THE SWORD
OF
ARAMUN
EPISODE 11
LEE JOON
GI’S
GROUNDBREAKING
TOUR DE FORCE
ACTING AND
ACTION
PERFORMANCE
IN
THE SWORD
OF
ARAMUN
THE
GROUNDBREAKING
2023
TELEVISION SERIES
|
|
 If you were to rate the epic Korean high fantasy television series, The Sword of Aramun, from a scale of one to five, you would have given it a ten. The Sword of Aramun is not just a masterpiece but also a groundbreaking television series. Episode 11 of the magical and unique story, which is entrenched in rich imagery and mythology never seen before in the South Korean drama world, is about the epic love triangle of the identical twins, Inaishingi and Saya, both portrayed by Lee Joon Gi, and Tanya, played by Shin Sae Kyeong.
The tale is enhanced by
the heart-pounding and heartrending romantic scene of Inaishingi Eun Seom and
Tanya in a tense, despondent moment divided by the walls of Arthdal, thanks
to the brilliant writers, Kim Young Hyun and
Park Sang Yeon. The romantic scenes have hypnotized and swept us off our feet.
The viewers sympathize with Saya whose unrequited love makes the story even
more heart-breaking. The trio has to finally embrace their destiny as
forecast by the gods.
The gamut of emotions expressed by the sterling actors, Lee Joon Gi and Shin Sae Kyeong in Tanya’s sacrificial scene on the walkway of the walls of Arthdal has the viewers in tears. The powerful chemistry between the actors is unmistakable.  Lee's versatile acting prowess and skills set him apart from other actors in South Korea and elsewhere. In playing the double roles of Inaishingi Eun Seom and Saya, his portrayal of the twins who are poles apart is nothing short of awesome. Viewers are impressed with the strong leadership and action skills of Eun Seom but the vulnerability shown by him at Tanya's plight on the walls of Arthdal reduces the audience to tears. His superb portrayal of Saya sheds light on the immaturity, rashness, childish and needy disposition of the older twin as demonstrated in the stormy discussion scene between Saya and Tanya about the drawings of Aramun Haesulla and the twin brothers. Lee Joon Gi not only deserves the top local but also international awards for his dual roles in the best television series in 2023.   The tall, athletic and masculine Lee Joon Gi looks gorgeous and sensuous as always in his Eun Seom's military clothes. The knees of the female viewers would have very much weakened after seeing the handsome man clothed in battle gear ever since Episode 1 but for some, the older twin with a dark side, is sexy and intriguing.
It is interesting to note that the globally popular multihyphenate would be holding a concert in Yokohama, Japan on 15.12.23.
Another interesting character in The Sword of Aramun is Tachukan. The courageous warrior, who is played humorously by Kang Shin Ho, grows on you. He and Mirusol, the strong female warrior, played by Ju Myung, are likeable sparring partners whose whimsical and playful comments send the audience into gales of laughter.
Episode
11 also emphasizes female power; it paints a nail-biting and intriguing picture of
the frantic, intense struggle of two powerful females who fight for power as
the unwieldy kingdom of Arthdal crumbles. Tanya, a well-respected religious
icon and a heroine, who leads her group of heroines against Taealha, the
ambitious villainous queen of Arthdal, played by the delectable Kim Ok Vin,
would have succeeded in her quest for dominance had the defeated King Tagon
not returned from the dead.  The Director, Kim Kwang Sik, and the filming crew led by Choi Chan Ming have done a marvelous job for the way they beautifully filmed and narrated the story. They and the other members of crew, the Wardrobe Department and the Makeup Team have to be commended for the way the beautiful Shin Sae Kyeong appears in Episode 11. In Tanya’s 'sacrificial' scene, the ethereal beauty of Tanya, the reincarnation of Asa Sin, is astonishing. The talented Shin Sae Kyeong, who has impressed everyone with her acting performance is, indeed, a spectacularly beautiful Asian screen goddess.  The Wardrobe Department’s creative powers have also to be singled out for praise. The dreamy soft white flowing robes, that Tanya wears in her struggle for power, impresses with its beauty and uniqueness. The startlingly beautiful attire, an indication of her godly femininity as the reincarnation of Asa Sin as well as the fierce warrior in her, is adorned with the stunning piece de resistance – a decorative item of seven small metal shields which cover the bodice of her attire. The exquisite bodice ornament has three strings of decorative items of sorts hanging from it. Her white lacy headdress is equally impressive. The simple white dress in the sacrificial scene also makes
Tanya even more beautiful and ethereal.
