The Kingdom of Roses

2

In Méiguī Shān

As the seventh day dawned, the Fire and his Flame descended from Méiguī shān and went towards Dàshān. As they journeyed to it, the Tiānshǐ began to gather around and follow them in awe of their beauty. These were the Makers of the Tiānshǐ and by right their parents, but due to their immortality, they looked like young people just passed the cusp of youth and now in their prime. It would be difficult to tell apart the ages of the Makers from that of the immortal Tiānshǐ. This often caused the Tiānshǐ to forget the difference that existed between them and their Makers.

In appearance, the Fire was more masculine and handsome than any Tiānshǐ or human for that matter. Towering above all others, broad-built and with chiseled features forged by the fire of his spirit, his blazing, ethereal glow of dancing gold would easily mark him as a warrior and intimidate others. The Tiānshǐ noticed how his eyes appeared orange-gold like fire, and his smile was the most joyful one that would easily calm the spirit and rest the mind. He had a regal bearing and steadfast, noble countenance. His steps were firm and sure, with confidence and courage he pressed forward. His hair fell in ordered waves around the nape of his neck and down to his lower back. At times he appeared with a kingly beard, and at other times he had no beard, revealing a deep cleft chin in his strong jaw. Strength formed his entire frame and muscles girded his hands, body, and legs as a mighty warrior carrying the weight of a kingdom.

His clothes were simple, flowing like a river, often pearly, opalescent white or paired with similarly iridescent pastel colors that complimented the gentle white swirls of his sleeves and robes. He wore arm and wrist bands of gold and precious jewels, and the simplest of bands for a crown. Intertwined branches of a rose tree with very small, golden roses scattered far apart formed this simple crown.

As for his Flame, she was fairer than the fairest beauties ever to have lived upon earth. They are but a shadow bearing her form and image. As feminine as she was, she was not weak. Rather, she was strong with feminine strength like a female warrior. She too was tall and complimented her king in every way as his foil. She glowed with the ethereal blue of her flame which also danced in her eyes. Her features were gently soft with eyes that spoke, framed by very long eyelashes. Often, it looked like she had blue stars for eyes due to the fire in them. Her lips broke into a beautiful smile that would bring joy to the heart of the beholder. Though her lips were full, when she smiled, her upper lip looked like a fine, red thread compared to the lower lip. Her hair fell in long, curly, dark brown, thick tresses that danced with the wind and swayed with the layers of her robes. Her body was perfectly formed, gently curving in all the right places and in proportion.

Her clothes were similar to the King’s, opalescent, pastel tones held by natural flowers and very few precious stones. Simple, flowing sleeves, flowing helms, swaying in the wind like smoke wisps. Yet she did not consider her own beauty but found it her joy to gaze upon her Lover, as in her eyes he was the most beautiful being in all the realms.

It was obvious that he was the calming gold flame that embraced and restrained the fierce, unrestrained blue of her spirit. And at times, the passionate and unbridled blue of her flame would encompass his gold and set it on resplendent fire. He was the gentler and more stable, self-controlled of the two. Though he was like the lion, it was easy to mistake him to be the lamb because of the serene confidence and strength of his bearing that held and shielded his power lest it intimidate others when he drew near them. She on the other hand was an untamed wind and wild waters that though innocent, cannot be restrained. She went wherever she so desired. This does not mean she could not be self-controlled and would create chaos! Far from it! She firmly tied herself to the laws of her Lover and allowed his love and embrace to be the check and order within her wild being. There is no other power but mutual love that can rein her in. The only bonds she willingly takes upon herself are those of love. Her chaos is that of creation, beauty, love, and unleashed joy. It was not the chaos the world would experience later. Hence, they balanced each other – chaos and order, darkness and light, female and male.

On that seventh day, the Makers and the Tiānshǐ danced and celebrated in the Great Assembly, filling the heavens with a rain of glowing lights from the train of their robes. This day was the First Rest, a time of great celebration for creation in all the realms. It was a day of perfection and peace as the Fire and his Flame ruled in unity from the grand throne upon Dàshān. This throne had a living lion and lioness for arm rests and as throne guardians. From the foot of this throne, the mighty river known as Shēngmìng zhī hé or the River of Life rushed down southwards, and thundered through the valley between Huǒrè de bǎolěi and Méiguī shān before branching into the realms.

