Celebrations in Camelot
By Donna and ABS

Most of the men of the castle were busy doing various things, and the queen found herself with a little quiet time to herself. The Royal Physician, Giles, had come in to check her, and she had asked him to give his wife an invitation to join her for tea in her private quarters.

“I’ll certainly do that,” he said, but instead of his usually cheery self, he seemed moody. He hadn’t seemed that way five minutes earlier, so she had a feeling it had something to do with the invitation.

She had her servants set up the tea, and then gave them orders that she and the Lady Melissa were not to be disturbed. She then sat down in her favorite chair
with a piece of embroidery she was working on. Melissa arrived a few minutes later. Although she became pregnant in March, which meant she should have been due in December, Melissa looked about ready to give birth. Surely she did not have more than a month to go at the most!

The queen rose from her chair to give her a hug. "Here, my dear, sit in my chair, it is the most comfortable one!"

“Oh no, I am fine,” she said. And she was, at least physically. But it certainly did look as if something was troubling her. Or at least weighing heavily on her mind.

"Then let us have our tea," Guinevere said with a gentle smile. She waited until after she had served her guest a cup of hot herbal tea and they had begun to eat the fruit filled pastries. "Melissa, my dear, I hope you don't mind me asking this, but is something wrong?"

She twisted her dress, not touching her tea. Finally she said, “It’s about my baby. She won’t be . . . the same as other people. I guess you’ve noticed that the pregnancy is advancing quickly?”

"I am not blind," the queen chuckled. "And there has been talk of you carrying more than one child. So what, pray tell, could the matter be?"

“No, it is but one. But she will be . . . special. Like myself and my sisters. We did not come here from another world; this is our world. And we came not into being this way,” she indicated her belly. “Our father created us. Our mother is Edan herself.”

"Ahh, mayhap you are one of the wee folk then?" Guinevere asked. "I have heard tales that there are many types of peoples on this fair world of ours. From the Lords of the Darkness in that place, to angel-like creatures who appear out of nowhere to rescue the lost during the storm."

Melissa nodded. “We are a type of fae. Mostly born of water, though some of us came from the natural beauty of Edan. I was born a honeybee. But when I was born, it was in that form . . . not this. When Melina is born, she will want to fly. But she will
not be able to do it as a bee, before taking human form, such as I did. She will want to fly as the babe she is . . . and I daresay considering her father, I will not be able to contain her from doing so!” 

Guinevere covered her mouth in astonishment, her eyes wide. But after a moment, she started to laugh merrily! "I'm sorry, my dear. 'Tis a glimpse of a wee babe flying the halls of Camelot being desperately chased by all the knights and maidens, with your
husband in the lead, that has amused me so!"

“Tis the same vision that has me so glum, Milady! I would not disrupt your court for the world. But Melina – we call her Honey already and will continue to do so after her arrival – Melina is already quite feisty in my belly. She flutters far as much as she
kicks! But this human/fae reproduction is new to us, Fair Queen. I cannot say what will happen, and I appear to be the trail blazer, much to my chagrin.”

"Methinks the King will be just as amused by the thought as I am, so please do not worry so," she said, reaching out and squeezing Melissa's hand. "Honey. I like that name!"

“I hope so, Dear Queen. It is just that you now know, not only my secret, but all that I call sister. I can only say we held out as long as we could. Many are expecting little ones, such as I. I daresay the skies of Edan will be filled with our young before very
long, and it will be impossible thenceforth to hide what we are.”

"There are some things best revealed by the light of day," the queen said in a soft voice. "Flying children! Amazing! But somehow methinks the earthbound children will not think any evil of them at all for that ability. In fact, they would bemoan their own lack of wings!"

“Certainly no child of ours would mean anyone harm. That is not why we were put here.”

"Well, what ever the reason, we are glad to have you here!" Guinevere smiled. "It somehow makes this world complete!"

***

Meanwhile, outside the walls of Camelot, a wagon was being loaded with what had been salvaged from Rob Roy MacGregor's destroyed house. He had chosen a new place in Edan, and had returned to Camelot for one last occasion. All the others had chipped in, helping him get everything ready. Some of his stock had been rounded up, and he would be leading a milk cow, two goats and a pregnant mare back with him. A dozen chickens, and one lofty little rooster, complained from several cages. They would be going too. 

