Thank you for staying, my good guest.
You have brought me great joy, you have brought me peaceful assurance.
You have shared my most biiter meal, you have tasted my most delightful wine.
You brought me company when there where none, and for that I am forever grateful.
War began many months ago, and because of that, you found my house.
News came to me that you were ready to join the war again,
To see if you could again conquer the Queen’s.country.
However, this time, a new challenger appeared.
A mighty challenger indeed, I might add.
Unfazed, you informed me you have readied your sword and armor.
Confident, you marched out and approached the mighty warrior.
Many days pased, and you informed me of every second of the action.
Great clashes of arms! You say.
Strong enemy! You fear.
A war of attrition! You conclude.
Lady Nike smiles on me! You declare.
As I watch on, I am happy for you, my guest, you indeed appear to be winning.
Then, on a sudden day, I receive message from the Queen itself.
No one shall claim this land, it writes. I shall hang both warriors.
I am shocked, and I am sad.
My guest will be killed, and the enemy likewise.
In a quest to conquer the Queen’s country, no one is winning.
I await the final judgement, and fear for your death.
I try to persuade you to stop the madness, and return home.
Many days pass, and you still bear hope.
The enemy is losing, you tell me.
The land shall soon be mine, you are confident.
One day I woke up from bed, and found a message.
Fearing that it was the message of your death, I open it with trepidation.
Good news! You write, the enemy is destroyed, and the Queen has surrendered.
With great confusion, I realize that the Queen has lied to me.
I run out to the battlefield.
There laid the enemy, slain.
There stood my guest, victorious.
The sword on his hand, dripping with blood.
He sees me, he smiles.
I have won he says! I have defeated the enemy.
The Queen stands next to him, looks at me,
and says nothing, as if she never gave me any message.
She looks at the enemy, silent.
Rip his heart out, she suddenly says.
As I watch, my mind runs wild.
I turn my back, returning to my home.
As I walk, I hear the sound the heart being carved out by the sword of my guest.
I return home, I mourn for the enemy.
Like him, I am also the casulty of war.
Unlike him, I always retreated when I lost.
The enemy, with never ending determination, stayed till the very end.
The enemy paid his final price.
Before entering my home, I look back.
My guest is happy.
The Queen stands and smiles.
The enemy, utterly destroyed.
I turn back and enter the house.
I ask aloud, What just happened?!
Unlike my guest, the house answers nothing.