NO END
IN SIGHT  What would you do when facing the whirlwind fire? Run. The tornado of fire coming their way had swallowed up part of Tagon’s army. Enormous waves of wind and fire engulfed those who did not flee in time. The Arthdal soldiers, fearing that they would end up in a fiery death, beat a desperate retreat. Each for himself. No soldier bothered with Tagon’s final war orders. Only Tagon,
himself, was fascinated with the fiery scene before him. A burning tree
nearly crushed him to death. Yeonbal, loyal till the end, yanked him away. The
war ended disastrously for the haughty and proud Tagon. TANYA THE BID
FOR POWER
Praying,
Tanya had been given some divine insight. She was suddenly shaken by something
that she saw in her mind’s eye. When she opened her eyes, she asked Moa
whether she had passed the message to the Whisper Organization. She
wants her plan to be put into motion at the right timing, ‘When you hear
that King Tagon has lost, get ready. Move when smoke rises from the Great
Shrine.’ YANGCHA A CHILD
OF SAHATI  Tanya met Yangcha in secret. She was unhappy that upon his secret return to Arthdal, he was caught and thrown into prison. She reminded him that she had sent him to Eun Seom to protect him. He retorted that Suhana, his mother, on seeing that his emotions had been revived, had sent him back. In the astounding picture above, Yangcha kneels before Tanya, who looks like a goddess. She seems to be floating in the air.
Yangcha revealed
his secret life. He was kidnapped as a child by Sahati who trained him in the
horrible black arts; he took strange medicines and smelled strange scents. He
grew up as a ‘Black Tongue’, who inspired fear in others. The fact that his
emotions disappeared gradually was a testament to the success of the cruel and
ruthless training. Tagon had
saved him. When he met his mother again, he felt nothing. All his feelings, resentment,
sorrow or affection, had disappeared. But one memory remains. The memory that
he once possessed emotions. Children of Sahati die at a very young age during
their missions. Even if they lived to adulthood, most of them would commit
suicide. He was not any different; he always wanted to die.
The time
he spent with Tanya was valuable; his emotions revived and he wanted to protect them. Tanya
must have found it gratifying that Yangcha found himself again due to her great influence.
Tanya
informed him that something big would happen the next day. If he had the
chance, he must flee. She reminded him that he had to consider his options. The
emotions he had got back can be used elsewhere. YEOLSON
AND DUNJI  Tanya
had told Yeolson, her father, the news of Tagon’s war failure. Yeolson and Dunji, his confidant, discussed the possibility that Eun Seom might advance towards
Arthdal. It was the time of changing alliances and allegiances. It was the survival of not the fittest but the
most adaptable. They had always supported Tagon but now that he was defeated, they
had to change sides to survive. It seemed that Yeolson had sobered up to the
reality. After he gained power in Arthdal, he was happily ignorant about
morality and closed his eyes to Tagon’s tyranny. THE
NEANTHALS ISSRUV AND
NOSUNAHO TO JOIN
NUNBYEOL OR THAT IS
THE QUESTION  Tagon
had made many enemies. Nunbyeol was one of them; she also had plans laid out
to defeat Tagon. She reminded Issruv and Nosunaho that Tagon was their common
enemy and they had to fight him together. Tagon had nearly annihilated their Neanthal race. But Issruv
objected to her plan. He, a peace-loving Neanthal, believed in a peaceful
coexistence with others. Mother Nature was not vengeful. He was certain that in
the end, without revenge, Tagon would return to Mother Nature. Nunbyeol
was against that kind of mindset which was the cause of the destruction of
the Neanthals. Although the Neanthals were physically stronger and more
powerful, they lost their lives to the vengeful and brutal Sarams who won
their wars, and their civilization eventually prospered. Issruv refused
to help her; he argued that her life with the Sarams and their internecine
warfares and feuds made her think of only of winning and losing. He was
surprised that Nosunaho reacted differently from him. The younger Neanthal was
entranced and captivated by Nunbyeol’s many charms. He was in denial of
wanting to be her mate. He told Issruv in no uncertain terms that he was fighting
her cause. The older man realised that he was a goner; he was absolutely
bewitched by Nunbyeol’s beauty and wanted to be with her. Nosunaho invited
him to come, not to fight but to help him. ROTTIP GAMBAL
MOUNTAIN
Rottip wondered if Saya was dead. Sahati had furnished him with details about the unfortunate Igutu; Tagon refused to allow a funeral for Saya whom he considered to be a traitor. His corpse was disposed of in the Gambal Mountain. They
went in search of Saya in the Gambal Mountain and whilst there, they overheard
a conversation between Taealha and Yeobi about Saya, who was still alive. Rottip
had to find Saya and also investigate the recent appearance of some strange people in Arthdal. He requested Sahati to hand over the bamboo pipe to him. The weapon was covered with a piece of leather.  Sahati instructed him to update her if his secret mission ends well. If she didn’t hear from him, she would assume he was dead. Rottip
confronted Yeobi and demanded to know Saya’s whereabouts.
