A Heart In Flames

CHAPTER FIVE

For the first time, Oma and Mansa slept on the same bed that night but, because they were tired, they had no time for themselves—both of them slept deeply till the next dawn.

As they had planned, the new couple had a bath, and left home before sunrise to have their honeymoon under the mountain at the east of the village. They went with everything that they would need—food, water, tent, pieces of mats to sleep on, and a lot more.

In the woods under the mountain, they pitched their tent and laid the mat on which they would sleep. Outside the tent, they set fire to keep away insects, flies, and wild animals. Then, they boiled eggs and toasted bread for breakfast.

“The time to lose my virginity has come,” Mansa said, and looked at Oma in the eye after they were done eating, “and I am very happy because I am loosing it to my best friend, my king and my husband.”

Oma smiled appreciatively. “And I am going to lose my youthful strength to my best friend, my queen, and my wife,” he said.

And caught in a web of love, the lovers could not wait to have their first coital act. They started with a kiss. Virgins they were, and so, they tried many times before they succeeded in their first coital act. And though they secceeded, it wasn't as joyful as they had expected. But that was only natural; it would take them some few more days before they would start to enjoy the act through which their children would be born.

When they were done, Mansa's purity and Oma's youthful strength yoked them together the more. Both of them had kept and respected the virtue that the people of Subasu so much cherished.

Mansa buried her face in her palms after Oma got off her. She didn’t want to have a look at Oma. She felt shy for the first time in his presence.

“Get up my love,” Oma said, and held her hand.

“I am shy,” she said, giggling with her face still hurried in her palms.

“You need not be shy. We used to have one soul but now we have one flesh,” Oma said to her.

The lovers sat, and each one expressing their feelings in a manner they had not done before, talked about their first experience of love making.

At noon, they had lunch and went for a walk in the woods under the mountain. The weather was still cold but not as cold as it was in the morning, so, walking through the woods wasn’t a problem they worried about. They walked deeper and deeper into the woods, and soon, the tent was out of sight behind them.

They talked as they slowly walked through the woods. “I am happy we are married. We are going to have babies and live happily forever,” Mansa said. She was happy, and it was hard for her to hide her joy.

“Yes, you are right; happily forever we shall live. But don’t forget we have a duty to accomplish first. We must go to the evil island to defeat the evil hands. Our children’s children will suffer a disaster many years to come if we don’t defeat the evil hands. We must . . .” While Oma was still speaking, a tiger appeared from the woods and dashed towards them.

Mansa became afraid and wanted to run. The tiger was so fearful.

“Don’t run,” Oma said to her. “You can’t run faster than a tiger. I will kill it." And so saying, he picked a piece of wood, ready to strike the wild animal. It was his duty to defend his wife, and perhaps, that was his first test.

The tiger roared and had a great leap with its eyes blazing, its paws stretched, and its teeth bared. It was a terrible thing to see. But, when it got to Oma and Mansa, it fell down and dwindled and turned into two beautiful golden rings. The rings blistered and shined like the stars.

“Take the rings and wear; one for each of you,” a voice sounded from the top of the mountain. “You will become strong and committed to each other like a hunting tiger. The rings will also be a mark of your union. Let it be a symbol that will forever bind you together.”

Accordingly, Oma and Mansa took the rings and wore them on their fingers, and that became the first rings married people ever wore on earth.

Mansa became amazed and happy. “Let’s return to the tent; we have had enough walk,” she said.

Oma agreed. They got on their way back to where they had pitched their tent, talking endlessly about the beautiful rings. They had a whole tiger on their fingers, each one having half of it. That was indeed miraculous; something they could not hold their peace on.

Halfway back to their tent, Mansa saw something strange coming towards them. At first, she could not see it clearly. Quickly, she drew Oma's attention to it, and Oma could not help but stare. They stood watching until a frail old man came clear in sight. He had long, grey hairs. He had no right hand, and in his left hand, he held a small axe; a beautiful axe it was.

“Take this axe,” the frail, oldman said to Oma. His voice was hoarse, and his only hand shook as he spoke. “You will need it someday. Always remember to hold it with your left hand, and chant the three mysterious words if you want it to work.”

Mansa wanted to ask some questions but the frail old man turned into mist and disappeared the moment Oma received the axe. That was another strange happening of the day which the new couple could not stop talking about.

As they continued on their way back to the tent, Oma and Mansa discussed the magical events they encountered, and as they did, fear and amazement gripped them. They reached their tent, and without delay, they prepared and returned home.

Thus, the honeymoon of the most handsome man and the most beautiful woman in Subasu became one that was also magical.