 August 19-20, A.S. XIII (1978) | ||||||||||
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Officers
Crown Tourney Shire Champion and Stolen Souls Shire of Cwm Maethlon Newsletters
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Four fire-chariots of Shirefolk travelled to witness the Crown Tourney to determine King Johann's successor, which was held August 19 and 20, A.S. XIII, near Colorado City, CO. First to arrive was Albrecht von Heldenkreis, his lady wife Anna, and their two young ones. Then, at 3 a.m., a caravan consisting of "Hastle Castle" and "Dragon Wagon" pulled in. Lady Jerilyn, Aislinn, Katlin, Zelph, Lady Rhonwen, Lord Gallowglass, Lady Ferelith and Lord Charles all set about a hurried setting up of pavilions and getting some sleep.
As day dawned on Saturday, all hurried to visit the famous Shrine of the Swirling Waters of St. John and its attendant Hot Showers. That morning Hold Tyte's fire-chariot arrived, bearing Sir Robert, Lady Leah, Squire Michael and Lady Genevieve. In Processional before Opening Court the Shire made quite a showing, especially when several of the Ladies went up with the same Hertz Rent-a-Lord (Russell of Barbarossa). At Court, Sir Nicholas de Kane was made a Court Baron by King Johann. One of the Shire's Godmothers, Baroness Judith de Beaumont, received the Order of the Queen's Grace, and another of our Godmothers, Lady Kathleen Caslean an Bharraigh, received the Order of the Light of Atenveldt. Sir Robert was made part of the Princess' Guard.
The day continued with challenge matches and melees. There were so many challenges that the heralds and list mistresses almost went crazy running a "Two Ring Circus" until they got it all straightened out. As the evening wore on, a King's Chorus practice was held, with many people attending. Then everyone started changing clothes to get ready for the feast. The feast began with an excellent belly-dancing exhibition and throughout the meal other entertainers came forward to delight royalty and other folk alike. The feast, of fish pies, "Bar-bek," and peach cobbler was excellent. After the banquet was a "Comely Limbs" contest, which autocrat Sir Nicholas asked his "darling daughters" of Hastle Castle to judge, to their embarassment. The next morning began the day of the Lists. At opening Court another of the Shire's Godparents, Lord Mark Lasie of Westminster, was made Principality Herald. After court everyone started setting up for the fighting. The Lists went by smoothly. Sir Robert and Lord Charles were two of the nearly 20 fighters in the Lists. By late afternoon only three men were left: Sir Robert de Spencer, Sir Heinrich der Jäger, and Sir Jonathan de Laufyson. They fought a Round Robin match to determine which would become the new King. The shirefolk, of course, were very nervous watching these last fights. Sir Jonathan eventually triumphed over Robert and Heinrich and at Closing Court was acknowledged as Aten's Crown Prince and his lady, Mistress Willow de Wisp, as Crown Princess. Also at Closing Court we finally got the lamp and scroll to our Godmother, Lady Kathleen. After Court the shirefolk "scrambled" to get ready to leave. Actually, it took three hours to take down camp and get ready to go, because people kept coming to say "goodbye." Hastle Castle's new defender, Master Gunwaldt, was kept busy defending the Ladies from Peeping Toms, Kidnappers, and other Knaves. (Also, there was a War declared. . . .) Finally, we all got off. Hastle Castle, Hold Tyte, and Dragon Wagon travelled in Caravan. That was either jinx or salvation, for it wasn't too long before Hold Tyte's trailer tire blew up. Sadly, the other two fire-chariots set off without the Hold Tyte folks. They travelled over the mountain, and about 20 miles outside Grand Junction Dragon Wagon's trailer tire nearly came off. So the caravan ground to a halt 'til morning. Come morning, those with urgent need took the car into Grand Junction, leaving Gallowglass, Rhonwen, Katlin and Charles to watch the trailer. Not very much later along came Hold Tyte! They instantly recognized the rest of the caravan (who'd miss a green laundry basket?) who were fencing at the side of the highway. (Between traffic and a several-hundred-foot dropoff. . . .) For several hours the folk sat at the side of the highway on blankets, singing and nearly causing accidents. Finally the other trailer was fixed and the caravan resumed. Everyone did make it home, and no one was fired from their jobs, so all ended (fairly) happy!
Submitted this 7th day of September A.S. XIII by From The Questing Quill, Vol. II Issue IX, September, A.S. XIII | |||||||||
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Meistres Rhonwen welcomes others who were there in the early days adding their reminiscences--after over 25 years, her memory is a bit faulty, and much information has disappeared in the fog. E-mail her at [email protected]. | ||||||||||