A/N: OK, so this is a poem similar in style to The Kill Ring. Oh, that reminds me, can you guys give that one a little love? It's only getting 2 hits a month. :( It's feeling very lonely. I guarantee you'll like it if you like this one.
AFTERMATH
Roiling sea
Quiet air
The last of the ships
Fade over the horizon
Only my breathing is left
And my thoughts
My terrible thoughts
What they could be doing to him
I dare not
Think
About it
Someone is behind me
I ignore them
They don't understand
No one could comprehend
The pain
Pain at having your heart
Ripped out
And tossed to the side
Because it doesn't matter
What you think
You're insignificant to
Them
Bird calls
And more silence
She steps up beside me
Ignore her
She doesn't understand
Doesn't care
It's a mess.
I say nothing
As though it needs to be
Pointed out
You've lost everything…
Everything but my mind
…your father…
I did not lose him
He lost me
Threw me to the side
As I pleaded for mercy
…your tribe…
Have I?
I suppose
It's a matter of
Time
…your best friend…
How could she even begin
To feel
What I do
Thank you for summing that up.
As though I needed
Reminding
What will I do
Now?
It would be best
If I would
Just
Leave
Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods?
None of this would have
Happened
Would have been better for everyone.
Nothing would have changed
I would not have met
Toothless
But he would not be
Chained
To a boat
If he were dead
Yep. The rest of us would have done it.
And
Don't
I
Know
It
So why didn't you?
So now I have to
Talk about it?
Explain to her
What I can't explain to myself?
I don't know.
I do
But why would I
Tell her
I couldn't.
She doesn't believe me
Doesn't accept it
Pushes me
That's not an answer.
If that isn't
Then I don't have
One
Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?
I have
Convinced myself
That no one cares
So why
Does
She?
Because I want to remember what you say. Right now.
This is
Ridiculous
Why
Why
Why?
I was a coward. I was weak. I wouldn't kill a dragon.
More truthful
But still not good enough
For her
You said "wouldn't" that time.
Does it matter?
Does anything matter
Anymore?
Whatever! I wouldn't! Three hundred years, and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon.
The words echo
Resonate
She stares at me
She thinks I'm crazy
Just like everyone else
On this
Blasted
Island
Face the waves
Maybe I am crazy
I don't
Care
Anymore
First to ride one, though.
I am caught
By surprise
She
Believes me?
On my side?
That's two
Still not enough
So…?
Still waiting
For an answer
Why did
I
Do
It?
I'll tell her
Why
She asked for it
I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was.
And maybe
He was
Both too scared
To do anything
To hurt each other
I looked at him, and I saw myself.
Silence
We are
Unsure of
What to do next
But she has
Initiative
I bet he's really frightened now. What are you going to do about it?
I can't stop them
Can't stop the dragon
Can't stop the men
Prob'ly something stupid.
Wouldn't be the first
Time
Good, but you've already done that.
Threads
Of a plan
Begin to weave
Themselves
Spiders
On an early
Spring morning
Broken memories
Fix themselves
I
Know
What
To
Do
Then something crazy.
My followers of my other stories: But you PROMISED you would get another chapter up! What are you doing with this one?
Me: This one was already done; I promise I'm working on my others, mostly Viking's Apprentice. Keep looking, keep adding to your lists, and please keep reviewing!