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The rest of the weekend
Nov. 10th, 2024 10:44 pm Our roadtrip to Kingdom University continued Thursday evening, rolling into early Friday morning, with us taking turns who got to nap in the back seat, who was driving, and who kept the driver awake.
After posting about the first part of the trip napped for almost 2 hours, and relinquished the back seat to Þórólfr, who had bven driving at 23:40 and moved to the passenger seat as Keldor took over driving. He drove 2.5 hours, and we stopped at a rest area to use the toilet, realised that none of us were really awake enough to take the next shift of driving, and that we would be on site 10 hours before it opened if we drove straight through.
Therefore Keldor and I lay down in the back seat and Þórólfr reclined a front seat, and we slept for nearly three hours. Having been the one to sleep most on the first half of the drive, I woke enough to be willing to continue driving at 05:30, and after a toilet visit we were on the road again at 05:44. Keldor didn't move when I got up, other than to shift to a more comfortable position for sleep, so Þórólfr kept me company for the next 2.5 hours that I drove, and we waited for the sun to come up so we could start the adventure part of the trip.
At 8:16 we reached our first runestone of the trip, and Keldor finally woke up, because runestone. From there we went from one runestone to the next, choosing them at random from the runestone map and skipping many more, till it was late enough to reasonably head to the event site. We visited:
• 8:16 Runsten Nastastenen, Nä34, L1981:9172, Rinkaby 5:1 i Örebro, Örebro
• 10:41 Runsten Vg6, L1963:7449, Fägre 9:1 i Töreboda, Västra Götaland
• 11:09 Runsten Vg3, L1963:9543, Bällefors 3:1 i Töreboda, Västra Götaland (this one is in the middle a of a farmer's field, and one shouldn't walk on the crops, so we didn't get close enough to see the runes, of if there is also art, but we could see it standing tall out there.
• 12:06 Runristning i gravkontext Vg93, L1961:3736, Rådene 6:2 i Skövde, Västra Götaland
• 13:15 L1961:9655 Stenkammargrav (this one isn't on the runestone map, nut we saw a sigh for it, so, of course we had to stop, and I looked it up to see what it was https://pub.raa.se/visa/objekt/lamning/c19c47d1-f5d2-4324-b8e6-1c5a9c59c5b1 )
• 14:02 Runsten Vg130, L1962:2548, Grolanda 19:1 i Falköping, Västra Götaland
Then the they both decided that it was time to head to a grocery store to get snacks and beverages for the event, which we did, and we arrived on site at about 16:00, only one hour before it was supposed to open. However, the event crew was so on top of things that they had already gotten gate set up, and signs on the rooms to say who was sleeping in which.
So we unloaded the car and Keldor made the bed while I did a short workout with the DownDog pliaties app set to boosts of glute strength and back strength, to make my hips forgive me for sitting so much during the journey (it worked, so far, it always does).
Then we got dressed, I put on my beautiful Norrskensbards cloak over my tunic, we grabbed our mugs, and our banners and we went up to the main hall. (Þórólfr, as the herald for the event was sleeping in the main hall, in one of the rooms near the royals, and he reported for duty pretty directly after our arrival).
We had a couple of pleasant hours to greet people, with hugs when they wanted them, before it was time to walk up the hill to the chapel for court. I sat in the very front row, because hearing impaired, and Keldor sat with me, because he loves me, though he is Swedish enough that he would prefer further back. However, as we were there others were willing to sit in the second row, so we had people close enough to talk to while we waited (I bet thst if we had taken row two, the others wouldn't have come closer than row three).
Court was fun, though it was a shame that the first several awards were for people not on site yet, so they had to be set asside for the next day's court. But I happily worked on my nålbindning and waited till the moment I knew was coming, and they called us laurels forward, to say that our numbers are not yet complete, and we brought forth the Honorable Lord Getulio d’Amalfi, who is a very good craftsperson that does deep dive research for all that he does. He has a 12th century craftsmen persona, and takes care to make everything right for his time and station. He was presented to the Crown, we briefly sung his praises, and their Majesties announced their intentions to give him overnight to contemplate accepting admission to our order.
