Heroes

Taken from David Gemmell "White Wolf"

Heroes and how man think they should be VS what heroes really are.

"The two greatest warriors in the world came together on a quest to save her. They risked their lives. They battled a sorceress and a villain with magic swords. The result ought to be world-changing."
"Ah, yes," she agreed. "I like those romances too. The return of a golden age, the banishment of evil, the little princess who will one day be great."
"Exactly, do any of the futures show this?"
"They show that Elanin will be happy, and will have happy children. Is that not enough?"
"I don't know," admitted Weldi.
"In a few years time Druss the legend will stand on the walls of Dros Delnoch and defy the greatest army the world has ever seen. He will do this to save the Drenai people from slaughter, and keep alive the dreams of civilization. Is this more to your liking?"
"Ah, indeed it is, priestess."
She smiled fondly at him. "And do you think Druss would find that more important than rescuing a child from a place of darkness and horror?"
"I suspose he wouldn't," "Why is that?"
"Let me ask you this," said Ustarte, "if a hero sees a child in danger of drowning, does he need to know the fate of world hangs in the balance before leaping in and trying to rescue it?"
"No," said Weldi, "But if we are playing this game, what if someone told the hero that the child was destined to be evil?"
"A good question. What then would Druss do?"
Weldi laughed suddenly. "He would leap in and save the child."
"And why?"
"Because that is what heroes do."