Gallant
A/N: Another piece for SynTru's Quick Writing Contest. I think I wrote this in about.. an hour and a half while doing other stuff. I'm not quite sure what I was trying to do with it so it's not very visual, but uh. Yep. It's done at least. I might go back and fiddle with it another time, but we'll see.
Gallant
Gallant was he who rode his steed
The knight who fought to save those in need.
With bronzed hair and striking blue eyes
He fit just the portrait of a hero in style.
Yet beneath that shining exterior
Held quite the coward
Who shivered and cringed
Even as he slayed in glee
Or so his rabid fans believed.
Daily they followed him
Screaming, pleading
Just to touch his sleeve
Even as he buried his head
Exasperated, in disbelief.
They wanted him for his strength
They wanted him for his righteousness.
They saw him how they wanted to see him.
The flesh-in-blood mythical hero
Conqueror of the foul
Noble in spirit
Here to save them all.
They never saw what devoured him from inside.
The quaking knees that held him up
The sweaty palms that clung to his sword
Perspiration beading down his face
The panting breath
Icy chills
His reeling mind
Back and forth, back and forth-
Stop.
He did only what was needed.
Oh, how he wanted to retire
From this life of unwanted fame
But always the worn faces of the forlorn
Haunted him until he was obliged to return.
Nary a day would go by
Without the spectres of the lost
Ghosting through his thoughts
And he rode day and night
Desperate to ease his mind
Yet knowing that calm would never come
But this turmoil he had
Was one he accepted.
For true gallancy was never for fame
Nor a question of bravery or stifling fear
But always what was right and needed.