Gods and Guardians

Chapter 49: Leroy

Lord Patmus unrolled the scroll, setting it down before Nimrod. The stream flowed slowly, nice and quiet. The flowers glowed with new spring, radiant with pride. Nimrod and the old mystic sat on succulent grasses. Their clothes were for reason white with an ethereal shine, glowing like the cold moon in a warm night.

'The fourth passage of the Prophecies,' Lord Patmus said, his finger travelling down the scroll.

Nimrod had undivided attention. 'This is the passage that supposedly predicts the reunion. Isn't it?'

'It tells us more than that. It tells us why, how, who and when in that order.' Lord Patmus paused briefly.

'Wow,' Nimrod remarked. 'I guess I have to be a mystic in order to see all these.'

Lord Patmus smiled. 'Maybe you are truly a mystic.' Then he turned to the scroll. 'Let's look at it from the beginning.

This Rose always should blossom.

But for an inclemency in whose wake, its petals stand divided.

And faced with fear for the unknown

Nimrod nodded impatiently. All this was clear.

'There is some tension between the kingdoms presently; tension born of fear, fear of nemesis, fear of corruption, fear of undermining their sovereignty, or fear of war. It is this general fear that leads us to understand that Line 3 is referring to the present situation and not any other.

The glamour of gardens owes not to her alone.

For her death only a while can scar its beauty.

'The death of the rose can affect the garden's beauty only for a while. Can you guess what the garden refers to?'

'Mmm... I guess it refers to the destiny of the world.'

'Perfect. The world cannot forever be marred by the division or even the death of the Islanders.'

Be it not the rays of the sun,

Be it not the fertility of earth,

Be it not the diligence of a gardener

What then will be this Rose?

Her beauty non-existent, Her very existence a figment,

Leaves nothing for to boast.

'Lines 6 through 12 remind us of the importance of humility. We must recognize that providence alone made us who we are.'

'I used to find those lines hard to understand,' Nimrod confessed.

'I'm glad you understand now. We get to the "why". Lines 13 and 14 tell us why.'

Alas purpose remains the soul of her existence.

Her destiny shall not go unfulfilled.

'So,' Lord Patmus said, 'that is why: destiny. In spite of everything, our destiny will be fulfilled. So we shall be reunited.'

'Which leads directly to Line 15,' Nimrod observed,

In the sea of time will come a rejoining of the petals.'

'Good. And Line 16 reveals why the Great Lord allowed the division in the first place.'

That which without the light together blossomed shall shine the new light.

'It tells us that we have not fully grasped the message of Harmonism.'

'All these teneries? Then how can we know the truth?'