South Florida's 21st Century, Web-based magazines
Renaissance Fair 3. The Joust
(3 of 4) photo essay by Nancy Hopkins
(to
start at begining, click
)
This
is a fictional photo essay and takes time to download. In this or any other website,
if the images fail to
load,
click your "reload" or "refresh" button.
|
|
|
The South Florida Renaissance Festival had taken
on an entirely different atmosphere. Instead of the tranquil pastoral setting
with a Hunter and his Birds of Prey, there was now a Joust apparently beginning.
The crowd was flowing into the bleachers, the knights on horseback had arrived.
There was a big flare of trumpets and the King and Court appeared to be taking
their positions in the viewing stand.
 "Pretzel?" asked the man with the massive grin. "King,
says everyone must have a pretzel, hot from his
kitchen. "You are not from these parts, are you?"
He sat down beside me on the bleacher, handing me a warm pretzel. "Are you going to try out for the Crusades, My Lady?" I replied, "I did not know women were allowed on the Crusades." "True enough, unless that one gets her way," he said while pointing at one of the knights. "The one in red is the King's daughter who wants to go to the Crusades in his place. Says the King is too old and will die in a foreign land. This joust is to see if she can show she is capable of leading and fighting." |
 |
 |
 |
The four knights came, one after the other, ridding hard. First they used swords and lance tips to snag small circles, while at full gallop. There were other similar feats before the real action began. From opposite ends the knights charged their opponent. The sound of thundering hoofs was lost in the crash of sword and lance on the metal of shielded arms, legs, torsos, and even the helmeted heads.
 |
 |
 |
The Red Knight approached. The first blow would be given by the victor of the first battle. The blow was a glancing one, she was hit but did not fall. The battle began in earnest, as hard fought as the first had been. |
 |
The final blow of the Red Knight felled the recent victor. "Will she now fight the last knight," I asked the pretzel man. "Last knight?" he asked, "Oh, that is not just a knight, My Lady, that is the King himself." |
 |
I watched as the King listened to his daughter call out, "As victor I claim the right for hand-to-hand combat." The daughter would not ride against her father. |
 |
The king dismounted and joined the Red Knight before the viewing stand. There was not a sound. The first blow came from the Knight against the King. Back and forth they fought, obviously communicating something. But, like all swift kicks, it was the final blow which seemed to convince the King, his daughter was victor and the Red Knight would lead the Crusades. |
 |
|
To continue see 1.
A Land Long Gone.
2.
Birds of Prey........3.
Joust........4.
Vendors
 |
 |
 |
 |
This
web-based magazine is published by Online Publications.com and Copyrighted
1999-2003 by OnLine Publications.com. All submitted articles retain the
copyright of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions
of the staff or editors of www.miami-dade-online.com or OnLine Publications.com
or its Affiliates, Associates, or Sponsors. You can find us on America
Online by using the KEYWORD AT AOL "Wilderyard". You can E-Mail us at
SouthFloridaUS@aol.com |
Please, see our legal information before using or copying any web-based materials published by Online Publications.com or if participating as a classified, display or online brochure client, by CLICKING - LEGAL |
