1
And now, it came to pass that Azk and Emalō cared and stewarded over the garden, and upon the end of the seventh day, they began collecting fruits and seeds, vegetables and herbs of all kinds. And Azk, being a person of strong spirit, spoke to the spirits within each herb and learned all about it, and its function. And Azk became acquainted with the souls of all things, and after a certain time, Azk befriended a small white stone whose name was Vegetiaz, and Vegetiaz aided Azk in the learning of all things.
2
And it came to pass that after all this had been done, Vofdenaz and Friggō returned to the earth and found Azk and Emalō gathering together all the herbs and seeds, and fruits which they had named. And Vofdenaz said: Azk, what is this you're doing?
3
And Azk said: I am gathering together all seeds and herbs that I may know them and their functions.
4
And Vofdenaz said: How is it that you know all this and how this may work?
5
And Azk responded: Through the spirits of all the plants and the animals, for they are great spirits and knowledgeable.
6
Vofdenaz: This is good, it is given man to commune with the spirits of the plants and the animals. Now, I ask, can you see them?
7
Azk: I cannot but only hear.
8
Vofdenaz: This is good. Azk, a commandment I give you, to come to the knowledge of the spirits of all things and to work to be able to speak with them, as you and I now speak. Do you accept this command?
9
Azk: I do.
10
Vofdenaz: It is good. Now, tell me, have you found the tree from which you were born?
11
Azk: Yes, Vofdenaz, I have.
12
Vofdenaz: Can you tell me about it?
13
Azk: It is the Ash tree. It is mighty and strong and has many leaves combined into one. Its branches are strong and hold tight to the trunk, which does not sway in the wind.
14
Vofdenaz: You are Azk (Ash), and I have made you from this tree that you might be like unto it. For the tree is indeed mighty and strong. And so have I made you, that you may not sway in the wind when the gales come. And your branches receive strength through the trunk, which branches are your generations, for the father is the trunk and the branches are his generations, for they require the strength and the traditions of their father. And lo, this strength of the father is the strength of their generations, and so, it is called the Tree of Life. And the leaves are many and bound together. Let it be known that no matter the strength of one, that strength is nothing when many are banded together. For, to become as you once were and to become as I am, you must join in unity with many others, for one man cannot ascend without another. Therefore, the strength and aid of one man is multiplied when joined together in righteousness.
15
Azk: I see it is a great tree indeed.
16
Vofdenaz: It is, now, see that you remain true to these teachings, to be a strength and to bear one another's burdens.
17
Azk: I will, Vofdenaz.
18
Now, as Vofdenaz was conversing with Azk, Friggō began to converse with Emalō
19
Friggō: Emalō, I am happy to see you are well. Tell me, how do you get along in this place?
20
Emalō: Very well mother. It is quite beautiful, and I find joy here.
21
And Friggō said: We have placed you in a garden which we have called Vyaneirhyme it is a special place, for here we can communicate with you face to face as we once could.
22
Emalō: Thank you, Mother.
23
Friggō: Now Emalō I see that Azk has began conversing with the spirits of all things and learning about them from their spirits. Do you do the same?
24
Emalō: I do not, for I find it difficult to communicate with the spirits of all things as Azk does.
25
Friggō: And why is that?
26
Emalō: I cannot hear the voices of the rocks as he does, for he uses a stone to communicate with them.
27
Friggō: I see this is true. This thing is because the soul of Tyrraz was well accustomed to stones and their strength, therefore, he remembers well how to use them. Your talents, my daughter, lie elsewhere.
28
Emalō: How so, mother?
29
Friggō: Do you not remember or feel that in the world before you used the sweet aromas of herbs to see and hear? Therefore, this thing will remain with you. Go into the flower field and breathe them in, this will help you commune with the spirits in this place.74
30
And Emalō did as Friggō commanded and went to a place with many pleasant smelling flowers and many helpful insects of all kinds, and no harm was given nor received, for all was in harmony one with the other. And Emalō breathed in the pleasant smells, and when she did this, she began to hear the voices of all around her, and she knew that all things were alive with spirit.75
31
Then Friggō cheered for her daughter, and she said: Keep this thing safe, for it is a sacred gift. Now Emalō, have you discovered yet the tree from which you were made?
