An Altered Night

Two guards walked together through the library. After they were some distance away, Roro Jonggrang appeared. Her eyes stared intently in all directions that were dimly lit by the torches. After feeling confident, she stepped out with Aunt Sumi.

Roro Jonggrang vigilantly walked through the streets of the palace grounds. Her heart was beating fast, fearful that the guards might see them at any moment. Even so, her feet continued without hesitation, still holding onto that false hope.

The two turned toward the back entrance of the palace.

Based on the information Aunt Sumi had picked up, the construction site was in a large meadow behind the palace. It was close to a rocky mountain.

Roro Jonggrang planned to go there to check if she was indeed using the genies' help. She knew that going to that location was dangerous, but it was for the sake of defending her life.

"Princess, it's almost midnight," Aunt Sumi whispered from behind.

Roro Jonggrang looked up. The moon had reappeared accompanied by dark clouds around it. "Yes," she replied.

They will take the left-hand lane. Suddenly, two guards appeared with wide strides. Roro Jonggrang pulled Aunt Sumi to hide in the darkness.

The two guards heard a noise. They stopped, then turned to the shadow of the warehouse building. One of them said, "There's someone here."

"Are you sure? Isn't that the rumble of lightning?" the other replied.

"I'm not sure either."

"Your instincts are not sharp enough. Let's move on."

"Okay."

Roro Jonggrang's head emerged from the shadows. She waited for the two guards to go further. Then, she came out while pulling Aunt Sumi. Without checking the surroundings, the two ran through the back door of the palace.

***

Relying on the illumination from the moonlight and stars, Roro Jonggrang walked towards the meadow. Aunt Sumi stayed behind, in case any guards followed them.

A rumbling sound accompanied by ground shaking startled them. It happened several times during the journey to the place.

Roro Jonggrang's suspicion that Bandung Bondowoso was enlisting the help of genies grew. However, upon arriving at the location, it was hard to tell for sure. Outside the meadow area were so many guards. They stood, forming a formation around the meadow area.

"Princess, how is it?" whispered Aunt Sumi in a worried tone.

They were behind the bushes. The meadow area was very dark, there was no light at all. They could only see the guards by the light of the moon.

Sounds of rumbling and commotion could be heard. It sounded as if people were building on the meadow.

"He did it," she muttered.

"Aunt Sumi, let's go to the village," Roro Jonggrang said then.

"Yes, Your Highness."

They stepped back, leaving the place with light steps.

***

Bandung Bondowoso was sitting, watching the genies build the temple one by one. Suddenly, he sensed the presence of another person in the meadow area. His body turned backward, then went towards the edge of the grassland.

For a few seconds, Bandung Bondowoso looked in all directions, at the bushes and trees. The aura of those people was gone.

"Your Majesty, is something wrong?" one of the guards asked.

"No."

Bandung Bondowoso replied as cold as the night breeze, then returned to the construction site.

When he returned, the genie king stood waiting for him. He gave a small smile as he bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, two wells have been completed. Now all that remains is to complete the 200 temples," he informed.

"Do it faster," Bandung Bondowoso ordered.

The night breeze picked up, as the shifting clouds hid the moon. The sky darkened again as if it was going to rain.

"There is no need to worry, Your Majesty. It will be finished before sunrise."

Bandung Bondowoso sighed and nodded. His face turned to the village in the west. This great construction would soon be completed. It's good that it was completed without interruption.

***

The village of Prambanan was quiet. The doors of the houses were closed. The sound of dogs can be heard occasionally. The wind blows dry leaves, giving the impression that the village is asleep and will only open its eyes after the sun rises and the wind warms up.

Roro Jonggrang and Aunt Sumi stood at the entrance to the village. The people sitting at the guard post saw them and immediately recognized the two women as the Princess and Aunt Sumi.

The five men of the night guard approached them, then saluted. "Our respects to Her Highness the Princess," they said in unison.

The princess nodded her head. Inwardly, she was very happy that there were still people left who recognized her. These were the people she would protect as a princess. Their welfare depended on her.

"Your Highness, what do you need on this cold night?" an older-looking man asked.

Roro Jonggrang smoothed the shawl wrapped around her shoulders. She took a deep breath. Her heart was beating fast, her stomach tingling. This was a great favor she was asking of these people.

"I, the Princess of the Kraton Boko command you to wake everyone up! Knock on the door of every house! Beat the mortar and pestle and burn the hay!"

Her smooth voice split the sky. She stared straight ahead, at the night sky that she imagined to be as bright as morning.

The men were silent, confused by the order. However, the Princess had asked for it herself. They bowed respectfully in assent.

Then, the men went into the village, spreading out into the streets, and knocking on the doors of each house. The sound of knocking on the door was heard in unison. The villagers came out in a hurry after being told there were orders from the Princess for them.

The villagers ran to their courtyards, took a mortar and pestle, put in rice grains, and beat them. Knock after knock was heard, making so much noise.

Straw is gathered, thrown on the fire, and instantly every house is lit up. The flame, along with the beating of the mortar, wakes the animals. The chickens wake up and crow as if it's morning.

In the center of the village, Roro Jonggrang stood watching the people do her bidding well. They still obeyed her and even worked well. Roro Jonggrang was touched.

Aunt Sumi looked around. Her face was beaming. "Princess, it looks like morning," she said.

Huge flames blazed every moment, shooting up into the air, giving the sky a tinge of red and orange. The dark sky was transformed. The night was transformed to look like morning.

Roro Jonggrang said with tears in her eyes, "The construction must have stopped... "

"No, Princess!"

A voice called her. She turned her head towards the village entrance. Roro Jonggrang's eyes widened at the figure running from the gate towards her.