- by Lady Teleri the Well-Prepared
Written for the Poeta Atlantia competition at Twelfth Night, AS XLIII (January 2009), on the theme "The Queen of Atlantia."
At this year's Pennsic, King Konrad of the East ceded all war points to the Midrealm at Opening Ceremonies, after allies had been declared. "He wished to challenge the over-politicized process of negotiating for allies
and to preserve the atmosphere of fun and sportsmanship," according to the Pennsic War website. Atlantia, under King Sinclair Hawkins, was allied with the East this year.
The annual East-Atlantia war, Kingdom Crusade, was not held in October.
In real life, the two events were not related at all.
Under summer sun Sinclair Hawkins
Led Atlantian armies for Eastern king
Konrad, crowned head, kingdom ransomed.
War over was when allies declared.
Midrealm thirty-seven For chivalry's sake!
Atlantia limps home losing much gold
Autumn winds blow and brave Atlantia
Looks north to defend from Eastern aggression.
With call to Crusade the kingdom resounds.
War-weary all Winning seems lost
Then wise Gerhild - willful woman, she -
Makes an alliance enemies at peace
Weaving word-threads wondrous to hear
Counsel she calls with Queen Alethea
Eastern ruler; Reach they accord.
To husbands they say: "Hold up your swords
No battle bring to bright autumn days
Let peaceful play of peoples reign.
Rest and relax; Rivers soon freeze;
No fighters on field. Free your time for
Thoughts of harvest and home before
Winter's chill wind winds through the eaves."
East and Atlantia agreed it was good
Wise were the words well-spoken by women.
Gerhild went home hall-joy her gift
Peace and plenty her people now know
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