32
Emalō: I have, mother.
33
Friggō: Can you describe it to me?
34
Emalō: I can. It is slender and delicate, yet strong and unbreakable. All things cleave unto it for life. Also, its leaves are wide and jagged like the teeth of the cat. And the bark is good for all manner of healing.
35
Friggō: That is true. Now, let me teach you this thing. You came from the Emalō (Elm) because of the righteousness of the spirit therein, for the spirit of the Elm praises me all the day long. And the wood therein is hard and not easy to break, yet it is beautiful and delicate as are you. Now, let this be a lesson, I have made you strong. For although you are smaller than the great ash tree, you are just as hard. And when the wind blows, you bend and spring, back into place and the wind passes by you, and thus you shall be. So too with the leaves, for the leaves of the elm tree are many and bear much life and all things cleave unto the Elm tree for life. Therefore, you are a wellspring of life, and all cleave unto you for nourishment.
36
And when Friggō had said this, she raised up and led Emalō back to Azk and united again with Vofdenaz. And they said together: These two trees are Ash and Elm the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, and of all the souls in the garden you may commune, but commune not with the souls of these trees, for one shall lock you in your fallen state and the other shall give you an abundance of knowledge which you are not ready to partake of. Therefore, be wary of these two trees from whence you came, and in due time we shall lead you unto both, but only when you are thoroughly prepared. Therefore, be fruitful and faithful. Multiply and replenish this earth and be good stewards over her, for as all these you see have souls as you, so does the earth, and she is a wise and kind mother.76 Take care of her, and we will surely return.
37
And it came to pass that in the coming months and years, Azk and Emalō obeyed the Aiylōhyme and joyed in this creation. And they were fruitful and multiplied on the earth, even until many of the Aiyseir who had fallen now walked thereon. Thūnoraz walked upon the earth in this time, being still in his golden body. And Vofdenaz and Friggō joyed in this creation, and all the people were happy.
38
Nevertheless, the time came when Hrōdi and Sert with him were loosed out of the pit, for their sentence was over, and the ends of the law could hold them no longer. And they journeyed upon the earth and came to this mighty garden which was called Vyaneirhyme.
39
Speaking, Hrōdi said: Let us go in and cause chaos upon the earth, for they have trapped us in that pit. Therefore, we shall have our revenge.
40
And Sert led the way, and none but the Aiylōhyme knew of their coming into the garden. Now, Sert went to try and locate Heimalaz, and Hrōdi went in search of Azk. Hrōdi found Azk sitting upon a bench, and seeing that Azk could discern his black body, spoke, saying: Tyrraz, I see you have made a beautiful place here. What is it called?
41
Azk said: Who are you? You are not a good spirit, for I can see you with my eyes.
42
Hrōdi: I am your brother, or do you not remember? I am Hrōdi, your father's son.
43
Azk: Hrōdi, I do not know the name.
44
Hrōdi: What a shame. If only the Aiylōhyme were willing to impart knowledge, then you would know me.
45
Azk: They give us knowledge line upon line, enough to push us, but not more than we can handle.
46
Hrōdi: Azk, can you not see? They keep things from you. Do you not know that more knowledge is power? Why do they keep knowledge from you if they desire you to learn?
47
Azk: They taught us that too much knowledge too fast would be cause for corruption and division, that in due time, all things would be made known unto us, but only when we could learn for ourselves.
48
Hrōdi: This thing comes of corruption. Surly too much knowledge will not cause corruption, but too little.
49
Azk: I don't like this teaching; it comes of pride which causes division. I will wait for my Father. Good day.
50
Then Hrōdi fled, searching the hills and the valley's for one who could listen to him. Nevertheless, he saw none of the great Aiyseir save for Tyrraz who had descended. This, until he found Emalō and he knew her name to be Friya and he went to Friya and said: Hail, Friya. I am your father's son, your brother. Do you remember me?
51
And Emalō said: No, I do not know you nor remember you.
