It had been at least a week since last the hero slept

but he was getting closer now to where those shadows crept

he’d find their source and do away with them once and for all

never more to see their smiles or hear their eerie call

And finally, like music to his ears, he heard a cry

the welcome sound of some great battle echoing nearby

“over that great hill is where the evil things appeared

there’s no enemy in all our history more feared”

The young boy hid behind the hero when he heard the sound

both could feel the battle through the shaking of the ground

all of the horizon was a cloud of dust and smoke

his voice full of excitement one again the hero spoke

“Don’t stray far from me lad, you’ll be safe behind my sword

you’ve helped me out, so I’ll teach you to fight as a reward”

he smiled and placed his shaking hand upon the boy’s small back

and on they went to find some evil monsters to attack

The hero seemed to know where he was going suddenly

the layout of the battlefield was plain for him to see

the front line was still distant as he met the army’s rear

where thousands of young soldiers dwelled in injury and fear

He quickly took a blanket from a nearby empty bed

and wore it for a cloak, pulling it well over his head

he brought the boy with him and few eyes fell on him for long

passing through an army to which he did not belong

He couldn’t see their faces well through all the smoke and dust

but felt like he was home when he could smell the blood and rust

the injured lay upon the ground like barely living graves

and in the wind the smell of death came rolling by in waves

He came upon a tent which seemed much larger than the rest

the kind where generals conspired, the kind which he knew best

the guards in heavy armour just outside the tent were strong

but when they tried to stop him, they were sleeping before long

He took the boy inside and with his face still hidden well

he saw the generals and his enthusiasm fell

he hadn’t thought of what races he might encounter there

but when he saw both elves and demons, tension filled the air

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A dozen leaders dressed in armour grandiose but worn

looked upon the sudden uninvited guest with scorn

confused at why the elves would be in demons’ company

the hero thought it would be best to burn them all quickly

He started to prepare the magic needed for the flame

ready to fulfill the fated task for which he came

but suddenly a cry rang out that startled everyone

“what on earth could you be doing here my foolish son”

A man with golden eyes stood up and ran toward the child

and for the first time in a very long time, the boy smiled

“you should be at home, it isn’t safe for children here

the evil undead armies grow in number by the year”

The boy looked at his father and his smile began to fade

recalling life before the sudden journey he had made

“there’s no one left at home, the poison came for everyone

no one even had a chance to heal themselves or run”

Everyone fell silent in the tent, the hero too

their sadness and frustration was a feeling that he knew

“I passed through many towns to reach the city where you’re from

I saw no living person, so a poison must have come”

The hero felt the evil was the same as he had fought

but still he hadn’t found the information which he sought

“I understand your tribes have been afflicted by a curse

tell me of its source before the war grows any worse”

More and more the hero wanted just to quickly leave

the elves’ and demons’ unity was painful to believe

but politics had never been his passion or his skill

and such a feeble army wasn’t worth the time to kill

“How can you not know of the great evil which we fight

no one in these lands is unaffected by the blight”

a man whose face was hidden under thick and beastly fur

threw his cold suspicion at the sudden intruder

“I didn’t come here just to speak with demons of this sort

someone tell me quickly, or is time not running short”

he forced himself to hide his instinct to kill such a beast

he could deal with demons once the greater threat had ceased

“You dare call me demon, are you sick or just plain dumb

where could one as blind and ignorant as you be from”

the others in the tent who had been mourning silently

started looking at the hero more suspiciously

“Why do you not show your face, and what’s the boy to you

you seem almost human, but that surely isn’t true”

the hero’s patience starting waning as the air grew hot

but then he was distracted by the young boy that he’d caught

“Please just tell him where the monsters are and he will go

he was blessed by fairies and that’s all you need to know”

the boy approached the hero and though still his eyes held fear

he was sure no greater chance at help would soon appear

At first the leaders thought the tale was to absurd to heed

but when they looked more closely at the hero they agreed

it was clear the magic he possessed was truly great

something which could only be bestowed on one by fate

“It’s true that while our southern neighbours battle humankind

help repelling evil here is growing hard to find

if your fate has brought you here to aid us in our war

all that we can ask of you is help, and nothing more”

The father spoke while looking at his son with teary eyes

“fate is often hidden from us, but it never lies

I will tell you what we know about this evil scourge

and dare to hope that through your presence hope will soon emerge”

“I care not for your talk of fate, my journey is my own

whatever business demons tend to, it is yours alone

tell me what you know about the shadows and their lord

and do not think to stand between those shadows and my sword”

Even as he spoke he felt their presence somewhere near

he’d work with demons if he could escape that ghastly leer

at that very moment as the tent was dimly lit

the sleepless hero’s hands were shaking more than he’d admit

“To know those shadows, you must be quite powerful but cursed

and if you’ve seen them more than once, than you may be the first

while fairies are the hands of fate which guides our every breath

shadows are the agents of the twisted hand of death”

~