Warrior Exiled By The Hero And His Lover

Okay, so grab your latte, because we need to talk. You know the classic hero narrative, right? The brave protagonist, the damsel (or dude!) in distress, the evil villain? Yeah, that whole shebang. But what happens after the big, climactic battle? Like, when the dust settles and the hero gets the girl (or guy)? Things can get messy, you know?

Specifically, I'm thinking about the poor, often overlooked, exiled warrior. The guy (or gal!) who maybe, just maybe, wasn’t quite on board with the whole "heroic sacrifice" thing, or maybe, horrors, had a thing for the hero's sweetheart. Awkward! And let's be honest, haven't we all been there? Maybe not slaying dragons, but definitely navigating complicated relationship dynamics, right?

The Warrior's Original Sin: Loyalty...Or Lust?

So, picture this: Our warrior, let's call him...Borin (because why not?), is fiercely loyal to the kingdom. He's been fighting alongside the hero, let's name him... uh...Chad (perfect, right?), for years. They've seen some serious stuff together. Dragon breath, goblin hordes, really bad tavern food. You name it, they’ve survived it. Borin's basically Chad's right-hand man. His bro. His...confidante. But there's a catch.

Chad, being the stereotypical hero, has a love interest. Let's call her...Princess Anya. Beautiful, brave, resourceful – basically, everything you'd want in a princess. And Borin? Well, he’s...smitten. Like, really smitten. Maybe even before Chad even noticed she was there. Is it love? Is it simple, unadulterated lust? Honestly, who knows! It's complicated, okay? These things always are.

Now, Borin's not an idiot. He knows Chad and Anya are destined for each other. The prophecies said so! And besides, Chad's the hero. He gets the girl. That’s just how these stories go, right? But that doesn't stop Borin from...admiring from afar. Maybe a lingering glance here, a slightly too-long conversation there. You know, innocent stuff. (Or is it? Dramatic music plays)

The problem? Anya, perhaps subtly, perhaps completely unintentionally, reciprocates. Maybe she's drawn to Borin's quiet strength. Maybe she just likes having someone listen to her royal woes who isn’t busy polishing their sword. Or maybe, just maybe, she sees something in Borin that Chad lacks. Ooh, the drama!

The Turning Point: Did Borin Go Too Far?

So, the big battle arrives. The evil overlord (let's call him...Dave, for maximum comedic effect) is about to unleash his army of darkness upon the kingdom. Chad, of course, leads the charge. Anya, being the brave princess she is, insists on fighting alongside him. And Borin? He's right there with them, shield raised, ready to defend the realm. Because, you know, that’s what loyal warriors do.

But here's where things get...interesting. During the battle, Anya is in serious danger. Dave’s second-in-command, a particularly nasty goblin named...Bernard (I'm on a roll here!), has her cornered. Chad is busy battling Dave, completely unaware of Anya's predicament. Who saves her? You guessed it: Borin. He leaps in, slays Bernard with a particularly impressive move, and gets Anya to safety. Heroic, right? Noble, even?

Except...maybe he held her a little too close. Maybe he looked at her with a little too much intensity. Maybe someone saw something. Or maybe Chad, caught up in the heat of battle, just imagined it. Regardless, from that moment on, something shifted. The trust between Chad and Borin was...cracked.

And what happens when trust is broken? Especially when a princess is involved? Exactly! Accusations start flying. Whispers spread like wildfire. "Did Borin intentionally let Anya get into danger so he could play the hero?" "Is Borin plotting to overthrow Chad and steal Anya for himself?" It’s all completely ridiculous, of course. But that doesn't stop the rumors.

The Exiled Warrior: Victim or Villain?

And that's where the exile comes in. Whether Chad truly believed the rumors, or whether he was just paranoid and insecure (heroes are people too, remember!), he couldn't trust Borin anymore. Maybe Anya fueled the fire, consciously or unconsciously. Maybe the kingdom's advisors saw Borin as a threat to Chad's power. Whatever the reason, Borin was banished. Exiled to the far reaches of the land. His crime? Possibly having feelings for the hero's girlfriend. Or maybe just being too good at his job. Talk about unfair!