Saya, attired in black hooded robes, had secretly returned to Arthdal at night. He saw the strange drawings on the wall again, and was confused by his and Eun Seom’s birth story as well as Aramun Haesulla’s story.
Rottip
must have been shadowing Saya and tracking him down because he popped out of
nowhere and suddenly greeted Saya, ‘Nice to meet you, child of Asa Hon.’
Rottip
was surpised that Saya had already met the strange people who urged Saya to leave with them if he was the owner of the pendant or amulet with the finger
patterns. Before one of them died, he told Saya to meet them in the White Ford
Forest when the next new moon rose. Saya wasn’t sure if he would be going. His
future was uncertain.
Saya, with tears brimming in his eyes, questioned why his mother; Asa Hon, had not prevented Tagon from abducting him. If she had, he would not have been separated from his family. Was Eun Seom more precious than him or was she terrified of Tagon? Saya, whose mind seemed to have been imprisoned by the past, was apparently immature and childish for his age. Was it a symptom of a larger issue - a mental health disorder? Rottip
had no precise answer for him but he had some advice to offer. One should not
live in the past. None knew what happened then. It was too painful to
speculate. Everyone lived in the world they chose. Everything was up to him. It was entirely his own volition: How he perceived his past or his future. What
he wanted them to be. How he wanted to live. What he wanted to live as. SAYA AND
TANYA THE NAKED TRUTH ABOUT SAYA Saya
went to the Great Shrine to look for answers. He gazed at the iron sword which
was embedded in the tree stump. The Sword of Aramun. The pattern etched on
the sword matched the Lichtenberg Figures on Eun Seom’s right hand. The owner
of the sword was definitely Eun Seom. He was Aramun Haesulla. There was no
question about it. Tanya was surprised to see him. Thankful that he was alive and well, she caught hold of his hand. But, he pried his fingers from the vise she had locked him in and pulled away suddenly. He accused
her of having covered the walls all over Arthdal with graffiti or drawings
about him and Eun Seom. The drawings depicted the birth of the twin brothers,
Eun Seom’s presence in Iark and how he met Asa Sin and Kanmoreu there.
Saya demanded to know what she was doing and the purpose of those drawings. Tanya
surprised him with her bold and candid answer. When Tagon lost the war, she, herself, would
take control of Arthdal. Confined to the Great Shrine, Tanya was unaware that
Tagon had lost the war. She had not been updated about the war. Saya had
harboured the nagging suspicion that she wanted to take over Arthdal in order
to pass it to Eun Seom so that Inaishingi can be proclaimed to be Aramun
Haesulla.
He was
disappointed that all along that she had been using him. Why did she add him in the
drawings? There
was an element of truth in his accusation; she admitted using him. Saya was
taken aback by her brazen admission. A wave
of candid confessions followed. The unwelcome facts were unveiled. At first,
she had used him but now, she was also using Eun Seom. She had been using
young slaves who obeyed her like a god. Those poor people would end up
getting hurt or dying in the end.
Was it
such a big deal then for someone like her to use him? He
questioned her whether her ideal world, a world where people don’t fight or
kill could be realized. She stated clearly that the world she wanted to
create was a world that would have fewer crimes where people would fight, kill,
steal or get robbed less.  And what about her
choice of a leader to implement her dream of such an ideal world. Why must
it be Eun Seom, and not him? He was Eun Seom’s identical twin and yet he
couldn’t figure out why he didn’t feature prominently in the prophecy. That
puzzle had eluded him for a long time.
It
seemed he had lost all reason in Tanya’s presence. The god of her stature had
a mesmerizing effect on him. Her thoughts were impossible to infiltrate but
she finally revealed the unpalatable truth. The gospel truth. About his
morality, his psychological and spiritual self. Tanya
dealt him a crippling blow. It was then that she revealed that she had the
psychic power of reading the thoughts of others. She had read his thoughts. His evil side that he tried to suppress was revealed. He was too jealous of his own brother, his blood relative, his own twin. She knew better about what he wanted to conceal. If the rebellion succeeded, Saya was going to kill Eun Seom and replace him. Imagine, Saya wanted to become Eun Seom. He admitted being cruel; he had killed Danbyeok without hesitation. He divided Taealha and Tagon and
threw Arthdal into confusion and chaos. That was who he was.
