Written July 13, AS XLII (2007), upon receipt of a letter from Blackspear Warlord Finn O'Donovan. Original tune in the Atlantian style.
Five long and four deep
Our swords and shields keep
Our spears from the sweep
Of the foe
By your side, by your side
I will march
By your side
The shield-on-shield clash
Lifts hearts bold and brash
We battle and lash
At the foe
By your side, by your side
I will fight
By your side
Your heart's blood to stain
The ground was his aim
Instead I lay slain
By the foe
By your side, by your side
I will die
By your side
We win or we lose
But battle we choose
And none of rues
Us our fate
By your side, by your side
I find glory
By your side
By your side, by your side
Blackspear, I will be
By your side
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Lord Finn O'Donovan published a short letter to our local email list, telling the story of a fighter who insisted on fighting alone, pursuing his own goals, rather than stand with a unit. He said:
The purpose of fighting together is that two of us can always beat one opponent. Many of us, working together, can always best many more than our numbers. I have been on the field with many of you as we crushed multiple lines of fighters, reformed, and crushed another line. We, Blackspear, have chosen to set aside our singularity, our personal motives, for the benefit of us all. Ironically, in doing so, we each grow. As individuals we are inspired, strengthened, and elevated.
I have a strong inclination to individualism myself, but this testimony to the power of a warrior community moved me to pick up my pen and reply with the song, above.
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