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The Lay of Araman

"Across the sea sailed Araman,
a hundred men he led.
His ship was black as Death's left eye,
her sails were deep bloodred.
They sailed to Simra's distant shore
to answer Honor's call.
A hundred men sailed out to sea,
but none sailed home at all.

For Honor's price is blood and steel
and Death will be your brother.
A soldier's life is full of strife,
but I swear I'd have no other!

On the city walls stood King Mindar,
he watched the ship draw nigh.
Five hundred men were at his back
and gave the battle cry.
Then marched they to the battle plain
to meet the seaborne foe,
While Araman and his hundred men
came all ashore below.

For Honor's price is blood and steel
and with your life you'll buy it.
But the ladies love a fighting man
and there's none that will deny it!

Then Araman strode on the field
and Mindar stepped to meet him.
'Your lying tongue has brought us here!'
cried Araman to greet him.
'I see your force is greater,
you have the numbers on your side,
But by my sword, I'll see you dead
'ere the turning of the tide.'

For Honor's price is blood and steel
though flesh won't stop a sword.
The glory of a soldier's death
will be your last reward!

Then on the plain the armies met
and sword rang out on sheild.
Helms were cloven, limbs were hacked,
yet neither side would yield,
Until the generals found themselves
alone upon the plain.
Six hundred soldiers, brave and bold,
would never fight again.

For Honor's price is blood and steel
and well the widows know
The worth of Honor to the lads
now lying down below!

Then toe to toe and blade to blade
the two fierce warriors fought.
To steal the heart's blood of his foe
was each one's only thought.
From their wounds the blood flowed down
to stain the trampled sward
And when the tide was turning
Mindar fell to Araman's sword.

For Honor's price is blood and steel
for churl and lord as well
And generals often lead their men
down to the gates of hell!

Bold Araman, the victor now,
lays his blade aside.
From his wounds his life flows out
just like the sea's great tide.
The price of Honor paid in full
with blood and steel and lives,
On an empty plain by an enemy shore
the rightful victor dies.

For Honor's price is blood and steel
so harken well, my son.
Honor's a damned expensive thing
if you're dead when the battle's won!"

-Lynn Flewelling, song from Book I of the Nightrunner Series.

I like both of those, plus the sons in the Hobbit, plus the song in Holes. It's odd, everytime someone says, "If only...," I always think of that song.

"If only, if only" the woodpecker sighs,
"The bark on the trees was as soft as the skies"
And the wolf waits below, hungry and lonely
As he cries to the moo-oo-oon,
"If only, if only"

Ameilia Atwater-Rhodes is my favorite author too! I must admit though, that Burns and Byron are my favorites.