Now in those days they often betrothed their children very young. And while Dâyamuna had been in the Greenmarch, the Lord of Lóruvan in the west, a vassal of the Queen’s, had come to offer his son’s hand in marriage to Rauwenna, the Queen’s heir. The lad was fifteen years of age, and his name was Emilak of Berulith.
It came to pass that, not long after Dâyamuna’s return to Tídris, the Lord of Lóruvan came again, bringing his son this time, so that the proposed spouses could meet. But now Rauwenna was no longer the heir. Moreover Dâyamuna was passing fair, tall and graceful, while her sister was no different in appearance from the other maidens in the city, and much inferior in grace. So now when Kamilak, Lord of the Lôrúna, brought his son Emilak of Berulith to the court of Queen Díamana, Emilak’s hand was offered to Dâyamuna. The two young people were agreeable to one another and so the marriage was appointed for the sixth spring from that time.
At first this seemed to affect Rauwenna little, for she was, after all, but twelve years of age, and not ready to consider married life. But as the years passed and she became a young woman, so her coldness towards Dâyamuna increased.
Now in the first days of Dâyamuna’s new life in Tídris, the people were all wary of her and kept their distance, for they feared bewitchment. Folk whispered that either she was under a contagious rune, or that she was herself a witch or a shape-changer or even a Fâdhéya; for all their notions were confused. And they called her Fâdhék’ Atanti or Atanti ta-Fâdhéri, the Princess of the Fâdhéri.
But in the third winter after her return, there befell a dreadful pestilence throughout the realm of Dúmiel. Many fell sick and many died. And the Queen and her counsellors were in despair. But Dâyamuna went out to nurse the sick. She herself never fell ill, but whether it was the power of the Paryonal crystal with which Astagant had healed her, or the presence of the necklace Tarival, which she wore constantly, she did not know. And she brought hope and healing to many people. So now they called her Yamuta-Dáyë, Mother of the People, and remarked that her name Dâyamuna (which means the same thing) had been fulfilled.
But while Dâyamuna was out in the country places among the people, nursing and comforting, it happened that her mother, Queen Dîamána, herself took sick, and when Dâyamuna came to her bedside she was beyond help. All wept and mourned for the good queen’s death. But Rauwenna said:
You were so desirous to make the people love you for your care that you let our mother die.
Then, sorrowing, Prince Ganrad proclaimed Dâyamuna queen of Dúmiel with himself as Regent until she should come of age. When the days of mourning for Dîamána were done, the crowning of Dâyamuna was held. The rejoicing was only moderate, for there were many sick in Dúmiel and many who still would not believe that she was truly a Hyûvanya. And there was division among the people.
At the crowning, the Melkentega (Chief counsellor) invested Dâyamuna with the traditional symbols of the realm of Dûmiel: the harvest chaplet of the westlands, the blade of Ingos, and a great casket wherein lay a long shining piece of the finest crystal, from which light sparkled even in a dark place. The Melkentega pronounced, as his predecessors had at the crownings of four centuries:
Receive, my lady, the crystal Sporni, child of the Talyoran, daughter of the stars. Vidnî our mother received him from the Entellári. It is said that he has great powers for good or for ill. But no Queen has dared try them since Videmána, granddaughter of Vidnî our mother. Guard him well, and yourself from the Deep!
Now when Dîamána heard this, she at once bethought herself of the Paryolan, by which she was healed. And she thought long and deeply and said to herself:
If only the queens had followed our mother Vidnî in using this crystal down to this day, my mother might not have died in the pestilence, nor many others also.
And she resolved to try the powers of Sporni as soon as she might. But she knew not that she would benefit from them first of all her people.
A great feast was held in the palace, but not as great as the crowning feasts of old. The betrothed of Dâyamuna, Emilak of Berulith, was bidden to the feast, and he sat beside the Queen on the dais. Dâyamuna was arrayed most beautifully, with her hair plaited and wound about her head, and the necklace Tarival round her bare neck. And it happened that Rauwenna, though but fifteen years old, fell into the company of certain people who loved wine, and she became very drunk, for she was unused to strong drink. Then she made her way to the dais where her sister the queen was seated. And Rauwenna, as if possessed of special strength, reached down the great axe Ganting from the wall and with it smote the table just by the Queen, so that the vessels leapt and broke. And there was silence in the hall as all looked on in disbelief. Then Rauwenna cried out:
Witch! Changeling! Shape-shifter! Thief! First, you robbed me of my necklace! Then you robbed me of my crown! Then you robbed me of my husband! And to fill up the cup, you robbed me of my mother! But the stolen necklace shall not defend the guilty thief! Receive the witch’s gift!
And with uncanny exactness she swung the blade of Ganting full against her sister’s neck. Dâyamuna fell from her chair to the floor as everyone gasped or cried out in horror. And before anyone could move, Rauwenna fled from the great hall, bearing Ganting in her hand.
The nearby guests gathered round Dâyamuna as she lay on the floor, just breathing but otherwise motionless. The healers came, and fearing that the neck was broken, they put splints to it and carried her gently to bed. Although her neck was bruised and bleeding, they found that the wounds were the marks where the coral beads of Tarival had been thrust into the flesh by the axe; the edge of the axe itself had nowhere split her skin.
The banquet was adjourned in confusion. Many left weeping and raging at Rauwenna; but some shook their heads and whispered that her action might be evil but her cause had justice. Some said that they had seen Sûwikka among Rauwenna’s drinking companions, and others that as soon as Rauwenna fled the hall, they heard the sound of horses’ hoofs setting off at speed.
Prince Ganrad, being now distraught, was himself carried to bed and given strong sleeping potions. But Emilak of Berulith insisted on sitting by the bedside of Dâyamuna, in company with the nurses left by the healers to watch over her for signs of improvement or decline. And in the deepest night, when all were asleep, Emilak fell into a vivid dream.
In his dream, there came a gentle movement of the door of Dâyamuna’s chamber, and a woman unknown to him entered, with a finger to her lips, warning him to be silent. She was tall and dark and her skin shone in the moonlight. She went without hesitation to a great casket that stood upon a table near to the Queen’s bed. She opened it and took out a long piece of crystal that sparkled more brilliantly than the moon’s beams. She stepped to the body of Dâyamuna and held the crystal for a while to the queen’s breast, while chanting something under her breath that Emilak could not understand. Then, seeming pleased, she replaced the crystal in the casket once more. She turned to Emilak and said:
Speak not of this, my Lord of Berulith. But do whatever she says when she awakes.
Then she slipped out of the chamber. And he awoke, and all was as before, but in the light of the single candle it seemed to him that Dâyamuna was at ease, breathing deeply, and the splints, unaccountably, had fallen from her neck. Then he dozed until first light.
And when the first ray of sunlight fell upon Dâyamuna’s face, she suddenly smiled, and sat up; and she turned to Emilak and said:
Rejoice, for Mother Melusendë came and brought forth Sporni and made me well by his power! Sweet Emilak, we must be married as soon as may be, for we are to shepherd this bewildered people, you and I together; the task is too much for me alone.
Prince Ganrad had naught to say against it, for he was now a broken man, too oppressed by grief for his wife and younger daughter to attend to the rule of Dúmiel. The Lord Kamilak gave his consent joyfully; and so after Dâyamuna was fully recovered, they were wed, and Emilak put upon her finger the silver wire ring that Arbros gave Vidnî. And most people rejoiced.
They sent out parties to search for Rauwenna, but no trace of her was found, and she was not heard of again for a long while.
And the wise noted that Tarival might be understood to mean ‘neck whole’.
No comments:
Post a Comment