau
Yes, if only you'd seen them,
His dark to her fair
You'd have seen perfect love
In this statuesque pair
While together they pledged love
A love true and rare
Gazing east o'er His oceans wine-dark.

But in one of their hearts
Beat two rhythms a-pace
One a mortal romance
Second of divine grace
In pursuit of the second
She set out her course
Leaving land to her past
With no fear, no remorse
Through the dangers and darkness
Swam where merman dwelt
In Riparium's depths
Where His presence she felt
Til at last at His Temple
Truimphantly knelt
Singing deep in His oceans wine-dark.

So where was the other
Unfortunate soul
Whom she held in her arms
Only short days ago?
Bereft of her presence
He marched staunch and strong
To do battle in waters
Pursuing her song
But at first sign of hardship
Declared the war closed
And fled free of the oceans
His frailty exposed
While his former companion
In currents reposed
Sighed to sleep in His oceans wine-dark

So remember my listener
Their cautionary tale
The land's temporary love
By the ocean will pale
If indeed you are called
To His realm and reserve,
Find another to cherish
Who with you will serve
For our star-crossed advent'rers
By fate were beguiled.
But for now the sea's tempest
Magnificent, wild,
Ends the tale of two loves
One a corpse, one a child
Down beneath in His oceans wine-dark.


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Penned by my hand on the 25th of Sarapin, in the year 537 AF.