Once, King.

They gave us meat, gold, and new innovations, and looking back on our time, with the humans we may not have been as grand or powerful as we are now.

"We noticed their effect, though, when we were cut off from them. Our kingdom dwindled for a time, and stagnated in the arts and sciences. The peace loving nobles could not see this, and would not let our armies march."

The King jolted in bed. "Thou can not hear my shame, it would destroy thy love for me."

"My liege, I swore to hear your story of your life, and I swore to respect you and listen. Nothing you can do would strip that from me."

The tear I had seen so long ago is now on the King's chin, gently rolling. "Would that it were so, my child. This part of the tale would serve that cause as surely as anything I could do."

"My liege, I swore."

"Thus begins the next portion of my grief, my child. How can I sleep at night knowing that my own actions have harmed thou, an innocent child? But I could not have known.

"I did it for the realm, thou must know this. The Elves must continue no matter what. And the best way to achieve this was to keep the humans.

"And so, in deepest secrecy, I met the chieftain of the Orcs. I was alone, with only the badge of my office. The chieftain had a band of nearly a hundred followers, armed to the tusks. I showed no fear.

"He said to me, 'King of the Elves, you wish to parlay with me?'

"I answered yes, and laid out my needs.

"He said, 'Your people would consider you a traitor.' I agreed.

"He said, 'Your people would consider you a tyrant.' I agreed.

"He said, 'Your people would consider you a murderer.' I said, 'It must be so.'

"The chieftain left with twelve bags of purest gold."

He shakes, crying. I can see the struggle in his eyes, in his face, and I know what he must say next. I lay my hand on his shoulder to comfort him, small comfort that it is. His voice is thin, frail, and cracked.

"Child, I remember thy parents. Brave Elves they were, and loyal in all they did. Thy father, a captain in my army until thou were born, fought besides my great grandchildren in many campaigns. Thy mother, a noble women of impeccable birth and raising, supported me and my throne in all that I so chose. For that I valued them, and gave them a manse in which to raise thou, safe from war and politicking.

"But when war with the Orcish people raged once more, my borders could not withstand their wrath, and so they fell upon my lands and estates, including thine parents'.

"In a bloody battle, thy father and mother were slain, and so thou were stolen from us. Remembering thy parents' deeds to my and my kin, I sent warriors to bring thou back, and they did succeed. And so thou sit today, waiting on me, listening to my last words before death."

I have heard this story many times before, from many different people. But only now do I know. Only know do I see why, and how. I should feel rage, welling up at the killer of my family, at the man who rendered me an orphan.

But at the same time I feel pity to a dying father, one who has lived so long, loved so greatly, and lost so much.

He was my only friend for years of my life, and I can not bring myself to hate him now, no matter what he may have done in the past.

"My child, thou must remember everything, and tell it to those whom thou deem worthy of the knowledge."

The tear is on his chin, and then on the bed. My tear matches.

"My liege, I shall."