By THLaird Colyne Stewart
No one can predict where fate will steer
you. As a boy, labouring for my father as he collected taxes and counted money,
I never dreamed my life would turn out as it did. That I would one day leave
behind the realm of money and comfort for the hard life of the battle field. My
father disinherited me when me found out I was to become a soldier for King
David II, and true to his word, he and I are dead to each other. I'll admit,
some of the accusations he threw at me were true: that I was a foolish youth,
with a head full of tales of glory. However, I also felt the need to fight
against the English, and to drive them from Scotland .
I dreamed of glory and honour.
What I found was death and destruction.
Life as a soldier for a war-king on the
move was harsh and miserable. Sleeping exposed to the elements, rain soaking
your blanket (if you were lucky enough to have one), food scarce. I had few
friends in the army, as most resented me for my more affluent past. I did make
one friend—a highlander—who tried to teach me the bardic arts. As supportive as
he was, even he winced when I tried to sing. He also tried to teach me Gaelic,
but in that I also failed.
At Neville’s Cross, we encountered the
English forces. King David II was captured; my highland friend—and many
others—were killed. Some of us managed to escape, but now found ourselves
hunted criminals. In desperation we became a band of gallowglass—
mercenaries—and we sold our services to
the highest bidder. With this company I fought in Ireland
and France .
Finally, some of us found our way to Ealdormere.
For so long I had had nothing to fight
for but money. But here...here there were glorious and honourable knights who
led by example, who shone with courtesy both on and off the field. Wiping the
mud from my brow I watched them in tournaments and felt something begin to beat
again in my heart. I followed these knights to war, fought beside them on the
fields of Pennsic, drank with them at their camps.
Now, three years after coming to these
lands to escape the Black Death, I have found new life.
One of the knights whom I admired so
much, had agreed to take me on as a squire. This knight I saw as a paragon of
virtue, a bright star amongst a glowing constellation of Ealdormere's chivalry.
And what was more, he was also from Scotland .
At the Coronation of Berus II and Marion
II we agreed to publicly announce our new arrangement. That day also seemed so
far off, but finally, it was upon us.
In the weeks leading up to the event, my
lady spent many long hours tailoring new clothes for me to wear. With the help
of our friend Mahault van der Eych, she created a complete set of court garb,
such as would be seen in the high courts of Europe ,
complete from hood to leather shoes. It was a remarkable change from the
peasant’s clothing I usually wore. As well, she laboured over fires and benches
and produced two belts, adorned with acorns and stars, with pewter cast buckles
and belt ends. For our friend Mahault, and her husband Berend, were also to be
made squires at Coronation—to Duke Sir Finnvarr de Taahe.
(You may ask what I was doing all this
time? As Thorfinna was so occupied, the responsibilities of maintaining our
keep fell completely to me. I still think I got off easy.)
Upon the morning of Coronation, we set
out from the keep of Sir Evander MacLachlan and THL Melusine de la Rose.
Together we traveled to Skraeling Althing to the grand hall where Berus II and
Marion II were to be crowned later that day. We arrived just before court was
to begin, and we quickly changed. I received many compliments on the clothing
Thorfinna had crafted. I was very proud of the work she had done.
Court was called, and Their Majesties
Cennedi and Susanna took the dais. They presented many awards, prominent among
them in my mind being William Meriic made a Lord, Evander's presentation of a
King's Favour, Erick of Longacres and Tesla de Chardon made a Baron and
Baroness of the Court, and of course, Baroness Eleanor Cadfan elevated into the
Order of the Pelican. Their Majesties then agreed that suitable Heirs to the
throne had been found, and that by the oath given at Their coronation, this
meant they must now lay aside the crowns. They did so, leaving them and the
thrones in the care of the Order of Chivalry.