Then Her Majesty asked us would this make our order complete? And we chorused "No!", and the herald called forth Viscount Gilliam Blackthorn, who had provided the home brewed beer for the vigil, as he knew that Getulio would be offered a laurel.
He was within my line of sight, so I got to see his jaw drop and an expression of total disbelief cross his face as his brain tried to process the information. He really looked like he was certain he had misheard, and it took a bit before he managed to start walking to the Crown, in disbelief.
With both candidates forward the traditional ceremony continued, letting them (and everyone present) know the seriousness of the offer they were to contemplate, how it is both an honour and a burden. Then the group split in two, and half of us escorted Getuilo to his vigil room, and the other half escorted Gilliam to his.
We let Getuilo know what to expect for the evening, and what decisions he would need to make before tomorrow's court. We didn't do a hand washing ceremony, as his "in case of peerage letter" had indicated that he didn't want one, but we assured him that, should he accept the Laurel, the ceremony would change how people react to/interact with him.
Then we left him in the room and we all went out to get on the list for individual visits with each candidate. This time they did a very good thing with the list. Instead of writing on paper i a notebook, and crossing off people as they go in, they had a stack of index cards, one for each candidate. People wrote their names on cards, and when it was their turn they were handed the card to give to the candidate, who could take notes about each conversation directly on the card.
This also made it easy to adjust the order if someone wasn't present when their turn came up.
Keldor and I went in together, so I wrote "Kareina and Keldor" on one card, and Keldor and Kareina" on the other. We went into Gilliam first, and he was still looking a bit shocked, and asked us both what we look for in a Laurel, and why he should be here. Keldor explained that it is important that an artist inspire others to want to create, and that Gilliam does this regularly. I said that word-fame in their art matters, and that even though I do not drink and have zero interest in alcohol, still I know that his brewing is renowned and loved throughout the Kingdom. We chatted a little longer, and then moved over to Getulio's room.
When last we saw Getulio, at Crown in Germany, he was selling off some old clothes he didn't wear anymore, and Keldor was selling knives. They got to talking, and Getulio said that he'd been looking for a smith to make a sewinf awl after a specific archaeological find, but it is a hard enough project that he hadn't found anyone to do it yet.
Keldor said he'd give it try, and we traded an awl to be delivered when next we meet for a couple pair of wool trousers, which we took home directly, and he sent us photos of the original. So, we greeted him with an "this isn't exactly a vigil gift", and handed over the double ended awl, which came out very well, and Getulio was pleased.
I tried staying up and talking with people after we finished talking with Getulio, but I was tired (getting up at 03:30 on Thursday, being busy till we started driving, then only napping for short stretches under the journey is the likely reason for that). So, after yawning my way through some conversations, I decided to head to bed.
Of course, as I started walking I passed Erick Dalkarl and another violinist playing some period dance tunes over near the campfire. So, of course, I had to stop and dance. I was the only dancer, but my invisible partners were exactly where they should be, and they played me at least six or eight dances before I decided I needed sleep even more than dancing.
I did manage a couple of minutes of yoga before crawling into bed at 23:05. Keldor crawled in at 05:00. I woke at 06:00 with my legs and hips aching, so I got up and did another 25 minutes of the pilates app, which really helped.
I went up to the hall at 07:30, and was delighted to see that they had already set out a lot of breakfast stuff, so I nibbled on some apple slices while I waited for the oatmeal to finish cookin, which didn't take long. Sadly, they had no butter, only some sort of margarine, so I had my porridge with only milk. It tasted good, but I missed the butter, because my mouth is convinced that everything is better with butter.
Just before 09:00 my cousin Carola arrived. She is actually the grand daughter of my great-grandfather's baby brother, but we just say cousin, as that is easier.
She lives not that far from the event, so when we booked I tried to convince her to book too. But she had a lot going on in life just then, and wasn't certain at that point if she'd be able to attend.
