Easter Traditions...Continued

[border_princess]

It is Palm Sunday. Therefore, Helen is going around, hitting people with pussy willow branches(palms being in short supply where she is from), and saying, "Лоза б'є, Я не б'ю, від нині за тиждень, буде Великдень!" It sounds like, "Loza b’ye, ya ne b’yu, vid nyni za tyzhden’, bude Velykden’!" and it means, "The willow is hitting, I’m not hitting,

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[dukes_daughter]

Rosalind (likewise yet in the guise of a boy) dashes up quite eagerly. "I have found a bow!" she declares triumphantly. "--and thou hast found... a stick?"

[border_princess]

Helen proceeds to hit her with it, laughing, and saying her verse. She may hit her a little harder than the other people, but it is in a teasing manner

[dukes_daughter]

"Ah! Wherefore strike you me?" she demands, trying to look wounded but finding that her laughter rather belies this attempt.

[border_princess]

"It is almost Pascha! 'Easter' is coming!" Helen hits her again for good measure.

[dukes_daughter]

"An' so our Lord did on this day strike his companions? Ah! Strike you not man unarm'd!" She reaches to snatch away one of the willows.

[border_princess]

"It is Palm Sunday, but my land does not have palms. So we make do." She lets Rosalind grab one and stands as though she would fence with her.

[dukes_daughter]

Rosalind grins and assumes the same stance. "To the death, methinks, my good Vasil?"

[border_princess]

"To the death!" She grins and moves to attack.

[dukes_daughter]

Rosalind moves at once to counter. Her steps are graceful, though inaccurate, but her flailing of the willow branch is anything but.

[border_princess]

Helen laughs and keeps repeating her verse about the willow as they whack each other indiscriminately.

[dukes_daughter]

"Ha! Speakest thou a curse that thou shalt prove the victor?"

[border_princess]

"I say, 'The willow is hitting, I’m not hitting, one week from today, it will be Easter!' It is a tradition."

[dukes_daughter]

"I do protest! I daresay thou art hitting-- an' quite well!"

[border_princess]

"It isn't me it's the willow! I can't seem to stop it" She laughs and pretends to struggle with the branch.

[dukes_daughter]

She laughs also, then charges at once with a savage attack. "I do now see! Apologies, dear friend, I, too, can stop it not!"

[border_princess]

She jumps back and tries to parry rather badly.