It was also during this First Rest that the King and his Bride ascended Méiguī shān together and rested beneath the cherry blossom tree once again. Then the King caused the tree to form a beautiful swing that swayed from one of its branches, wrapped in its soft, translucent flowers. This swing was the favorite place of the Bride who would often be found sitting on it and gazing into the realms with her beautiful thoughts. That day, she sat with him upon the swing as he held her close in his arms. They viewed the beautiful realms they had made together. They were quiet. They were content.

Fire danced in both their eyes. They moved together through the garden. Where the King stood with the Bride in his arms, her robe of light, red roses and white myrtle flowers spread forth all around him like a hedge, and the covering of a gazebo. Thus, enclosed by His beloved, he rested with delight. When he moved, her robe that formed a hedge of rest for him, would make a path and when he rested in her garden, there the floral gazebo would form around him again. She was his own locked garden in a very literal sense and in her arms and tresses, he was a willing captive.

There in the quietness unknown to all the others, the King brought forth the seed from the depth of his primordial spirit. It was a bead-sized rose made of pure light that kept changing hues. The Bride loved roses and gazed upon this unique one. The colors would twirl upwards from the heart of the rose and reaching the tip of its petals they would burst forth in fragrance and radiance. In this rose, the life force of the King was distilled to purest form.

‘Take it, it is My life,’ the King told her.

‘I cannot… I…’ she began but he stilled her and replied, ‘I entrust you with it, my love. Guard it as your own. It is yours to do with as you please. In my life is hidden the key of all life.’

As he spoke the radiance of the rose took on hues that are far more numerous than the human eye can behold. It stretched over vast expanses, moving with golden fluidity, bearing the life, power, strength, wisdom and thoughts of the King himself. It had in it the power to scatter and gather again, to purify and unite where it went. All who came under its influence would wisely consider all things and choose to be united with one mind and purpose to serve the bearer of its light. They will see it as the way of wisdom and life. In it is everything that belongs to the King – the power to unite realms and kingdoms, to bring order to chaos, ever-lasting peace to the inhabitants and wholeness to all creation. It is the authority to rule. It is from this seed of his primordial spirit that Shēngmìng zhī shù or the Tree of Life grew.

The Bride bowed as she accepted this gift of love. She set the rose upon an uncut rock in the highest place of the portal on the heights of Méiguī shān. Then from her depth she brought forth the seed of her primordial spirit. It was a little bead-sized drop of water that contained a mighty singing river crystalized in the palm of her hands. It was her life force distilled into purest form. It was also the seed from which Shēngmìng zhī hé was birthed.

This river from the Bride’s heart had the power to birth life and refresh everything, healing them and making them whole again even if they should be fully dead. Bubbling with joy and dance, worship and song, in it is everything that belongs to the Bride. Unleashed, it had the power to restore life, joy, wholeness, peace, love and healing wherever it went. You could hold the bead to your ear and hear the oceans and the winds and if you stared into its crystal form, you would see the bride’s crystalline form taking shape and dancing the dance of restoration within it. She presented it to her King and said, ‘Your life for mine and mine for yours. With my life I will guard your life.’ Thus, they exchanged their life forces and their primordial cores though none else knew nor saw it.

He brought the crystal, singing river and placed it into the heart of the rose. Suddenly, a rainbow burst forth as the two seeds became one and their light and water mixed together. From that point all sound and color became held together. Where there is sound, there is color whether the eyes behold it or not and where there is color there is sound whether ears hear it or not.

From the fragrant radiance of these waters, the King gathered a mist and forged it into a signet ring of great beauty and placed it upon the finger of his Bride as a mark of their oath and her co-rulership with him. There was a seal upon the glassy ring, a red, faceted rose and two rings so entwined that at a certain angle they appeared as a single ring, perfectly one.

He said, ‘Let this ring be a memorial of the oath we have made – life for life, mine for yours and yours for mine, all that is mine is yours and all that is yours is mine, so it will be for all eternity.’ He placed a kiss upon her hand and her lips and held her in his embrace.