Saya shamelessly admitted that he wanted to become Eun Seom. He knew that she had given her heart to Eun Seom but that didn’t make it easy for him. Why did he pretend that he believed in her ideal world?
And, why did he drink the Bichwisan
without hesitation instead of begging Tagon for his life? He sacrificed his
life for her.  She knew the reason very well. He loved her. Tanya had filled the empty place in his soul and kept him sane. He refused tenaciously to let her go.  It was time for her to clear the air. She gazed at him with concern for some time but did not want to accommodate him. His gaze burned holes in her. His heart must have swelled and pounded in his chest as he looked at her. She was going to be direct with him; she coldly spurned him. His feelings for her arose from his decision, ‘You decided you want me. You made that choice. It was your intention and your will.’
It meant that she did not return
his love. Listening to her harsh words must have made his heart shrink many
sizes. He sucked in his breath but his emotions which he had been holding
back spilled out. He was deeply hurt. Tears filled his eyes when the truth was spoken. He was
devastated; he felt numb and empty. She was his Achille’s Heel. Suddenly, he
snapped back to reality and regained his composure.
A TIME OF REFLECTION
AND DECISION  Saya
needed a time of sober reflection about what went wrong with his life. He sat
in the open air that night reflecting on Tanya's words and on his life but he was
probably none the wiser. Eun Seom had won Tanya’s heart all along. Tanya did
not return his feelings; she only had eyes for Eun Seom.
He
looked at his Ikomahis pendant. Perhaps it was his destiny. He remembered Rottip’s
words about his decision on how to live or whether he wanted to be the owner
of the pendant. It’s all about choices. Tanya’s words haunted him - he had decided he wanted her. He was responsible for his own future; he had to decide what his story would be and how his story would end in the drawings on the wall.
She insisted that he must tell her of
his decision; she would be waiting for him.
THE
AFTERMATH OF THE WAR The war
had terrible repercussions on Arthdal. Suffice to say, the toll of lives was one. The forests on the hill had been destroyed. Those who survived were
badly injured, maimed, discouraged or depressed.
Taealha
and Yeobi had met some soldiers on the way while fleeing to White Peak Mountain. The women were
told that Tagon had lost the war and they did not know whether the king was
dead or alive. The Arthdal army had prepared a fire attack but Inaishingi had
unexpectedly turned the tables on them and cleverly attacked them with another fire. Saya, Inashingi’s twin, was his accomplice. INAISHINGI
BURYING THE DEAD  Surprisingly, there was a lack of urgency on the part of the Ago leader; his mission was being delayed. Inashingi
and his men were busy clearing the bodies and burying the dead. They were
heartbroken on seeing the burnt remains of their heroic comrade, Tae Maja.
Tachukan
had survived with an injury in one eye. As usual the courageous man had a
positive outlook on life; he was full of wit and humour, ‘A warrior must
have two legs. They’re lucky if they have two arms. Two eyes is one too many.
Now that I only see half, I’m not scared of anything.’  As
usual, Mirusol was humoured and joked that his mouth was still working well.  Inaishingi
proclaimed, with determination, that they would march to Arthdal then. Perhaps, he failed to realize that time was of the essence. GLOOMY NEWS TAGON
HAD LOST THE WAR PANIC IN
ARTHDAL  Chaos reigned supreme in Arthdal and gloom hung like a black cloud over the residents. The truth quickly spread like wild fire that Tagon had lost the war and Inaishingi had triumphed over Arthdal. Nobody knew whether Tagon was dead or alive but it was reasonable assumption that Tagon had died in the whirlwind fire. The
pillars of Arthdal were shocked by the news. Some went completely to pieces at the news of Tagon’s
defeat. They finally figured out that Inaishingi and Saya were twins who had plotted
against them. The
corrupt official, Jeungsugae, prepared for the worst. He was fleeing with his
stacks of gold bars. When he was making his way out of Arthdal, he was murdered
in the marketplace. Tanya’s
priests gathered together. Moa arrived to confirm Tagon had indeed lost the war. She,
Asa Tanya, the reincarnation of Asa Sin, would pave the way for a new Arthdal.
They were given final instructions to begin their mission.  Arthdal
was in chaos because the residents knew that the Ago warriors were going to
take over the city. Moa passed
a message to Doti. Messages were relayed by the followers of Tanya from one
person to another about what was happening. Arok had
been informed of the bad news by Chojaha who was helping him to escape to White
Peak Mountain. He was told his mother had escaped from Arthdal. Chojaha, who was
nearly killed, was saved by Taealha, who had decided to return. THE
ARMING OF TANYA’S SUPPORTERS A group
of confident males led by Moa made their way to the iron workshop where Yeolson
personally distributed iron swords to them. These warriors, who were loyal to Tanya in her fight to change Arthdal,
were Asa Sin’s descendants. The armed men would head to the palace. Mungtae,
the royal guard from the Wahan tribe, released Bakryangpung. The palace guards reported that Tanya had left the Great Shrine with her armed forces. A great crowd had gathered in front of the palace.
