Stain of Mercy

[Verse 1] He rode in at dawn Armor split by rain For the princess' hand And a name to claim Steel in his fist Fire in his throat One final duel To seal the oath [Pre-Chorus] The court held breath The banners swayed One kiss away From the bride he'd save His rival knelt Blood on stone Then the knight saw fear In his own [Chorus] Stain of mercy Stain of mercy He let him live And lost the wedding Stain of mercy Stain of mercy A kinder blade Can cut the ending [Verse 2] The prince's ring Lay close to reach The kingdom waited For the victor's speech But he dropped his sword At the rival's feet Spared a broken man In the open heat The princess turned Her face went white No bride for the man Who chose the light [Pre-Chorus] The trumpets froze The crowd went still What is a crown If it bends to will? He won the fight Then broke the chain And mercy bloomed Like a dark red stain [Chorus] Stain of mercy Stain of mercy He let him live And lost the wedding Stain of mercy Stain of mercy A kinder blade Can cut the ending [Bridge] If love is a prize Why must it bleed? If honor is gold Why does it need A man to fall A man to die? He stood there whole And let it slide [Final Chorus] Stain of mercy Stain of mercy He let him live And lost the wedding Stain of mercy Stain of mercy A kinder blade Can cut the ending Stain of mercy Stain of mercy The king said no The hall went empty