A Frabjous Festival

Chapter One: The Plans Are Set

Mirana flitted about the throne room, a large grin on her face. She had awoken that morning with a most wonderfully fantabulous idea, and she couldn't wait to share the idea with her fellow Underlanders. She turned at the sound of footsteps, grinning widely at Mctwisp. "Is everyone here?"

The White Rabbit nodded. "Yes, Majesty. They are waiting to hear your Grand Announcement."

Mirana clapped her hands in glee. "Excellent!"

She glided out to the balcony, smiling down at the myriad citizens gathered below. They stared up at her, awaiting her announcement.

Stayne and Alannah stood just below the balcony. "I wonder what Mirana's going to say."

Alannah shrugged. "Who knows? It must be something important; though-she hardly ever makes Public Decrees."

Mirana held up her hands, and silence descended upon the muttering crowd. "My fellow Underlanders, it has been twenty years since the Frabjous Day!" The crowd cheered for several moments. After the cheering had died down, Mirana continued. "Therefore, I Decree that one week from now, there is to be a Festival! There will be dancing, music, crafts, and much mad fun!"

The crowd burst into loud applause at the Decree. Mirana laughed. "Any and all may participate! All of you have many wonderful skills, and this is the chance to showcase them! Dancers, painters, actors, crafters, cooks! It will be a Day to Remember!"

Alannah looked up at Stayne. "And one that we'll never forget."

He wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissing the top of her head. "Amen to that."

Tarrant and Alice clapped. Alice grinned, turning to her husband. "So, are you going to Futterwacken at the Fair?"

Tarrant laughed. "I just might, my dear. That is, if Josiah doesn't first. He's getting to be quite skilled at Futterwacking. Takes after me in that regard."

Josiah laughed. "Well, Da, why don't we have a contest? The winner gets to wear your Hat for an entire day."

Tarrant gave him a look of mock horror. "Not my good purple hat!"

Josiah nodded. "That's the one. I've tried it on before, and I think I look quite dashing in purple. Don't you agree, Mum?"

Alice guffawed in laughter at the look on Tarrant's face. "Josiah, you look marvelous in your father's Hat. I think the contest is a wonderful idea. But what about the loser?"

Josiah thought for a moment, and then grinned. "If I lose, I'll do the dinner dishes as well as the Tea Party dishes for an entire week. But if Da loses-he has to let Chessur wear his hat for one whole day."

Tarrant sputtered. "Let that mangy, flea bitten..."

"You called?" Chess appeared above Tarrant's head, grinning. "Now, why call me names, Tarrant?"

Josiah grinned. "Don't mind him, Chessur. He's just a bit shocked by something I told him. We're going to have a Futterwacken Contest during the Fair, and if Da loses he has to let you wear his Hat for a full day."

Chessur's grin grew wider, and he purred in satisfaction. "I must say, I do enjoy a good contest."

Tarrant glared at Chessur. "I'm sure. But I can promise that this is one contest I have no intention of losing!"

Alice gave him a look of exasperation. "If you do, I want you to promise me you'll relinquish your Hat with a minimum of fuss and bother."

Tarrant gawped at her. "But Alice…."

"No buts, Tarrant! Promise me."

Tarrant pouted. "Fine, I promise. If I should for some reason lose, I'll let Chessur wear my Hat without complaining."

Chessur purred in smug satisfaction, and then vanished briefly when an irate Tarrant threw a hatpin at him. "Well, I should be off! I'll look forward to wearing that lovely Hat of yours, Tarrant."

After he left, Tarrant turned to Alice, a dark pout on his face. "Do I have to let that confounded Cat wear my best Hat? Can't I just give him one of my rejects?"

Alice shook her head, trying to keep a straight face. "No. Besides, if you did that, you'd be breaking the promise to Josiah. Do you want that?"

Tarrant sighed, and then smiled at his son. "No, I wouldn't want that." He looked up at the balcony, shielding his eyes against the sun. "Looks like Mirana's gone back inside. Let's go find Ilosovic and Alannah. I feel like having a nice lunch in the Garden."

