Cholmo climbed up to the highest peak, where, she, without catching her breath, took out a magic crystal mirror. The mirror had supernatural powers and through it people could see every corner of the world. Cholmo hoped to find out where Gesar was? In the magic mirror she not only saw Gesar but also saw him drinking and singing with Mesa Poingyi and another beautiful woman. Immediately Cholmo felt numerous arrows penetrating her heart and the pain struck her to her marrow.
“My God!” Cholmo screamed and fainted.
A chattering little magpie woke her up. Cholmo’s eyes were full of tears. When she saw the magpie, she promptly asked the bird to take a message to King Gesar: “Dear magpie, please help me tell that cruel hearted King that the people of Ling are suffering terrible misery. It is extremely urgent that he returns to the State of Ling.”
Cholmo walked down the mountain slowly. When she met Tsinpa Merotse she said: “My aunt has a serious illness and I have to take care of her for several days.”
When Tsinpa Merotse observed that Cholmo’s eyes were red and swollen, he believed what she said and nodded in agreement with her.
Another six days passed and King Bacham finally lost his temper. He angrily ordered Merotse to go and get Cholmo once more. When Merotse arrived, he asked Cholmo how her aunt was. She thanked him and said: “My aunt gets better but now I must say good-bye to my sister who lives in the Zonggo.”
“Women are really troublesome, ” Tsinpa Merotse said. He unwillingly accompanied her to the Zonggo.
As she did before, Cholmo fetched out some good wine for Merotse to drink while she climbed to the top of the mountain. Through her magic mirror she found out that the Lion King was still enjoying drinking and singing together with his two wives. She also saw that the carrier magpie was dead at the door of Gesar’s tent. Her heart was broken: “You cruel King! You have really forgotten me and you killed the magpie that carried my message. My God! My God! What shall I do?” She passed out again.
When Cholmo came to herself she saw a beautiful red fox sitting beside her and licking her wrist with its tongue. Cholmo petted the fox’s neck but was sunk in apathy.
“Queen Cholmo, I’d like to take a message to the King for you,” the fox said.
“Didn’t you see that the little magpie was shot by my King?”
“That was because her chattering annoyed the King. I will not do the same. Please tell me your message now.”
Cholmo was moved by the fox’s sincerity. Trembling she got her gold ring off her finger and said in a broken voice: “Sister Fox, please help me and bring this ring to King Gesar. Tell him there is a girl suffering in Darze City. She has spurned the King of Hor, who wants to seize her as his wife, for three years. She is looking forward to her King returning every day. Now, there is no way she can carry on. Please come back as quickly as possible if he still loves her. If he comes back too late, she will have been taken away by the King of Hor and he will come and vanquish the people and the State of Ling.”
The red fox ran away with the gold ring in its mouth and Cholmo came down the mountain with red-rimmed eyes.
Tsinpa Merotse wondered if her sister had also fallen sick. Anyway, it was time to leave because King Bacham would get angry if they delayed any longer.
Cholmo silently followed Tsinpa Merotse on their way back. Again Merotse could not help asking:
“Queen Cholmo, is your sister doing all right?”
“Yes, she is.” Cholmo didn’t want to say any more.... She bent her head in meditation while walking slowly after Tsinpa. Just before they arrived in Darze, Cholmo’s eyes suddenly lit up, she had just had a great idea.
“Since you have fulfilled all of your wishes, can we leave now?” Merotse sounded her out.
“All right!” Cholmo answered without hesitation, which took Merotse by surprise.
Tsinpa Merotse could hardly wait to tell King Bacham the good news. Meanwhile, Cholmo strode to her palace. She didn’t want to lose time in putting her plan into execution.
Her two loyal maids, Ngachonchi and Lachoinchi, came out to welcome her. Cholmo caught Lachoinchi’s hand as she met them.
She asked: “Ngachonchi, could you tell me if Lachoinchi looks like me?”
“Err, please forgive me for speaking like this. The people here say that Lachoinchi bears a resemblance to our Queen but that she is not as beautiful as you.”
“Hum, well, but….” Cholmo suddenly felt it was difficult to tell them her plan.
“Dear Queen Cholmo, I had already thought of an idea, but I did not tell you for fear of being too bold. If I got the permission of the Queen, I’d like to…” Lanchoinchi said this with surprising equanimity and had seemingly prepared for this moment already.
“But how can I treat you so unfairly….” Cholmo said with tears in her eyes again.
After Ngachonchi understood what they had said she felt excited and said: “Wonderful! What a great idea! Lachoinchi, you bad girl, why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
“Ngachonchi, invite Brother Chatsa here right now,” Cholmo ordered.
Rongcha Chageng and Chatsa Shigar came very quickly. Lachoinchi told them about their plan. They kept praising them: “Well, well, what a great idea!”
Chatsa was not so cheerful. He said, “That’s really a good idea but it’s unfair for Lachoinchi to put up with all this.”
“Dear Chatsa, please don’t speak like that. For the State of Ling and for our Queen, I am willing to do anything.” Lachoinchi choked back her sobbing.
Cholmo and Nagchonchi lowered their heads silently while grasping Lachoinchi’s hands tightly.
King Bacham was so happy to achieve his goal that he decided to withdraw his troops. He had been bothered by three years of war but now everything seemed worth it to marry Cholmo. He will finally be able to get her who once existed only in his dreams! How could he restrain his happiness!
Tsinpa Merotse found some mistakes in the wedding but he preferred to keep quiet for the peace of all the people.
The Hor troops finally started retreating and they came to Yarlhasibo Mountain in the sixth day. While they were pitching the camp an arrow with a red copper tail flew into the tent of King Bacham. There was a letter tied to the arrow. A livery gave it to King Bacham. His face turned as yellow as the paper after he had read it.
“Bring Tsinpa Merotse in here at once,” King Bacham shouted.