Amber and James have loved music from an early age. Now they get to go to one of their first knighting ceremonies, which will include a party, and of course, music! The knights will even learn that someone in the room likes music as much as Sir Maxwell! And of course this takes place before the events of The Silent Knight, where everyone hears Sir Bartelby speak. And even though Sir Bartelby doesn't speak or sing, that doesn't stop him from having fun with the knights. Thanks to Sofia2017planning for helping with the story. Celtic Thunder's music is not mine.
"Roland, it was nice of you to let the children see the knighting ceremony," Melinda smiled as she and Roland carried three-year-old Amber and James out to the parade grounds. "I know they're a little young yet, but I'll be there to watch them."
"Yes, I know they'll be on their best behavior," Roland agreed. "But at least they have their little friends to keep them occupied if they get bored." He smiled at the carved wooden swan Amber was holding, and the carved wooden bear James held. Melinda's father, Grampy Clifton, had made them for the children for their third birthday, and they enjoyed playing with the little figurines, along with the mouse and horse they had gotten from him last year. They had wanted to bring their plush friends Duchess Kitty and Prince Blizzard, but Melinda had advised against it, saying that they might get lost or dirty. The cat and tiger were currently in Amber's room, as Amber put it, having a tea party.
"We be good!" Amber smiled.
"Yeah!" James agreed.
Melinda smiled. "I know you'll be good, you two."
"And I took the liberty of bringing your other little carved friends," Roland added, reaching into his pocket and handing James his horse and giving Amber her mouse. "I'm sure all your animals will get along very well together."
"Yeah! We tell Dutch-ess Kitty and Prince Bliz-zard 'bout the knights too!" James agreed.
"Okay!" Amber giggled.
"That's a wonderful idea," Melinda smiled. "I'll bet they'll be excited to hear all about this!"
Soon, it came time for the ceremony to begin. Melinda took Amber and James on her lap as Sir Bartelby, whom everyone called the Silent Knight, led the procession. Behind him were Sir Finnegan, Sir Eric, and Sir Maxwell. At the end of the line was the man to be knighted, Alfred.
Amber and James tried to be quiet as the knights passed, but they couldn't help but giggle as Alfred gave them a bow as he passed.
"He's nice," Amber whispered.
"He knight now?" James whispered.
"Yes, Amber, he's very nice, and no, James, he's not a knight yet," Melinda whispered. "First, Daddy has to make a speech, then have him kneel, then he touches his shoulders with his sword, then when he stands up again, then he's a knight."
"Okay, Mommy, but Daddy talks too long," Amber pouted a little.
"I know, sweetheart, but this is all part of the ceremony," Melinda chuckled. "But don't worry, there's going to be a party later on for him, and everyone's coming."
"We come too?" James asked.
"Of course," Melinda smiled. "You and Amber took your naps earlier, so you'll be able to stay up for the party."
"It be fun?" Amber asked.
"Oh, yes, it will be fun," Roland smiled. He turned to Amber with a mock frown. "But Amber, what do you mean by 'Daddy talks too long?'"
"I love you, Daddy," Amber smiled sweetly as she kissed his hand and James giggled beside her.
"I can never stay mad at you when you do that," Roland smirked, mussing their hair.
"Oh, you two," Melinda chuckled. "But Roland, you don't want to keep Alfred waiting any more than he already has to! Go make him a knight!" She grinned as Roland went up to Alfred and began the ceremony. "But Amber, James, getting back to the party, Daddy's right; it well be fun. You two are going to love it!"
As they tried to listen to what their daddy was saying to the man, Amber and James hugged their little wooden friends. They looked up as Melinda motioned for them look at Roland, and Amber and James smiled as he touched his sword to Alfred's shoulders and named him Sir Alfred.
Sir Alfred rose and gave the children a bow as he heard them giggle as the rest of the crowd cheered.
"He knight now?" Amber asked.
"That's right, Amber, he's a knight now," Melinda smiled as they heard all the knights, including Sir Alfred, recite the Code of Chivalry. Since Sir Bartelby didn't talk, he mimed what he was saying while Sir Maxwell translated his movements.
"Amber, James, you two did very well," Roland smiled as he came over.