I forgot to check back in as the event got closer, until we were almost on site on Friday. Carola was busy Friday evening, but could drop by for a couple of hours to see me on Saturday morning, if that is ok?
So I asked the event steward, who said that was ok, and the plan was made.
So when she arrived I took her to my room and dressed her in my bliaut, which fit as well as I expected it to. She is a little taller, but just as skinny as I am. She even has the same size feet, so my 12th century shoes fit too. (Her mom wasn't kidding when she told me that I look just like her Carola when we first met in 2010, on my first visit to Finland.)
Then we we went up to the main hall and I introduced her to some people, till it was time for my class on Swedish steatie artefacts. Alas, other than Carola, no one was interested in my class, there being plenty of other interesting classes to choose from, but that meant I was able to give her a direct one on one conversation about my research, and we both enjoyed it.
Then there was an introduction to the SCA class, taught by Queen Isebetta, so I brought Carola to that. There were five new, or reasonably new people, and three of ua old timers, and lots of info about the SCA was given. I hope they enjoyed it.
Then there was a lunch pause. Carola, not having paid for the event, ate her own food, I half wished I had brought my own, as the vegetarian option was some sort of fake chicken breast thing that looked and tasted like dry chicken breast, plus the rice that everyone got. I love rice, but I wanted to eat something that looked and tasted like meat, I would eat meat. But I don't miss eating meat. So while I got plenty to eat, it felt a bit weird to feel like I was eating meat.
There was some raw cabbage available, of which I took a little, as that was the only vegetable available. I am quite happy to very occasionally add a little cabbage to a steamed vegetable dish, but raw and on its own? Not so interesting, but still better than no veg at all, and it did add a nice texture change to the rice and "chicken". There was also some sort of herbed vinegarett, which I am certain would have been a lovely addition to the dry fake chicken (or the moist real chicken most people got), but alas, I can't stand anything with vinegar in it, so I skipped that part.
After lunch Carola and I went to the class on how to Iron Age before the Vikings. The teacher, Matti, has clearly done a lot of research on this period, and took us on a whirlwind tour of many (all?) of the relavant archaeological finds for costuming for this period, showing the contrast between the Roman style baggy tunics (one size fits all at once) and the more fitted Germanic tunics, and did a compare and contrast of the various very different cuts of trousers. He had both photos and a pile of clothing to show different styles, as well as examples of feast gear for the period.
I would have liked it if he also had a hand out, or a slide show with the names of the finds he mentioned in writing, plus or minus links or citations to books or papers on them, in part because my hearing problem makes it easier when I can also see things in writing, and in case he knew of any sources I didn't already know (I think I already knew most of them). But he had so much info that it would have been a lot of extra work to also write it down.
I imagine that Carola, who had never done any costume research, had a very different experience with the class than I did, since for her it is all new, while I have made many of the styles he mentioned. But I think we nith enjoyed it.
After that class it was time for her to head home so I helped her out of my clothes; the really long, and very tight sleeves on my 12th century underdress being a challenge to remove when one is used to it, and much harder on one's first try.
After we said our goodbyes I went up to the main hall, where fika had been served and I ate more than my fair share of the yummy apple cake. Soon thereafter it was time for court.
This time some of those who hadn't been present on Friday were there to get their well deserved awards, but there were a few that were only read out, but need to be kept secret till the recipients get official notification. They also, as is tradition, called up the newcomers to welcome them, and then the children to thank them for coming. This time there were only two children, both babes in arms, who were wide awake and all eyes, watching everything. When we cheered them "For the future of Drachenwald!", it was a very quiet cheer, so as not to scare them/hurt their ears.
At long last it was time for the Laurel ceremonies. The speakers for Getulio were all people to travel extensively to events, as he lives in Germany, and has lived in a variety of other Kingdoms before. I have only met him a couple of times, so it was good to hear stories from folk who have known him longer.
