A warm glow washed upon the darkened lane
And voices carried out into the night
She waited there a while, and looking down
At hands with scars and knowledge dearly bought

Who had not found a touch of what she'd sought
In lonely years through village, sea and town
For service was her joy -- healing, her light
But that was not why this dark night she came

"Maybe here," she thought, "Oh here, at last!"
She mused, her fingers resting on the door
"There'll be what I've ached for all my days,"
"There are so many folk and people here"

"And laughter, joking, friendship and good cheer -"
"Oh great and gentle goddess!" did she pray
"Please let me be so lonely nevermore,"
"Give me a family, end my soul's long fast!"

The healer walked inside with quiet step
And held her satchel tight unto her breast
She marvelled and exulted at the scene
Of revellers -- With hope, she closed the door -"

"Leaving her fears behind beneath the moon
"Empath, ho!" She saw the speaker beam
"You're just what's needed for tomorrow's quest."
"We leave at dawn!  So hark - do not forget!"

"She nodded to the man, yet held her breath
But as he turned back to his waiting friends
She craved for yet more than a terse command
None looked her way for more than just a glance."

Her heart sunk within her - In a trance,
"This time is like the rest - I understand"
"I"ve here and always been a fool," she said,
"They want no more from me than ward from death."

She knew too well what the next morn would bring
The screams, the pouring blood, the pain, the fear
She'd seen it every day her waking life
But stronger still were vows that she had made -

To never, on her honor, let life fade
To knit and heal the bodies torn by strife
As loved by none, she slumbered with no cheer
While the hall below with song did ring -

The morning dawned a fair one, and the lass
Gathered to her party with a frown
The leader sent her straight back to the rear
"We've got to keep YOU safe!  Just come along"

"We'll shout for you should anything go wrong!"
Thus the calls that day, so cavalier
"Heal me!" "Take this bleeder!" "Willem's down!"
"Do you have some leaf left?" "Where's that grass?"

Her rapier could have been sheathed, for the good
It did in war that day against the foe
Oh yes! that day, none of her party died
For even in despair her skill prevailed.

The quest ended in triumph, and they hailed
All their friends whom back in town they spied
In wine they toasted every kill they'd known
While off and to the side, forgot, she stood.

They gifted to her gold, and hearts'  aflame
With song and mirth they left her there alone
To seek out war of some less deadly kind
She stood all by herself at tavern door.

She knew that if the chance came by once more
To join for questing with those folk she'd find
She'd pray that next time she might find a home -

And once -

Just once -

They'd ask of her her name.