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 golden hair glistened like ivory 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 & marvelous sight
Should vanish before I took my drink
She turned & caught me with her gaze
& beckoned me draw nearer
I tried to still my enamored 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
I was drawing closer, ever nearer
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 whole life flash by
But then she lifted me up again
& I could hear her cry
"I am sorry 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
BY: ME (Chanelle Joy)
3rd Nov 2016
COPYRIGHT: CJ