Unforgiving blade, unforgiven scar

Loyalty, love, respect...all can become nothing if they stand in the face of justice...

On a freezing morning the king called, with orders for us to hear
We grabbed our swords along as his knights, saying as we entered:" your majesty we are here"
Still the same as always: with cold eyes as if staring into the abyss of hell below
Yet we could feel his anger, like he was bargaining with the devil about someone there to throw

"Today we got proof of traitors among us", he said with a menacing tone
"The man i believed to be my right hand turned out to be a schemer, seeking the authority of my throne"
"But i will not give a public execution order, or tell that rotten rat"
"I won't give filth the chance to resist, or even a grave to rest in, he will just die and rot"
"So go bring me his head, with the dark of night as your veil"
"Do not show mercy or hesitation, for your lives are mine to take as well should you fail"

And so, we prepared ourselves with haste, to rid the nation of yet another Cancer
Though this might be the biggest one, for this is the leader of army. a man everyone, including us, admire
But duty is sacred, and the proof of betrayal exists
Thus, without hesitation: we charged into his home, expecting a warrior who resists
And indeed, we found one with other men who happened to be there and chose to assist
However, it didn't take long for us to triumph for surprise and numbers were on our side
"Forgive us captain", i said," But treason is a crime no kingdom can let slide"
"I am and will always be for this nation, but the king ? i now despise him, although it was not like that at the start"
Said the wounded target, with what sounded like words from the heart
"He has to be toppled, that king reached the point of no return, with conquests one after the other"
"He lost his soul to the lust of glory to the point that with the lives of his subjects: he will no longer bother"
"You've seen the wave of executions; how can you ignore the hanging of a man who did not bow enough to his king?"
"Face it: the leader we've loved and walked with is no more: what remains is a violent and cruel being"
Those were his words, which reminded us of a truth we've long kept in denial
Indeed, our beloved king is no more, and our hope of reclaiming him is now as delusional as the dream of a clueless child

"TRAITORS! HOW DARE YOU SIDE AGAINST YOUR MONARCH!" screamed the king, when he saw us that night
As we walked through the door of the castle with his target leading us, for him that must have been such a sight
Very few soldiers stood against us, affirming the reality of what has become of the man sitting on the throne
Yet even then he drew his sword, and bravely stared at us with fiery eyes, not caring if he was alone
In respect of his courage, his right hand stepped in, declaring a duel for the future of this land
And even though the king had no choice: he accepted like it was something he wanted, and so the battle began
Blood was shed and flesh was wounded, in a showdown of both hatred, sadness, and guilt
Until the king took the fatal blow, dropping his blade and taking his final breath
Not to curse his luck or lament his defeat, but to simply say:" let it be known, that i do not regret this death."
With that our nation broke free from the chains of wars, a moment worthy of celebration
Yet silence filled the castle and our hearts, for in the end we lost an old friend, without being able to bring him salvation

That is the burden of justice: to do what you MUST even if hope seems to be so far
Requiring an unforgiving blade sometimes, which in turn can leave you with an unforgiven scar.