52
Hrōdi: I see that you are also like unto Tyrraz then. Pray, would you desire to know who I am?
53
And Emalō said: You claim to be my brother, but I do not know this thing to be true.
54
Hrōdi: I can teach you how you may know.
55
Emalō: How is that?
56
Hrōdi: I have heard talk of a certain tree. Would you first lead me there so I may behold its greatness?
57
Now, Hrōdi knew of the Elm tree, for it was a great wealth of knowledge, and Sert had beheld it and gained all the knowledge therein. Then Emalō led Hrōdi unto the Elm tree and said: This is the tree of my namesake. I was made by the dust of it.
58
Hrōdi: I see you have learned to commune with all of nature. Have you spoken with this tree yet?
59
Emalō: I have not; this thing was forbidden me.
60
Hrōdi said in anger: Surely this thing cannot be forbidden you, you are flesh of its flesh and root of its root. You are in and through it, or were you not made from the dust of it?
61
Emalō: I am.
62
Hrōdi: Should you not then be able to speak with the tree from which you were created?
63
Emalō: Aiylōhyme said that to speak to it would cause too much knowledge, and this we were not ready to receive, and this would cause division and destruction.
64
Hrōdi: It shall not cause division, for how can knowing too much of a thing cause division? Surely it shall not cause division but shall give you knowledge that you may return unto where you once were.
65
Emalō: I desire to return to where I was before I fell.
66
Hrōdi: Then you must commune with this tree, for it contains great knowledge. So great that you may return unto where you were.
67
Emalō: I will speak with this tree.
68
Now, the tree was in bloom with many flowers and fruits, and Emalō spoke to the tree, and the spirit of the tree spoke and made known unto Emalō all that it knew about the fall of Hrōdi, the anger of Sert, and the war on Athalaz. Now, Hrōdi fled, and Sert came to whisper into the ear of the woman.
69
And after Emalō had spoke with the tree, she went at once to Azk and said: Azk, come with me.
70
And Azk said: What is that?
71
Emalō: I have spoken with the Elm tree from whence I came, and I learned much, much that you need to learn too.
72
Then Azk looked on, sore afraid, and said: Emalō, the Aiylōhyme commanded us not to commune with the spirit of the Elm tree until such time as we were ready.
73
Emalō: Azk, I have already communed with that tree and, having so done, I have been filled with division and cannot stay here, for this place is a place of near wholeness.
74
Azk: What is this division you speak of?
75
Emalō: You must commune with the tree lest I be removed, and you shall remain here to wander alone.
76
Now, Azk, having compassion on his wife and knowing that all the commands of the Aiylōhyme could no longer be fulfilled, said: I see that this must be. Lead me to the Elm tree, and we shall commune together. And Emalō, his wife, led him unto the Elm tree, and they both went up in Sydier to communicate with the Tree of Knowledge. And Azk learned all about the war on Athalaz and his part as a mighty captain of the Aiyseir, and thus his heart was filled with pride, for he knew that his name was Tyrraz, the master of the armies of the Aiyseir. Now, this filled with heart with great pride, insomuch that he began to boast of his mighty accomplishments.
77
Now, at the noise, Hrōdi drew near with Sert alongside, and the man noticed not because of his great pride. Yet, Emalō noticed and, having seen the same vision as Azk, recognized Hrōdi and Sert and said: I know you both. You were they who set fire to Athalaz and turned Nifleheim cold. You are they which cast out the Nifle from that place as just spirits and caused much division.
78
And Hrōdi said: So we are. Now you must know that we have won and that this is the new world which has been prophesied about, and we are its gods. Therefore, worship us.
79
Now, the man ceased in his boasting and turned to find Hrōdi and Sert, his old enemies, and again came up in pride, saying: My old enemies, I see that you have returned, and you claim again to be gods of power. Well, I am mighty among the Aiyseir, even so mighty that I have become a god of war and justice, and I shall destroy you here and end the conflict, for so says the god of the Aiyseir.
80
However, it was then that all four heard the voice of the Aiylōhyme, for they had felt a mighty division upon the earth, and all four feared and trembled. And Hrōdi spoke: Comes the Aiylōhyme, you are not mighty Tyrraz, they are mighty. And see? You are without clothing. They cannot see you like this. Hide, and we will go to war once they have left.
