The lion roared and I felt as though all creation bowed before him. He was not a lion that we understand and have seen, but one that can speak and run, kill and defend, and laugh. Nor was he a king, but a symbol, a symbol of strength, ability, and endless pursuit.
He looked at me as I was observing the reaction of the others to the sound of his mighty roar and as he ran towards me he said, “Armen, your middle name.” He put his paw upon my face and I smiled at him, “Yes, Aru, that is my middle name.”
“Why Leo? And not eagle or fish?” he laughed. I ran my hands through his mane, “It’s because of what you mean to me Aru."
"I always looked at you from a young age and I knew I was like you.”
He roared, “Yes, but why?”
“I could never be you because of those around me, they didn’t honor me like you do and the others as they do now. My people love me, my friends would die for me, and one day we will be knights and defend those who we love, and never be beat again.”
“Your name is not mine, Armen. It is yours. You have not only earned it in battle, you have discovered it as yourself.” He smiled. “But why Leo and not eagle or fish?”
“Aru.”
He roared again, “It is because you know yourself, Armen. You don't fly, nor do you hide underneath. You run ahead and attack your prey no matter the size, just like me. Now, stand up and stop sitting on that rock. We have no time to spare in these lessons, and your friends are hungry. Teach them how to eat rather than fight. The road is long ahead of us and your mother…”
“We have no time to eat, Aru. They are coming.”“You have nothing to fear, Armen. When the time comes, it is not they that will win and defeat them, it is you and only you. Their strength comes from you, in a weaker form, so it must be you that finds the win. The victory is yours and yours alone, and it will come through prayer, faith, and strength in battle. And the angels won't be here this time. Only one, and he is above us," said Aru as he tossed me off the rock. "Let's go and find something to eat. Your boys are dying."
“Armen, Yeriv is ready, what are we waiting for,” said Charbo as he held out his arm and guided my eyes towards the open forest.
The sound of a horse is the sound of an earthquake and the breath of his mouth is the breath of the living. His neigh is glory in battle and comfort at home.
His neigh was like the glory of the heavens as light shined forth through ruffling leaves due to the stomp of his feet towards me.
"We are no longer home. Let us go."
Charbo looked at me, "It's not them. Just be calm, he's excited because it's you. He's like this sometimes. It takes ages to know a horse, Armen, just like Aru."
Charbo is the loyalist of all. He does not fight, and he does not rule. With his holy hand outstretched, he could stop a war.
"How long did it take you, Charbo."
He remained quiet.
"An age and yet I will never know the bottom of the soul of a horse like Yeriv," said Charbo as he placed his satchel behind his back with all he needed for the coming weeks, bread and water for us, and only us.
"Call the men," I said. "Is that enough to eat?"
Charbo looked at me and said, "Knights, Armen, knights. We are men no longer."
Aru nodded in approval.
"There is plenty for all," said Charbo in peace.
I leaped upon Yeriv's back, and we began our travels across the woods.
"You always say that, and yet I always question whether there's enough."
"Is your will God's will?"
"Yes."
"Amen. Then, yes, it is enough, my son."
Արմէն Լեւոն Արտաշեսեան
Armen Leo Artashesian