Som'lorea

The waters of the land flow quickly, forcing way through hill and valley, finding the low places to make their dwelling; the rains, however, bring great harvests, those which first look to heaven, going up as a still vapor to be drawn into the hand of God. 

How is it that the rivers flow into the great abyss of the earth, the oceans which border its lands? Who taught them which way to go, and whether to go with joy or sorrow? They live as if they have known these things for long, things which elude the sons and daughters of the earth. For one river runs with great current, cutting deeply throughout the earth without yield; though, another is like a wanderer in unknown lands, looking this way and that for a place to rest. Each is given its own glory, not robbing another of its own. And though they have come from dark places within the earth, each is destined to be joined with the great deep.

The dry places of the earth–its deserts–stand as evidence of another power at work, one which takes life and beauty, scorching the land with great heat and fierce winds. Many who wander these deserts find reason of hope, pressing on to lands of abundance, while others perish, forgetting the name which was given to them.

Consider a wanderer of such places, one called Arabah. A woman of resolve and of great curiosity, being born in a place of barrenness. This land which she dwelled in brought neither rain nor flora, yet retained some few springs of the earth to drink from.

Being of the same kind of curiosity which leads a child to many things, she often went out from her home, leaving her people in search of bordering places. For she had never known lands other than these, and had heard only stories of places with tall figures of canopies of green.

Each day, then, she would travel many miles seeking these places. Some days, she would come upon images in the distant horizon, following them until she could go no farther; while other days were spent finding nothing, following only the sound of a distant breeze, forever dancing ahead.

After many years, she began to suppose that such places–those distant oases–indeed had not existed, as the wise of her people taught. It is, after all, reasonable to assume so, after many ages of searching. So, believing this, she became at peace with her home, finding contentment in that which was before her. She became old and gray, losing both father and mother with time.

However, after these things had passed, a man came to her, finding her asleep on her bed. He woke her gently, taking her hand, saying, “Come away with at last, and I will take you to distant lands, and will show you what you have sought these many years.”

Seeing he was a man of great beauty and strength, she took back her hand, saying, “I am old and lack strength as you have; how, then, will I go? For the land sprawls many leagues in every direction, so much that no place apart from it has been seen by my people.

Smiling, he said, “If only you had known who I am, then you would have no fear. As many days as you are with me, you will become that much younger. If you travel only three days, then turn back, you will return three days younger; if you travel many days–as the way is long–you will be made many days younger. Yet, if you do not come with me at all, you will be buried in this place, failing to see that which has been promised to you.”

“I will go with you,” said Arabah, “if you will tell me your name.”

“Why do you ask my name?” he said. “It is enough that you go with me.”

“If I do not know your name, how can I know you?”

“You knew me before, yet you have forgotten me; I was the wind which was always ahead of you, calling you to a place where you may rest with my people. Yet, I now come to you as I am, so that you may know me.”

Arabah clutched at her chest, only saying, “I will go.”

As many days as they travelled, she become younger, until as he was, so was she. They spent their days in bliss and knew no sorrow, coming into the land which had been promised to her. And in this land, she lived among many others, who also had been brought from desolate places; there, they dwelled by great rivers, and ate from halls more beautiful than those of the rulers of the earth. And in them, was their King.