A forest full of life and magic echoing with song
fairies by their nature dancing playfully along
he tried to call attention to himself but couldn’t speak
a little fairy drifting by just laughed and pinched his cheek
“You came a little close to understanding near the end
but almost made a mess of things with moments left to spend”
the fairy went along its way and let the old man be
and quietly he sat himself upon a fallen tree
Another fairy noticed him, and one the old man knew
he’d heard it speak of fate before, at least a time or two
“you really are a stubborn fool but all fell into place
and here you are as always with that dumb look on your face”
The man was tired but found the strength to smile and wave his hand
wondering what else there was he didn’t understand
“you said I’d never be a hero, still you made be strong
and put me on a hero’s path that stretched on for so long”
“we had no interest in the way you lived your life back then
you could have been a villain or a pirate once again
you always gave the fate you kept demanding too much thought
right up til your dying hour, a hero you were not”
Suddenly it clicked inside the weary old man’s head
he had to laugh at what the fairy long ago had said
in the end, his final battle hadn’t gone on long
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but for just that battle’s sake, the fae had made him strong
“Don’t be too embarrassed boy, you’ve barely lived at all
you’ll understand a little more the next time that we call
but that’s enough of living just for now, so take a rest
it’s the least that we can do for such a frequent guest”
The fairy pointed with its little hand toward the sky
and when the hero looked above, he knew the reason why
descending on the hero was a warm and soothing light
he asked a final question just before his soul took flight
“Is this how it ends for me, or is there something more
will I be cursed or blessed for all that I was fighting for”
the fairy didn’t answer but it smiled and waved goodbye
the hero thought of running but he couldn’t even try
He felt the light consume him and then everything was dark
until he noticed somewhere in the distance was a spark
as his eyes adjusted he could see it was a star
all around him countless more appearing near and far
He called out to the darkness out of fear or out of joy
crying out for someone like a lonely little boy
but when he heard a voice it filled his empty world with life
and then he felt the reassuring presence of his wife
“You kept me waiting, but it’s good to see you once again
I was sure we’d meet one day, but couldn’t tell you when
I don’t know what lies ahead, but this is where we start
whatever might come next, this time we’ll never be apart”
She took his hand and led him on, to where, he didn’t know
but he was sure that they’d be happy anywhere they’d go
maybe fate would catch him once again or maybe not
he’d be happy even as a hero fate forgot
In a village somewhere in the world there was a boy
he dreamt of all the danger and adventures he’d enjoy
tortured by the pleasure and the guilt he found in war
he fought the world until he couldn’t fight it anymore
He knew he’d never be a hero, still he walked that path
and for the lies he told himself he earned the whole world’s wrath
but whether by his luck or fate, or maybe by his will
he found a hero’s purpose in a tomb beneath a hill
Whatever lies ahead for one as stubborn as that boy
whether as a villain or a saint in fate’s employ
surely he’ll find new mistakes to make along the way
and he’ll find friends to make as well as enemies to slay
But fate does not belong to just a single, stubborn boy
who can count the many agents now in fate’s employ
did a single dreaming lad do everything himself
why not take another dusty songbook off the shelf
~