❀ May Day Masquerade ❀

[ensorceler]

may day!


[ The castle grounds holding the gardens have been transformed into a spring party sensation. Tall banners carrying the Tudor rose have been arranged in a representation of a border surrounding the celebration and events, but there are no real walls or barriers. It might make guarding difficult for the few in her employ, but that's hardly Queen Anne's problem. Nobody will be kept away unless they arrive with no mask (or representation of a mask), and although it might be hard to tell considering it's a masquerade, there will be some people (not many) from the city who have decided tentatively to accept Anne's invitation, helping fill in the crowd.

The theater stage has been covered in flowers of all sorts, as are the four wooden thrones arranged in the center. Each seat is taken, a tie for both King and Queen making for double the fun! Robb and Lucrezia have dressed as Orion and Diana, while Zelos and Galadriel have chosen Odysseus and Penelope (with a little help). The tops of their heads have been left bare, at least for the opening ceremony.

In front of them stands Anne in her costume, and she waits for the crowd to quiet before she speaks. ]

Good citizens of Cair Paradisa and City Royale, you come here today to seek pleasure and company, and I have never seen a finer or more unique looking peoples. I know you may find it difficult to smile in the wake of such recent tragedy. All here have known loss, but we have not let it conquer us, have we? God is with us. Brave souls here risked the unknown to discover the cause, while other remained to help rebuild. I am fiercely proud to see such dedication to one another, and I can only hope such unity continues to blossom! The work on the city will continue, as will the rehabilitation of the survivors most affected by calamity.

But today we spread our arms wide and heartily welcome summer. Today we make merry and keep our loves close. Today we celebrate an unprecedented event, two Queens and Kings!

[ She turns and walks over to the thrones, where the ladies hold crowns of roses in their laps and the men crowns of wooden antlers. She names each as she settles the crowns atop their heads. ]

Queen Galadriel. King Zelos. Queen Lucrezia. King Robb.

[ In playful deference, Anne will lift her skirts and curtsy to the four of them when they stand to announce that the festivities begin! ]



{ Maypole Dance || Dance Floor || The Feast || Music & Donations || Maze & Wine Fountain || Bonfire }

Comments

[bronwe]

[ YES, YOU. Frodo is happy to oblige by raising his arm high for her comfort, even though he then starts hopping around her and starting another song: ]

There is an inn, a merry old inn, beneath an old grey hill,
And there they brew a beer so brown that the Man in the Moon himself came down one night to drink his fill!

[ensorceler]

[ She is giggling like a madwoman, slowly turning at first while he dances around her, before she feels more comfortable moving around the line of tables. Nobody was eating in this area, right? ]

[bronwe]

[ Look at his lovely company getting into the mood of the song! He sings a little louder next, and slightly faster, moving farther down the table with her and mimicking whatever the words say. ]

The ostler has a tipsy cat that plays a five-stringed fiddle;
And up and down he saws his bow, now squeaking high, now purring low, now sawing in the middle.

The landlord keeps a little dog that is mighty fond of jokes;
When there's good cheer among the guests, he cocks an ear at all the jests and laughs until he chokes.

They also keep a hornéd cow as proud as any queen;
But music turns her head like ale, and makes her wave her tufted tail and dance upon the green.

And O! the rows of silver dishes and the store of silver spoons!
For Sunday there's a special pair, and these they polish up with care on Saturday afternoons.

[ensorceler]

[ She is just going with the flow on this, careful they don't actually go where groups of people are eating. And she doesn't want to trip over a half-eaten roast pig or anything...not like she couldn't jump over it!

Getting in the rhythm of the dance means she can't help but get into the song as well, even if it's a little tame. ]

On Saturday afternoons?

[bronwe]

[ Frodo almost hops over someone's meal actually, but takes her cue and turns around to dance back toward the unoccupied part of the table. He stops his singing to reply: ]

Wednesday works too!

[ensorceler]

[ Cute! He's deft with those weird feet, she makes note of this. Drunk note, granted... ]

[bronwe]

[ Big feet are easier to balance on! He also wears no shoes, so the table surface may be a little soiled by now, not that he is sober enough to notice such details. He is even brash enough now to try and take her hand again and have her dance in a circle once he sings of the dish and the spoon.

She is certainly the spoon, at least that comes in silver. ]

The Man in the Moon was drinking deep,
and the cat began to wail;
A dish and a spoon on the table danced,
The cow in the garden madly pranced,
and the little dog chased his tail.

The Man in the Moon took another mug,
and then rolled beneath his chair;
And there he dozed and dreamed of ale,
Till in the sky the stars were pale,
and dawn was in the air.

Then the ostler said to his tipsy cat:
"The white horses of the moon,
They neigh and champ their silver bits;
But their master's been and drowned his wits,
and the Sun'll be rising soon!"

So the cat on his fiddle played hey-diddle-diddle,
a jig that would wake the dead:
He squeaked and sawed and quickened the tune,
While the landlord shook the Man in the Moon:
"It's after three!" he said.