Vae Victis

At first I thought you came to me in dreams alone
But now I realise I am always conscious
You just hold sway over my mind every day of my life
Always so vivid but such a mystery too

You goad me all the time with promises of a future for us both
One of which all squires dream, a life together of serenity and peace
In which I live to serve and protect you, answering your every desire
I make myself a marionette and I dance to your sweet tune

But first there is a battle ahead
A battle of isolation and sadness
A siege against the despair that was built against you
My fair maiden trapped within a tower of pain
Whose cries echo inside my forlorn thoughts

I’ll save you from your dark prison my princess
I’ll tear down the walls of fear stone by stone if I must
I’ll beat down the blocked portcullis gate with my bare hands
Because I know your will and mine are forged together
And no force will ever break us

With my pledge to build a life for you I become so gloriously armed
A silver sword of my ambition with which to cleave your chains
I feel invincible in my armour because in your faith is what I’m clad
And finally a gleaming shield through which no dark will ever touch us

I charge through the black chambers as red eyes watch from all around
It is for your trust that I do battle against the shadows of the dark
Fanged beasts that tear at my own reason
And serpents that spread the venom of foul doubt

To rescue you I sunder all though they still laugh in their defeat
On and up I climb the steps to the top spire
Battling new enemies of weariness and fatigue
Until at last I find your pearlescent chamber

I can see you looking back at me with eyes of love and longing just as mine
I run to you and you to me, hands outstretched to clasp each other
Then the cold glass stops me and my fingers scratch against the mirror
You are my reflection with your own identity

On the other side I watch as you turn away from me
There is something in your hand that I did no foresee
You hold up a new looking glass and from behind you I can see
Though you were mine, your reflection isn’t me…

A new potential knight in the armour of your light
He’s coming to do what I could not now I’m clad in naught but rust
Upon my knees I sink while my tears disturb the dust
Was this all some challenge in which I’m found lacking my lady of fate?

The doors bolt shut behind me and I realise my mistake
You built this tower alone and you hold all the keys
Within this endless purgatory the only prisoner is me
Forgotten now that I’m a captive to your heart