The hero was concerned about the number that he led

　　and wondered what a better leader might do in his stead

　　he had never been in charge of anyone at war

　　he hadn`t thought of more than his own victory before

　　Luckily the prince had joined him on this epic quest

　　the hero would be left to do what heroes could do best

　　fighting at the battlefront, where everyone could see

　　and striking fear into the heart of every enemy

　　To reach the place where it was thought the battle would take place

　　took a week or two of travel at a modest pace

　　on the way the hero liked to talk with younger knights

　　telling all his epic tales while taking in the sights

　　One day on the march he came across a certain boy

　　barely old enough to be in any knight`s employ

　　he carried tools and weapons and he wore a joyful smile

　　carrying the heavy things but singing all the while

　　"Little boy, you look a little young to fight a war

　　do you even know what all of us are fighting for"

　　the hero did remember he was young when he left home

　　but rarely did he find so young a boy that chose to roam

　　"Just like you sir, I`ll become a hero too one day

　　I couldn`t stay at home no matter what my parents say

　　they told me that I`d be a farmer til the day I died

　　but I know I could be a hero if I only tried"

　　The boy was full of passion that the hero knew quite well

　　and looked as though one day he`d have his own stories to tell

　　"very well, I`ll lead you on your first decisive quest

　　look to me for guidance and you`ll rise above this test"

　　Many of the youngest in the army shared his tale

　　dreamers from a small town who believed they`d never fail

　　the hero was excited that so many shared his dream

　　blessed with luck and friends he marched along with eyes agleam

　　And so the army marched enthusiastically ahead

　　always motivated by the words the hero said

　　the only thing that bothered them while on their great campaign

　　was how the further they all walked, the heavier the rain

　　At first it didn`t seem unnatural to anyone

　　though it didn`t make their long excursion any fun

　　after one whole week however, some thought it was strange

　　it seemed as though the rainy weather might not ever change

　　It wasn`t long before morale began to slip away

　　but then the hero came up with an idea one day

　　he shot his magic fire straight up to clear the cloudy sky

　　but somehow it kept raining, and he knew the reason why

　　The rain clouds they were under were not natural at all

　　nor was the relentless rain continuing to fall

　　this storm was the product of a magic like his ownThe tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

　　and now the army that he led was soaking to the bone

　　He told his forces all to set up camp beneath the trees

　　the cold and rain had gotten to the point where they might freeze

　　he went ahead alone to find the source of all the rain

　　before the fight began, he wouldn`t see his allies slain

　　It wasn`t long before he found what he was looking for

　　a valley full of enemies all readying for war

　　only in the valley were they safe from rain and cold

　　they`d be well prepared should any battle soon unfold

　　He didn`t bother scouting, heroes wouldn`t sneak around

　　he ran into the camp and didn`t care that he was found

　　he cut the soldiers down as fiery winds began to blow

　　and at the centre of the camp the hero found his foe

　　A mage in azure robes who looked too old to even stand

　　but wielding mighty powers with the staff in his right hand

　　"foolish little sorcerer, your flames will not ignite

　　the holy water I control is everywhere in sight"

　　While the hero struggled to ignite a sword of flame

　　knowing that the mage`s water magic was to blame

　　the army quickly mobilized and started to advance

　　the hero`s great confusion gave them all the perfect chance

　　But just before the hero panicked, he began to grin

　　after all, there was no fight a hero couldn`t win

　　what more could a hero ask for than a worthy fight

　　this was just the reason that he first became a knight

　　"It`s nice to meet a mage with so much power in this land

　　just how much I`ve longed for this, you may not understand

　　please don`t underestimate me now, before we start

　　soon I do intend to tear your whole army apart"

　　The mage was just about to laugh, but then the air grew cold

　　he realized too late the words he`d heard were not just bold

　　the old man summoned one great wave to drown the errant knight

　　but with an icy blast the battlefield was all turned white

　　The water and the rain for miles around had turned to snow

　　the skies began to clear as icy winds began to blow

　　and as the mage`s power was beginning to expire

　　the hero walked toward him with two burning blades of fire

　　The mage resisted to the end but soon he`d breathed his last

　　no matter what amazing spells the elder mage could cast

　　then the hero turned to see the army moved ahead

　　slowed a little by the snow but quickly filled with dread

　　Their strongest mage had been defeated by a single man

　　and so a charge against the enemy became their plan

　　the hero had no problem with a war fought from behind

　　the hero would claim any battlefield that he could find

　　He cut through legion after legion, hunting them like mice

　　burning half the enemies still slipping on the ice

　　while they blindly charged he danced around irreverently

　　until the army met his waiting allies finally

　　He laughed as chaos broke out on the front line of the war

　　sweeping through his enemies then running back for more

　　he made sure that his allies saw his every mighty deed

　　feeling like a prisoner who`d finally been freed

　　Before the day was over, he had claimed their victory

　　they welcomed the surrender of their weakened enemy

　　the hero found the unit where he`d met the dreaming boy

　　to ask him if the battle was a fight he could enjoy

　　He found instead that most of those he`d spoken to were dead

　　there were few survivors of the front line he had led

　　the prince was badly injured, but was likely to survive

　　and wondered why the hero had been so late to arrive

　　"Without a word of warning, suddenly their army came

　　they ran over the mountains being chased by your great flame

　　while you killed at random most of our front line was lost

　　I guess for letting pirates lead us, that would be the cost"

　　"You wouldn`t understand the fate of heroes anyway

　　are you blind, or can`t you see that we have won the day

　　soldiers choose a battlefield to die on, don`t you know

　　even those without luck reap whatever seeds they sow"

　　The prince had trouble understanding what the hero said

　　but he couldn`t argue since at least he wasn`t dead

　　if the king relied upon the knight, then he would too

　　there was little more that such a prince as him could do

　　The hero knew he`d done enough in service of the king

　　heroes shouldn`t have to fret for every little thing

　　a hero was a symbol not a simple bodyguard

　　and so the prince`s bitter words were easy to discard

　　The army then returned to bring the king the happy news

　　but he was never worried that his favoured knight would lose

　　the kingdom then became a scene of festivals and fairs

　　after centuries of stalemates, victory was theirs

　　Once again, the hero was paraded through the street

　　listening to songs of their old enemy`s defeat

　　later he was summoned to the capital alone

　　and heard a plan that pleased him as he knelt before the throne

　　"As you may have heard our kingdom has a troubled past

　　now I think it`s time for you to hear my plan at last

　　no longer will we live beneath the shadow of our shame

　　no longer will we waste our time deciding who to blame

　　Centuries of enemies have stolen everything

　　undoing every victory of which we all still sing

　　you and I shall resurrect the great empire of old

　　I`ll have you become the greatest legend ever told"