Lady of the Lake

The moon shone bright upon this night

As I took my midnight stroll

The stars twinkled majestically

Giving life to this weary soul

Then I saw her by the lake

Her face serene & pale as milk

She wore a dress of satin & lace

Her black hair glistened like midnight silk

I almost stumbled as I walked

I could not help but stop & stare

Such a beauty I had never seen

So precious & so very rare

I could not tear my eyes away

I did not even dare to blink

Lest this pure & marvellous sight

Should vanish before I took my drink

She turned & caught me with her gaze

& beckoned me draw nearer

I tried to still my enamoured heart

It's desire had never been clearer

On shaky legs I took a step

A smile touched her luscious lips

My feet moved of their own volition

In a rapture I could not eclipse

My wayward feet forced me on

Towards this woman by the lake

There was no fear, only a thrill

A desperate longing like a pleasant ache

Then suddenly the ache was gone

Consumed & lost in sweet perfume

As I now stood before her grace

My yearning bleeding in full bloom

She reached for me with dainty hand

& drew me to her supple bosom

Capturing me in her embrace

Her manner almost fulsome

She held me tight, her lips found mine

I thought that I would surely drown

I would have gone without a struggle

Letting her slowly drag me down

It was nothing I had felt before

It was a drug, I would never get enough

Of this broiling, sultry torment

I was standing on a golden bluff

How long we kissed, I cannot say

I was clay within her hands

My body burned, ablaze with passion

I gave in to her brazen demands

She pushed me down onto the grass

& somehow her dress simply fell away

Oh how her porcelain skin did glow

So much so she must surely be fey

It mattered not one whit to me

Whether she be fairy, witch or vampire

She took me with such brutal force

& together we soared, flew higher & higher

Finally, we touched the ground

In drunken bliss we took our rest

The heady scent of love our blanket

She lay her head upon my chest

I must have dozed for when I woke

My Lady of the Lake was no longer there

I quickly jumped to my feet

For my undressed state I did not care

Frantically I searched for her

& breathed a sigh of pure relief

She stood waist deep within the lake

A breathtaking sight beyond belief

"My lady," I called so reverently

"Why art thou standing in the lake?"

She turned to me a face of pain

It was more than I could take

I plunged myself into the water

& made my way to stand beside her

I took her gently in my arms

This gift more valuable than myrrh

"My lady," I whispered softly

"What does trouble you so?"

She answered with a tear on her cheek

"I am afraid, good Sir, that I must go."

"Go?" I exclaimed in a stupor

"Whatever do you mean?

How can you leave so easily

When I would make you my Queen?"

She smiled sadly & shook her head

"Dear Sir, you do not know me

& you would really rather not.

Trust me, please, you will see."

"Nonsense!" I spat in utter defiance

"I believe I know you rather well!"

She blushed & laughed so prettily

Like the tinkling of a tiny bell

But then she turned quite serious

"I am not what you think me to be.

I do not belong here in your world.

I merely have a key."

I did not understand a word she spoke

Yet my heart fell heavily to my feet

Somehow I knew this was the end

& never again would we meet

"I will always remember you,"

She said with a final kiss

"My handsome midnight stranger

Who I will forever miss."

"Please wait," I pleaded helplessly

"I do not even know your name.

Pray tell me this, at least I beg

For I will never be the same."

She paused & looked at me askance

As though I'd asked what I should not

"I am known by the name Talina.

Now you know, it ought not be forgot."

"How could I forget such a treasure?

I have sealed you within my heart!

Your name is honey to my lips

I was beholden to you from the start!"

"Dear Sir, you speak so kindly,

Yet would you if you knew the truth?

I want to tell you yet I fear to speak

I do not want you to find me uncouth."

"Never. Never would I see you so

This I can most easily promise to you

& sure as my name is Ezra Daye

I swear to you that it is true."

"Ezra," her tongue caressed my name

Sending shivers down my spine

I knew that whoever, whatever she was

For this woman I would always pine

She must have seen it in my eyes

For she breathed more steadily

I, for one, held my breathe

As she spoke now readily

"I live within the water

This lake here is my home

I am called a Nymph, you see

& by the water is where I roam.

This is why I must leave you here

For I cannot always come ashore

Except for once each twenty years,

I am bound to the lake's sandy floor."

She blinked when all I did was smile

I was not overly surprised

That she was not quite human

I had already devised

"My Talina, Lady of the Lake

I had already suspected

Your beauty could not possibly be mortal

& by me you will never be rejected.

You say you come ashore

Once every twenty years

Then here I will wait for you

So please, shed no more tears."

"You pledge your life to me?"

She asked incredulously

"Then for you I have a gift

A cure for mortality.

I cannot take you with me

A Nymph you can never become

But I can grant you life eternal

Turn your heartbeat to an immortal drum.

Will you accept what I offer thee?

Forsooth, it is not a common thing

But I cannot fathom life without you

You have made my spirit sing."

There was no hesitation

I agreed immediately

She pushed my head beneath the surface

& I went down obediently

She held me in her loving arms

As she brought me to the brink of death

My vision faded & darkness grew

I struggled for my final breath

I thought I must have played the fool

As I saw my life flash by

But then she lifted me up again

& I could hear her cry

"I am sorry but this is the only way!

Now quickly, drink & you will live!"

She brought her dripping lips to mine

"My tears & breath to you I give!"

I tasted salt & something fresh

Like liquid snow it chilled my breast

I gasped & shook quite violently

As I was wrapped in an icy vest

Soon enough, my skin turned warm

My eyes opened & air filled my lungs

I could feel something changed within

I had begun the climb up eternity's rungs

I held my dear Talina close

I scarcely could believe my luck

How had I, a simple man

Found this chance from fate to pluck

The horizon blazed with dawn's first rays

Reflected on this shimmering surface

Our first night together drew to an end

But in each other we found our purpose

"Must I truly wait for twenty years

To see you & hold you again once more?"

Even though we had forever

This thought made my poor heart sore

"You can see me easily enough,

But only while I am below

I cannot break the surface

To do so would be my death blow."

Though it pained me, I understood

Yet I held her for as long as I could

& kissed her till we lost our breath

Nearly falling where we stood

Alas, the time for goodbye came

& I caressed her one more time

To memorise her every feature

Note it down in song & rhyme

Before the sun god rose in full

She disappeared without a ripple

I searched the water fruitlessly

The day had marred it with its stipple

& so now I wait for twenty years

But I will come here every day

To catch a glimpse of my lover's face

The Lady of the Lake, my beloved fey