Maybe this was destiny, to start again from scratch

　　he was still alive and well, although he`d met his match

　　he barely had his powers now but they would soon return

　　he would fight as long as there was honour left to earn

　　While he walked he tried to summon magic in his hands

　　but still it seemed his magic was ignoring his demands

　　and heavy though his heart was he was still a proper knight

　　and so he`d meet the emperor after his brief respite

　　He went into the castle where the guards were weak and tired

　　and walked toward the emperor whose reign he had inspired

　　the castle was in tatters, and the guards lay here and there

　　some who saw him shouted but all most could do was stare

　　He walked right through with confidence and purpose in his stride

　　and soon he stood before the emperor and bowed with pride

　　but when he knelt before the throne and waited for his quest

　　all the emperor demanded then was his arrest

　　The hero watched in silence as his dusty hands were bound

　　and listened to emperor while while lying on the ground

　　"you dare come and kneel before the monarch you betrayed

　　all your lies and evil deeds will now be justly weighed.

　　We know the demons only fought because you killed their lord

　　when offered peace you foolishly responded with your sword

　　worst of all, your lies have cursed the whole of my empire

　　the dragon that you claimed was dead just set my lands on fire"

　　Word had spread throughout the land of how the war was lost

　　of what the hero`s endless lust for fame and gold had cost

　　he led the empire to its ruin just to suit his pride

　　everything thing the empire lost because the hero lied

　　"Traitor, I`ll think long and hard of how to punish you

　　for now, confinement to the dungeons, that will have to do

　　so terrible a criminal as you has never been

　　now laws account for any sort of traitor so obscene"

　　The hero wasn`t sure that he completely understood

　　he thought he might just run away if only he still could

　　the emperor sighed deeply at the hero on the ground

　　whose only form of protest was a weak, pathetic sound

　　"To think I planned to execute you in the city square

　　but now the sight of you might give the people here a scare

　　count your lucky stars that you still have one last friend hereStolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

　　thanks to him, for now you`ll quietly just disappear"

　　The hero wondered who the emperor was speaking of

　　his question was cut short though by a spell cast from above

　　bound by chains and magic, he was dragged away in shame

　　pushed by guards who didn`t even know the hero`s name

　　All at once, his world became a silent, living hell

　　left alone with thoughts on which he`d rather never dwell

　　but much to his surprise, a visitor did soon arrive

　　somebody he couldn`t help but smile to see alive

　　The man before him now had all his pride but just one hand

　　the pity in his face was hard for him to understand

　　the prince`s voice then filled the dungeon with a sombre tone

　　"I`m sorry my old friend, that so much pain is yours alone"

　　The hero frowned, confused at why he`d earn his sympathy

　　but it was hard to speak, so he just listened silently

　　"the heroes who we sent up north have yet to make it back

　　I can only guess that they were lost since the attack

　　The demons have retreated, but it`s hard to say we won

　　the empire`s age of unchallenged prosperity is done

　　more than anybody, you should know the cost of war

　　just like you, we never could have guessed what was in store"

　　The prince`s face was harsh but then he took a breath and sighed

　　"it seems like yesterday when we were fighting side by side

　　we asked for too much of you, and now we`ve paid the price

　　though i must forgive you, it`s too late to give advice

　　I told my father everything I saw that day in hell

　　about the dragon and about your actions there as well

　　some survived who saw you lose your mind and take my hand

　　but I know you`ve suffered more than they could understand"

　　The prince saw in the hero`s eyes, he wanted to explain

　　but couldn`t justify his actions while in so much pain

　　"I know that in the fire, you saved my life at a great cost

　　I saw it then and see it now, your life was nearly lost

　　You must have used up all the magic you had left inside

　　your life was flowing out of you the harder that you tried

　　what you did was nothing like the magic you taught me

　　the sacrifice you made to save me then is plain to see"

　　The hero quickly understood how wrong he`d been before

　　it wasn`t that the magic he had lost returned once more

　　it was his own life force which he used to raise a shield

　　magic that requires you to sacrifice yourself to wield

　　"It`s time for me to leave, and though I wish you could be free

　　it`s all that I could do to let you rest here peacefully

　　take comfort that your family has long since disappeared

　　maybe they`ll resurface should your name ever be cleared"

　　The prince then turned to leave, a look of conflict on his face

　　"you won`t be thanked for what you`ve done to help the human race

　　maybe time will help me understand the things you`ve done

　　and why you lie so often to yourself and everyone"

　　The prince and guards left through the dungeon`s only lonely door

　　the hero left alone to chase his thoughts there on the floor

　　not a single word of what the prince had said made sense

　　he offered no apologies or any recompense

　　Once a boy and then a slave, became a royal knight

　　now a helpless prisoner in pain and out of sight

　　days and nights in darkness bound in heavy iron chains

　　the hero`s tale of treachery his only known remains

　　All the hero heard about the world beyond his cell

　　came from guards who fed him, though there wasn`t much to tell

　　the empire now without it`s army fell to disarray

　　broken into pieces, growing smaller every day

　　Like the hero cippled by is weakness and despair

　　the continent was dying as far as he was aware

　　his will to start things over was replaced by will to live

　　and effort just to move his arms was all that he could give

　　The chains began to feel like part of him after a year

　　growing only heavier with every bitter tear

　　guards appeared less often as their armour turned to rust

　　only coming to deliver his food when they must

　　but as he sat there in the corner, hiding from the light

　　he rested better in the dark of every passing night

　　and one day after many years chained upon the floor

　　the boy no longer dreamed of being hero anymore

　　Staring at the ceiling of his cold and dirty cell

　　memories began to flow with every tear that fell

　　everything he hadn`t seen while blinded by his dream

　　carried by the current of an unrelenting stream

　　~