» Tue Dec 06, 2011 11:38 am Yngsading the Wise
The blizzard, and also the battle, were raging
Up high atop the Throat of the World.
The dragons, their foes, the free Nords, were engaging
The bloodiest fight of the war they were waging
(Providing my tale with its setting and staging.)
At the base of the mount, where the fallen lay curled,
While Thu'um after Thu'um above them were hurled,
In a battle whose echoes reached half 'round the world,
The dragon Rodul, and the brave Nord Yngsading
Were clashing their steel, and in process, debating.
The dragon said, "Man, can you answer my riddle?"
Yngsading said "Aye, for I know not a little ---
Not a little, that is, I mean, a lot." ....The dragon tittled.
"What's made of earth, and yet soars through the sky;
Is buried for eons, but never does die;
Is rattled, but always is silent?
Speak, before I grow violent!"
Yngsading, bemused, merely scratched at his helmet.
"I'm sure there's an answer, but how can I tell him it,
Shor's bones! When I don't know what it is!"
And the dragon, he roared! And said, "How did you know
That the answer was 'bones'? Well it just goes to show
Even fools can get lucky. But one more!" "Let's go,"
Said Yngsading. The dragon said, "What must be balanced,
Is found in a shop, yet the lances of gallants
On horses are stopped when they touch it?"
The riddle was hard, very hard, and as such it
Stumped poor old Yngsading horribly much. It
Got him down to his last seconds countin'.
"I'd rather go scale that there mountain
Than finish this game with you, dragon!" he pouted.
But little he knew that Rodul had been routed,
For 'scales' was the answer, he'd guessed it again.
The tables were turned, and Yngsading just then
Presented Rodul with his riddle of Men.
"What's found in one place, but then again not;
What slays what it touches, is cold and then hot;
And what thing has every decent Nord got?"
Rodul fell down slain ere his answer was made;
Yngsading explained (without words) it was 'blade'.