Once the work was done, it was announced that it was now time to give their friend a proper farewell. Apparently a large pot of mead had been brewed for the occasion.

All of the men from the Scottish Village were anxious to send their friend off well. There was some talk about getting women from Camelot, but MacGregor was so
smitten with the Campbell girl that they felt odd having women when he would be refusing their companionship. There was a sort of “bachelor party” feel to the gathering!

And party they did. The mead was good, but when they had drunk it all, several bottles of even more potent alcohol appeared from nowhere. Apparently one of the
men was doing some home brewing, trying to duplicate scotch whiskey.

That was lovely! Except that the combination of the two seemed to put them to sleep, right where they sat! Before the night was over, Connor and Duncan MacLeod, Warren Cochrane, William Wallace, Robin of Locksley, and Rob Roy MacGregor, were all stoned out of their minds, leaning against various trees and stumps!

Their snoring would have been loud enough to wake the dead, if there had been any near them. As it was, it attracted the attention of a certain archer, who went
and told her sisters what she had seen.

The Gem Girls giggled. “Oh Vonny,” they said. “What are you going to do?”

“Come with me,” said Yvonne. “I’ve got an idea. You girls are way too sweet and innocent!”

They followed her as she went back to the spot. Then, one by one, Yvonne lifted the mens’ kilts, showing her virginal sisters “the facts of life” first hand!

There was a lot of *ohhs and ahhs* from the girls, especially when with a slight touch of Yvonne's hand, the exposed members seem to spring to life! The men stirred in their sleep, but if anything, seemed to snore even louder. The girls wandered around, admiring the men's *weapons* and comparing the various lengths and widths of each one.

Yvonne giggled. “I’ve got an idea. Jewel, do you still have that silk ribbon? You know, the many colored strands?”

“Yes, I do. Do you want it?” 

“Very much!” Jewel flew to Camelot and was soon back with several beautiful silk ribbons. 

Once they had the ribbon, they awarded each man *prizes*, based on what they saw. None of them had anything to be ashamed of in that department, but there was one clear winner. All the rest had blue ribbons carefully tied around their upright shafts,
with tiny faerie charms attached to the ends of the bows. But for the *winner*, they prepared a very special award. His was wrapped in gold and silver ribbon, with a large disc in the center that Yvonne inscribed, “Grand Prize” upon! Then, giggling, the
women made their way back to the Castle. “We must come when they wake,” said Aurora. “We’ll hide, and see their reactions.”

The sun was just starting to rise when the first man started to stir. Connor MacLeod groaned and opened a bleary eye. He would have liked to have gone back to sleep, but his bladder was complaining. Being immortal did not spare him from that, nor from the pounding headache he had from all that he had drunk. He staggered to his feet and headed to some bushes to relieve himself. But as his hand closed upon his member, he came instantly awake. "What the...," he yelled, yanking his kilt completely open.

There was the little blue ribbon, with the faerie charm hanging from the end of it. Connor laughed, and then wondered if the other men had similar ribbons. Of course, seeing that his was *blue* he assumed he had won the contest!

Still chuckling, he went over and kicked the snoring Duncan, waking him up. "Get up, sleepy head! It appears we ha' night visitors. Check under yer kilt!" 

Duncan did as he was told, and his loud cry of astonishment caused the others to stir as well.

Connor was disappointed, however, to see that nearly all of them had blue ribbons. All but Robin of Locksley, and Rob Roy MacGregor. Robin, wearing tights and not a kilt, got a green ribbon with a piece of paper attached, saying “Honorable Mention”. And
MacGregor got the Grand Prize!

"I dinna know where y've been lad, but it's nice ta'see y'won first prize!" he chuckled.

“Ah,” said Duncan, a little annoyed at being the same as everyone else, “it were just done as a goin’ away giftie! They knew the party was fer ye, MacGregor!”

The sound of feminine giggles from the woods caused them to hurriedly cover themselves. "Even so," Rob Roy laughed. "But I am no’ one to turn down such an award, am I now?" Still laughing, he made his way back to the packed wagon to begin his journey back to Edan.