starters from the 1910s novel, THE CHILDREN OF HΓRIN, by j. r. r. tolkien
βthat oath is still on us.β
βbut you live, and so does the enemy who has done this to us.β
βthat was a great battle, they say.β
βit may be that we fled from the fear of the dark, only to find it here before us, and nowhere else to fly but the sea.β
βwe are not afraid any longer.β
βgrief is a hone to a hard mind.β
βwhat lies under your words?β
βwhere else is hope?β
βi shall be far away and all alone.β
βi would rather look on my foes with my true face.β
βwhat do you desire?β
βi see that i am mistaken.β
βwe take their lives as forfeit, unless they can ransom them.β
βa strange way to gain entry to a fellowship β¦ β
βoutlaws know no law but their needs.β
βthen choose a new captain!β
βnow tell your tale, and be brief.β
βis it farewell, then?β
βit is growing dark.β
βthere is blood on the hill - top.β
βdo you fear that you have followed a spider to the heart of his web?β
βwhy do you look upon me so?β
βi offer you freedom.β
βmaybe the tale is too sad yet to tell.β
βi will flee no more.β
βwe are hemmed in this land.β
βwhere all lies on chance, to chance we must trust.β
βyou come at last; i have waited to long!β
βit was a dark road. i have come as i could.β