He found the shipyard and he asked for work upon a barge

　　but captains only laughed and offered passage free of charge

　　"who could take a fee from such an honest man as you

　　and even captains on our ships have little work to do"

　　The pilgrim had a hard time trusting generosity

　　but understood their words when he saw their technology

　　ships that billowed smoke were pushed along by giant wheels

　　serving countless passengers impossibly fine meals

　　He joined a voyage meant to cross the ocean in a week

　　the ship so fast it left the pilgrim unable to speak

　　he thought when he arrived that he might recognize the port

　　but so much there had changed that his nostalgia was cut short

　　The captain of the ship that gave him passage over sea

　　even tried to give him gold to spend enjoyably

　　the pilgrim thanked his benefactor but he rushed along

　　how could the economy become so safe and strong

　　He walked along the streets of where the empire once had ruled

　　not a single trace was left of any war he fueled

　　the guilt he`d learned to live with didn`t seem to have a place

　　in such a world where there were smiles on every single face

　　Horses pulling wagons finer than he`d ever seen

　　couples dressed in garments that would suit a king and queen

　　in his agitation he walked briskly out of town

　　hoping that the countryside would help him settle down

　　He walked along the cobbled roads that never seemed to end

　　coming to a point where trees and shops began to blend

　　but where there should have been a forest, as he walked around

　　busy towns and cities full of life were all he found

　　He didn`t even notice by the time he had arrived

　　the empire`s former capital, where once he`d lived and thrived

　　almost every castle, house, and landmark that he knew

　　replaced by new and better things, too splendid to be true

　　Lost on where to start with looking for his fated quest

　　absently he wandered down the street he knew the best

　　the mansion where he once had lived was there but occupied

　　unsure who was living there, he crept around the side

　　Inside he saw a family, but it was not his own

　　children playing happily where his children had grown

　　before he left he stopped to ask a gardener nearbyIf you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

　　about the ones who lived there, though he couldn`t tell him why

　　The gardener was friendly and had worked there many years

　　he told the pilgrim there were many things a servant hears

　　"long ago, before my time, there lived an elf and knight

　　once the knight was slain in battle, then the elf took flight

　　Much later on her children came to sell the old estate

　　I heard they`re hiding in the east, in quite a healthy state

　　you`ll find they`ve lived in luxury for many years out there

　　if you ask around, beyond the hills, you`ll find out where"

　　The pilgrim thanked the gardener and left without delay

　　heading east without a single stop along the way

　　and when he found the place the gardener said his wife went

　　sure enough, her presence there was more than evident

　　Little children playing near a house of modest size

　　their ears a little pointed, even some with golden eyes

　　when they saw him coming they all quickly ran inside

　　he smiled and kept on walking to the fate he`d been denied

　　He knocked upon the door at once and asked about his wife

　　wishing soon to hear of her extraordinary life

　　the man who lived there almost fainted, when he met his guest

　　the pilgrim felt a certain warmth begin to fill his chest

　　"Come inside and eat, you must be weary from the road

　　let us give you all the hospitality you`re owed

　　children come and meet the man who gave us all we own

　　a hero long and our ancestor, who fought the world alone"

　　The pilgrim went inside and there he met his progeny

　　several generations of his children`s family

　　"tell me, do my children still survive, and are they here

　　never will I leave them just to fight and disappear"

　　He took the man before him to be one of his grandsons

　　although his hair was grey he looked just like his little ones

　　"I`m sorry but your children passed away some time ago

　　your son was my grandfather, but now he rests below"

　　The pilgrim, once a hero and father, sat in shock

　　for a while he couldn`t hear the man before him talk

　　he felt ashamed to know his children died ahead of him

　　and how he left them suddenly to chase a heroes whim

　　"Please don`t feel as though you should`ve stayed behind back then

　　your children were so proud of you and grew to be fine men

　　although they hid their lineage after the empire fell

　　stories of your exploits were the only tales they`d tell

　　They understood that all they had was paid for by your sword

　　and how, for all your pain, you gave them all of your reward

　　I wish that I could give you better news, but this I know

　　your wife may still be living, but she left here long ago

　　When all your sons had grown up well and strong, she said goodbye

　　she said she had to find you, or at least she had to try"

　　the pilgrim had been satisfied to know they all survived

　　but longed to know the family of which he`d been deprived

　　He asked his great grandson about the way the world had changed

　　about how everything had suddenly been rearranged

　　they spoke for hours about what he had missed while he was gone

　　and he was shocked to learn about the path the world was on

　　"The ones we called the demons were the first to speak of peace

　　the remnants of the empire also longed for war to cease

　　but something happened to the north and some call it a curse

　　and many of the northern tribes were forced to leave, or worse

　　refugees of many races came to seek our aid

　　and most were welcomed, though at first, so many were afraid

　　but what the so called demons bought, we never could have guessed

　　they brought their magic and the skills with which they had been blessed

　　The ruined empire was renewed in little time at all

　　becoming a new kind of culture that could never fall

　　we share the world with everyone and celebrate our life

　　but that is not to say the world is not without its strife

　　To this day, no one dares go to far north of here

　　there, it`s not uncommon for new evils to appear

　　even dragon fire is not too rare a thing to see

　　but who or what is there is still the greatest mystery"

　　The pilgrim was reminded of a battle long ago

　　recalling evils to the north that nobody could know

　　monsters rising up to fight that should`ve been long dead

　　the recollection of that day became a sense of dread

　　He spent the night to rest his weary heart but couldn`t stay

　　and left to chase the rumours of his wife within a day

　　humbled by the legacy his wife had left behind

　　perhaps his family and quest had somehow been aligned

　　~