The Beloving Tree
arbor lectis g. congualis

Native of the Valley of Sama in the Furthest Regions of the Fringed Heartlands

When Marmo, the last and most lusty King of Later Sama lost his beloved Queen Parita to the dreaded fainting disease, he mourned for her the prescripted 23 days and nights, filling ten of the Eleven Chalices with his tears. On the 24th day, he sent his senior and most excellent Salva to pluck from the highest limbs of the Beloving Tree a sufficiency of leaves, namely one for every maiden in the kingdom.

King Marmo himself cut into two halves each one of the ninety-seven leaves, placing one of the halves beside him in the Grandacious Nuptial Goblet of his beloved Queen Parita. The second half he placed in the Basket of Mystery to be distributed among the 99 maidens.

The next day, sitting on the most, the very most important of all his thrones, the King lit a wand of Purple Sage, and, his eyes royally closed, he chanted 'amor propre venite' three times before selecting one of the half leaves from the Goblet of Grandacioiusness.

"Whoever among you holds the partner to this leaf," he said, his voice glistening with melody and mirth, "will be the new and second Queen of Sama." Opening his eyes, he beckoned the first of the Maidens to kneel at his feet and present this her half, hope hiding in her downcast eyes. And that is how Ista, brimming daughter of Lavansa, became the second Queen of Later Sama.

It is said that until this very day, the Beloving Tree guides and blesses all the unions of not only Later Sama but throughout the Farthest Regions of the Fringed Heartlands.