Everyone in Arthdal wanted reassurance from Gilseon, the chief of the royal guard, but he wanted them to disperse. An order was given to stop Tanya from entering the palace.
General Sodang, who was freed by a soldier, in turn, released Yangcha. The soldiers in the prison had fled. Tanya,
who was flanked by Moa and Doti, led her priests to the palace. They were the heroines in the
episode 11. She, together with her armed supporters, advanced confidently for their final confrontation with the soldiers protecting the palace. The soldiers refused to allow her to enter.
DRAWING
PARALLELS FEMALE
POWER IN A MALE DOMINATED KINGDOM In the
struggle for power that was depicted, parallels of two females trying to gain
public approval and power, were drawn. One, a heroine with her group of heroic
priests; the other a villain and a traitor, a plotter against her husband,
King Tagon. TAEALHA THE
QUEEN Taealha boldly
admitted to being a traitor. But she implied she had tried to save Arthdal from the crazy king, who
had lost the war. Whether Tagon was
alive or dead was unknown. She, the mother of Arok, would protect Arthdal
from the Ago beasts. She
accused Tanya of plotting with the twin brothers, Inaishingi and Saya, to take over Arthdal. When the
people objected, she accused Tanya of killing Jeungsugae, their trade minister.
Chojaha also accused Tanya of sending an assassin to kill him.
The
power-hungry Taealha tried to cajole them to support her to protect Arthdal. Her
far-fetched idea was the warriors from the White Mountain Tribe and Byeokjido
were rushing to Arthdal to support her. She,
while condemning Asa Tanya as the wicked fake Asa Sin, commanded the soldiers to obey her. When General Sadong indicated he would follow the queen, they were
quickly influenced to support her. TANYA THE HIGH
PRIEST Tanya,
on the other hand, claimed she, the reincarnation of the Great Mother, Asa Sin,
and the High Priest of Arthdal, was trying to protect the lives and the
future of Arthdal. Tanya
drew great crowds of people and engendered more excitement. She invited the
soldiers to join her if they wished to protect the future of their families and
friends. They must dethrone King Tagon, the fake Aramun, who had lost the war.
Bakryangpung, in declaring his loyal support for her, gave credence to her mission.
And the soldiers who were moved indicated they would follow Tanya. With the
loud cheering, Moa indicated that she would start the smoke signal. THE
NEANTHALS ROTTIP,
THE PACIFIST VERSUS EKNAD,
THE WAR MONGER FROM IRKEBAEK
Saya intended
to meet up with Eknad, a Neanthal, and his Igutu companion in the White Ford
Forest. Surprisingly,
Rottip arrived first to meet them. Slitting his palm to show his blue Neanthal
blood, he uttered, ‘I remember my brothers.’ The Igutu man swiftly knelt at Rottip’s
feet. It was startling that blue blood demanded respect. Eknad used a knife to slit his palm to indicate that he, too, was also a Neanthal.
Rottip
asked about his origins. Eknad revealed that he was from Irkebaek, a
faraway place in the west. It was a civilization founded by the brothers who
left Arthdal.  Eknad firmly
spoke of fulfilling the old promise. A ominous promise. His eyes flashed
menacingly when he promised to ‘return with an army of warriors’. It
would mean war between the Neanthals, whose leadership and strength was unknown, and the Sarams
of Arth who were armed with iron swords. The news
of the warring civilization made Rottip’s blood run cold. Rottip, a pacifist,
impressed upon him that Arth had people of purple blood as well as red blood. The proud and arrogant Eknad claimed that red-bloods were lowly and deceitful. His people would invade and reign over them. Eknad invited Rottip to go with them. His blue blood indicated that he had divine powers and would be appreciated in Irkebaek. Rottip’s
idea of life was different. Civilization was a prison. He preferred the
embrace of Mother Nature where he can roam wild and free.
As he had expected, the Neanthals who had left Arth a long time ago were dangerous. Rottip would not allow Eknad, with his lofty and dangerous ambitions, to leave that easily. If he returned home, he would be a danger and threat to Arth.
