In The Shadows of Greatness

I think my blog is becoming more of an SCA journal than anything else, but I think that's ok. A lot fo what I learn in life and about life comes from my SCA life.

But last weekend started with a few days before I left for Coronation. On Wendnesday, Billy, Liza, Mike, Sam and I got together for dinner and some games, and it's always such a good time when we're all together. I watched "Stick It" for the first time and enjoyed it, although after viewing, I wondered on whether the title actually referred to a gymnast's sticking a perfect landing, or perhaps, given the plot line, it referred to the gymnasts telling the unfair judges they could just Stick It...you know...

Thursday, nothing exciting happened, really, except that I went over to William of Glen Lyon's house so that he could show me how to pad my new helmet. We ate dinner together and watched the new episodes of CSI and Without A Trace. Good stuff with great people. If I'm not a squire by then, it will be very hard to decide if I want to be one to Will or to Caedmon. They're both incredible people, and I love them dearly.

Once I got to Coronation, I found that once again, someone had cancelled, so I filled their cabin and feast space...Thank God, because that night stormed something terrible. Caedmon was in the cabin with me, and we talked the good talks that camping buddies talk.
God bless, that site...it's the same site used for Gulf Wars, and I hate it. I mean, without the war, and a few extra thousand people, it seems like such a ghost town. The place is well-night desolate. I have pictures, if anyone's interested, though after I unpacked, I lost my camera and did not find it again until I packed up again, so unfortunately, I have no pics of the event itself. Go figure.

The next day was the day of William and Onora's Coronation, which meant that Uther and Kenna had to either step down or die...and a great and filling day it was!
As I've discussed earlier, they have Crusader personas, so they modeled their reign after that of the Leper King, Baldwin IV. In reference to "Kingdom of Heaven" Uther wore a gorgeous mask. After dozens of awards were given, the last order of business was to rward the Telemark household for various services they have performed.

In Gleann Abhann, we have a tradition when we want to praise someone, or to get the fighters' blood up before a battle. Someone will shout "ALL" and everyone responds with "HAIL!" This is traditionally done three times. Uther gave it once, and we responded. He gave it twice, and we shouted again...but he did not call a third time. All eyes turned to the great Ram Throne, where sat our king, slumped over. Mistress Brigit took his pulse, but shook her head. Uther, our beloved, glorious, shining example of everything a knight, and then a king, should be, had finally succumbed to his malady, and gone.
Queen Kenna took a moment and knelt before their children, then stood and addressed the populace. She gave a speech then, and I cannot recall it's entirety, but the gist of it was that the day we had all been long dreading had finally arrived. As badly as Uther wanted to stay with us, he could not, and she thought it fitting that he should leave so close to the fields of combat that he so loved. She asked his bodyguards to go and prepare him for his final journey. Ali, James the Holy, Dex, Sir Sa'ad, Dagan and I went outside and brought in the cot that had been laid there ahead of time. Dex and James laid him gently to rest, crossing his arms and feet (because he was a Crusader) and covered him with a white silken cloth. Queen Kenna then continued, saying that Uther was her rock, and that she could not govern the kingdom alone, but would spend the rest of her days in seclusion.
She went to her heirs and told them that they were strong enough to ascend to the thrones and lead the kingdom. She gave them each a token. To Onora, she gave the great red jewel brooch (referred to lovingly by the populace as "The Precious") called The Heart of the Ram, saying that this symbolized the heart of the people. You have their trust and their love. To William, she bestowed the Sword of State, telling him to protect his people. To this he solemnly swore. Finally, she called the kingdom seneschal, Master Erik, forward, saying that she would relinquish her crown "Is this what you want?" "I must." "As you wish," and he received her crown. At her words, we six took up the cot once more, carrying it out of the hall in absolute silence. I have never been more honored than to be one of those chosen to bear Uther from that hall, and yet, I also have never taken up a task so sadly.

But once we carried him out, that was the end of the tears. The rest of the day was spent in happy pastime as William and Onora formally took the thrones, being anointed by Father Gilbert of the Hospitallers and then accepting the Oaths of Fealty by their entourage, the general populace, the Royal Peers, the landed nobility and court barons and baronesses, and all the other Peers. Finally, they began their court proper, giving out several awards. The last order of business was to elevate Uther and Kenna to the status of count and countess (that's the way it works: serve as crown once, become count and countess; serve as crown twice or more, become duke and duchess). For those women who have served as Queen, they also have a special order called the Order of the Rose. Kenna was formally inducted into that.

After court, the only interesting thing for the rest of the day was the King's Champion Tournament. Since Uther had tweaked his elbow during Gulf Wars, he had to fight left-handed...but he STILL won!

Feast was fondue, and that was much fun, though there wasn't quite enough food, and the cheese just wouldn't stay melted. After that was the ball, which wasn't very long, but was also much fun! After that, everyone pretty much wandered from place to lace, not least of which was the Green Dragon, where most of the celebrating and merymaking was going on.

The next day, I packed and helped others pack. Uther and family and I were the last ones from Grey Niche to leave site. We had lunch together and spent some good time talking about the event. Once home, I helped them unpack and went home to unpack myself. This morning, I found my worst fears true: Every single time I go to that site, I come away with a sunburn, and this time, I have a cold. My nose and throat have gone completely wompy-jawed. Help me!

In retrospect, I find myself wishing I had done more...again. At the very least, I could have fought in the King's Champion tournament. I would have been terribly beaten, but I would have at least been able to say I had fought and now had the experience. Coronation is always our big Pomp and Circumstance, ceremonial event, along with Crown List. Great names and lots of people show up, and there is never a shortage of things to do, or people to serve. I must do better, next time. I will fight, and I will serve.

Incidentally, next time happens to be in Bartlett, two weeks from this past Saturday. There will be much archery, fighting, and live weapons. I'm going to have to do a LOT of practice!