A man and woman face each other

A crowd surrounds them

The woman's face covered by a veil

The man hidden by a mask

A bow and arrow are her choice

A sword is held in his hand

The crowd leers and taunts

Their faces twist in glee

They tell the woman that she can't win

She, a woman, can never beat a man

They call the man weak

His victory insured by facing a woman

Finally the two move to fight

The woman draws an arrow

The man tightens his grip

The woman fires and the man ducks

The man swings and the woman dodge

The crowd cheers, the fight begins!

The woman weaves in & out of his reach

Her gracefulness like a dancer of Artemis

The man avoids her arrows with ease

They pass by him like the wind

He fight like the son of Ares

Both matched in skill and talent

As she fights, the woman thinks of her reason

Her husband within death grip

His one chance to survive denied

For they have too little money

Now she must fight

To save her love's life

The man strikes at her face

She moves away but the blade hits her shoulder

It bites deep into her skin

She grips her wounded shoulder

Not a cry escapes her lips

The crowd cheer, blood has been spilled!

Her stance weakens

Then man slashes her legs

Causing her to fall

He brings the sword down to finish her

The woman stops it with her bow

However the wood is too weak and it breaks

The crowd gasps, thinking she is finished

The woman refuses defeat

She flings her quiver at him

Then draws the hidden sword from her hip

The man slice the quiver as it flies

Only to find nails and arrow tips thrown at him

The duel restarts and man contemplates

His friends are his reason to fight today

His childhood friend is sick

And his wife unable to work

Then man wishes to win

To help his friend

The two strike again

The man slices her veil

The woman cuts the strings of his mask

Both go pale at each other face

The woman sees her childhood friend!

The man sees his partner in battle!

It is true, the two were friends

Sharing childish words and private secrets

Both wanted fame and glory

Then she met his best friend and fell in love

Then man was happy at his friends' marriage

He decide to travel and lost connection to the couple

He had return when he heard of his friends

Both had saw the duel and desired the money

The man to support his two friends

The woman to buy medicine for her love

Now the two faced each other

Unable to stop the fight or face defeat

With tears in her eyes

The woman struck again

With a nod of understanding

The man ducked and struck back

Their fight like a dance of death

Both knew what had to be done

The two continued to fight

Neither wanted to kill the other

The crowd cheered in joy

Two children watch the fight

The woman's son

The man's daughter

As they watch the fight

They began to cry

And began to wonder

Who was the nobler warrior?

The woman who fights for love?

Or the man who fights for friendship?