Debt Repaid

I remember that day as plain as the States
The houses were on fire with the roofs made of hay
The horses they came as waves on the hills
Their riders atop had only one will
 
Though filled with fear, we were in the heart
I knew of a place that was not very far
Ten of us left in temporary retreat
We ran less than a mile on our tired, caked feet
 
When we reached the lake, it was sparkling at play
We got in the boat and we rowed away
To a circle of rocks in the middle of the depths
We fell right in, not fearing the wet
 
We sank beneath the surface, about fifteen feet or so
Through our noses, it was not water, but air that flowed
I led them through tunnels of underwater caves
To an aquatic creature with a debt to be repaid
 
Though it had been three years, he remembered my name
I told him what I wanted and he led the way
Further down into the earth we went
My men, quivering, followed with their arrow strings bent
 
The creature lay snoring until a spell made it wake
Angered and frothing, it made the floor quake
My men became brave and, together, we fought
The aquatic creature beside me; his debt not forgot
 
Much blood was spilt, three of my men lay slain
In the end we pierced Leviathan's heart; he writhed in pain
If not for a new debt, dead he would be
My men and I roped him and rode the snake from the sea
 
The aquatic creature followed, though through debt he was no longer bound
But a lust for blood and fight brought his webbed feet to dry ground
We rode Leviathan on a tidal wave to battle
Drowning soldiers and knocking them from their saddles
 
The fires were put out of the houses with roofs made of hay
Though some lives were lost, the day was still saved
I thanked both creatures for helping us fight
Debts now paid, I sent them back to sea as day became night