Now, Méiguī shān was a riot of beauty and life. All its rose trees, bushes and vines had grown strong and sturdy and its flowers were in full bloom. There were all kinds of other trees from the family of roses growing there. Chief among them were the cherry, myrtle, almond, peach, and apple blossoms. The garden was filled with birds that visited it from the realms. Among these were numerous hummingbirds of all shapes, colors, and sizes. The mountain itself was the private chambers of the immortal ones and hence no one was allowed into its inner parts. There were steps that were chiseled into the black granite slopes and these went all the way up to where the path broke into two. One path led towards the rainbow bridge and onward to Huǒrè de bǎolěi over the mighty Shēngmìng zhī hé which thundered in the deep cataracts between the mountains. The narrower path led upward to the gateway where Pèi Zhōng and Zhì Shēn held bowls of fiery incense and stood on high pillars as watchers. Their mighty wings formed an arch over the gateway.

None were allowed to transgress into the inner chambers without the permission of the immortal ones. Lightning and fire would flash from the watchers and strike them down if they tried. However, when the immortal ones allowed someone to enter, they would be bathed in the rich fragrance of the incense in the bowls held by the watchers.

More steps extended from the archway upward to where the garden spread out on the left side of the mountain. To the top center was a large opening with access to the very private chamber where only the King could enter. This private chamber lay on the right side of the mountain at its highest point. It was where the cherry blossom tree stood along with the Bride’s favorite swing made of flowers.

The garden on the left had many portals through which the King and his Bride could enter any of the realms and return to the mountain. There was also a beautiful lake of sparkling, crystal waters and large swans that enjoyed swimming there. In the distance, aspen trees could be seen swaying in the wind. The lake waters were special. They were like a mirror that connected heaven with earth. In later ages, this lake would become a direct portal between the earth realm and the mountain. The swans were exceptionally large and were used as mounts by the King and his Bride. They would spend hours resting on the backs of these swans as they glided across the lake or made their way directly into the realms for adventures, and to check on the creatures that dwelt there.

Méiguī shān was also closest to the eastern portal that opened into the six realms where the soul creatures that lived in herds dwelt. The Bride often went into these realms to care for the gentle, innocent beings. Hence, she was also called the beautiful Shepherdess. It was not unusual to find her fallen asleep among them or the rolling pastures of those realms. Nor was it unusual to see the King carry her back to Méiguī shān in his tender embrace.

While the areas around Dàshān and Huǒrè de bǎolěi were filled with dazzling light and brightness, Méiguī shān was different. Here, the Bride preferred light to wax and wane, filling the place with soft glows and starry nights, gentle breezes, and turning tides.

One of the southern slopes of the mountain fell as a direct cliff ending in an open beach. The sand was golden white and very soft and the waters of Shēngmìng zhī hé kissed the shores for here was a large basin into which the great river flowed like the sea itself. The waves that washed up on the beach glowed with an ethereal blue light and often brought treasures from the realms and left them as little gifts for the Bride. It was told that anyone who wanted to send a gift to the Bride only had to whisper a message and cast their gift into Shēngmìng zhī hé, and the river would bring it to her and cast it on the shores for them. The Bride always knew who the senders were and would bless them with gifts sent through the river.

Now, even though the immortal ones did not need rest for they never grew weary, they still rested. Rest was not for recovery and restoration of the body. It was for strengthening the bonds of relationships and restoration of their spirits.

The place of their rest was a rich grove beside the cherry blossom tree where the swing was. The tree branches were lush and the ground was soft with green moss and tender grass. There were overhanging branches flowing down to the ground, heavy with blossoms and fruit. The place was a riot of fragrances and colors. The grass was their bed, the tree roots and rocks were their pillows. The falling flowers were their rich blankets. And in these groves echoed the sweet whispers of these two lovers in the form of sweet music and soft light.

Here, they were alone. There was no one to attend on them, nor did they believe in such service as mortal royalty deemed fit for themselves in later times. These were also the days before the King and his Bride obtained soul creatures of their own which would become strongly attached to them and follow them everywhere.

