[MR] Coronation, from a bardic perspective

[Claire V. Basney]

Esteemed Atlantians!

Though it is rare for me to send out a comment such as this, as a bard I
have difficulty keeping my mouth shut.  Therefore, I would like to give a
big VIVAT to each person who worked this weekend to make Spring Coronation
the great event I experienced, especially THL Collwen ferch Dafydd ab Ifan
(autocrat, AKA Lady Caroline).  I am particularly grateful to her for
encouraging bards and minstrels to perform at feast, and allowing my said
performance to take place in front of high table as somewhat of an
'occasion' to celebrate their majesties' coronation.  Deep gratitude also
to their majesties for commissioning a song from me for their coronation,
and graciously hearing it at feast when the massive and tempting courses
placed before them made it all but impossible to sit back and listen to a
longwinded bard.  : )

Thanks also to the good people of Seareach and the Stronghold of Raven's
Cove for all they did for the event--rarely was an activity in progress
without there being some representative of these working and/or overseeing
the success of said activity (I think especially of those serving at
feast: since I was circling the room at the same time, I could not help
but observe the numbers of Seareach servers making sure that needs were
met and everyone fed, and all with the utmost courtesy.  I know the
courtesy part because I occasionally trod on toes or bumped into full
platters, and nary a cross word did I receive.  Kudos!)

The ladies who put on the queen's tea provided an unforgettable spread,
and the lunch served as a Red Cross fundraiser was worthy and delicious!
Merchants provided wonderful wares, and though I could not personally
observe the fighting I know from what I heard at court that all those who
ran it and participated deserve much acclaim as well.

The A&S displays were lovely (and in many cases breathtaking) and it was a
pleasure to meet those judging and running them.  I especially liked the
displays of the children's crafts, from clay giants to little candles.
Gentles were encouraged to support those creative products and I was very
impressed by some of the evocativeness of the young people's work.  As
someone mentioned (at court, I believe), it would be a worthy thing to
encourage children's A&S activities at other events by setting aside a
table to display it when they are completed, and I agree.

The late night bardic circle was truly enjoyable, especially if you enjoy
hearing songs and stories, and telling them for their majesties and the
populace, by a picturesque fire (that constantly threatens to blind you or
cut off your wind with its picturesque smoke--sorry, whiny bard surfaced
for a moment--bad bard, get down! *smack*) and it was a great deal of fun
to watch gentles playing croquet and lawn games by the water.

Not least the weather god deserves our gratitude, for producing weather so
beautiful and yet so temperate for the fighters... just picture in your
mind's eye an evening court down by the water with the light of the
setting sun glorifying her majesty's garb and hair and glinting off the
gold leaf on scrolls held by the king--that's just the barest inkling of
the beauty of that day.

*whoo wheeze* Well the bard is running out of wind and voice (due in part
to much performing at coronation) and so I have but one more comment.  If
I didn't thank anyone by name who deserves to be thanked, my apologies but
I refer to my opening comment where EVERYONE got a vivat (and definitely
deserved).  Thank you all once again for a glorious event, and vivant to
their majesties Cuan and Padraigin!

In service to Atlantia and the Bardic Arts,
Lady Eleanor Percy

************************
Royal Bard of Atlantia
mka Claire V. Basney
StoryweaverCVB at hotmail.com
"A freelance is someone who is paid per word... per piece... or perhaps!"