The Story of Tum Teav
King heard about Tum and Pich
Meanwhile, a King and many of his wives lived happily in the Royal Palace of Longvek. The King heard the news about Tum being an excellent reciter of Smoat and about Pich as an outstanding musician in the Thbaung Khmum district. So he ordered a decree asking a Palace official and servants to go and bring Tum and Pich to the palace. The official went to Lord Oar Choun’s residence and asked him to summon Tum and Pich, on order of the King. Lord Oar Choun brought Tum and Pich to the official who told them to prepare themselves to travel to the Royal Palace to meet the King. Tum told Teav on that night that the King had ordered him to appear before Him. Teav was saddened by the news, knowing that she will be alone again. She prepared the clothing and supplies for Tum for his trip. She asked Tum not to forget her and to come back and to take her to the palace one day; Tum agreed.
The next day, Tum and Pich were on the way to the city of Longvek, but first he went to his native village of Baphnom. While traveling, Tum was feeling very sad. He could not stop thinking about Teav. When he saw two birds sitting side by side on a tree branch, he fantasized that the birds were just like him and Teav, happily together. When he smelled the flowers on the pathway, he thought it was the smell of Teav. He looked up at the sky above and saw a cloud blown away by a wind—just like the wind blew him away from Teav. When he heard the birds sing, he imagined that it was Teav talking to him.
They arrived at Baphnom. There, he told his mother that his reputation as a good Smoat reciter with a beautiful voice, and Pich’s reputation as a very talented musician had reached the King who had now ordered him to move to the city to become His personal entertainers. Tum’s mother was very happy with the news and gave Tum and Pich some good advice. She told them to be diligent and prudent on all matters and not to fool around. Tum thanked his mother and said goodbye to her. He and Pich went on to pay a visit to their former teacher, the Abbot at the Buddhist temple where they stayed when they were monks. He reiterated the good news about him and Pich to the Abbot. The Abbot told Tum and Pich that they must serve the King wholeheartedly, be prudent and not interfere with royal affairs, stay away from the young women at the palace otherwise the King will punish them. He told them not to sneak into the Royal Palace on their own, not to flirt with the Queen because it is a serious offense which could cost them their lives. Tum and Pich thanked, said farewell to the Abbot, and then went to a port where a boat was waiting to carry them to the palace. On the boat, Tum’s heart ached for Teav. When he saw fish swimming around the boat, he daydreamed that he and Teav were swimming happily together.
Likewise, at the village of Po Cheung Khal, Teav was feeling very distressed. She could not sleep. She could not eat or drink. She looked ill. Noh was worried about the well-being of her mistress and tried to comfort her as best as she could. She told Teav that sooner or later Tum will come back. This made Teav feel slightly better.
Tum gets new title
Once they got to the city, the King’s official sent a messenger to the Royal Palace informing the King that Tum and Pich were now in the city. The King told his servants to organize a concert-like event in which Tum and Pich will perform. The event was spectacular. The King and Queen, surrounded by their beautiful entourage, were eager to hear Tum sing. When the performance was over, the King was very happy. He said that He knew from the start that Tum and Pich would not disappoint Him. He liked Tum so much that He asked Tum to stay in the city and granted him an official rank of Meun Ek. With this title, Tum had the privilege of coming in and out of the Royal Palace at all times, similarly to other Royal officials. He would serve the King as His personal entertainer. Tum received this rank with some sadness, because he knew that now, he could not go back to Teav, at least for a while.