Baroness Barbara Sterling tells the following story of a very special event

It was the fourteenth Masque of the Red Death, A.S. XLI.   Shire Blackwood had scheduled a wheel of death random heavy weapons tourney, Bocce and other games, the Court of HRM Mary-Grace, a fabulous feast and a wedding. 

The guessing game of Baroness Barbara Sterling had a marriage theme.  She noted during medieval times in Brittany a man proposed by leaving a Hawthorne branch at the door of his beloved on the first of May.  By allowing the branch to remain signified that she accepted his proposal.  To show it was rejected, the Hawthorne branch was replaced with a cauliflower.  All were asked to guess the number of Hawthorne berries in a small glass bottle. 

It had been the first weekend in May 2006 in the Shire of Blackmoor Keep when THLord John of Widcombe made his surprise proposal to THLady Anna Genevieve of Ancyra.  It was in the middle of TRM Radu and Broinnfinn’s court at Forest Maiden’s Favour II, with both sets of parents and a hundred or so close friends as witnesses.  Some people cried, some people cheered, and The Honorable Weather Maven, Morgana of the Mists called that it was about time.   There was neither Hawthorne nor cauliflower involved.  She did say yes.  Of course there was that bit with The Honorable Enfendi Sa’ad ibn Yuself al Hilal.  He protested their union as he had twice been Ancyra's champion for Coronet Lists and she had first worn HIS ring. But after some bartering, his agreement was bought for 20 Turkish Camels.

Now the first cool weather of the autumn brought pleasant temperatures as October’s days tallied twenty-one.  Sunrise found mist hanging at the water’s edge.   The leaves of only a few trees had begun to turn gold.  Just after the hour of two in the afternoon, as friends and family, clan and kinsman gathered to bear witness to the ceremony, a cloud moved across the sky loosing just enough raindrops to be acknowledged as a good and happy omen for the marriage.   Those gathered saw the Valhalla horn, known to have been used to rally Gleann Abhann’s forces at Gulf War XV, carried forth to the edge of the lake.  It was blown to call for the bride and sound her way.  From the opposite shore, not a horn of war, but a jeweled horn, representing courtesy, honor, and nobility responded.  And again a mist hung at the water’s edge, as a vessel emerged from behind a tree-lined point.

The boat, designed and built by the father of the bride, was adapted for a special purpose, to transport his daughter on the day of her wedding.  The very serviceable vessel that was originally constructed was plain.  And obviously, no ordinary boat would do for this special occasion. Changes were made.  Sturdy oars were fashioned to propel the boat across the water.  Spar and mast were carved and smoothed.  Ropes were strung and knotted.  A small, but adequate sail was rigged.  Blocks, documented as found on ancient Viking ships were replicated.  A locked chest was stowed in the stern to act as ballast.  But it was the wonderful carved Viking dragonhead and tail that set this boat apart.  It was called a Viking 'short' boat.

Standing before the mast was The Honorable Baroness Anna Genevieve of Ancyra.  She wore a dress and coat of an Italian Renaissance noblewoman in colors of cream with skirt and details of forest green.  Tiny green glass beads had been stitched with love and care to accent the diamond weave of sleeves and bodice.   Her long golden red hair fell loose and was crowned by a brass coronet, handcrafted by her groom.  Her blue eyes searched the shore for him.

As she was being rowed across the lake, some wondered if she was arriving from the Monastery of Brother Guido.    Many knew that the fine ram table that stands between the royal thrones was designed and constructed there.  And a monk had delivered the table, and it was a monk who plied the boat’s oars on this day.  And it was The Honorable Lady Barbara Sterling who had spoken for the Monastery that day and The Baroness Sterling is indeed the mother of the bride.

As Ancyra drew near, the beautiful voice of Lady Alina nic an Bhaird was heard as she sang an original song.  It was based on a 16th century romantic verse by an anonymous author. 

Above the landing stood The Honorable Lord John of Widcombe, awaiting his bride.  He wore a Cote-hardi, some called it a Turkish coat, of finely woven wool.  Its color was the darkest gray with the edge piped and banded in cream.  The liripipe mantle that covered his broad shoulders was also cream. Upon his feet were topless Mongol boots. His bare head allowed no shadow to hide his expressive and intense countenance. He watched as two good friends assisted in his bride’s safe arrival. Then The Honorable Lord John of Blackmoor Woods escorted his daughter to stand before the Duke Tar Radu who would perform the ceremony.  It was Sir Radu to whom the groom was squired and he began with these words:

Good my lord and ladies, on this day, ‘tis our most sacred purpose that we should be witnesses to the exchange of love’s Holy Vows betwixt The Honorable Lord Jon of Widcombe and Baroness Anna Genevieve of Ancyra.  For ‘tis their sacred agreement that they would, one with the other, live their lives in union as husband and wife.  Such a union is a most blessed state, for marriage is as perfect as it is difficult.  This holy alliance shall be entered into with gravity for the sake of sharing life’s joys and burdens with harmony.  For it shall no longer be said that Jon or Ancyra taketh on the pleasures, cares, prosperity or woe of life; aye, it shall now be said that THEY take these portions.  All that life offers shall belong to them both.  If there be misfortune, they shall share of it: if there be great prosperity, they shall share of that also.  For ‘tis God’s provision that man and woman should cling, one to the other, to offer comfort in all of life’s estates.

