The Valkyrie and The Hero

The Valkyrie and The Hero

By Brandy Alyce
Inspired by the poetry of J. Nikitas 

 

Once there was a beautiful Valkyrie with hair as dark as the deepest depths and wings as black as obsidian. She was strong and mighty, but also kind and caring. Her one flaw was that she had a low opinion of herself.

 

One day, the Valkyrie was feeling depressed and started to lose her feathers. As she tried to sore through the sky, she fell to the Earth- snapping her wing. She berated herself for not being better- for not being good enough. After all, what worthy Valkyrie would ever be in such a predicament?

 

As the Valkyrie was lying on the ground ready to give up, a man passed by. He saw her and his heart broke. He tried to help, but she told him to move along. She was a Maiden of The High Power- a Valkyrie. She could and would get up when she was ready.

 

The man, noticing the Valkyrie struggling, realized that her wing was broken. He started encouraging her.

“You are a worthy Maiden! You Can do this!”

 

The Valkyrie looked at the man with tears in her eyes and said,

“I am a Maiden, but not worthy. I have not the strength to get up. Even if I could, to what purpose? I am not deserving to be who I was meant to be.”

 

The man looked at the Valkyrie and started to cry.

 

“Why are you crying, oh, kind sir?” asked the Maiden of the Highest Power.

 

“Because you are a beautiful, strong, and worthy being. If only you could see what I see,” he replied. “Please get up! You are worthy! Be strong, my Honorable Valkyrie!”

 

With the man’s encouragement, the Maiden sat up, bruised, and broken. And while she was expressing her gratitude for his being there for her, the feathers on her wings started to grow back, full, and glossy. Her wing had started repairing itself.

 

“Oh, Man! Your encouragement and love have helped heal my wounds! You will no longer be called only a man. You are now called Hero- my Hero. I will spend my days loving and protecting you. I will always be there for you, as you have been here for me this day!”

 

The man, who now was bestowed with the name of Hero, bowed to the Valkyrie.

“I am honored. May I always be worthy of your love and devotion. I pledge my life to you and will honor you even as death takes away my last breath.”

 

The Valkyrie could not leave the Hero, but, instead, fought by his side. They were a fierce team: his strengths, her weakness- her strengths, his weakness. There was nothing that they could not overcome together.

 

One day, the Hero looked out among all the warriors of all walks of life. He wondered what it would be like to stand side by side with others. Even if it was just for small skirmishes. The more that he thought about it, the more he felt he was mighty enough to lend his sword to others. His mind warred with itself. He soon began to wish he had never devoted himself to the beautiful Valkyrie.

 

The temptation became too strong, and he began to stand with others while pretending to still be fully devoted to his Maiden. Eventually, the Hero walked away from his loyal Valkyrie. He felt he didn’t need her anymore and she was hindering him from completing all the conquests that he could be making on his own.

 

The faithful Maiden was heartbroken. It felt as if a piece of her soul had been ripped away. She wanted him to be happy and strong. So, if this was the path he chose, she could only hope that it was what was best for him.

 

The Hero made many conquests. In his heart, he was in pain. He knew he should have never left that fair and courageous Valkyrie, but his deep desire to be free to join others for more victories was too strong for him to abandon. He wanted the adventures that only his sword could lead him to.

 

The Maiden, feeling lost without her warrior, went before the Highest Power.

“Your Honor, My Lord, I bow before you with a broken heart. My Hero has left me to fight on his own. I know by the laws of All Kind, he may choose as he will. My soul is in such deep agony. Please guide me on the right path.”

 

The Highest Power looked down upon the Valkyrie from his throne and saw her broken and bleeding heart- part of her soul ripped open with jagged edges where a part of it was missing.

“My child, my Warrior Maiden. Be not sad, but patient. I know your Hero. I know his heart. In due time, he will see the error of his ways. The time will come when you will rescue him as he did rescue you so long ago. Be patient and trust me. I will guide you.”

 

The Valkyrie, happy with this news, waited. The Hero became more and more distant- trying to ignore the pain of his conscience.

 

The Maiden had moments where she worried the Highest Power was wrong or that she misunderstood Him. Each battle that the Hero fought, she looked for him to honor her. She was becoming inpatient and returned to her Lord.

“Your Honor, I stand before you humbled. I have waited it seems in vain. With each day, my Hero is further and further away. Did I misunderstand your guidance?”

 

The Most High Power looked down sadly.

“My Child, my Maiden. My words remain the same. My guidance unchanged. I asked that you trust me. Have patience, Dear One. By years end, he shall be by your side.”

 

The Valkyrie, happy for the reassurance, went back to watch the battles. When she became impatient, she remembered the words of Power- By year’s end. She just had to trust and have patience.

 

As the year was drawing to a close, the Hero was fighting in a major battle. The warriors were being massacred. At the battle’s conclusion, the Hero was bleeding and dying. He was in so much pain and misery that he just wanted eternal rest.

