Chapter 9
Sir Gillium accepted the Gold Trophy, from the hosting monarch, King Roland, for Royal Prep, Miss Makin accepted the Silver Trophy for the Dunwiddie Village School, and Captain Sir Elderson accepted the Bronze Trophy for the Junior Knights Academy. Then Sir Gillium was asked to say a few words.
"Thank you, your Majesty. And I would like to thank all of the athletes who participated in this historic event! The Quad School Games could not exist without your will, training, and devotion to your respective schools. I especially want to thank King Roland for inviting, and Miss Makin for accepting the invitation for the Dunwiddie Village School, to join in the Quad School Games.
"I want to thank all of the Royal Prep participants specifically, for their performance in this historic event.
"As many of you know, Royal Prep prepared with the Dunwiddie Village School for these games. The camaraderie, willingness to learn and friendship between these two schools will last longer than the trophies and ribbons won today. I would also like to extend my congratulations to the Dunwiddie Village School for earning the Silver Trophy in their inaugural Quad School Games appearance. Well done. And I would also like to congratulate the Junior Knights Academy for winning the Bronze Trophy.
"This event also reinforced ideals I should have known and practiced, but for some reason I suppressed. Dunwiddie students had never flown flying horses before, until 4 weeks ago. At Royal Prep we gladly loaned them any horses of their choosing. One rider, Miss Ruby Hanshaw, chose a horse with a physically defective wing, Dove, which caused the horse to fly from right to left diagonally. I tried to convince her to choose another mount, but she saw something I had blocked out in my mind, in the horse. Ruby and Dove became a perfect fit for Jade and Ecru, and they used Dove's 'defect' to actually win the Green Ribbon in the Flying Derby; an outstanding finish for riders and horses together for only a month!
"And then in the archery contest, I was again reminded of that ideal. Princess Trudy didn't dwell on what she could not do; instead she focused on what she could, and she was able to pick up Zooey, a fatigued and determined team player who was the only participant to compete in three events! Both Miss Ruby and Princess Trudy reminded me it is not what you see on the outside, but what's on the inside. That is where the real worth is. I'll will try to always remember that ideal.
"Thank you."
The crowd erupted in a joyous applause, from all of the various schools' supporters! Sir Gillium had summed up the idea behind the games, most eloquently, as well as an ideal to live by. For the first time, the participants from the Junior Knights Academy and Hexley Hall understood that the Games were about sportsmanship and fair play. Ribbons and trophies were just fluff. One by one, the participants from the Junior Knights Academy and Hexley Hall joined their counterparts from Royal Prep and the Dunwiddie Village School, offering heartfelt congratulations, and apologizing for any unsportsmanlike conduct.
Ben and Carol specifically walked over to Trudy.
"I'm...I'm sorry Trudy for what I asked Hexley Hall to do to you on that last target. Sir Gillium was right; it's not what you see, but what you don't that is the true measure of a person!" exclaimed Ben sadly.
Trudy smiled and extended a hand in friendship. "No hard feelings, Ben! Sometimes we let the pressure of the moment dictate what we do, instead of thinking it through."
Carol also apologized to Trudy, and again Trudy graciously accepted in a friendly manner.
As the schools got ready to leave, Trudy said, "Why don't you stay for refreshments? The village school was already invited and I'm sure we can accommodate everyone," gesturing to the Knights and Hexley Hall.
Miss Flora responded, "Of course we can! This will be the perfect end to the inaugural Quad School Games Competition!"
The two schools looked at each other, and then at Miss Flora and Trudy. With smiles and cheers of joy, The Junior Knights Academy and Hexley Hall joined their fellow competitors in a relaxing and enjoyable party. Quite literally the end to an enjoyable competition!