The highlight of his talks was when King William stood up from the throne to speak from the heart. I checked my bag for the cloth napkin I had taken to breakfast and didn't use, but it had been taken out earlier in the day luckily one of the other Laurels had something he could dry his tears with. It is very unusual for the King himself to be one of the speakers for a candidate (I am not certain I have seen it before), but it added weight to his words.
The medalion made for Getulio is beautiful. Made by mistress Orianne, patterned after one of the enamels on the Coronation mantle of Roger of Sicily. Copper base, enamel, with silver under the laurel leaves, and gold plate over the visible copper bits.
But it was the "robed as befits his state" gift that I really wanted was the beautiful dark blue (my favourite colour) garnache, a sort of hooded tunic, with the Laurel wreath embroidered on the hood such that it is perfectly on display on his shoulders when the hood is down.
After Getulio's elevation they brought fourth Gilliam and started the Ceremony, which was promptly interrupted by Countess Beatrix, who wondered if the candidate was truly worthy? She called for witnesses to speak to his qualifications. "Is he chivalrous enough? I mean, sure he us a knight, but that was long ago..." to that Johan, Viscount Nordmark, weilding the sword of state from behind the throne, bade her be silent and then told the story of the day when he and Gilliam, both young squires, sat in the back of court and the knights were called forward, and they looked at one another, and realised they were the only two likely candidates in the room, so it would be one of them, and at the moment the hand came down on Johans shoulder to draw him forward for the acolade, Gilliam showed only joy on behalf of his friend, and no trace of the disappointment that may have accompanied that moment.
Beatrix conceeded the chivalry point, but what about service? "Sure he's a Pelican, but that wasn't exactly yesterday...". One at a time the Devil's advocate called for a speaker to defend Gilliam's fitness for the order, and Beatrix gradually came around to the wishes of the order on this point, and we all hoped that Gilliam himself was also being convinced, as he had never before yesterday's court imaged that a Laurel was in his future. So once the ceremony would to its climatic question "will you accept?" we all waited with bated breath...
He explained that he had contemplated the question all night, had heard many words of wisdom, and he still feels that there are many people more worthy than he... and then he said "yes" and there were sighs of relief and whoops of joy.
When they called for a medellion Duke Sven stepped forward and explained that it doesn't happen often that one is a member of three orders, and he was passing on his medalion which has a knight's belt around a laurel wreath around a Pelican.
As he went to put the medalion on he took off Gilliam's hat. The cute pointed hat that he usually wears. Once the medalion was in place they wrapped around his shoulders the Drachenwald Kingdom Laurel cloak, and then put on his head a new hat, in the same style, but this one decorated with a wreath of laurel around the brim.
Then court ended and we all went to the hall, where Keldor and I helped serve the feast. I shared high table with our youngest server, who may be somewhere in the vicinity of 15 years old. We bonded by meowing at one another and doing poking battles. It was fun.
After the third course of the feast his Majesty held the final court of the event, to thank the kitchen crew and event stewards then they presented the final award of the weekend to one of the event cooks, Druga, a Panache (arts award) for cooking.
After court I stepped up in my role as Norrskensbard, and performed my play about the Snaptunsten (the one which won me the title), and I was delighted to get a few compliments on it afterwards, so I guess a few people enjoyed it.
Soon thereafter dessert was served, and I was feeling tired, but I didn't really want to go to bed. So I gathered up my box of play props, and took down our banners and took them back to the room and did a little packing .
Then I did my yoga, brushed my teeth, and whet back to the hall, till around 01:00, when Keldor said he was heading to bed, so I joined him, and slept happily till my hips woke me demanding motion at 07:00. So I got up, did my morning workout, by which time the others in our room were also awake (I did the workout in the neatby empty classroom, so as not to disturb them), so we packed things up and went to breakfast.
Then we loaded the car and said some good byes, and started driving at 09:30. That was 13 hours ago, and we are now 20 minutes from home. So I will close this by saying that it was a delightful weekend, and I am glad we went
