[Bordermarch] The Newest Lion

Lathrop, Dave Dave.Lathrop at valero.com
Thu Feb 1 10:14:58 PST 2007


  
The Newest Lion
 
      The Great Rock Wall that wards the eastern canyon side in the
village of Castleton had been asleep for countless millennia before the
canyon finally filled with water to form a crystal lake. Wind driven
rain had taken a heavy toll on the Wall, forming cracks and crevices
that would eventually fill with soil and vegetation. 
 
   In its slumber, the Wall never perceived the frogs emerging to claim
the shores of the lake as their home, or the fish when they first broke
the surface of the water to grab at abundant colonies of flying insects.
The silent sentinel never stirred when massive oaks thrust roots as hard
as iron into its base, forcing pieces of the Wall to splinter like
shattered glass. The Wall was waiting for something, something or
someone worthy of its attention, only then would its voice be heard.
 
    As time moved on humans arrived and settled in the shadow of the
Great Rock Wall. There they found the crystal lake alive with fish, and
the land abundant with game. The humans prospered and grew into a large
village, they named the village Castleton. 
 
    It was the end of Their Royal Majesties Aaron and Britta MacGregor's
rein as King and Queen of Ansteorra, when the Great Wall became restless
in its deep sleep. 
 
     Their Majesties were saying farewells to the crowd gathered before
the Wall when King Aaron MacGregor held his hand aloft and a silence
fell over all of Castleton. He called forth a Knight, a Knight of honor
and virtue. This Knight called forth had loyally served the Kingdom of
Ansteorra from its beginning, nigh thirty years ago. As the Knight fell
to his knees before his King and Queen, the Great Rock Wall struggled to
climb from the dark depths of sleep that had maintained its grip for
eons.
 
    Their Royal Majesties gently placed Their hands on this humble
Knights shoulders, and the Great Wall trembled, for it was awake, the
wait was over and its voice would be heard! 
 
"Sir Simonn of Amber Isle,
 We Aaron and Britta MacGregor, King and Queen of Ansteorra, bestow upon
you for your unfailing devotion and duty to our Kingdom the title of
 Lion of Ansteorra!"
 
     The tears from Sir Simonn's eyes falling ever so softly to wet the
soft grass carpet he knelt on brought forth from the people of
Castleton, and all the welcomed visitors present that momentous day, a
single unified shouted name, "Simonn!". The Great Wall embraced the
shouted word as it caressed it surface. It drew the word into its
fissures and danced with "Simonn", for the Wall knew it could never hold
the word. 
 
     The Great Rock Wall gave "Simonn" back to the people, but not
before it had amplified and gave it a magical resonance. "Simonn!"
emerged from the Wall as powerful as any word ever spoken. It flowed
through the people, across the crystal lake, and faded into the distant
hills of Bryn Gwlad. Over and over and over "Simonn!" was shouted to the
Wall, and the Wall always gave back more than it received. 
 
I was present that day shouting at the Great Wall when Bordermarch's
very own Triple Peer, Count Sir Simonn of Amber Isle, received the
prestige's and long overdue honor of becoming Ansteorra's Newest Lion.
 
 
A Chronicle of:
Lord Santiago, OSTB
Guardian of Green Mountain Keep



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