BEYOND 666: THE ABDUCTION OF PRINCESS LAWANEN

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DARANGEN
THE ABDUCTION OF PRINCESS LAWANEN
(Episode 8)

Undisturbed by the grating of ropes that suspended the reclining seat, Princess Lawanen blankly stared into the Horizon. Illumined by a luminous glow, the Kingdom of Bembaran in that particular moment in time seemed to float in a pleasing display of hues in fairyland. The ember-like glow emanated neither from a blazing sun over the mountains nor from the afterglow of a fading day. It radiates not from the moon, nor the glare from the sun, nor from the shimmering sea. It is the gleeful, luminous aura of a populace gathered along the seaside in the presence of their dazzling princess.

Engaged in uninterrupted festivities, the ladies of the court crowded the shades of palm trees that line the banks of Bembaran. While the ladies like Nori Birds chatter the hours away, the princess of Bembaran lost in her thoughts quietly sat in the royal swing. Slowly and gently, like a pendulum, she swings between the two mighty trees, its combined foliage casting a giant shadow close to the enchanted water channels.

Standing still at the mouth of the water channel is an island barrier that wards off tempests from the sea.

With an intense yearning for Princess Lawanen, the Emperor of Kadaraan, the all-powerful half-man, half-spirit King Dimasangkay drifts aimlessly along the Imperial waters of Bembaran. He had vowed not to look at any other woman other than the famous and beautiful princess of the Kingdom of Bembaran. It is this vow that keeps him a bachelor, having no desire for other women who can bear his name.

The princess, however, is engaged to the legendary prince of Gadongan, and no amount of fortune can be had for the hands of the princess. If lives could be traded for the beautiful princess, there is no doubt; the subjects of King Dimasangkay would lay their lives willingly before the King of Bembaran.

The princess of Bembaran, a regent of two kingdoms, a dazzling beauty lovingly eulogized by her people as the most beautiful of all, was idling away the time in that moment. Feeling sad and lonely, her eyes scanned the surrounding faithful allied kingdoms to ease her longing for her brothers, far out at sea. Deep in the princess's heart, however, she longed for no one but her fiancé, the prince-king of Gadongan, the Mabaning Ndaw Rogong.

Peering through his telescope, the man-spirit king scanned the coastline of the rival allied kingdoms. Drifting aimlessly, he was hesitant to trespass the Imperial waters, fearful of Pinatola, a Tonong, the powerful spirit guardian of Bembaran. His vision slowly wandered towards the water channels of Bembaran, and upon the radiant city, the home of Princess Lawanen.

"How frustrating this can be," the king mumbled in dismay as the glare blinded his vision. "I can't see a thing through the horizons of Bembaran," and shrugged his shoulders. "The sky is dimmed by a cloud, but there is no sign of a storm coming," lamented the king. "There is no darkness in the sea."

Sweeping the ocean in one gentle motion with his ocular telescope, one eye fixed to the eyepiece, "the soaring apparition of Bembaran radiates with a glow but it doesn't seem to come from the beam of brilliance from the sun over the mountains" King Dimasangkay enthralled wondered in awe, "for clouds hovered over Bembaran shielding off the sun," the appalled king continued mumbling in annoyance.

Riding the clouds were the echoes of laughter from the ladies of the court, blown by a gentle breeze, heightening the king's passionate longing for the princess.

Blinded by his passion, the man-spirit king failed to see that the princess who had been his joy and pain from night till morn, who keeps him awake at night, draining his health, weakening his strength almost to death, is the same handsome lady trapped in the eyepiece of his telescope.

Panic suddenly struck his heart upon realizing that the princess, beyond compare, relaxing in comfort, was swinging between the two mighty trees, arm's length away in his vision.

"What shall I do?" Tension clouded his thinking. "Shall I call the spirit gods equally strong as the guardian spirits of Bembaran?" he debated with himself.

"I," he started to chant, "the king of men and the world of the unseen calls upon the gods of the sky, the Mirarangka a Ndaw and Mapendaraag, upon whose name mine was adopted to rule upon the land of Kadaraan. Listen to the wisdom of kings. Come what may for me, King Dimasangkay will rather dwell in the realm of the dead if and when I don't see the regal of the two kingdoms. Listen," continued the king with dreadful intensity, "I command you all to commence battle in the East." With stretched hands and his face turned towards the heavens, he said, "Be a gusty wind, my lovely sister, the princess of Kaugan. Dash to the sky and fly the princess of Bembaran gently aboard my sail. Perish we may, but don't ignore this call, for I, King Dimasangkay, have vowed never to sail back to the land of Kadaraan if I don't exchange words with the princess beyond compare." In a perilous, tortured voice, "for without her, I have no reason for living."

Peals of thunder suddenly rocked the horizon, drowning the king's last few words. Darkness quickly descended over Bembaran's imperial seas, igniting a war of the gods in the land of enchantment. Fading in the dark, the mythical mountains were dimmed while the canopy of lightning flashed in the heavens. A barrage of thunder bellowed in the darkened land, for the struggle is between equally powerful gods in the sky.

Black fog descended, creeping over the allied kingdoms, shrouding the land in total darkness like the eighth moonless night.

A gusty wind suddenly spins the reclining seat, swaying between the two mighty banyan trees, where the princess of Bembaran, the beauty beyond compare, was relaxing in comfort.

The princess suddenly found herself aboard a strange ship in the company of strangers.

Vaulting suddenly, the king landed on deck, screaming a command to his rowers. "Row with vigor," he cried, "or I will drown anyone with slackening oar."

The king can hardly believe what he just witnessed.

Swiftly into the high seas, the ship of King Dimasangkay, emperor of Kadaan, sailed the glittering sea faster than a seagull of what a boaster would say; like a flash of lightning.

The bewildered princess, feeling the strangeness of what had happened, realized without doubt that their kingdom had been raided and taken hostage. A sense of foreboding overtook her mood.

"I am certain," she thought sadly, "an agonizing trial is in store for me."

Convinced that Bembaran had been overwhelmed, Princess Lawanen resigned to her fate and decided against calling upon the help of the spirit guardians of Bembaran.

"Whoever did this," the princess told herself, "must be greater in power."

Somewhere in the high seas, the king emperor of Kadaraan, unable to contain his elation, is unsure of what he will do next. Standing on deck, he argued with himself whether to speak with the princess or not.

"Welcome aboard my ship," the king beamed, head slightly bowed in a gesture of respect. "I hope it is all right with you, Princess Lawanen, if I draw closer so I can have a word with you."

Veering gracefully to her left, Princess Lawanen with an air of elegance replied.

"My advice to the humble king is to have a clear mind and not to pursue his wishes. I am confused about my whereabouts. If, however, the wise king is sincere about trading words with me, I beg thee; turn back this ship immediately and sail back to Bembaran." With subdued contempt, she continued, "There is no hard feeling, and I will agree to whatever it is that you want. Obviously, you have me abducted away from my land, which gives me no peace of mind."

A mischievous smile wandered across the king's face, determined to fulfill his wants. He uttered no word, but the flame in his eyes burned with intense evil desire. He stepped forward to grab the princess when, all of a sudden, he lurched to his left in retreat. A wall of fire appeared between him and the princess with every attempt he made. Disgusted, the king retreated backward; frustration shone in his eyes.

"I can't coerce the princess due to the barrier of fire. If I press my luck, I may earn the wrath of the gods," he reasoned with himself wisely. "The wise thing to do," backing out hesitantly, "will be to banish her out of my mind until such time that we sail to my kingdom and make peace with her and be friends in time."

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