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The New Queen: chapter 16 of The Story of Aphelos



Then after a time Obrámus continued, ‘Our Teacher, the Messenger in white, counselled us to beware the deceiver and to watch over this Great Tree. His counsel was in vain. By an evil chance the enchantment of the land of Aphelos is violated, her Silver Tree is plundered and maimed, her Golden Fruit is become the food of thieves and liars, and her son is turned traitor. But we, the people of Aphelos, who have eaten of the fruit of the immortals, shall not fade, though all we had were lost. However we may be scattered, where one of us is, there is the Realm of Dúmiel-in-Aphelos. For in our hearts we carry it, and it is deathless.


‘It is now for us to return to the Middle World. This land has been to us the cradle of our infancy as immortals; now we must serve out our time in the Wide World, till all is done. It is our fate to abide on earth until the end of all things; but when it is shown to each of us that he or she has fulfilled his or her appointed task in the Middle World, we will be brought again to this place of peace. But before that, we, who have strength, wisdom, and power, must go forth to give aid to those who have none. The tasks are many.’


Then said the Lord Ingos, ‘I, for one, shall seek out my son Usta where he serves this dark tyrant Nagbith.’


‘And I will go with you,’ said Queen Díamun.


But Obrámus looked kindly and sorrowfully upon Ingos and the Lady Díamun, and gently drew them to his side.


‘Nay, Fe Nardiê Ráwarith, another path is appointed for you. For my master the Messenger tells me this most clearly. You, Lord, and you, Lady, are not to relinquish your stewardship. The outward traces of this land shall fade, but you shall remain its guardians. By the enchantment of the Silver Trees, you shall keep it hidden from the world. Mariners and those who navigate the seas shall never find its shores. Only those whom you bring here by the power of the Golden Fruit shall make landfall. And by their power you shall guide your people from afar, and when the hour comes for each of them, you shall cause that one to find his way back to this land. This land of finding shall become the lost land until the time comes for you to arise and complete your labours. And then all sorrow shall be brought to an end.’


The Lord Ingos and Queen Díamun were silent. At last Díamun spoke: ‘Shall this indeed be so? Shall we once more lose our people? And shall we be parted from our daughter, even as from our son?’


And again she wept, and Ingos with her.


‘Hard is the decree, O great ones,’ replied Obrámus. ‘As you were exalted with the joyful flowering of Aphelos, so you are abased in its sad fading. But I do not command, I only tell what my master, the Messenger, makes plain to me. Seek him yourselves this coming night, and he will strengthen your hearts.’


Though still stricken with grief, the Lord Ingos spoke again. ‘The people of Aphelos shall be without their Lord, and the people of Dúmiel without their Lady. Who then shall guide the realm of Dúmiel-in-Aphelos through her new exile?’


Then arose Beinun and Tháli, Dóna and Tairis, and stood before them all, and declared: ‘This people, with one heart and mind, love your only daughter, Dîamána the Fair. We put her forward to be the guide and Mother of the People, like her mother, Díamun, and her grandame, Dâyàmuna of Dúmiel. So shall the shame of the Mother Queen be turned to praise by the resolve of the Princess Daughter.’


And all the people acclaimed Dîamána, and rejoiced in the midst of their grief.


And Obrámus said: ‘This too is my Master’s counsel. I kept it in my bosom, for best is the path freely chosen.’


And Dîamána the Fair stood forth, she who had never before raised her voice in the assembly of Aphelos, and all marvelled at her grace and beauty. ‘Though I lack all wisdom and knowledge,’ she said, ‘I will undertake this task. I will guide our people, and if I may I will find my brother and loose him from bondage to the One who is Cloaked in Mist — for is not that the meaning of the dread name of Nagbith, Father Obrámus?’


‘Yea, daughter and my Lady, even so,’ replied the wise counsellor. ‘It may fall to you to loose your brother, Darsedu-san ta Émarul Sápha. For you shall appoint some of your number to go into the North, and some into the West, and some into the East, to gather and build up the remnants of the people. But I counsel that all shall first go to rebuild the fallen city of Tídris, that it may again become the city of a hundred names, and round it you shall renew the land of Dúmiel, for a time.’


And thus the people of Ingos ended the council of that day. 


And at the setting of the sun, Ingos and Díamun laid themselves down to sleep, and visions came to them. Never had Ingos’s mind, saddened as it was, journeyed so far and wide. He saw many things both near and far, past, present, and future. It may be that the fate of his people was shown to him, or some part of it. And at the last, there came a vision of the Messenger, who counselled him as Obrámus had done. And the like vision came to the Lady Díamun. And so they resolved to take up their burden. 

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