Before The Arrow Fell

[Intro – soft, cinematic] Before the curse Before the name became a warning Before the bow sang in the dark There was only a man Standing between love… And duty [Verse 1 – sung, emotional] I watched the dawn spill over stone Gold across the temple walls A quiet place I called my home Before the silence learned to fall My hands were steady, heart was clear An arrow drawn, a vow I kept I swore that nothing would come near The sacred ground where spirits slept But far away, my love was calling Smoke was rising through the trees I heard my heart and honor warring Both were begging me to leave [Pre-Chorus – rising] One road led back to everything One road led to the flame I had to choose what I would save And what would bear my name [Chorus – powerful, tragic] Before the arrow fell Before the darkness knew me well I was a guardian with a soul Trying not to lose control Before the shadow came Before the blood rewrote my name I gave up heaven, gave up home So the world would never burn alone [Post-Chorus – haunting] Oh-oh, I held the line Oh-oh, I paid in time Oh-oh, beneath the bell Before the arrow fell [Verse 2 – sung, deeper] The cries grew louder in my chest Like ghosts beneath my skin I knew the life I loved the best Was burning in the wind But if I ran, the seal would break If I turned, the dark would rise So I buried every ache And let duty blind my eyes I was not cold, I was not hollow I was not stone beneath the sun I was a man who couldn’t follow The only heart he ever loved [Rap Verse – controlled, intense] I stayed when my world went quiet Stayed when the smoke climbed higher Stayed with a bow in my grip And a soul walking straight through fire Don’t call me heartless, I felt it all Every scream through the temple hall Every prayer that I couldn’t answer Every name that I let fall I had love in another life Had a home, had a future, had peace But a guardian dies in pieces When the vow won’t let him leave Arrow to string, breath to the night Tears in my eyes, still ready to fight If saving the world meant losing my own Then I stood there and paid the price [Pre-Chorus 2 – emotional build] One road led back to everything One road led to the flame I chose the weight of sacrifice And nothing stayed the same [Chorus – bigger] Before the arrow fell Before the darkness knew me well I was a guardian with a soul Trying not to lose control Before the shadow came Before the blood rewrote my name I gave up heaven, gave up home So the world would never burn alone [Bridge – stripped, heartbreaking] Forgive me, my love I heard you through the smoke I reached for you in silence But my hands held the oath Forgive me, my heart I left you in the flame I saved the sacred temple But I could not save my name [Build-Up – cinematic] Draw the bow Hold the breath Choose the vow Taste the death Let the sky Turn to red Let the living Mourn the dead [Final Chorus – explosive, tragic heroic] Before the arrow fell Before the darkness knew me well I was a guardian with a soul Trying not to lose control Before the shadow came Before the blood rewrote my name I gave up heaven, gave up home So the world would never burn alone [Outro – soft, dark foreshadowing] Before the curse Before the rage Before the prison Before the blade I was a man I loved, I bled And then the arrow fell… And something answered.