“I should not have come here, but I had to see you now

normally this isn’t something mother would allow”

the hero had forgotten all the plans that he just made

she entered while he dealt with being flustered and dismayed

Her beauty and her grace were like no woman’s he had seen

it felt like he was falling down into that great ravine

“I saw you in the carriage, you’re the princess of this land”

stuttering he thoughtlessly extended his right hand

She held it and she looked into his eyes and softly said

“you are nothing like the rumours everyone has spread

you’re a gentle soul, and I was born to meet you here

from the very moment i first saw you, it was clear”

The hero’s mind had only just been freed of mental chains

but now he felt another magic flowing through his veins

“come with me tonight, and we’ll go somewhere far away

stay with me and I will always love you, come what may”

The princess smiled and looked away, but then began to cry

the hero wanted desperately to know the reason why

“anything that makes you sad, I’ll fix it for you now

anything you need from me, it doesn’t matter how”

“Please forgive my bold confessions, blame it on my youth

but if we’re to be together, you must know the truth

I was secretly betrothed before you came to town

but in battle recently, my lover was cut down”

“That’s all in the past, and all that matters is right now

I promise that I’ll never leave you, take this as my vow”

the hero knew he’d never fall in battle anyway

any war he fought in, he’d come back to her one day

“I knew that you’d be gracious and forgive my troubled past

I’m so grateful fate has brought you here to me at last

I’m afraid there’s just one final truth which I still owe

my lover left me with a child, but you’re the first to know”

The hero placed his hand upon her stomach and he knew

with magic he could sense the heart of not just one, but two

“any child of yours I’ll surely love with all my soul

for as long as you’re with me, I know that I’ll be whole”

Crying tears of joy the princess fell into his arms

the hero just embraced her and surrendered to her charms

“why should you desire to leave this kingdom with me though

there is no where finer than this kingdom that I know”

“If you really must be here, I guess I have no choice

I can’t live without the sound of your angelic voice”

so the hero then decided he would rather stay

declaring that he’d stay with her and never run away

They passed the night in peace and when the morning came they woke

together they were taken to the queen who shrewdly spoke

“I see you overcame the collar, you have passed the test

forgive me for my methods, but I only hire the best”

The hero was suspicious but he didn’t really care

as long as he could have the princess, he’d be happy there

“but why are you together with the princess, might I ask

bringing you to me was not my eldest daughter’s task”

The princess took the hero’s hand and kindly looked his way

he knew the queen was angry but he had no words to say

his heart was beating faster and his face was turning red

the princess smiled and then she raised her voice and boldly said

“fate has chosen him to be my partner and my love

I know that our union was a blessing from above

one day he will be my husband, then he’ll be our king

by your grace, my queen, he will inherit everything”

The queen had started smiling but with something more than joy

she looked as though the hero had just fallen for her ploy

he looked toward the princess and although he loved her still

he knew that she was acting by her royal mother’s will

He thought of being king and while it didn’t seem so bad

the thought of being bound to rule would only make him sad

he’d been a slave for too much time, deprived of choice and pride

being king would bind him to his people til he died

Though he longed for war, he’d choose his battles on his own

he wouldn’t be a slave again, regardless of the throne

still he’d yet to master war, and truly stake his claim

one day he would earn an independent hero’s name

The queen and princess both looked like their victory was sure

though he knew he had to leave her, still his love was pure

“though I can assure you that I’d love you all my life

I will not be king here, even if you are my wife

I must travel far and wide to satisfy my quest

I can promise one day to return here as your guest”

suddenly the knights who stood nearby all shook in fear

the anger of the queen was felt by all who stood too near

“I have no more time for games, you’ll kneel to me or die”

the queen approached the hero with the princess by his side

he was just about to summon his own fiery blade

content to face the consequences of the choice he made

“Stop, I must confess that there is one more crucial fact”

the princess jumped between them just before the queen attacked

“he’s not just the man I love, we must be reconciled

last night I was with him, and now I am with his child”