Servant of the Inner Fire

they caught each other's eye
on the dance floor
the lady of ice
the servant of the inner fire

at first their dance began
stilted, and slow
the music rushed past them
how to keep time, they didn't know

the lady of ice
peered into the servant's eyes
she had no fear
thinking she knew how to deal with fire

his warmth began to make her melt
but she put forth her power and refroze
the ice stretching out around her feet
making the dance floor slick and cold

the servant of the inner fire
smiled at the lady
he knew that his ways
were such as she had never seen

he was not like the others
he did not serve the outer fire
the inner fire, rarely seen
that was his domain

he chanted words in an ancient tongue
ancient incanations of forgotten power
he felt energized, awakened
the inner fire beckoned to his call

long forgotten had that source been to men
long had men turned to the outer
easier to was to obtain, to use, to drive
yet the inner fire held the greater strength

the dance wove on
now the pair were in time with the music
the lady of ice watched her ice melt
her refreezing could not carry on quickly enough

she felt herself suddenly freed
as if an encasing, a prison had fallen away
she found herself in loving arms
and she wondered at the novel sensation

a calm voice assured her not to worry
a steady voice eased her to relax
she found herself embracing the servant
as the dance quickened its beat

in time, the ice melted away
the lady of ice needed a new title
radiant was she, freed from the cold
and the servant smiled gladly

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