So, now what? Borin, the loyal warrior, the hero’s best friend, is now an outcast. Branded as a traitor. Forced to wander the wilderness alone. Does he seek revenge? Does he try to clear his name? Does he just accept his fate and become a hermit? The possibilities are endless! The story could end there, a tragic tale of unrequited love and misplaced loyalty. But let’s be honest, that's just boring, right?

Maybe Borin stumbles upon a hidden power, a forgotten kingdom, a new quest. Maybe he finds his own princess (or prince!). Maybe he even becomes a better hero than Chad ever was. It’s the perfect setup for a redemption arc! I mean, who doesn’t love a good redemption arc? Think Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender, but with more brooding and fewer firebending skills.

But here's the kicker: does he deserve redemption? That's the real question, isn't it? Was he truly innocent? Or was there a seed of ambition, a hint of darkness, lurking within him all along? Maybe he did have ulterior motives. Maybe he was secretly plotting against Chad. Gasp!

The Aftermath: What Happens To Chad and Anya?

And what about Chad and Anya? Do they live happily ever after? Do they ever question their decision to exile Borin? Does Anya ever regret her part in it all? Maybe Chad becomes a tyrannical ruler, consumed by paranoia and mistrust. Maybe Anya realizes she made a terrible mistake and pines for Borin for the rest of her days. The possibilities, again, are endless.

Or maybe, just maybe, they actually do live happily ever after. Maybe they're blissfully unaware of Borin's fate, content in their own little bubble of heroic bliss. That's the most boring option, of course. But it's also the most realistic, isn't it? Sometimes, the hero gets the girl, and everyone else just fades into the background. Sad, but true.

The moral of the story? Life's complicated. Love's complicated. And being a loyal warrior in a fairytale world is even more complicated. Sometimes, the line between hero and villain is thinner than you think. And sometimes, the real villain isn't the evil overlord, but the hero's own insecurities.

So, next time you're reading a fantasy novel, or watching a superhero movie, take a moment to think about the exiled warrior. The guy who got screwed over by the hero and his lover. The guy who's story is just as interesting, and maybe even more compelling, than the hero's own. Because let's be honest, aren't the best stories the ones that explore the grey areas? The ones that make you question everything you thought you knew? I think so.

And maybe, just maybe, if we pay close enough attention, we can learn something from Borin's tragic tale. Maybe we can learn to be more understanding, more forgiving, and less quick to judge. Or maybe we can just learn to avoid falling in love with the hero's girlfriend. That's probably the easier lesson to learn, actually.

So, what do you think? Was Borin a victim or a villain? Let me know in the comments! (If this was a blog post, that is. Which it isn't. But you get the idea.)

Bonus Points: Alternate Endings!

Because why not? Here are a few more possible endings for Borin's story, just for fun:

The Unexpected Alliance: Borin teams up with the evil overlord, Dave, to take down Chad and Anya. Not because he wants revenge (okay, maybe a little bit), but because he realizes that Chad is actually a terrible ruler and the kingdom needs saving. From the hero!

The Accidental Hero: Borin accidentally stumbles upon a cure for a deadly disease that's plaguing the land. He becomes a celebrated healer, eclipsing Chad's heroic status. Chad, of course, is not happy about this.

The Love Triangle Redux: Anya leaves Chad for Borin. Chaos ensues. The kingdom is divided. A second civil war breaks out. It's a mess. But at least it's interesting!

The Peaceful Resolution: Years later, Chad realizes he made a mistake and apologizes to Borin. They reconcile. Borin marries someone else (a baker, maybe?). Everyone lives happily ever after. (Except maybe Dave, who's still plotting revenge in his dark tower.)

Okay, I'm done. For now. But seriously, think about Borin. He deserves it.