A Conqueror's Awakening
I leaned out of my window,
Watching my kingdom below.
How many years have I done this now?
Five? Seven? No, Ten.
All those years just staring out
Over the fields and the mountains
That guard my realm.
It looks so tranquil,
The breeze gently kissing the trees
Whilst the sun embraces all
That I see.
I thought I had it all;
All of my dreams were brought to life,
Every fantasy was fulfilled.
Everything I wanted to do had been done.
It hasn't always been this way,
So peaceful and calm.
I took what I wanted;
I killed those who stood against me,
I killed those I didn't like,
I killed... because I could.
I would round them up like cattle,
Men, women it didn't matter who
And tell my men that they
Were fighters against our 'cause'
It was on a 'hunt' such as this,
That I saw something
That would change me forever.
The night was dark, windy and cold.
They were rounded up in the courtyard,
awaiting the inevitable.
I went to watch,
To absorb the fear
That I felt gave me power.
I walked onto the balcony,
That overlooked the scene
When ...
... I saw her standing there,
Defiant, strong and unafraid.
And in that moment I knew;
I knew nothing at all.
Sensing me staring
She looked up.
And in that one look,
That one brief glance
She showed me the monster
I had become.
Before I could stop them
The guards, my own men,
Killed the woman they believed
Was the traitor to the realm.
All I could do was stare in horror,
As this small courageous woman fell,
Clutching the arrow that had pierced her heart,
Just as her calm, green eyes had pierced mine.
They never knew,
Like me until then,
That I was the monster, the traitor,
That they should have killed.
I knew then that I had to change,
I had to become better, stronger
Just like that woman.
I watched as they dragged her body away,
And felt that with her
Went my 'evils' and my sins.
I felt lighter, somehow.
I saw a clear picture
Of what I wanted my realm
To be.
And here I am now, 10 years later
Looking out over the calm,
Peaceful fields that surround
Me and my people.
My people, who now prosper
So much, yet are unaware
Of how this came to be.
I thought I had it all, back then.
Yet now I realise.
It's not about what I should have,
It's about what my people need.
And how they should get it.
And when I feel myself stray,
I think of those eyes.
So powerful and strong.
And do what I know and feel to be right.
.
.
.
Never has one look taught me so much.