"Party now?" James asked.
"In a little bit, my little party animal," Melinda smiled. "There are a lot of people here who want to congratulate Sir Alfred, including his family. There's going to be a special dinner for the guests first, then there's the party."
"Yummy!" Amber smiled.
"Okay!" James smiled. He sang to himself, "La-la-la!"
"You're absolutely right, James, there will be music," Melinda grinned. "Even the knights requested some of their favorite songs!"
"What songs they like?" Amber asked.
"Oh, all kinds," Melinda smiled. "But the type I'd really like to hear would have to be one of those jigs that Sir Finnegan and Sir Maxwell like."
"Ah, yes," Roland smiled, "Sir Finnegan has Irish ancestry, and Sir Maxwell's birth kingdom, Orillia, is a northern kingdom, but some of the founders' families had Irish ancestry as well. Sometimes they'd get together and lead the knights and squires in an Irish jig or two."
"You too?" Amber asked.
"Oh, yes," Roland smiled. "Your aunt Tilly, Grand Mum, and I loved that. When your mother first heard that, she couldn't stop dancing all night!"
"What can I say, Roland?" Melinda chuckled, "When I hear something I like, I can't help but dance to it!"
"Don't I know it," Roland chuckled, "I know you like dancing, Melinda, but you know we won't be dancing all night tonight; we have Amber and James with us at the party too, and you know how active they are!"
"I know, but Amber likes dancing as much as I do, and you know that when James hears music, he's going to sing!" Melinda grinned, giving Amber a little twirl, and mussing James' hair.
"I know that too," Roland grinned. "And as long as we keep an eye on them, I think they'll be all right."
"I love dance!" Amber smiled.
"La-la-la!" James sang as he hugged her.
"I know you love dancing, Amber, and you're right too, James; the music's going to be wonderful," Roland smiled, recalling how he'd often see Amber twirling around as James sang his little songs, and Melinda would twirl around the floor with them. He even remembered how Cedric had shot his sparkles in the air as they danced, and how everyone had loved it.
"Cet-trick come make his sparkles at the party?" James asked, seeing him smile and heard him muttering something that sounded like 'Cedric's sparkles...'.
"Will Cedric come and make his sparkles...?" Roland repeated, but he smiled and shook his head. "No, he said he was going to be working on a new potion during the party, and he didn't want to be disturbed. But perhaps tomorrow we'll tell him about what went on."
"Okay!" James smiled.
"Okay!" Amber giggled.
"Okay," Melinda smiled, "now come on; it's time to party!"
After everyone had finished dinner, the musicians began the party by playing a few songs.
Amber and James were dancing around with a few of the guests, when Roland and Melinda intercepted them. "Having fun, you two?" Roland smiled, tossing James up.
"Yeah!" James giggled as Roland caught him.
"Good! And it's going to get even more fun," Melinda smiled, spinning Amber around, "The knights are going to sing too!"
"Yay!" Amber smiled.
"What they sing?" James asked.
Roland smiled. "Well, there's only one way to find out!"
Sir Maxwell smiled as he and the knights took the stage. Everyone knew that Sir Bartelby didn't talk or sing, but that didn't stop him from having fun with his knight friends.
Sir Finnegan smiled beside him. This was one of his favorite tunes, but he whispered to Sir Alfred, "Lead off, Sir Alfred!"
"You mean it?" Sir Alfred asked.
"It's your night!" Sir Finnegan smiled.
"All right, I will!" Sir Alfred smiled as their song started.
The knights still started the song together, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
When the song started, Melinda smiled when she saw Amber start dancing. However, she made sure Amber stayed by the side of the dance floor so the grown-ups wouldn't step on her.
At the same time, Sir Alfred began singing, 'Twas in the merry month of May, from me home I started
Left the girls of Tuam nearly broken-hearted
Saluted father dear, kissed me darlin' mother
Drank a pint of beer, me grief and tears to smother
Then off to reap the corn, leave where I was born
Cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins
Bought a pair of brogues rattling o'er the bogs
And fright'ning all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
"La-la-la!" James joined in the song.
"You like this song, don't you, James?" Roland smiled, catching him before he bumped into another dancing couple.