The Bride would often bathe the feet of her lover with the crushed oil of the fresh roses around them and she would use her long tresses to spread them. The first time she did this, her lover was startled.

He pulled back his feet astonished and looked at her, “What are you doing my love? How could you use the sign of your beauty and honor to wipe my feet?”

She had a twinkle of mischief in her eyes as she answered him, “You think too highly of yourself now and you make too much of this act of mine! I only did it because the oil makes my own hair shiny and lustrous!” Saying that, she tickled his feet and suddenly got up as she felt shy, almost causing him to topple over unceremoniously. As he mumbled and tried to arise, she teased him further and fled leading him to chase her around in a game of catch.

After that day, he never questioned her but the end was the same. She would wipe his feet with oil and without warning she would tickle him and flee, and he would laugh and chase after her.

In the mortal realm such an act would come to represent servitude and slavery. But in the heavens, it was the act of lovers alone to lavish their love on one another in such a manner, without restraint or embarrassment, pride or arrogance.

As for herself, the Bride loved to sit beside pools or streams, and dip her legs into the cool, refreshing water. The King would sit beside her and when she was done, he would take her feet and wipe them dry on his robes. On one such occasion, he was smiling to himself as he wiped her feet.

“What are you smiling about?” she wondered aloud.

“I was telling myself that you have very beautiful feet,” he replied.

“Oh? How so?” she asked.

“It is not just the arch or the shape but the sound of your running towards me that is entirely beautiful. You always come bearing good things, or to speak with me sharing wisdom and joy. For all these things, how beautiful and lovely are your feet my love!” he revealed. Now, when the two of them walked, the grass was never crushed under their steps. Rather, it would spring up with greater life than before.

The King would often bring his beloved, pomegranates to eat. They were her favorite. She loved how the fruit glistened in the soft light. “It matches the lovely hues of my roses and contrasts beautifully with that of the cherry and other blossoms. Let me make some juice with this and we can relish it together.” She made sweet wines and juices with the fruits in her garden.

Once in a while, one of the Tiānshǐ would be allowed to enter the archway of Méiguī shān to gather some of the wines and bring it for distribution to the others so that all may enjoy them. The wines also graced their tables during banquets during the Great Assembly at Dàshān. When the Tiānshǐ went to collect the wines, they would only enter a little past the archway into the open space. No further. They honored this place as holy ground and the private chambers of their immortal King and his Bride.

One night, the Bride did not return to Méiguī shān.

“She must be in the realms with the herds as usual,” the King thought as he made his way through the eastern portal. Indeed, she was asleep among the sheep and the long-coat cattle which were mooing gently as they enjoyed the calm, quiet and cooling breeze. He was about to carry her, when she caught him instead and gently pulled him beside her.

“Let us go back to Méiguī shān,” he said.

“No, let us rest here,” she bargained. So, he made himself comfortable and nestled in the warmth of the long-coat cattle. Some of the sheep took this as an invitation to cuddle at his feet and fell asleep with their chins resting on his legs. He nodded his head in mocking disapproval while she giggled softly lest she disturbed the sleep of their furry hosts.

She nestled into his chest and smiled contently. Then she looked up at him and pointed at Méiguī shān and the other mountains in the distance. “Do you know why I asked you to stay here tonight?” she asked him.

“No, you tell me why. I am listening…,“ he replied softly as he brushed an errant curl off her eyes.

“I want you to watch with me this hour and into the watches of the night. Look how Méiguī shān and the mountains beyond look like perfect jewels rising from the shadows. Let us capture these views and trap them in our hearts as memories lest we forget. Méiguī shān is the garden of our great love and being in it is one thing and watching it from here is another thing. It makes me feel so many things at the same time. It is like watching all the memories we created in it being recreated on the stage within my mind. It brings me great joy to relive all our memories. I want these moments to always dance before my eyes and in my mind,” she said.

He smiled and pulled her closer to his heart and into his arms. He replied, “And whenever we remember these moments, I shall respond by drawing you back into my arms like this. This is our love moving from thoughts to actions!” He pulled her towards him and kissed her. Then they both rested and watched the glowing mountains in the distance and smiled.