The Hart’s Tale

By THLaird Colyne Stewart, October AS 50 (2015)

To my belt-sister, Wencenedl of Rokesburg, the first Arrochar apprentice to be invited to join the Order of the Laurel.

At Emprise gathered hushed host

To listen to the heralds’ toast

As king and baron took their seat

And called the Laurels forth to greet

A hart who wore the ermine star

A student come so very far

“Our Cenedl,” the king decreed

“You will from contract now be freed

At future date, once all agreed.”

And smiled on her where she kneed.

She went then from that honoured place

Accompanied by Kerrec Grace

And heard proclaim the gathered crowd

Who shouted forth their joy so loud.

Until at last the day came ‘round

To hear what answer she had found

Again she came to royal ground

Before the northern monarchs crowned.

“Our lands are lacking”, cried the queen,

Before those gathered on the green,

“We must amend this tragic flaw

And so we read this writ as law

And call on Cenedl the doe

Well known to all for skills she shows

With needle, thread and fabric bright

Compel us to take pen and write,

Induct her into order fair,

The dragonfly with braided hair

And be a Laurel of our lands.

So take now from the royal hands

Our document that states thereof

How rich you are in regal love.”

She takes the writ from royal glove

And so my sister soars above.

Written in the style of a Breton lai. Lais (or lays), popular in both French and English literature, were short rhymed tales of love and chivalry usually numbering between 600 and 1000 lines. They often involve motifs from the supernatural and Celtic mythology. Arthurian tales were popular. The earliest Breton lais known were by Marie de France and were written in the 1170s.