 

The Valkyrie, who kept watch from afar, flew down to Earth. She reached out her hand offering comfort, safety, forgiveness, and healing. The Hero, too ashamed, refused her kindness. She, not willing to abandon him when he needed her most, knelt on the bloodstained ground beside him, surrounded by the bodies of the fallen.

 

The Enemy, noticing the Maiden by the dying Hero, attacked once more, but she protected him by covering his body with her dark, majestic wings. Though she as hurt, she was able to quickly heal and fought until the Enemy was no more. All that was left was the silence of death on the battlefield.

 

The Valkyrie stood, and with tears in her eyes, held out her hand.  The Hero wept bitterly. He did not deserve such loyalty. His Maiden just stood there silently- her hand unwavering.

 

At long last, the Hero nodded and the Valkyrie lifted him up. And as they soared away, for the first time in a long time, he felt comfort, safety, and peace. He finally felt he could rest.

 

The Man by Brandy Alyce

                                            The Man

 An Original Story by Brandy Alyce

There once was a man. He had a good and honest heart. He loved his family and friends deeply and would do anything for them. He cared for his family so much that he would shed tears at night if he felt he had caused any pain or that he was lacking in any way as a husband or father. The plight of those who had suffered in other countries from natural disasters or war would tear at his heart. He had so much empathy for those who did not deserve to suffer. This was the true self of this man.

 

The description of the man sounds perfect. Looking straight on, this was how he was viewed. Looking from a different angle, his struggles could be seen. Only his wife could see the depth, and even then, not all. You see, this man had a flaw. Total control was his addiction. Though one should be in control of oneself, he went a little farther. But, for the love of his family, he overcame his demons. Only, instead of banishing them, he locked them up behind an iron gate. His wife had suspicions that there was more to him that he didn’t share even with her, but knew that they were related to the battles that raged in his mind. All she could do was be there for him.

 

The demons that the man had locked away behind this iron gate were not happy. They would grow restless and shake the bars. Sometimes they whispered to him through the door. When this would happen, the man would become afraid and depressed. He felt tormented within his own mind, but still…he would not banish them. He could not relinquish control.

 

One day, the man’s child began to show symptoms of a mental illness. As it progressed, the demons began to raise their voices and shout, “You have no control! You are no man! Release us and you can regain control of your life!”

 

The shaking of the iron bars and the screams of the demons, the stress of the man’s family, the fear of losing control of it all, and the fear of being a failure as a father became too much.

“If I can’t control my life, then I can control my death!”

 

The man, restless and fearful, was unable to sleep that night. His wife, still only partially aware of the breadth of his troubles, stayed by his side trying to soothe and encourage him until morning.

 

When the sun rose the next day, rather than cause pain and suffering to his family, the man told his wife that he needed help. The wife went with him and stayed by his side as much as possible as he was admitted to the hospital. No matter his demons, she would always be there for him.

 

The man met an amazing doctor while in the hospital who encouraged him to banish his demons. The first step was to identify them. The doctor explained that this would be a process, but that they would work together to discover the best way to be rid of them. The man was able to get the confidence he needed to regain control, even if his threshold was still weak.

 

The man continued to see the doctor and became more and more patient with his family and able to handle his life…until his child’s illness took on additional symptoms. The weak threshold was weakened even more.

 

The man, fearing that he may not be able to keep total control, requested that his wife stay at home with their son, instead of working. He would get a job while he continued to improve mentally. She, though doing very well at her job, wanted to be supportive of her husband and family, therefore, resigned to focus on their son.

 

The man was hired at a company and immediately started doing well. Unfortunately, spending most of his time each week amongst beautiful women caused his lust demon to rattle the gate.

“Let me out! Think of how much fun we can have together! Release me and I can release you from all the stresses of your family! Think of the freedom! Release me!”

 

The man tried to ignore it, but the demon became louder and louder, and shook the gate harder and harder, weakening the hinges.

 

As the man’s Will weakened, so did the iron gate. Until one day…the gate broke wide open. In his desperation, the man grabbed hold of the demons, Manipulation, and Lies, and held them close.

“I must have control!”

 

With Manipulation and Lies, the man was able to create his own world. One in which only he could control. Cutting out the people he cared for the most, only those with whom he could control the narrative- his new friends- were welcome into his circle. He could tell them anything and they would believe him.

 

The man had a moment of clarity. He looked around his life and saw the disaster, devastation, and pain that he had caused. In his fight for control, he had let his demons control him. His wife, as always, was there for him- supportive and encouraging. He needed additional help to banish these demons.

 

The man took his task seriously. Trying to regain his life- restore what he had lost. But soon, the demon, Lust, distracted him again. And grabbing hold of Manipulation and Lies, he succumbed.

 

The man is now locked behind his own iron gate. His personal guard is Lust- backed up by Manipulation and Lies.