Chapter 5 = = Answering Honor's Call = = 9:29
Teagan was having a glass of brandy with Bryce. "This time tomorrow, my son will be a knight. Wasn't it just yesterday that Aedan and Alistair decided they couldn't wait for winter and decided to get into a mud-ball fight? They were covered in so much mud that aside from Alistair being taller, it was difficult to tell them apart."
Bryce laughed. "Oh yes, I can still hear Nan yelling at them from the other side of the castle. She poured buckets of cold water over each of them until the worst of the mud was off before she sent them to bathe. Then there was the time they filched an entire wheel of cheese to see who could eat the most? I think they got a third of the way through the wheel before they were ill."
"Ah! According to Alistair, Aedan dared him to have one more bite, which he did and then promptly got sick all over himself and Aedan. Then they had a contest to see who could throw up the farthest. They were scamps, but no worse than I was at that age." Teagan smirked.
"Yes, didn't you tell me that you and your cousin were collectively named Trouble?"
~oOOo~
After he finished the ritual bath, Alistair dressed, now wearing white vestments and a red robe. White for purity, and red for nobility. I have wanted to be a knight for so long and now it's going to happen; this time tomorrow I will be a knight, an actual knight.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in."
It was his father and Ser Colum.
Teagan looked at his son in the vestments and robe and smiled. "Are you ready to go to the chapel for your vigil?"
Taking a deep breath and let it out, Alistair nodded. "Yes, I am. I really am."
Ser Colum grinned. "You are more than ready, Alistair." He gestured to the door "Shall we?"
Teagan and Colum escorted Alistair to the smaller of the two palace chapels. When they arrived, Alistair saw that the sword and shield that he would be given after he received his knighthood were on top of a small altar, which sat in the middle of a small platform. On the platform in front of the altar was a kneeling pillow.
Colum spoke, "Alistair of Rainesfere, Knight Candidate, you now begin your vigil. This vigil is a time for prayer and supplication, for self-reflection, and self-dedication. By custom, your vigil will end just after dawn then Bann Teagan and I arrive to take you to the main palace chapel."
With a nod to Ser Colum and his Father, Alistair he knelt before the altar.
A few candle marks past dawn, they returned and together–Father, Son, and Knight–went to the main palace chapel where Cailan and Anora sat in the royal seats. The sword and shield, which had been in the small chapel, were now on the main altar.
I expected to feel tired and sore but instead, I'm clear headed and invigorated, and very, very humble.
Teagan took in the other attendees. I knew that Loghain and Celia, and the Cousland family would be here. Eamon claimed to be suffering from Frost cough. But I didn't expect Wulf and Bryland. Nor Alfstana, Sigard, and McCarty, and what looks like half the southern Bannorn to be here.
Alistair sat with his father and Ser Colum in the front of the chapel for a chantry service and special sermon on becoming a knight.
After the sermon, the King and Queen were now seated on the thrones in front of the altar and the Revered Mother blessed the sword and shield. When Cailan and Anora stood, the Chancellor spoke. "Alistair of Rainesfere, candidate for knighthood, come forward and kneel before the King and Queen."
Once Alistair was on his knees before Anora and Cailan, Cailan grinned. "Alistair, you have been deemed by your peers as fit for this high estate and have indicated your willingness to accept honor from Our hands. Do you now swear by the Maker and the Blessed Andraste, his Bride, that you will honor and defend Rainesfere, the Crown, and the Kingdom of the Ferelden?"
Alistair, responded as instructed, "I will."
"That you will honor, defend, and protect all those weaker than yourself?"
"I will."
"That you will be courteous and honor your peers of the Chivalry?"
"I will."
"That you will conduct yourself in all matters as befits a Knight of the Realm, drawing your sword only for a just cause?"
"I will."
"That you will enshrine in your heart the noble ideals of Chivalry to the benefit of your own good name and the greater glory of Ferelden?"
"I will."
Cailan drew Maric's Blade and held it out in front of him, above Alistair. "Then having sworn these solemn oaths, know now that We, Calian and Anora, King and Queen of Ferelden, do dub you with King Maric's sword, and by the Maker and the Blessed Andraste, his Bride...
"Once for Honor
"Twice for Duty
"Thrice for Chivalry.
"Arise, Ser Alistair Theirin, Knight of the Realm." Cailan sheathed Maric's Blade.
Anora gestured to the shield being held by Ser Colum. "Accept this shield, symbolizing your oath to protect and to defend all those weaker than yourself."
The shield was handed to Alistair.
Ser Column took an amulet from around his neck and gave to Alistair. "Accept from my hands this amulet, passed from knight to knight, for each knight is a link in the honor of Fereldan. It symbolizes your fealty to Bann, Crown, and Kingdom. Take this amulet and so swear."
Grasping it with both hands, Alistair began, "This day do I, Alistair Theirin of Rainesfere render homage and fealty to my Sovereign Lord and Lady, Cailan and Anora, King and Queen of Ferelden and to Bann Teagan Guerrin of Rainesfere, who all will, from this day forward, be my Liege Lords and Lady.
"I will remain true in all ways, serving you faithfully. This do I swear, by my shield and my honor and by the high ideals which I hold as a Knight of this Realm. So, say I, Ser Alistair Theirin."
Cailan nodded. "We accept your homage and fealty and in return pledge to you that from this day forward until the end of Our Reign you are Our Liege man that We will honor your order and defend your rights as a Knight, and that We will protect the trust that you have placed in us, mighty with justice, tempered with mercy."
Teagan stepped forward with a sword handing it to Alistair hilt first. "Accept this sword, Honor's Call, which shall symbolize your prowess at arms. Remember well: that the sword of Chivalry should be drawn only in defense of the realm, or of those weaker than yourself. Carry it with care. Wield it with mercy and with honor."
The second Alistair held the sword he was filled with a sense of rightness. This is what I am meant to be.
Cailan said, "May this be the last blow you receive unanswered." He then delivered a sharp punch to Alistair's shoulder.
"Go now and greet your Peers!"
Bryce stood. "For Ser Alistair, Three Cheers!"
Everyone stood and cheered, "Hip Hip Huzzah! Hip Hip Huzzah! Hip Huzzah!"
After the grand feast that followed, Alistair and Teagan retired to guest rooms in the palace. Teagan looked at his son, and a tear came to his eye. Quickly wiping it away he said, "My son, I am so very proud of you, for what you've accomplished and what you will accomplish. I am truly blessed and humbled to be your foster father."
Alistair smiled. "I believe you can drop the foster. You are my father, and the only one I wish or need to have."
AN The knighting ceremony is head canon, informed by history, and by ceremonies in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA). Thank you for your reviews and thank you to my awesome Beta ElyssaCousland. Responding to review via PMs. Next chapter we meet Emmalynn.