Rick ([info]shaharazad) wrote in [info]ferstaal,
@ 2005-12-28 23:02:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Main Hall, The King's Ball, After the Procession
There is a fanafare of trumpets and the assembled guests rise as the King enters. He is alone, a black sash a symbol of the mourning for his beloved queen even though the formal time of mourning has long passed. It is a sign that the King will not be dancing tonight. There is only one dance partner for him, and she is gone from his reach.

Still, his stride is strong and his head high. He looks in good health for a man of his advanced years, and that brings relieved smiles to the faces of many of the nobles.

He takes his place at his seat and a second fanfare announces the arrival of the Crown Prince and his escort, First Sister Talavaria. It's an unusual choice, and there is some jostling of position as ladies try to get a look at the First Sister. Most have never seen her in anything but ceremonial robes.

As the Crown Prince takes his place, the King raises a cup and gives his formal welcome.

"Dear travellers, my hearty thanks for your company this good night. I welcome you, one and all, yourselves, your kinfolk and staff. My family welcomes you, and I am told to give word that my home is your home for the season and I hope you find yourselves never in want."

The King smiles and gives a quick word of acknowledgement to each of the noble families, in the order of entry, then gives a general welcome to the other guests.

"And I am certain that good Spackle has arranged for some fine entertainment this evening, but first... Normally I would be straining my eyes over to the guest table in the back there to see if the First Acolyte was ready to bless our meal. Tonight, I find her considerably more accessable thanks to the excellent tastes of my son, Tor. First Sister, I ask as I always do, that you raise our thoughts to the spirits for a moment before our thoughts descend once more to what is obviously on the minds of everyone here: The matter of when we get to eat! So a blessing, First Sister, if the Spirits be willing that our revelry begin."

(Post a new comment)


[info]em_grace
2005-12-29 04:34 am UTC (link)
Emily blinked in surprise as the king entered, then squinted a bit to make sure she was seeing right.

Yes, she was certain- that was him! The old man that she'd spoken to in the chapel had been the king, and she hadn't even known.

Once over the initial surprise of that, she smiled fondly, glad that this nation had a king that was willing to walk among his subjects and greet them without pretense.

(Reply to this)


[info]first_sister
2005-12-29 04:52 am UTC (link)
The First Sister rose to her feet, smiling at the crowd, hoping the flush that had risen to her cheeks at the King's kind words was less than it felt.

She raised her hands in the gesture of blessing, and began the prayer in solemn tones, but with a slight smile, her voice running fluidly over the sacred words.

"May the Spirits be present here among us as we lift our lives to them. May they watch over us on this and every night. We sanctify ourselves to them, receiving their blessings in honor and gratitude."

Talavaria let her hands drift down to her sides, and sat down once more.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]ivan23
2005-12-29 07:39 pm UTC (link)
Lord Stagg kept his head bowed. The First Sister knew he was no great friend to the Church - despite the family motto, "By the Will of the Spirits," Anselm Stagg had more than once dismissed their calls or complaints against his heavy-handed treatment of rebels.

Why, then, this sudden show of piety? Either it was false, or the very sea had shifted in its currents; for the man she knew would scarecely have his head inclined for the greatest and most powerful rituals - much less extra prayer before a single ball.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]ferstaalians
2005-12-30 02:50 am UTC (link)
Spackle bowed his head too, and in his case it was quite sincere. Well, as sincere as a Fool could possibly be. When the First Sister finished and sat, Spackle paused for the appropriate amount of time - which was two seconds after the silence had succumbed to the first soft whispers, and two seconds before anyone else dared to speak a word at conversational volume.

He jerked his head up with a mighty jingle and stood, perching on the narrow pedestal corner for a mere moment before leaping into an airborne somersault and landing...

*whew* on his feet.



"Ladies," he began, bowing in all directions, "Lords, Your Royal Majesty, may I take this opportunity to introduce myself: I am Spackle, the Fool, and though it's neither requirement nor rule, I expect you expect a satire. So I will oblige, with... my lyre."

He held out his hand and the remaining minstrels, still tucked away in the alcove, scrambled to locate Spackle's instrument and figure out what to do with it. Finally a teenage boy in a cream-and-brown costume one size too big for him dared to dash out and give it to him. Spackle remained frozen in place the whole time, grinning patiently, and only allowed for a momentary angry glare as the boy sheepishly slunk away.