Quietly
removing a bamboo weapon from his pocket, he fired a needle into the thigh of
Eknad and knocked the other man unconscious. The bamboo pipe was from Sahati.  SAYA THE
IGUTU Rottip reprimanded
Eknad, ‘You are a disaster to all creatures of this land’. To his
horror, he was stabbed in the neck by Saya who had suddenly appeared. When he collapsed, Eknad
rose to his feet to brutally finish him off. Rottip’s life was forfeited because
of violence. It was a shocking revelation that Saya could be such a cold-blooded killer; he was emotionally detached as he witnessed the brutal killing. But then, it was a kill or be killed situation.  Upon revealing his identity as the owner of Ikomahis or Brother of Promise pendant, there was instant friendliness on Eknad's part. A gleam in Saya’s eyes showed anxiety as they shared a moment of eye contact.
THE FIRE
SIGNAL  The two
priests, who were responsible for the starting the fire as a signal to
the people to rise up against tyranny, were killed by Yeobi and some
soldiers. Moa was a witness to the horrendous murders.  Bakryangpung
led Tanya’s group through the marketplace. Their chant was, ‘Embrace the
unfamiliar. Embrace the one they had rejected.’ The
sombre-looking Tanya looked back at the sky and to her disappointment, there was no smoke
signal. Her hidden group of supporters were expecting the smoke signal before revealing themselves. Yangcha also
realized that something was amiss. THE CAT
FIGHT Arrows were
being shot at Tanya’s group. The Arthdal soldiers who supported Taealha
obstructed their path. Sadong
accused her of treason; she intended to betray Arthdal by handing over the
kingdom to the Ago beasts.  Tanya declared
that the king had lost the war and they were unsure of his whereabouts. Queen Taealha
had abandoned Arthdal. Only
she, the High Priest, was left in Arthdal. When proclaiming that she would
protect the land and her people, she commanded the soldiers to step back. Tanya
had misjudged the situation. To her shock, Taealha appeared with Yeobi. It
was precisely what she hadn’t expect to happen. The High Priest had made an
error of judgement and they were surrounded. The
queen reassured her that there would be no smoke signal. When informed that
her priests were dead, Tanya's eyes brimmed with tears. THE
CURSE OF THE HIGH
PRIEST Tanya, the
slim and lithe High Priest, had an alluring combination of softness and
strength. The startlingly splendid and beautiful robes, which she wore, showcased these
two sides of her. Her soft white flowing robes was an indication of her divine femininity, as the reincarnation of the Great Mother, Asa Sin. Her strength was symbolised by the adornment of seven small metal decorative shields on straps which covered the bodice of her attire. Attached to it were three strings of decorative ornaments of sorts. Her white lacy headdress was equally impressive.
Tanya demonstrated
her strong and harsh side; she did not just pepper her words with veiled
threats but openly cast chilling curses which were directed at those who opposed her.  Raising
her head proudly, she coldly proclaimed, ‘Remember the final moments of
those who were disrespectful to the reincarnation of Asa Sin. Remember the
person who died by getting his heart ripped out on the night of the new moon.
Your hands that are holding weapons against me will strangle your own necks,
and kill your siblings and families. Therefore, your souls will not even even
become gosals but will fall into the deepest abyss of darkness. Your children
and their children will crawl on all fours, unable to live or die.’ When the
harsh curses would be set into motion was unknown but the appalling curses put every soldier
in extreme fear. They had a profound effect on the archers, who suppressing a shiver,
lowered their bows and arrows. The fact
that Tanya’s priests had been involved in Tanya’s scheme was a symptom of the
dramatic changes happening in Arthdal. The soldiers seemed to be aware of that.  Taealha equalled,
if not surpassed, Tanya in her forcefulness and courage. The only difference was, like Tagon, the queen had a penchant for brutality and violence. It was going to be a ruthless fight to
the finish. Snatching
a sword from a soldier, she pointed it at Tanya and declared unflinchingly that she would accept Tanya's curses, ‘My hands that point weapons at the High Priest will
strangle my own neck. My soul will fall into darkness and my child will crawl
on all fours. Even if my limbs get torn apart and my soul gets scattered in
the air, I will kill Tanya myself and receive the curse. Do not be afraid. Kill
all the traitors.’ THE
SECRET BELIEVERS OF ASA SIN Suddenly,
many columns of smoke rose in the skies. The believers of Asa Sin, who saw the
billowing smoke, whooped with joy. They poured out in great numbers into the streets of Arthdal. It was a sight to behold.  Yangcha
was startled by the vast numbers of people who believed in Tanya. What can
you expect when the population of Arthdal had been terrorized by an evil, tyrannical king and his equally pernicious queen. Their
mantra was, ‘Follow the one who was despised the most. Embrace the one you
rejected.’ It
seemed the whole population of Arthdal were the followers of Tanya,
the reincarnation of Asa Sin. Tanya’s heart must have been practically
bursting out of her chest.