"One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!" James joined in the chorus.
"I'll take that as a yes!" Roland chuckled. "But try to stay over here where you can't get stepped on!"
"Okay!" James smiled. "One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!"
Hearing James join them, the knights grinned as they started the chorus, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
Sir Finnegan started the next verse, In Mullingar that night I rested limbs so weary
Started by daylight next morning blithe and early
Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinking
That's a Paddy's cure whenever he's on for drinking
See the lassies smile, laughing all the while
At me curious style, 'twould set your heart a bubblin'
Asked if I hired, wages I required
'Til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
"One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!" James echoed.
Roland smiled. "That's our boy!"
"Well, he does know what he likes," Melinda grinned, doing a little skipping dance with Amber.
Even the knights were enjoying seeing Amber and James dance around. "May we, your majesties?" Sir Eric asked, motioning toward James and Amber.
"Of course," Melinda smiled.
"Go ahead," Roland agreed.
Sir Eric and Sir Bartelby scooped up Amber and James and danced around the room with them as well as they continued the song.
The knights did the chorus together, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
As he danced with Amber, Sir Eric sang, In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity
To be soon deprived a view of that fine city
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality
Me bundle it was stole, in a neat locality
Something crossed me mind, when I looked behind
No bundle could I find on me stick a wobblin'
Inquiring for the rogue, they said me Connaught brogue
Wasn't much in vogue on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
As Amber giggled as Sir Bartelby danced with her, Sir Finnegan smiled as he heard James sing, "One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!"
"You'll make a fine knight one day, lad," Sir Finnegan smiled. "We all like this song too!"
Sir Eric nodded. "Yes, he will make a fine knight."
"We'll see when he's older, Sir Eric," Queen Melinda smiled. "But for now, let's let him sing with you."
"He certainly does enjoy that, my queen," Sir Maxwell smiled.
"La-la-la!" Amber giggled as she danced around with James.
"One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!" James sang as they were twirled around.
At the same time, the knights sang together, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
Sir Maxwell took the next verse, From there I got away, me spirits never falling
Landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing
Captain at me roared, said that no room had he
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for Paddy
Down among the pigs, I played some bonnie rigs
Danced some hearty jigs, the water round me bubbling
When off Holyhead, I wished meself was dead
Or better for instead on the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
Hearing Amber sing with James, Sir Eric smiled. "It seems like both of them love to sing with us!"
"Indeed they do," Roland smiled.
The knights tossed Amber and James up as they sang, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
Sir Alfred took the next verse, The boys of Liverpool, when we safely landed
Called meself a fool, I could no longer stand it
The blood began to boil, temper I was losing
Poor old Erin's Isle they began abusing
"Hurrah me soul" says I, Shillelagh I let fly
Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobble in
With a load "Hurray" joined in the affray
We quietly cleared the way for the rocky road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five
"La-la-la!" Amber sang as Sir Bartelby handed her to Roland.
"One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!" James sang as Sir Finnegan gave him to Melinda.
"That's my boy," Melinda smiled as she blew James and Amber a kiss, "And that's my girl too!"
"I think James might have found a new verse for his 'la-la-la' song too," Roland joked.
"Or at least for he sings this song," Melinda smiled.
At the same time, the knights finished the song together, Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
Hunt the Hare and turn her down the rocky road
And all the way to Dublin, whack follol de rah
"La-la-la!" Amber sang with them.
"One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!" James sang as everyone applauded.
"So precious," Roland and Melinda heard a woman's voice behind them.
"Wasn't that just darling?" another woman smiled.
"Thank you!" Roland smiled. "I'm sure the children thank you too!"
"Thank you!" Amber giggled.
"Thank you!" James smiled.
"And just think," Melinda continued, "Soon we might have two singing knights around the castle!"
"That's right," Sir Eric smirked, "Nobody loves singing as much as Sir Maxwell!"
"I'd be honored to sing with him, my lady," Sir Maxwell smiled. "Perhaps he'd even let me give him voice lessons when he's older?"
"I think he'd love that," Roland smiled.
"Yes he would!" Melinda grinned.
"La-la-la!" Amber sang.
"One-two-free-four-five! La-la-la!" James sang back.
