Oo-de-lally! Oo-de-lally! Golly, what a day!
The title seemed only fitting.
The Great Lakes Medieval Faire yesterday was unbelievable!!! Oh, it was so gorgeous. That's what you get for having a permanent medieval faire in the forest instead of a temporary one. We were completely in the woods, surrounded by trees...everything was so real. No artificial (let's pretend). I felt like I stepped right back into the 13th century...and I did not want to leave.
I spent the day with Lady Katherine, Lady Devon, Lord Michael, and Lord Randy. We arrived around noon and took in the sights.
The cover of the guidebook said "Robin Hood Returns 2006." Now, anyone who knows me and doesn't know that I have been obsessed with Robin Hood since birth doesn't know me very well. I've read every children's story I can find and am in the process of getting the original works by Howard Pyle. I've seen many movie versions, did a research project on him last year for "Drama to the 1900's," and pretty much know his outlaw-ish life story.
When I found out we missed the Merry Men Fight Show, I was completely bummed and was ready to leave. But, I decided to make the most of it (and I'm very glad I did!) and we went to go see the Aeriel Angels (a Cirque du Soelei-ish group with a medeival twist). They did a great job! We caught bits of other shows (Axl the Sot, Wishing Well Wenches, the joust), but didn't see another full show.
As we were walking around the faire, their daily parade started. I wanted to see it, so I stood right by the route to clearly see everyone as they came by. I was so busy looking at all of the people in their beautiful costumes and carrying their signs that I didn't notice a man in the parade approaching me; a sturdy, rogue-ish man clothed in Lincoln Green with a slew of arrows and a crossbow on his back, a stride in his step. He walked right up to me and looked me directly in the eyes as he tipped his hat to me and said, "G'day, m'lady," with a charming smile. Taken aback, I simply stared and watched him saunter off. I, then, turned to Lady Devon and we both knew who had just greeted me...Robin of Locksley, himself..."That was Robin Hood!!"
Lady Devon, Lady Katherine, and I all agreed that my chance encounter with Robin of Locksley must have been fate...God's way of making sure I met him since I missed the fight show. And, yes, the Lord works in mysterious ways...for as we were watching the Aeriel Angels, I caught a glimpse in Lord Michael's program that Robin Hood would be appearing for a jailbreak at the jail cell at precisely 4pm. Lady Devon promised that she would take my picture with him, if the opportunity presented itself...and it did.
Before the joust, I went with the ladies to get smoothies. As we impatiently waited in the long line, I scanned the crowd and saw a familiar face...it was Robin of Locksely!! He was being drageed by none other than the Sheriff of Nottingham, his hands in shackles, clutching a single white rose. (I could only assume that the rose was a gift from or for his lady fair, Maid Marian.) I explained to Devon that the opportunity had arrived and she graciously stepped out of the smoothie line to help me.
I approached Robin Hood and asked if I could have a picture taken with him. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he recognized me from the chance encounter at the parade. He only to happy to oblige. He asked if I would like the Sheriff in the picture, too. After I agreed, he said "Smile!" and started to walk away before the Sheriff called him back over. Before taking the picture, Robin asked if I would like to hold his shackles in the picture, which I did. He talked about these "new contraptions," which made me laugh.
When I asked him if I could take a picture with just him, the Sheriff stepped aside to make sure he would not run away. Robin of Locksley lifted his shackled wrists above my head and put his arms around me. As best he could, he pushed the rose forward so I could hold onto it in the picture. When the picture was done, I thanked him. He took my hand, kissed it, and replied, "You are most welcome, m'lady." As the Sherrif came back over, I made an awful mistake and told Robin I would see him at the jailbreak. "Jailbreak?" asked the Sheriff. "No," laughed Robin. "To...to my hanging." Smiling at me once more, Robin was back in the hands of the evil Sherrif of Nottingham, who took him away.
Lady Devon, Lady Katherine, and I had girl gossip talk on the way back over...talking about how Robin of Locksely had been flirting with me and how gorgeous he was. What I always loved most about Robin Hood was his charm. He could charm any lady and even charm his way out of the Sherrif's traps. After all, he had charmed Maid Marian, whom we saw later being escorted around the park by none other than Prince John himself. (Lady Devon made part of my day when she told me I looked like Maid Marian.)
My friends and I were all at the jail early to make sure we had a great view. Three men came in carrying a rope and used it to keep the audience back. Then came Friar Tuck, who talked to us townspeople and told us to plead with the Sheriff to "let Robin go!" Soon, Robin of Locksely was led to the jail by the Sherrif of Nottingham and three guards. Robin was placed in his cell. The Sherrif read the warrant and explained that he was being placed here for safe keeping until Prince John could do away with him. As the Sheriff was speaking, Robin of Locksley spotted me in the audience. He caught my eye, which was quickly followed by a quick wave, a wink, and a charming smile. Lady Devon was even excited when she asked, "Did he just wave at you?"
After the Sheriff left, a poor man came to the cell. He was dressed in a black cloak and was carrying a bow staff with two buckets on it. He approached the three guards and explained that he was here to deliver food to the prisoner by order of Prince John. I knew instantly that he was one of Robin's merry men. He was too small for Little John, so I assumed he was Will Scarlet...and he was! After placing the buckets of food in the cell, Will managed to get the guards bullwhip away from her. As two of Robin's men put the other two guards in the stocks, Will pinned the third with his bow staff and eventually forced her in the cell after letting Robin go. After saying "fare thee well" to the crowd, Robin of Locksely and his men disappeared...just before the outraged Sherrif arrived.
Our day was almost over. I stopped at a souvenir stand to purchase a Robin Hood hat I had seen much earlier that day. (I plan on bringing it to campus to hang in my room.) I was so happy to see a souvenir that attributed to Robin Hood...it is very hard to find objects related to him. Lady Devon bought some medicinal tea and we started to head back toward the exit. On our way, I caught one last glimpse of Robin Hood. He was standing in the town square, drinking ale, and having a merry chat with a faerie. On our way out, I also saw Prince John and Maid Marian again.
I couldn't help thinking how lucky she was to have a man like Robin of Locksley.