Taealha was not easily defeated. She declared that Aramun Haesulla had returned in the form of King Tagon. Bakryungpung shouted that Tagon was not Aramun Haesulla. He was a fake. Doti spoke up. If Tagon was Aramun, he wouldn’t have lost. Aramun was the god of victory and unity. The people denounced Tagon as a fake.
In
desperation, the evil queen slashed a soldier dead to prevent the other soldiers
from being swayed by Tanya's words. It was an exhibition of cruelty.
Tanya did
not let her guard down. Using her psychic powers, she urged the soldiers not
to oppose her lest they fell under the curse that she had cast. Taealha
remembered that Tanya had divine psychic powers and she had even experienced them
herself in the past. Tanya preached
that god was not benevolent. The Sarams themselves, were benevolent beings
and had helped each other. She urged them to make the world a good place to
live in. Her words were effective. Holding out their hands in prayer, they knelt down to acknowledge her.  THE UNEXPECTED RETURN OF THE KING  Bakryangpung,
who stood up to show his devotion, was shot by an arrow.
The evil
defeated king had unexpectedly returned with some soldiers. Those supporting
Tanya knew there and then that they were fighting a losing battle.
THE AGO ARMY ARRIVES TOO LATE
The Ago
army had arrived at the doorstep of Arthdal but Inaishingi hadthe arrived too
late to intercept the return of the king. Speed was of utmost importance. It was Eun Seom’s
fault for the delay in invading Arthdal. They could have arrived in Arthdal
earlier when everything was in chaos. Success was so close and yet so far. Inaishingi
should have left some men to bury the dead. Sentimentalism was a no no in a barbaric
war. His time management skills were in question. Arthdal
was creepily quiet when they arrived. Sadong came out with a white flag to negotiate.
Surprisingly, the message was from the queen, not the king. They were told to
retreat and wait. Then they saw on the walkway of the wall, a man was being killed and pushed off the wall to his death.  Next, was Dunji of the Wahan tribe. The
evil queen was personally responsible for the killings.  TANYA A
PROSPECTIVE SACRIFICIAL LAMB Sadong
asked who would be next. Tanya flanked by a soldier on each side was pushed
forwards. When Eun
Seom and the Ago leaders saw her, they were shocked. Eun Seom had never
thought such a day would come. His face was full of agony. The warning was
repeated, ‘Retreat 600 steps and wait for a message.’ THE BREATHTAKING
ETHEREAL BEAUTY OF TANYA AND THE HEARTBREAKING
MOMENT FOR INAISHINGI
EUN SEOM Everyone
in the audience knows that Tanya, played by Shin Sae Kyeong, was beautiful. The
High Priest was one of the great beauties of her day. It was at
that moment that the viewers realised how beautiful Tanya really was. Her
loveliness took everybody’s breath away. Her beauty was ethereal. She really was a goddess (god).  When he saw Tanya, Eun Seom was distressed. It was not what they had envisioned for the future. His heart must have stopped and then started again. When it did, it probably galloped thunderously in his chest. It is a heart-breaking moment which bring tears to the eyes of the audience. There
was an unspoken connection between them; they were soulmates. A god with
superhuman powers, she used her psychic powers to speak to Eun Seom. She, standing
on top of the high city walls, could see him seated on his stallion on
Arthdal’s doorsteps. Though
they were a distance apart from each other, she gazed lovingly at him. To her,
her beloved Ago leader was an impressive figure. She spoke lovingly and
movingly to the Ago leader, ‘Eun Seom, from here, you look amazing.’ He
was indeed a handsome man. But, what she meant was: his handsome looks, striking
demeanour and noble bearing of a king made him stand out even among his
warriors. He looked magnificent.  His
emotional turmoil spilled out of him. His eyes looked at her through a mist
of tears which streamed down his cheeks. He was too overwhelmed to think
clearly. Crippled by his cold fear; his insides must have lurched. His heart
stirred. She had used her psychic powers to break through his thoughts. Her
calmness and courage surprised him. Her flimsy words were also startling, 'Is that what you're saying right now?' She was a woman with spirit. 'Of course, I’m
the great reincarnation of Asa Sin, the god of Arthdal.’ THE DIVINE
MISSION OF INAISHINGI ‘Eun Seom, gods have their own paths. Inaishiingi should follow Inaishingi’s path.'
