Up into the hills, down into the valleys, and through the forests travels the procession carrying the Princess of Magada. From a distance, it looks like ants traipsing across the clouds. How could the convoy be, if there is no hope? Hope is like a river that continues to flow and brings them to the slopes of Mount Gandapurnama.
The moon leaps like a white rabbit, offering greetings of welcome. The light grows dim, and the clouds look like rocks in a sea. On these beautiful slopes is a pair of waterfalls, descending like pearls falling upon the rocks below. Campaka trees lean against the slopes of the valleys.
The beautiful scenery seems to be saying, This is the place where you can rest. So Sumantri decides that the convoy will spend the night on the slopes of Mt. Gandapurnama. The high-ranking officials immediately have their tents set up. And the entourage of the Princess of Magada spends the night there.
That night, Sumantri is on guard duty near Dewi Citrawati's tent. He looks at the moon behind the clouds, and his heart is gripped by a sudden loneliness. The wind is blowing rather hard, and the clouds in the sky are chasing one another, bringing a thousand questions to Sumantri. Meanwhile, lamplight flickers behind the walls of the tent. Then a voice is heard: "Sumantri, come in here."
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IT is the voice of Dewi Citrawati. With an uncertain heart, Sumantri ventures into the tent and sees Dewi Citrawati there, alone. The moon is the only thing looking at the two of them. And the night lifts its curtain so the moonlight might open their hearts. On the hilly slopes of Mt. Gandapurnama, the moon seems to awaken the flowers to spread their fragrance as the two of them dare to open their hearts.
"Sumantri, do you know the King of Maespati, Prabu Arjunasasrabahu?" Dewi Citrawati asks, though she actually does not expect a truthful answer.
“I have heard news of his splendor. I only met him for a short time, when I was about to leave for Magada as his warlord,” answered Sumantri, all the while feeling as though he was suddenly reminded of something he had not thought of since the beginning.
"Do you know that he truly is a wise king with supernatural powers?"
"I myself don't know yet, Your Highness. I only believe what people say about the king."
"If you don't know yourself, why do you want to hand me over to him?"
Sumantri looks down. He really does not know how he should answer. After all, Dewi Citrawati's question makes him think about things he has never thought of before. He feels that Dewi Citrawati's question is accusing him, that what he has done so far could possibly be wrong too.
"Why do you stay silent, Sumantri? Do you think you will abandon your decision if it is proven that the king you seek to serve is not as great and noble as you initially imagined?”
Dewi Citrawati's insistence only leaves Sumantri at a loss for words. That pressing tone of her voice makes his feelings fly even further. Does Dewi Citrawati really just want him to not simply believe what people say about the king he serves? It seems more than that, that Dewi Citrawati wants something for herself too.
"Sumantri, do you really have the heart to hand me over to a king who you yourself doubt? Is it worth wholly relinquishing your body and soul?"
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Now Dewi Citrawati's question pierces Sumantri's heart, and makes him anxious. The question challenges his heroism. Maybe he is not as powerful as he thinks he is. It also awakens his doubts, that possibly he is wrong because he just blindly surrendered to a king who might not necessarily be as powerful as he imagines. But in Sumantri's ears, that question also sounds as a warning. Why can he not guess at all what is in the heart of someone who is not brave enough to truly open her heart?
Sumantri's mind is raging. He asks himself, which question of them all actually pierces his heart the most? He seeks affirmation. Without realizing it, he ventures to look at Dewi Citrawati. He is surprised because Dewi Citrawati is also looking at him. Their gazes meet. This is the first time Sumantri sees that the Princess of Magada seems unable to hide herself behind the elegance she is trying to maintain. The depth of her heart has crushed her arrogance.
Do you have the heart to hand me over to someone I don't necessarily like?
Indeed, Sumantri never though that he would know Dewi Citrawati. What is the use of knowing her? Isn't Dewi Citrawati an offering for his lord? Even if he wanted to know her, Dewi Citrawati is like a closed door, impossible for anyone to enter. Now the door is suddenly open, even seeming to invite Sumantri to enter. And within, it seems that there is a room for Sumantri, where he can stay. The room even seems to be available only to him. If so, why should he leave her? Even if he wanted to leave, a voice speaks from inside the room: “Do you have the heart to hand me over to someone I don't necessarily like?”
Meanwhile, the moonlight retreats slowly from the tent where the two of them are, deliberately offering the cover of darkness so they are free to sense each other's hearts. Outside, the longing call of a tadah asih (plaintive cuckoo) is heard. Sumantri gasps when his nose senses the fragrance of Dewi Citrawati's body. And as time passes, it smells better. Is this fragrance the words Dewi Citrawati wants to express? Sumantri cannot answer, he just feels that the more he inhales her scent, the more he feels comfortable. He feels that his body is becoming excited and turbulent. It is hard to hold back. But all this is enough for Sumantri to decide what to do.
This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.
