“That’s OK, Sengcham Cholmo. I cannot believe that you look so beautiful but your heart is so venomous. I can’t bear a shrew like you. If you continue like this I will have to abandon you.” After that, Gesar did not listen to what Cholmo said any more and left. Cholmo held onto the halter and was pulled along for over 40 meters. She was both angry and anxious and then she fainted and released her grip.
She was faintly aware that Gesar was standing in front of her but when she opened her eyes Gesar disappeared and all she could hear was the maids’ yelling.
“Dear Queen, wake up.”
“Finally! Our Queen wakes up.”
With one on each side the maids Ngachonchi and Lachoin helped Cholmo up.
“Ngachonchi, Lachoin, saddle up a horse for me in a hurry. Without the King, I cannot live for another day. I will follow the King to the North. No matter how far it is I will go with him.”
“Well…” Both maids stared at each other in speechless despair. But they dared not disobey Cholmo’s order, going out to saddle up a horse.
Cholmo sat down and had a huge meal. As soon as the horse was saddled and ready, and catching her maids unaware, she rode quickly out of the palace to follow the King.
Without a moment’s rest Cholmo raced over numerous mountains and crossed many valleys and flats. At last, she reached the grassland near a lake named Nazhagong. Gesar was resting there and his Heavenly horse Gyaingar Pebo was grazing nearby. The King was sleeping alone. Cholmo threw herself in front of Gesar and cuddled Gesar’s neck and spoke to him plaintively:
“My dear King, you are so cruel to leave me alone at Ling Garpo. If you have to go to the North, I, Cholmo, would not stop you. Let me go with you, my dear King, my good husband. Please wake up!”
Gesar was already awake. When he heard Cholmo’s yammering, he felt sad. Well, he had been married to Cholmo for three years and they had never been separated. Now he was going to the North to fight against the Devil. It may take half a year or three years. How will she live alone? Gesar held Cholmo in his arms and decided to take her with him to the North. When she heard this she was both pleased and excited. With the tiredness from the journey, she fell asleep in Gesar’s arms.
Time flew. Aunt Norman Garmo appeared riding good luck clouds. Accompanied by celestial music, she told Gesar: “There are two lions on the White Snow Mountain. One wants to go for a fight and the other wants to rest in the crystalline cave. The Lion King should go out to conquer the devil and his wife should look after their home.”
When he heard what his Aunt said, Gesar figured out he should not bring Cholmo to the war with the Devil. However, how was he going to explain this to Cholmo and then make her go home? His Aunt gave him some advices:
“Masculinity should not always be soft-hearted and should not harbour grief in the mind. While Cholmo is sleeping you must leave at once. Don’t hesitate. I will get her back home safely.”
Gesar put Cholmo quietly on a big flat stone. He steeled his heart and mounted his horse, riding away quickly without looking back.
Cholmo was very tired and fell into a very deep sleep. When she woke up the Lion King was already gone. She mounted quickly on her horse and continued following the King.
After a short trip Cholmo came to a big river. On the opposite bank was a magician in a biretta and tunic. He was practicing his magic against a sandalwood tree. Cholmo failed to find a ferry along the river so she shouted to the magician loudly: “Excuse me, have you seen a man who crossed the river recently?
“What does he look like?”
“His face is bronzed and he has white teeth. He is in gold armour and is riding a swift fire-red horse,” Cholmo answered.
“Yes, I have seen him, but he left very early. I don’t think you can catch up with him.”
“He is my husband. I must find him.”
“Listen, this is the Valley of Black Evil and there is a big lake, which is Nortsam’s territory. A human’s soul will be absorbed if they approach the lake. You had better not approach it. Moreover, the river is too wide for you to cross,” The magician said.
Cholmo had no alternative because she did not want to make a trip in vain. She begged the magician:
“Omniscient magician, I beg you for only one thing — please send this message to King Gesar. He promised that he would never leave me and this is what he said to me, what he wrote on paper and what he carved on stone. I love him completely but he left me heartlessly. Our predestined marriage is over. I hope we can meet in Heaven. Please do not forget my message to King Gesar.”
After saying this, she gave one last look at the river and left unwillingly. In fact, the magician was Gesar in another guise. After listening to Cholmo, he was worried about her long journey back to Ling Garpo. He did not know whether Cholmo would be safe or not.
When Gesar’s eyes followed Cholmo leaving, he felt very sorry. He thought about going to subdue the devil in the north in order to save Mesa. If Cholmo had an accident before he made it, his heart would break. Such mental struggle tortured him and then the idea came to him to return to Ling Garpo.
“Toipa Garwa, don’t you remember your oath?” A soft but dignified voice was floating around from Norman Garmo, his aunt in Heaven.
“You are going to the north just because you want to save Mesa? That is wrong. Gesar. Defeating the devil and bringing benefits to your people are your real mission. Now, do not hesitate and retreat. I and your Buddhist Guardian will protect Cholmo and we will also escort her back to Ling Garpo.”
What Norman Garmo said sounded like thunder and awakened Gesar to the real purpose of going to the north. He decided that he must defeat Nortsam or he would never return.
Gesar immediately mounted his horse and headed north. After many days, he finally arrived at the foot of a heart-shaped mountain.
On the top of the mountain there was a square city. The city wall was decorated with many pennants which were made of bodies. Gesar guessed this might be the Evil City. He jumped off his horse and knocked on the city gate.
The gate creaked narrowly open. A beautiful girl came out and looked over Gesar. She asked: “Hey, why do you come here? Judging from your appearance you are not an ordinary person. When Nortsam meets you, you will have no chance to escape. I will spare your life this time.”