'Do
you understand?’  Her eyes
were bright with unshed tears. She was fighting back without flinching. He must
have shuddered at the thought of her impending death. The light seemed to have left his eyes. THE EMPOWERMENT
OF THE QUEEN  The
queen reported that the Ago army had retreated into the forest. The people
were happy that the rebellion had been suppressed due to his timely return. It
was a lie. They had witnessed the support of the people for Tanya. Tagon
boasted that in the end he would be victorious. It was an empty boast. Yeonbal
and the queen were not impressed. Tagon
didn’t want to leave the palace for fear of losing his power. The humiliated king
was not interested in meeting Inaishingi who had defeated him. The formerly
supercilious Tagon gave his queen the license to do as she wished. It was
unsurprising that the disheartened king had no wish to be linked with the
Aramun name. His defeat in the war was a humbling and demoralising
experience. Even if
hostilities were to resume, the leaders on both sides knew that the the rules
of warfare had changed forever after
the Arthdal-Ago war. This
time, a certain amout of arm-twisting may be needed in the diplomatic
negotiations between Eun Seom and Taealha. INAISHINGI
EUN SEOM EMOTIONS
IN SHAMBLES
Shaken by Tanya’s impending death as well as the declining morale of his troops, the despondent Inaishingi studied the map of Arthdal. He had unknowingly been sucked down into an abyss of despair and desperation. Peace eluded him. His resolve to fight Tagon till the end to fulfil his destiny seemed to have crumbled. Sadness had engulfed him. Ipsaeng was worried about him but he insisted that he was in control of his emotions. But, his assistant knew he was disturbed because he was reading the map upside down.
When Eun Seom was alone, he let himself go. He was not the only
one who was deeply heartbroken by Tanya’s suffering; she was tied to the pole
day and night. Dalsae was also upset because they had been friends.
SAYA KNEE-JERK
INFORMATION Saya
woke up from his sleep because of his nightmare. He had recoiled in horror.
Something had happened in the shadowy recesses of his consciousness.  Eknad
noticed his anxiety. ‘In a few days’ time’, Saya was told, ‘a boat would
arrive' to take Eknad and his companion home. He insisted that Saya leave
with them. Saya was apparently distressed.
Saya knew he was running out of time; he had to make a decision quickly. THE END DRAWS NEAR BISHWISAN Tagon knew
the end was near. He had relegated himself to the shadows. Discontent had spread
and the government was in decline. He had lost his grip over the court and
the people.  He compelled
the palace servant, Baekha, to make the poison, Bishwisan, for him by
threatening the life of her son. THE EXCHANGE OF TAUNTS TANYA VERSUS TAGON
 Tagon
visited Tanya on the walkway of Arthdal's wall where she was tied up. As he
approached, she could hear the child in him crying piteously. He asked
triumphantly, ‘How does it feel to have lost everything?’ The
spirited Tanya cast doubt on his question and challenged him. She definitely hadn’t
lost everything. He witnessed it himself. The unexpected and sudden uprising
of the masses was astonishing. The ordinary citizens of Arthdal, whom he had
suppressed, had sided with her, the High Priest all along. The seeds she had sown
had bloomed.
In fact,
Tagon had lost everything. The war. The trust and respect of the people who
feared him. The love and respect of his queen. Arthdal, his kingdom. All that
he fought to achieve. All these were due to his doing and undoing. His overriding, naked ambition. His extreme cruelty and brutality. His evil reputation. He had been right about not trusting everyone. Everyone. His people had turned against him and his tyranny. Tagon
did not have the DNA of a great leader. Character was important. His
reputation was in shreds. His reign would end with him. He had no legacy to
leave behind after his death. The people of Arthdal and the Arth continent
could tell the difference between a good leader and a bad leader. Her
voice spoke volumes. Tagon would lose to her, Tanya, the High Priest, the
Reincarnation of Asa Sin and Eun Seom, the Reincarnation of Inaishingi-Aramun
Haesulla. They would bequeath a divine legacy to the Arth continent and
beyond. The king admitted that he had lost. In the end, Inaishingi would come and Arthdal
would fall. But it doesn’t matter now. He could not restore his dominance.
Public approval was immaterial. He had cut
off the ties that bound him to Arthdal and Aramun Haesulla. Tanya
asked why his heart was still crying sad tears. The beleaguered king was
economical with the truth, about his failures. What he had concealed or
covered up could be read by her. He conceded that she had the psychic ability
of the gods. Eying
her shrewdly, he derisively asked her to read his thoughts there and then. He
cupped her face roughly in his hands and forced her to look into his
malevolent eyes.
He
gloated without divulging his secret intentions, ‘Do you now understand
what I’m trying to do?’ An icy chill of terror swept over her. He not
only intended to stamp out the major cause of dissent by putting her to death
but he was going to demonstrate his real power over those who had opposed him.
It would be the turning point in the history of Arthdal. |
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