the sword of cobalt PT 1 what's my name - a conversation

by

she wields a sword of cobalt
it gives off blue sparks as it twists and slices through the air
she aims it at his neck
tells him
speak my name or parish by the blade
my love
he croaks
but to settle upon one name
is akin to settling on one star when the whole universe can be seen
for in my mind you have many
you are Rose
for you smell so sweet
you are Jewel
for your love is priceless
you are Aria
for even your breath sounds like a song
why she asks
should i trust these words
you once called me by a different name
Enemy
you spoke my name as if it were bitter in your mouth
why now should i trust these words you utter, at the behest of my blade
because my love
he chitters
i have seen the desolation that ensued
once you had parted my company
i have witnessed the end of all things
and in the brittle despair
in the everlasting empty tundra of wastelands
i witnessed a singular tree
growing right in the frozen ground
and carved upon its bark of birch
was a name
and i knew this name
i knew that my heart would only ever call out this name forever more
the name of the dark horse who stole my very breath
and ran away with it
where love did you go when your name changed?
she lowers the sword, holds it at his kidney
to dungeons deplorable
she tells him
dark caverns where no one has a name
i walked for what must be years
in this dark
in the maze under ground
trying to find light
trying to make it right
all i found was this sword and by the blue light of its sheen
i managed to carve a way out
but many bodies did lay at my feet
ones with no names who only knew me by nights embrace
and in the light i did see
that the dungeons and caverns were built by me
in one moment of grief
the day you named me Enemy
and there love
i have remained calling out your name as if to curse it
as if to blame
and i swore should i find you i would use this blade
but to see you now upon your knees
gives me reason to pause
so speak my name love
tell me who you now see
Destiny!
he shouts
you are Destiny
you are Evangeline who brings good news to me
you have returned out from the darkness
you have found me hiding in plain sight where no one else can see
You are Ashley for you are a dream to me
You are Wendy and I Peter Pan
Enough!
she cries
Promises, dreams, wishes
these names are Fabrication, Deciet, Lies
where I have been, Love, there were no names
there were no trivialities like promises, dreams, or wishes.
There were no trees growing in the ground
to carve my name upon
I did not have a name
I had been erased
I existed in memory only
I had no form
Now I have found you love
What if my name is Lillith
or Azazel or Pandora
what if the patron saint I pray to is St. Anger
What if you become the burnt offering left at her feet
what if i am Adrienne the dark one
if my lips are fire
could you, would you kiss them?
love, he says,
put the sword down, and i can put out the flame that burns our names
love, she says
if i put down this sword any manner of wretched beings with names like
Smaug or Banshee could attack me in the night
then, love, he whispers
give your sword of cobalt to me
and i will wield it thusly, at night, while you sleep.
she chortles
bull, bollocks, poppycock any name of humourous forgery would be appropriate
why should i believe you?
because a tree grew in the snow?
because you have a fantasy?
yes, yes!
he shouts
because I have a fantasy, a dream, a wish,
well love, she cries
i had a fantasy once
it had a name
your name love
but you couldnt live there
in my world of fantasy, of dreams and wishes
so fantasy turned to delusion, turned to nightmares of illusion.
where nobody knows your name
so there Love, i came to blame
to weild this blade and to rebuke, and reprimand
and i have
so what is one more unamed body at my feet
No love, he states
i have not been slaughtered
you have walked where even the streets have no name
I have names too
like Jean-Luc
like Clemence
like Osbourne
I can show mercy, forgiveness and grace
the meaning behind my very name
i could give you that
she looks into his eyes
she cries
what if my only name is Tragedy
No love, he says
You are Abigail
You are Ellen
The most beautiful woman
oh, she cries out
if only i could be born today with such a name
i swear i would live up to it
but that is not the name i was given
i was given the name of a girl who died at 10
Enough! he cries
you are wallowing
staggering through self loathing
and I will not abide
you are rosalind
you are venus
and i suppose, she asks, you are romeo? you are Beau?
But of course, love, of course.