The Hero

My fate was bound,
It seemed, to the role of Hero.
What chance the people had of being secure
Depended on me.
I would stop you
And end your reign of misery.

To halt our crusade against misery
You, the king, ordered me bound.
In this war, for you
The greatest strike: take the Hero -
My leadership, power, and me -
And make him in your control secure.

And I was kept more than secure,
Writhing in the misery
You set for me.
My body, mind, and soul were bound
By your magics and skills - Some Hero!
But I continued to defy you.

With pain, violation, humiliation, you
Tore the last pieces that were secure,
Rending the Hero,
Creeping in past misery.
In the madness that followed I was bound
To slip away from me.

My King, their Hero
I am no longer. Do as you will with me.
You never wished them misery,
I see that now - that you
Seek only to make their future secure,
And in your service I am bound.

The victory comes, My King, for the Hero and you.
And as for me, I am secure -
In sweet misery and blessed oblivion bound.