While Ingos slept, bound in frozen sleep, a great kingdom took shape. The Hyúvandri of the Southlands laboured to make a homeland where all tribes might dwell together in peace. It stretched from the western sea all along the southern shore as far as the eastern limits of Thrâyeldim, and its northern boundary was formed by the Berufarána, the great green borderland where few mortals dared to venture. They named their land Dúmiel, for they believed that it was a gift prepared and left for them by the Entellári, who had dwelt in it before them.
In the heart of Dúmiel, on the island of Ravinnigos in the great river Berusilwa, a city began to rise, which they named Tídris. In the heart of the city, midway between the two bridges, stood the Kapatingos, the great stone brought from the southern sea to hallow and defend the city. It was said that while it stood, Tídris would never fail. At that point the great road that ran through the island from one bridge to the other broadened into a wide place of assembly where the citizens could gather. And nearby a spacious hall of assembly, named the Ligmannagar or Common Hall, was built, where they might assemble when the weather was cold or wet (snow was rarely seen in that place). This was the main palace of Tídris. The Queen did not reside in a palace, but in a simple house like those of the other inhabitants.
Now Vidnî the Queen-to-be, and Arbros the Prince of Dúmiel, did not know their ages, for they were orphans, raised by unkind foster parents in the town of Uxul. Indeed they were not natives of Uxul, for they were lost children of the Lost Tribe, the Vurwë Yamudúna; but that was not disclosed until a later time.
Vidnî and Arbros returned to Ravinnigos from laying Slungandi to rest on Otset Ingos. They sailed their small craft Aphadus up the estuary of Yivanówa and brought her to the hythe at the southern end of the island. And they were met by their friends, Lansenet and Thilfri, who had returned to Tídris with the ponies. They all four then unloaded the boat. And behold! In the bows they found the great Drum Brandubur, which had been the constant companion of Slungandi, Drumster of the Deep. He made it with thirty ells of dragonhide given him by Dreygan the Frostgiant, and remade in the halls of Negobith Oigenas. And they debated what should be done with it. Vidnî said:
I do not like it. We do not know what its powers are. I think we should destroy it.
Arbros said:
Because we do not know what its powers are, we do not know how to destroy it safely, or whether it can be destroyed by any means that we have. And besides, it is a very fine drum, and a memento of our companionship with Slungandi. Moreover, there is no one in Dúmiel who would be able to learn how to use it.
So they decided to lock away Brandubur in a secure and secret place and to tell no one, not even their friends, where this was.
Then their Entelláka teacher, Estenya, came to them and said:
The sign has been given! Your return out of the Sea is the sign. Let us prepare for the wedding of you two bold adventurers and for the crowning of Vidnî.
When it was again Zaikomarûë, there came together people of all the Hyûvanka tribes to celebrate the double joy of Vidnî and Arbros. And once more these twain arrayed themselves in their favoured garments: Vidnî as a mariner of the Fâwiengri, and Arbros as a rider of the Thendâ. Then came Rauno the counsellor of the High King of Ailindâl, and Tithiáne Queen of Féo Êlesti, accompanied by Mirutháli and the other Entalláka maidens: and all men and women marvelled, and many bowed or knelt as they passed by.
And Vidnî and Arbros made their vows to each other before the multitude, and Arbros gave Vidnî the silver ring; and calling upon the name of Émarul Sápha, the Queen blessed them. Then the Queen invested Vidnî with the Blade of Ingos and the harvest crown from the westlands. Finally she invested Arbros with Daganarth, the great sword forged in Hlund in defiance of Gantzor. Then she bade them to go before their people in the spirit and humility of Ingos, as shepherds of the people of the realm of Dúmiel. Then all the people sang, and played music upon horns and pipes and harps.
But even as they rejoiced, messengers entered in haste. Doing obeisance to all the great ones present, they said:
Your majesties, ambassadors have arrived at the north gate of this realm of Dúmiel. They say that they come from the great city of Magéraz Urlan-fên, and that they desire friendship with the city and realm of Tídris.
And Queen Vidnî and Prince Arbros were at a stand, for they had not heard of this great city, but their hearts misgave them. But they knew the greatheartedness that befits a monarch, and so they said:
Bid them enter and proceed to our city. And give them fair escort hither.
And then they went aside in private and conferred with the great ones of the Entellári.
And Rauno said:
Did I not tell you, beloved shepherds of the people of Dúmiel, when you were yet the Children of Hope, how the yokeservants of Oigenas Negobith are seeking to carry away the Hyúvandri to the great city that his son is building upon the plains of Arkallumis? And now we see that the city has been established — and its name alone is a savour and an odour of evil. But they who have received the Yoke are by nature children of Ingos; therefore you must labour ever to win them back.
And Vidnî said:
Can that Yoke be removed from their shoulders and their hearts by any means?
And Queen Tithiánë said:
Yea. The remedy hangs by a little lace around your neck, O Queen Vidnî. Nay, do not be startled! We know that, before he passed into frozen sleep, Silûnakánti (for that is how we name him) gave into your keeping the shard of the Talyoran, that was broken from the mother crystal by the hammer of Dreygan. And you know that the Talyoran is a fair gem, from which light entering shines more brightly when it has passed through. And many great powers it has, for good and evil.
And now we will open to you a hidden truth. Even as the Ilgurat Talyoran is a shard of the Talyoran, so the Talyoran is herself a shard, for she and her two sisters, whose names are Kanyolar and Paryonal, were broken apart at the First Strife, which few but the elders of Hyilavúna now remember, when Makhran rose against Émarul Sápha.
And behold, now the Talyoran is in the keeping of the Lady of Fleswen ta Féore, a fair but withall capricious lady, and the Kanyolar has fallen into the hands of Prámiz, son of the Accursed, and the Paryonal is hidden. But before the Breaking, the undivided Yamûkádu, the Mother of Three (whose true name is hidden) was a shining, burning glory that enlightened the Midworld, for she was wrought of starfire fallen to earth, and her properties were to make and to open and to heal and to raise. And the Rimes of Time to Come say that these shards will one day be again united, but when that shall be, no one knows, not even the elders of Hyilavúna!
But as for the Shard, the Ilgurat Talyoran, that Silûnakánti named Sporni: you must learn his power to deliver and rescue those who have been enslaved. But take care! Do not let inordinate love of him lead you into the Deep!
After this the Entellári returned to their homes, leaving the Kwéni, as Arbros and Vidnî were affectionately called, to conduct the affairs of Dúmiel. For those Entellári said:
We sojourned here for an age as Guardians, to prepare Thrâyeldim for the Hyûvandri. Alas, our design has fared imperfectly, through the meddling of Oigenas. Nonetheless, it is for the Hyûvandri to enter into their inheritance, while we depart. For the realm of Hyilavúna shall not be seen again in the Midworld. But take courage! Our counsel is ever on hand and it will come to you when you most need it.
Then Arbros and Vidnî wept, for they feared that they should not see Rauno and Mirutháli again. But they said, ‘Darsedu-san ta Émarul Sápha, we shall meet again.’ And they embraced and kissed them, and departed with Queen Tithiánë and the Entelláka maidens.
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