Deep in the heart of the Aalen wood
Where the redwoods grow up straight and tall
The scent of the forest and wet, rich earth
Enveloping the senses of one and all

The basilisks dwelt, curled in their shade
Waiting for travelers to pass them by
And if they did, they were frozen with fear
With hypnotic, dancing, yellow eye

One such traveler, fair and sweet,
Crossed one beast while it napped
Its eyes flew open and bore down on her
When a twig she stepped on snapped

Her piteous cry for help rang out
To her loved one, Ravek, a monk
He ran to her aide and when he got there
She lay slumped against a tree trunk

Growling and gnashing his teeth, he flew
At the monster who committed the crime
Limbs and fists and curses of death
All causing harm one at a time

Teeth and claws, eyes and tail
The monster bellowed as it neared its end
And its companion hurried to its call
To aide its dying friend

Setting his jaw, cracking his knuckles,

Casting a glance to his wife
Ravek heard the inevitable approach
And was prepared to fight with his life

Blood flowed and shouts cried out
As the unfair battle raged on
Two against one but balanced well
One monster was nearly gone

With a bellow and the throws of death
One basilisk fell to the ground
Panting and glaring, Ravek didn't mourn
The passing of the beast he found

Still more kicks, fists buried in their mark
Drawing screams of pain and puddling ooze
Till at last, both combatants near death
One fell to the earth, one had to lose

Ravek stood triumphant glaring at his prey,
Gasping for air and worn and tattered
He limped to his love and kissed her warm cheek
She still lived though her body was battered

He healed and bore her back to his home
Clutching his love back from death's edge
In the end, it was not important that he had won
It was important that he fought for love's bright pledge

Penned by my hand on the 22nd of Variach, in the year 136 MA.