81
Then Azk and Emalō knew that they were naked and hid themselves among the branches of the Elm tree. Emalō hid for shame, and Azk hid in a desire for vengeance and glory. And when the Aiylōhyme came near unto the tree, they beheld Azk and Emalō hiding amidst the branches and said: Azk, Emalō, where are you?
82
And Azk forestalled, believing that the Aiylōhyme would see Hrōdi first to his destruction. Nevertheless, Aiylōhyme asked: Azk, Emalō, where are you?
83
And Emalō felt a piercing in her chest and came forward in shame, saying: Here we are, Aiylōhyme. Azk and I hid, for we did not want you to see our nakedness.
84
Aiylōhyme: Azk, come forward. And in great anger and fear, Azk fled from the tree into the sight of the Aiylōhyme.
85
Aiylōhyme: Azk, why have you hid yourself?
86
Azk: I hid myself that you might not see me so that I could go forward to destroy my enemies.
87
Aiylōhyme: Who told you you have enemies?
88
Now, Azk said: Hrōdi and Sert are my old enemies.
89
Aiylōhyme: How do you know of Hrōdi and Sert?
90
Emalō: They came unto me and told me to commune with the Elm tree that I might receive knowledge.
91
Aiylōhyme: Hrōdi, Sert, come forth!
92
Hrōdi and Sert then revealed themselves from a cavity in a rock in which they hid.
93
Vofdenaz: Hrōdi, what have you done?
94
Hrōdi: I saw that you still desire to keep knowledge from your children as you once did with me. Therefore, I taught them how to commune with the Elm that they might gain that knowledge without you.
95
Vofdenaz: Hrōdi, for your crimes, I give you this final punishment. I have taken your sight, I have taken your power. You have died the final death, and now I take the last thing you have. I take from you your body, the body is a sigil of the Aiyseir, and I had hoped to leave you with at least that, but you leave me no choice. Disembodied, you will be. A ghost and a barrow-wight. You shall be seen among the Aiyseir no longer, but shall be as the Mūsple and the Nifle, trapped behind the wall forever, only to be seen by those that can climb the wall.
96
And Hrōdi cried out as Vofdenaz cast from Hrōdi his body, causing Hrōdi to become a wight and a vagabond.
97
And Friggō turned to Sert, saying: You are not but a fiend and an adversary. You are not from among my children, but have caused many problems to them all. Therefore, I bind you. I bind you in the remains of Hrōdi's body, which I make into a realm, a realm all your own, and I call this realm Mūspleheim, home of the Mūsple, and there you shall be trapped until I see fit, for I invoke my right to the keys of justice.
98
Now, was Sert and all the Mūsple bound within the body of Hrōdi, which became a realm, trapped within. And in anger, the Mūsple, even all they who were with Sert drawn into this new realm and were trapped. Now, the Mother set this realm within the boundaries of Middle Earth insomuch that any who sought it could find it, and this because of the covenant with the law of justice which was formed and says that she may trap the Mūsple indefinitely, but the prison therein must be findable or else the law of restitution could not be satisfied.
99
And when this, Hrōdi fled and feared exceedingly, for he knew of the great crimes he had committed. Then the Aiylōhyme said unto Azk and Emalō: You cannot stay here, for this place is a place of unity and solace, and you have brought war, the desire for war, and this thing cannot be. Therefore, I must expel you from this garden.
100
And Emalō wept and said: It is so, Aiyseir, Lord. For we have done wrong according to you, and I see that we must be like Hrōdi, to wander as vagabond from all eternity to all eternity. For had we listened to you, then this great knowledge would have been bestowed when we were prepared. Nevertheless, we listened not and have come up in great pride and division.
101
Vofdenaz: No, I shall not punish you as I have Hrōdi, for his heart is full of guile and evil from eternity to eternity. Nevertheless, if you chose, then you might become like him and you would needs be punished as such. However, your hearts are not evil, and Emalō, your heart is tender and sincere. Do you not remember the covenant which all made before the world was formed?
