THE DARANGEN: The Abduction of Princess Lawanen (Cont'd)

THE ABDUCTION OF PRINCESS LAWANEN (3)

continuation...

Deeply touched by the songs, the prince of Gadongan feels like a hundred yearning touched his heart. It is only his manly pride that holds back the tears and subdues his intense yearning for princess Lawanen.

Diverting his thoughts, his mind wandered to another day, another time and another place when he had a dream. The battle for Panggasayan a Rogong would have been a lost cause and with it his honoured name had it not been for the many spirit who joined the battle.

Taking allegiance from the vanquished; he retired to his ship anchored at the bay. The prince was so tired from the battle; he dozed off by the will of the gods and dreamed: they were sailing by an island when all of a sudden; the Kalipapa daayaw came under the barrage of cannon fires from an unseen enemy. Responding to the challenge, they realized that the cannon balls came from a friendly fire. The Rinamentaw Mapalaw mistook them for an enemy ship. The battle was immediately called off and when the smoke of battle cleared; the prince recognized the noble fighters of Bembaran swearing by the gods that there is no turning back even if they all perish.

“Turn back from what?”The prince heard himself asked.

“From the search for the princess of Bembaran who was abducted by the gods and is nowhere to be found.”

Disturbed by the dream ever since; the memory always brings pensive moods. Nothing can console his feeling of gloom. The grief is almost unbearable suffocating his breath. Walking to the cabin window; he drew the drapes for air. A whiff of gentle breeze that swooped from the deck fanned his face. Feeling better, he veered to his left throwing a glance in the direction of Bembaran, the sight of which increased the longing of his heart to unbearable heights.

I will rest my back, hummed the prince.

Upon the pillow soft as the cloud, with effort, his voice shuddered with subdued tears.

That glitter with the sweat of the princess of Bembaran,

Regal of two kingdoms,

A radiant beauty that shines

Whenever I speak

Of the princess beyond compare,

I can feel,

The tears are about to fall

Unable to hide

The longing of my heart

If I sprinkle it

With the tears of sorrow;

I can lie down and rest

But I shall rest

With ease upon my love

Destined to be my match

Whom I had been engaged

Before I earned my name

I pray to the heavens

That she is not hurt

That the tale is untrue

In the lover’s dream

Blown by the wind

To the spirit mountain

None ever comes true

Of tales in a dream

Like a dry leaf in the wind

That has no meaning

And yet if it is true

The lovely one is abducted

To some unknown seas

I shall sail back home

To the land of Gadongan

I shall roll up

This boredom in battle

Like a drifting log

Devoid of goal

Who is this god?

With extensive power

To whom I will relinquish my love?

I wouldn’t know

But only if

The land is melted

And find myself

Engulfed in a merged flaming sea

Until nothing is left of me

Will I allow it?

I warn you

Young men of Gadongan;

Believe what I am saying.

It will be the day

That I Mabaning

Vanishes from the living

The tales of my life are ended.

To be continued...