Ragnar of Sandcastle - Fighter Poem - Anglo-Saxon verse

Ragnar of Sandcastle
fallen in Spring Crown Tourney, A.S. XXVIII

(Anglo-Saxon Verse)

xxxxxxxxxxxxxRagnar questing:
Sea-foam skimmer / seeking his wierd,
Riding swan's road / ripe for glory,
Comes to Caid / cresting ridges.
Eager earth-stepper / striding to battle,
Mien unmeasured.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxMaid of the Greymist,
Heart's ease, hopeful, / hears the clamor -
Steel bites steel hard, / sparks are flashing,
Bright the battlefield, / brave the contenders -
She waits and watches.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxWoe to Ragnar,
Bested, battle-weary. / Bold of spirit,
Luck-only lacking. / Lost to Tino,
Tried and tested. / Terrible outcome:
Fierce the fighting, / fair encounter.
Heart-horde heavy.

xxxxxxxxxxxxHopeful Katherine,
Greymist maiden, / much enduring.
Brave, unblushing, / bent on paying
Hero's homage / to her consort,
As best she's able.

xxxxxxxxxxxxAnd forth goes Ragnar
Once-killed, undead, / Arab-seeking.
Husam harkens, / hearts are gladdened.
Blood-thirst building / blades are eager.
Flashing fire, / foes are well-met.
Desert-dweller / dread doom-bringer,
Sand-skimmer strikes; / Sandcastle topples,
Death-blow delivered.

xxxxxxxxxxxxDoleful Katherine,
Maid of the Greymist, / moved to tears, she
Woefully wishes her / warrior good-journey.
Valhalla-bound Viking, / Valkyrie-greeted.
Ragnar, sea-steed rider, / roams no more. He
Heads for heart-home.

xxxxxxxxxxxxHealth resored them,
Well-met warriors / Valhalla are liking:
Death-blows daily / deal in battle;
Rise each, rested, / ready for feasting.
Merry the mead-hall!

xxxxxxxxxxxxMeeting nightly,
Eased of earth-bonds, / aerie-dwelling.
Brave in battle, / bouts unending,
Tall the tales are / told of Ragnar!

-- Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

Sir Malachi Halfdan Brightskull - Fighter Poem - Anglo-Saxon verse

Sir Malachi Halfdan Brightskull
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney, A.S. XXXIV

(Anglo-Saxon verse)

Cold is the homeland / of Halfdan Brightskull
Southward he quests / seeking fame and fortune
Warming the journey, / his wife Aleksina,
Wellborn maiden / Mistress of his heart.

Bound for the Black Sea / Brightskull plies his trade
Raiding and trading / as trinkets he gathers
To adorn his lovely / Aleksina Taisiya.
On such a journey / one treasure enthrawls him:

Crown and bright scepter / Caid's high king seat.
Boldfaced and brazen / Brightskull sets forth
To capture a kingdom as / keepsake for a queen.
Brightly glints the sun / off Brightskull's helm -

An omen of victory - / emboldens his heart.
Dawud ben Jibriel / dares to bar his path.
Swift is the swordplay / that sends Dawud reeling
Back to the ministrations of / Mivanou his lady fair.

Then Calam encounters / cold steel of the Rus
And seeks the succur of / Sylvia Dragomani.
The claws of a tyger / test Brightskull's skill
But Marcel soon longs for / Leonora's cool balm.

Bright now the splendor / beaming from the sun
On Galen it glistens / glancing from his shield
Blinding Brightskull. / Bravely he fights on
To clash with an eagle / Eowyn's champion.

The eagle falls earthward / to amberdrake's tending.
Emboldened once more / an earl he chances
Sea skimmer and serpent / steel clashing like thunder.
At last it is settled / Edric the victor -

Soon to be king / Caid's chosen son -
Brightskull is bested / by Battista's champion.
Dark now the dreams of / dear Aleksina,
Cold comfort awaits / the consort of Brightskull.

But warm is the fire / free-flowing the mead cup
Ne'er ending the tales / told in Valhalla
As Brightskull the Rus / recounts all his victories
Here in life, / now houseguest of Odin.

-- Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

...is a 15th century Burgundian wool merchant who thinks she's a 10th century Viking weaver.

Ciar ingen Daire - Fighter Poem - Anglo-Saxon verse

Ciar ingen Daire
fallen in Spring Crown Tourney, A.S. XLII

(Anglo-Saxon verse)

Eire bantiarna / iron maiden
With sword in hand / she faces her foe
Bright her continence / brazen her spirit
Ciar stands her ground / against the boar

The Norman knight / his own geas foretold
Begins his march / toward Monarchy
Trading blows with / the brazen maiden
The boar charges / oak leaves fall

Ciar shudders / and shakes off the damage
Cinching her belt / of bright knotwork
She steps to the field / fit for battle
An eagle screams / as swords engage

The Saracen knight / cedar strong
Dwarfs the bravehearted / warrior damsel
Quick her blade / oak leaves a-quiver
Talons fly / down flutters Ciar

The day progresses / without the Daire maid
Fighters advance / and fighters retire
Fate gives the nod / to the Norman knight
Another Crown awaits / Ciar ingen Daire

— Mistress Philippa Llewelyn Schuyler

... weaver of words and wadmal