"Right," Spackle continued, "the lyre. Lyres are quite common, as you well know. Take a trip to the marketplace and you'll find them hanging around in most every stall. If you have a bit of money, all manner of lyres will be available to you. There are fine, smooth lyres, battered and bumpy lyres, lyres with slivers and sharp edges, lyres wearing intricate patterns and designs. There are lyres that sing like nightingales and lyres that twang. There are old, worn-out lyres and lyres that have never felt the touch of a man's fingers... and lyres that only look untouched by a man's fingers.

"You may often find a lyre in the home of a merchant or a craftsman, for those with wares to sell often enjoy a good tune. In a trader's home you may find a lyre from foreign shores, which produces haunting, exotic notes. Lyres especially may be found in the homes of scholars and scribes, knowledge-brokers, those who breathe an air of sophistication. A well-groomed lyre is a thing of beauty, admired by everyone. Every House must have one, or two or three or four. A lyre in the stables; in the garden; at the door! A lyre in the chambers of the Lordship and his wife! Living with a lyre... lets you love a lyre for life."

Spackle swung his lyre into position and began to strum a jaunty little tune.

"I had a little lady
she was lovely as could be;
she liked my little lyre
and said, 'Can you play for me?'
I sang to her sweet nothings
and how it pleased her so
She hugged my wooden instrument
and hardly let me go!"

Six more verses later and Spackle wrapped it up. He'd actually composed 11 verses, but the rest could be saved for a later performance. For now, he had some spotlight-sharing to do.

When he straightened up from his bow, he announced in his emcee voice, "And now, my esteemed audience, may I proudly and humbly introduce you to a fine and lovely - and quite talented, too, I assure you - instrumentalist, Emily Grace!"

And he sidled off the performance floor to relinquish it to her.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]shaharazad
2005-12-30 02:05 pm UTC (link)
The King applauded heartily before turning and noting to his son, "Here at Autumn court, you'll likely find lyres in every guest house, though I dare say not so many as in the winter when the Parlaiment in in session! Now those are men that love their song and dance!"

Amused by his own humor, the King drained his mug of ale and looked to the performance area.

"Now this lass... Well, let's say I'm looking forward to her performance. I've a good feeling about this one."

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]em_grace
2005-12-30 06:04 pm UTC (link)
Emily stepped forward, and bowed graciously to the king and all present before begining.

She chose a haunting tune, Sanctus, reverent but with an undertone of darkness, like the approach of winter itself.

Though she was silent as the swan, her facial expressions changed with the mood of the music, becoming an accompaniment on a level perhaps even deeper than a voice would have been.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]milena_pax
2006-01-01 06:27 am UTC (link)
Milena had been mostly uninterested in whatever had happened before. Functions such as these bored her. She had done whatever was customary for a woman of her standing to do, then just watched everything while her mind wandered elsewhere.

That was, until she saw this young girl playing some sort of haunting tune. It captured her attention, as nothing else had in a long time.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]ivan23
2006-01-03 08:28 pm UTC (link)
Stagg marked the young lady's fixed attention, filing it away in his mind for the future. The Lady Milena had some spark - something which spoke to her. Whether it was the tune or the harpist remained to be seen, but it should not be so very difficult to ascertain.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]shaharazad
2006-01-02 04:11 am UTC (link)
The assembled crowd cheer as Emily finishes her song. The response seems genuinely positive and the King gives her a smile as he applauds.

The end of her performance singnals the beginning of the first course, and servers quickly enter bearing steamed vegetables with melted cheese sauce, and bread toasted with garlic butter.

As Emily returns to her place, she spots the two brothers from House Joffa, seated at a table far from the King, giving her a look considerably less gracious than the rest of the audience as they whisper to each other.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]em_grace
2006-01-03 04:01 am UTC (link)
Emily barely noticed the Joffa boys, she was too busy thinking about what a kind soul the king seemed to be. Maybe this was part of why she'd felt called here to Ferstaal - to entertain this nice ruler and the good people of his court.

Maybe there was a particular reason that he needed entertaining, and some good cheer. She had heard that his wife had died, after all. Perhaps having a good time this season would help him over the loss (well, as much as one ever got over such things). To go on living, for his own good and the good of his people.

Emily thought about how awful it must be, knowing that you'd never see the one you love again in this world. She knew what the ache of missing someone dear was like, and imagined that magnified a hundred fold. She vowed then to do her very best entertaining this season, spirits willing.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…