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

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

~