Marion II then swept regally into the
room, followed by four of her sons, and their uncle Lord Etienne du Naval. She
confronted the Order of Chivalry, pressed her claim on the throne, and told
them that they stood between Her and something that was Hers. The knights
quickly made way as Marion
approached the throne. She laid a crown upon Her own brow, and was recognized
as Her Dread Majesty. A rabble (comprised of many Galbraiths saying
"Rabble, rabble") then walked by, with Berus II walking with them. He
stopped shocked at seeing His lady wife crowned upon the dais and approached
her to ask what transpired. She explained to Him that she had claimed the
throne, and that Her need of him was no more. Like a spurned lovesick puppy,
Berus turned to go, but Their sons raised such a ruckus that Marion II called
Her husband back to Her side, and acknowledged that She could not reign without
Him. He then kneeled and She placed the crown upon his head.
When court was suspended until the
evening, the fighters headed for a bridge that had been erected in the hall.
(This bridge was to become known as Dame Eleanor's bridge, upon Lord Baldric's
suggestion, in honour of Her Excellency.) However, before the battle commenced,
Sir Finnvarr called together those who wished to witness the squiring of Berend
and Mahault van der Eych. They gave their oath of fealty and were presented
with the belts Thorfinna had crafted for them. They were also presented with
tools with which to take care of their steeds (brushes, etc) and a length of
fabric.
A long battle then ensued as thirty
fighters took turn upon the bridge to face opponent after opponent. It was a
long process, and in the end, Lord Baldric was the last to stand upon the
bridge, though Sir Nigel MacFarlane had the longest run of victories.
At the end of the bridge battle, Evander
called for witnesses to my own squiring. He asked if it was still my intention
to become his squire, and I affirmed that it was. He then presented me with
several pieces of regalia. He said that as a squire, it was my duty to ride
with him as battle, and therefore he would give me spurs. The spurs given me
were crafted by Lord Verenko (my squire-brother), and they were exact
duplicates of Evander's (though silver instead of gold). The chain placed about
my neck was crafted by Lord Brandt das Lederwerker (another squire-brother). I
knew that a belt had been commissioned for me, but I also knew that its
construction had been delayed by a fire, so I was not sure if I would receive
one at the ceremony. However, my friends surprised me when Evander pulled out a
beautiful belt crafted by Berend, Mahault and Brandt. The belt incorporated my
oath to Evander (fealty, sword in battle, counsel), as well as elements of my
heraldry (a fox) and Evander's (a castle). After my lady had placed it about my
waist I knelt, clasped Evander's sword, and swore my oath to him. He then swore
an oath to me. At this point, my eldest squire-brother, Tiberius Justus
Britannicus, pulled a mount from his belt and gave it to me as a gift. He also
told everyone present that I was currently challenging into the White Bear
Fian, which is a Septentrian fighting order. (To enter you must defeat a member
in a best two out of three trial of arms. You could keep challenging until you
succeeded. I had already fought on challenge at Septentria's 25th Anniversary
Event, against Baron Konrad Matthias Jaeger von Dubrau, which I had lost.)
Tiberius took a knife and cut the belt end from his belt. He presented me with
it, saying he would not replace it until I had successfully entered the Fian,
as he knew I someday would.
I was very moved by all of this, and
generally just kind of stood their grinning like a fool.
I am truly blessed to have friends—and
now family—such as this.
The fighting then moved out of doors, but
I only fought two individuals before managing to throw out my back. Rushing
inside, I collapsed to the floor, where Baldric and Baroness Freya immediately
appeared as if by magic. As Baldric quickly removed my kit, Freya toweled my
back and had a cloak spread on the ground for me to lie upon. She gave me
instructions on exercises to do to relieve the pain, and I am pleased to say
that they worked. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both of them
for their kind attention.
Feast was a glorious affair, though the
hall was crowded. I enjoyed most of the dishes, especially the final desert.
During feast, many songs were sung and stories told, and Houses Hrogn and
Galbraith presented our new Monarchs with many, many, MANY gifts for them to
use during Their reign.
At feast's conclusion Berus II and Marion
II continued Their court, and created Cennedi and Susanna as a Count and
Countess of Ealdormere. Susanna was also made a Lady of the Rose. This was all
met with a standing ovation.
Truly, for many reasons, it will be a day
that lives long in this ex-mercenary's memory.
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