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We Have Not Lost
by Lord Colin of Tighan
Being A Story of the Kingdom
that was introduced in "Finding the Dream"(1)
The phone rang twice before the King picked up. "Hello?"
Lord Seneschal's voice. "Your Majesty, I have gotten in touch with my
counterpart down where the storm hit. There is good news: it looks like
all of their people are alive and well."
The King took a deep breath. "That's good to hear! Now...what's the bad
news?"
Lord Seneschal told him.
---
Mommy was watching the news, a lump in her throat. Little Girl walked
in, carrying her Fox and Geese board and stones.
"Mommy?"
Mommy turned, "Yes, Little Girl? Are you OK?"
Little Girl held out her board. "I heard them say they lost
everything. Do you think the Baron would be mad at me if I gave
them my Fox and Geese? I have lots of toys, they don't have any
now."
Mommy's vision grew blurry, and she hugged Little Girl fiercely. "The
Baron would be very, very proud of you." (2)
---
The Duke was on the phone as well. "We're glad you're OK! Yes, we were
all very worried about you. Look...we have room for all of you.
No, I mean it! You'd be so much better off up here for a
while. Don't worry about that, we have it covered! I'll
come down and meet you, we can come back up together. Where shall
we meet?"
The Duchess smiled sadly, and hefted her overnight bag. "Ask what
they need right now, dear," she called. "We can pick it up on the
way." She snapped her fingers. "GPS. Where did we put that
thing...no telling what we'll find when we get there...."
---
Mistress Laurel brushed her hair out of her eyes for what seemed the
hundredth time as MiLord set another box on her sorting table.
"Thank you, MiLord." She began sorting and packing once again.
Absently putting her hand down on the next item in line, she nearly
jumped out of her skin.
"Excuse me! I need another can opener, not a claymore!"
Squire piped up from his corner of the room. "I opened a can of Pork
and Beans with a claymore, once!"
Mistress Laurel gave him a Look.
"No, really! It was at Pennsic, just after the Woods Battle. I
was *starving*, and all I had was this can of pork
and beans, and no can opener. So, I grabbed the sword, and I--"
Mistress Laurel just laughed. "Yes, dear, I'm sure you did. Your
Excellency! Do you have an extra can opener in your stack over there?"
"Coming right up!"
---
Master Pelican was at the wheel of the huge pickup, hauling a trailer
full of supplies down to one of the Baronies that had been hardest
hit. New Person was just stirring behind him, and Sir Knight was
slumped against the passenger door, snoring. The three of them
had taken turns driving, determined to bring relief to their SCA
brothers and sisters as quickly as humanly possible. When he
reached the top of the hill, he jerked, and then quickly pulled to the
side of the road and stopped, his hands clenching the wheel until his
knuckles turned white.
"Oh, no...," New Person breathed from the cramped rear seat.
Master Pelican just nodded, and then he reached over and gently shook
his fellow Peer awake.
"Huh? Wha--?"
"Sir Knight, I think you should see this."
Sir Knight rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then stared out the window
at the scene before them. His jaw clenched, and his throat worked
a few times. Finally, he found his voice.
"Well, gentlemen. We seem to have found the right place.
Let's get moving."
---
Court was a solemn affair that weekend. The people took their
seats without the usual cheerful banter, and even Herald's voice was
quieter than normal as he called for the populace to rise and make way.
Once the people were given leave to sit, the King stood. His eyes full
of tears, he addressed the room.
"So much has been lost. Homes, possessions, jobs. Our
family has lost no lives, but other families are not so blessed this
day. We have lost so very, very much. But there is one
thing that I see we have not lost, and for that, I am thankful to you
all."
"We have not lost the Dream."
--September 11, 2005. (3)
(1) This story is another in what I sometimes call my "MiLord" stories,
which started with "Finding the Dream". Others include "The Tale
of the Knight's Boots" and "The Baron". They are set in a fictional
world, in a fictional Kingdom of the SCA--and I hasten to point out,
this story deals with a fictional Disaster, but I am sure you know what
inspired me. The style of the stories is somewhat inspired by
"EveryMan"--which I read far too many years ago. I may write more--or
not. I am but the servant of a fickle Muse. She's been bothering me
about this one for most of a week now--I fear I have been ignoring her.
(2) We have never met the Baron, and we never will. He passed away
shortly before the events chronicled in the story named for him.
The Fox and Geese game had been a gift from him to Little Girl.
(3) I dedicate this story to everyone in the SCA who stepped up and
said, "I want to help" in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Thank
you. You are the Dream.
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