Alice beamed, linking her arm with his. "I think that sounds like a marvelous idea. We can all discuss what we plan to bring to the Fair. You go fetch the Staynes, and I'll go get my sister."

Twenty minutes later, the Stayne, Blanchard, and Hightopp clans were assembled in the Stayne's large garden. Three small tables were set up, and they were piled high with sandwiches, fruits, vegetables, cordials, and three pots of Tarrant's Rose Currant Tea. The conversation flowed smoothly, as it often does when old friends gather together.

Tarrant took a sip of rowanberry cordial, and then beamed at Victoria. "Lass, you are a wonderful Cordial Maker."

Victoria beamed in pride. "Thank you, Uncle Tarrant."

Tarrant smiled back. "You're most welcome. How are you enjoying working in your Mum's new shop?"

Alannah laughed. "She loves it. I picked the perfect Assistant-one that's willing to learn and actually knows what all the different flowers, herbs, and potions do!"

Alice grinned. "That's wonderful. And how do you like having your very own Shop?"

"I love it. Don't get me wrong, I still love being Court Physician, but I have to admit it's rather nice to administer my potions to people that are actually grateful. I may not get paid much-and some of my poorer customers pay how they can-but I get a great sense of satisfaction."

Stayne grinned at her. "You've got a good head for money, too."

Alannah laughed in acknowledgement, and then changed the subject. "So, what is everyone going to be bringing to the Fair?"

Arianna spoke first. "I've got a few dresses that I made. I'm going to try to sell them."

"I'm going to draw portraits of the Fair-Goers for a few coins," Katarina replied.

Victoria grinned. "I'm going to do a dance I learned."

Tarrant gave her a mock glare. "Not the Futterwacken, I hope."

Victoria giggled. "No, this is going to be a completely different dance."

Alannah laughed. "Well, we'll all look forward to seeing it. I'll bring along some of my more…passionate potions, and I might also sing."

Katarina grinned. "I'll sing with you, Mum. I found a song in the Library that I really liked."

There was a long silence, and then Stayne looked from his wife to his daughter. "Well, what are you two waiting for? An open invitation? Katarina, start singing. I'm sure your Mum will pick up the song as you go."

Katarina giggled. "Da, I meant we'd sing at the Fair. But if you really want to hear us…" There was a chorus of 'YES'! Katarina looked over at Alannah, who was grinning just as widely. "I guess it wouldn't hurt to give a private performance."

Alannah giggled. "I guess not. Katarina, if you would start."

"Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes
Blissfully astray.
Tra la! It's here!
That shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts
Merrily appear!"

Alannah laughed, and then continued, a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"It's May! It's May!
That gorgeous holiday
When ev'ry maiden prays that her lad
Will be a cad!
It's mad! It's gay!
A libelous display!
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May!"

Katarina took the next bit, grinning just as wickedly as her mother.

"Whence this fragrance wafting through the air?
What sweet feelings does its scent transmute?
Whence this perfume floating ev'rywhere?
Don't you know it's that dear forbidden fruit!
Tra la la la la! That dear forbidden fruit!
Tra la la la la!"

"Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That darling month when ev'ryone throws
Self-control away."

"It's time to do
A wretched thing or two,
And try to make each precious day
One you'll always rue!
It's May! It's May!
The month of "yes you may,"
The time for ev'ry frivolous whim,
Proper or "im."
It's wild! It's gay!
A blot in ev'ry way.
The birds and bees with all of their vast
Amorous past
Gaze at the human race aghast,

The lusty month of May!"

The two women finished the song together.

"Tra la! It's May!
The lusty month of May!
That lovely month when ev'ryone goes
Blissfully astray.
Tra la! It's here!
That shocking time of year
When tons of wicked little thoughts
Merrily appear.
It's May! It's May!
The month of great dismay.

When all the world is brimming with fun,
Wholesome or "un."
It's mad! It's gay!
A libelous display!
Those dreary vows that ev'ryone takes,
Ev'ryone breaks.
Ev'ryone makes divine mistakes
The lusty month of May!"

They finished to loud laughter and applause. Stayne gave his wife a wicked grin. "Quite the saucy song, love."

"Oh good, then it's perfect for the Fair."