102
And Emalō said: No, Aiyseir, I do not.
103
It was then that Heimalaz embraced her, yet she knew it not. And he, through his power, brought back to her an instant remembrance of the covenant of Thūnoraz that all might be saved. And Emalō rejoiced and said: By some miracle I remember, my Chief.
104
Vofdenaz: Then you must remember that I promised that he would save you from all your sins.
105
Emalō: I do, Father.
106
Vofdenaz: Then lift up your head and rejoice, for I shall send Thūnoraz before the great and last day, that all who follow him may be saved from this awful Hel. Nevertheless, you must be cast out from this place.
107
And Vofdenaz called for Thūnoraz, and Thūnoraz came, saying: What is wanted, Father?
108
And Vofdenaz said: Thūnoraz, make them coats of skins and lead them from the garden and see to it that the woman is comforted, for her heart is tender and soft, but see that the man is humbled, for he has remembered what great works he has accomplished and believes himself to be Aiyseir already.
109
Thūnoraz: It will be done, Vofdenaz.
110
And Thūnoraz made them coats of skins and ushered them from the garden, walking with them until the boundary.
111
Upon arrival to the edge of the garden, Thūnoraz said: I can go with you no further, for once you have left this garden, you shall be in the lone and dreary world, divided one against the other. Nevertheless, I will send my spirit before you, and in time, I will send unto you teachings that will teach you how you may return again unto me, for I will not leave you comfortless. Seek me and you shall find me.
112
But the spirits of the earth and the sky I give unto you to speak with, for until I send my messengers, they will be your teachers and your guides. Learn from them, and they will teach you all you need know.
113
And they were removed from the garden to wander in the lone and dreary world. And Vofdenaz found Thūnoraz, saying: Thūnoraz, cast a shadow over the land that it might be protected from them and from Hrōdi. Give a command unto the Elm tree never to divulge its secrets until such time as I deem necessary. And cause the rainbow to fall between them and Ash, the Tree of Life, that they commune not with it and therefore die in their imperfection.
114
Thūnoraz: It will be done, Vofdenaz.
115
Thus, it was that the Elm tree was shadowed, and the ash tree was covered. And Thūnoraz took up the spirit of the Ash tree and fashioned from the matter there a mighty tree and set Heimalaz to guard it. The rainbow was set in the sky as a reminder unto Azk and Emalō about the bridge that they would have to cross in order to commune with the Tree of Life, for Vofdenaz forbade that they should speak with the Tree of Life too early as they did with the Elm.
116
And now, as Azk and Emalō wandered in the wilderness, they came unto a place which they named bountiful, for it reminded them of the garden, although they knew not why.
117
And Azk gathered together stones and formed them into a ring and placed into the center a large white stone, and he named the place HaBethesda, the temple of stones. And the white stone was as to him an altar, and he gathered in Emalō and his children who were born outside of the garden. Now, we know that his eldest was named Lōk and his other child was named Bethasdr, the same Bethasdr who was with Tyrraz on Athalaz. And they gathered in and began offering up all the desires of their hearts.
118
And Azk, leading his family in prayer, said: Oh Aiylōhyme, hear my cry. Oh, Aiy, hear my cry.
119
And when he had spoken this, an Aiyseir from Athalaz came unto him, saying: What is wanted?
120
Then Azk said: I desire to know how I might return unto the Aiylōhyme as I have been commanded, for I know not where to go.
121
And the Aiyseir said: You must labor and give sacrifice, for it is in this very way that Thūnoraz shall descend that you might be saved.
122
Azk: What is sacrifice?
123
Aiyseir: Sacrifice is giving of yourself or something you desire, freely unto the Aiylōhyme that they can turn the particulates of that sacrifice into righteous movement for your good.
124
Azk: And it is in this way that Thūnoraz shall save all the fallen Aiyseir?
125
Aiysier: It is.
126
Azk: Then I, too, shall sacrifice. Then Azk, with the guidance of Emalō, sacrificed all that he had, which was a sheep which he had raised. And the Aiylōhyme accepted this sacrifice.