by Melanie Dickerson
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This is the Great Hall, the largest room in Hagenheim castle. We use this room for feasts and formal dinners, as well as for dancing, on occasion.
As you can see, today is a feast day, St. John the Baptist Day. The Meistersingers, or traveling minstrels, have been hired to sing for the Duke’s family on this occasion. They are all in the balcony with their instruments and are just beginning a lively tune while the family and their guests are eating on trestle tables. Jugglers and acrobats perform around them in colorful costumes. Flags and banners decorate the room.
Lord Wolfhart, the younger son of a Bavarian duke, is flirting with Lady Osanna. Let us eavesdrop on them, shall we?
Pointing to an enormous deer head on the wall, Lord Wolfhart says, “I once slew a stag twice as big as that one. My father, my brother, and I all aimed our arrows at him, but it was mine that struck him straight and true, through the heart.”
Lady Osanna smiled. “You probably hit everything you aim at.”
Lord Wolfhart, lifting his head and reminding her of a peacock, winks. “I try.” He looks up at the Meistersingers, then back at Lady Osanna. “I asked them to sing this song just for you.”
A servant comes by with a platter of eel pie. They each take a slice.
“It’s in Italian. I’m afraid I don’t understand much Italian.”
“I shall translate for you, then.” Gazing deeply into her eyes, Lord Wolfhart whispers, “Like the stars in the sky, the light of your eyes brightens my night. I do not need the sun if you are with me. Say there is hope for this heart of mine, that you will not take your light from my life.”
Bishop Andrew clears his throat loudly, interrupting them. “I find it refreshing that the Meistersingers would choose such a pious song, in Latin, to sing, in place of the normal frivolous love songs so common these days. Don’t you, Lord Wolfhart?”
A bright red blush overtakes the man’s face. He clears his throat and mutters something indistinguishable.
Lady Osanna smirks and helps herself to some roast peacock.
~end
The Great Hall by Melanie Dickerson
Based on characters from The Healer's Apprentice © 2010. All rights reserved.
by Melanie Dickerson
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by Melanie Dickerson
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* image source minstrels