And to these estates, what does the groom’s family bring?

Olivia and Gary of the house of Whittom stood for John.  They brought 500 golden confection coins to stock the larders, 25 sheep and 4 rams to stock the fields, and casks of the Miller’s Ale to toast the union.  They paid tribute to the Crown and the Church. 

And what does the bride’s family bring?

The bride’s family pledged an estate on the river with fertile lands for crops and livestock, and from the vineyards of that estate, they brought wine to toast the union, and the vessel on which their daughter arrived, with the fine eunuch to row them.   They also paid tribute to the Crown and the Church.  But wait, there was more.  The ballast box from the boat was summoned.  Placed before the bride, it was unlocked so she could open and view the contents.  There, to her surprise, she found bobbles (jewels) she had played with as a child and true coin of the realm.  And the sound of large coins striking others could be heard as she ran her fingers through the weighty contents of the box.  (2001 fifty-cent pieces) Just the exact ballast weight needed for the voyage.

Perhaps we will never know the real story or the whole story but I was told that the monk who rowed the boat was not really a eunuch.  The rumor could have been spread to assure the bride’s chastity did not come into question.   The brother’s vow of silence was evident for all to witness.

The Duke continued the ceremony saying, Jon, you may place the ring on her finger, then pray look upon the countenance of thy bride and take thine oath of her.

And the groom did speak; I give to you this jeweled ring. (places ring on finger)

Ancyra, on this day doth life for me begins anew, for gone hence and voided are mine ancient ways. Now on thy favour, all that I would be and do is writ forevermore as thy councils say.

Hear, then, o my love, my pledge of truth to thee. Take all myself, my being, my heart, my store, without, within, throughout all eternity. This life, till death, unto thee I give it o’er.

Where’er thou art, where’er thou goest, my sword is thine come poverty or wealth.

All others are forsaken, ‘tis thee I do hold close to my bosom in sickness or in health.

Now with this kiss into thy heart is pressed, my pledge, that thou art flesh of mine own flesh.

(Groom kisses bride’s hand)  Now am I entered into the wedded state, Now am I thy lawful mate.

The time for the bride’s vows had come.  And the Duke did say, Ancyra, you may place the ring on his finger, then pray look upon the countenance of thy groom and take thine oath of him.

And as the bride did hold a ring of precious metal of a size so large that a US quarter could pass, she spoke these words. I give to you this one ring.  (places ring on finger)

Jon, on this day doth life for me begins anew, for gone hence and voided are mine ancient ways.

Now on thy favour, all that I would be and do is writ forevermore as thy pronouncings say.

Hear, then, o my love, my pledge of truth to thee. Take all myself, my being, my heart, my store, without, within, throughout all eternity. This life, till death, unto thee I give it o’er.

Where’er thou art, where’er thou goest, my honour is thine come poverty or wealth.  All others are forsaken, tis thee I do hold Close to my bosom in sickness or in health. Now with this kiss into thy heart is pressed, my pledge, that thou art flesh of mine own flesh. (Bride kisses groom’s lips)

Now am I entered into the wedded life, Now am I thy lawful wife.

All this was closely noted by Barbara Sterling, Gleann Abhann Historian

The site of this event is the exceptionally well-appointed group camp at Jimmie Davis State Park on Caney Lake, near Chatham, Louisiana.  Four modern dorms have a covered walkway almost completely around each.  A common room facing the lake has couches, TV, microwave and wood burning fireplace.  Each guest room has two bunks being four beds, individual room climate control, hanging space and a mirror doors open into an interior hall as well as to the outside. There are a men’s and a women’s room with two toilets, two sinks, two showers and one handicap tub and shower.  The hall has a covered entry and back porch, wonderfully appointed modern kitchen, restrooms, adequate size great room with good tables and chairs.

We do not fight melees at this site, nor is it suited for grand lists.  There is no field for fighting but a grass-covered area off the back porch is adequate for one on one combat.  And who needs a large or level area for the evening Bocce game by Sa’ad’s Rules.  This year it was broken into two games and was progressive as teams traveled around several buildings through bubbles, a thick fog and various hazards and penalties.  There was a prize for the winning team and young Gabriel Bacon’s face was one of great surprise and delight as he was awarded a bocce ball game of his very own as the most enthusiastic player. Gabriel is the son of Grimbaldus and Bethany Bacon who received court baronies during evening court.

Lord Arthur and Aline Lucas, newly arrived from Caid, volunteered to assist Lady Rebecca MacGilverny with children’s activities.  In evening court they awarded Bri Lancaster a scroll for winning a plague rat quest.  Yes, it was Masque of the Red Death.  Thank you Shire of Blackwood, Kingdom of Gleann Abhann.

Barbara Sterling

Gleann Abhann Historian