Friday’s Scheduled Gate Shift: noon to 6 p.m. Busiest night of the War, of course. At 9:45 p.m., Ken said, “You have the 6 a.m. shift tomorrow, don’t you?” I nodded blearily. At which point he called a Constable to bring a golf cart to take me back to the RV. Thank goodness I had a 15-minute neck-and-shoulder massage before my shift.

I got back to the RV, but wandered into Kelvin and Lucia’s pavilion to chat with folks. The moon was full, and before the War I’d tried to find out if anyone wanted to do anything, but didn’t get much response. Ismay, bless her heart, took charge. First she took me to the Altar of Blackthorn (some other folks had brought a keg of Blackthorn cider on tap, and set up an altar around it. I prayed and received libation…), and then a small group of us simply stood in a clearing, bathed in the moon’s glow, and said words about being with good friends. Then we got silly, as we often do.

It took me forever to get to sleep. I had a little Black Mountain liqueur and read for a bit, tried sleeping, got back up, went to the bathroom (I love the RV!), had a little more Black Mountain… Eventually I must have slept, because I semi-woke when Ken got back.

At 6 a.m., it was dark and silent. I hate getting up early, but there’s a certain magic to the day then. I stopped and lowered my flashlight/lantern to examine a shoe in road. Said a quiet good morning to the lone person who passed me.

Gate was quiet at first, but then got busy with day trippers and late weekenders. Had to deal with one minor policy issue. I finally escaped at 12:30 with Kelvin and Lucia. As we walked away, I commented, “I feel guilty because I’m leaving.” Lucia said, “No, you feel guilty because you’re _done_.” At first I didn’t get it. Then it dawned on me, and I said, “If I start walking back to Gate at any time for the rest of the weekend, you’re going to tackle, me, aren’t you?”

I never did go back. But I also never entirely rid myself of the guilt.

I had a quick lunch, and folks came over for air conditioning and Popsicles. I took the lucet class, which was interesting. The loaner lucets were bigger than mine and although I like the way the pick worked with them, I switched to my own. I fumbled the first new technique (creating a loop at the end of the cord) but finally mastered the second technique, which involved two colors and loops (could be used as button loops, for example). I do want to play with that more; it’ll make great award cords. My friend Osanna has been working on yet another technique that I want to learn from her, too.

I don’t know when, but Umberto snuck out at some point and bought me a gorgeous yet simple pair of earrings: triskeles (which he knows I love) with amber in the centres, “Because you’ve been wearing more early period garb”. He is such an incredible darling.

I also picked up our annual commemorative War goblet, because we have the biggest collection of Christel Illusion goblets—most of them commemorative to GWW or Black Oak Lodge—outside of the merchants themselves, and we mustn’t lose that status. Well, that and because they do really cool etching, and they’re our friends.

After that, I found Umberto, and we went to Court. Several GWW staff members got much-deserved awards. We then had supper with Caterine and Emrys, Morgana, and Thomasina: pomegranate chicken, salad, bread and butter. I was apparently vegetable deficient, because I had three helpings of the very tasty salad.

Then we raced off to the handfasting of Morgana (a different Morgana—perhaps the only other one in the SCA) and James’ handfasting. We missed only the very teensiest of the beginning, of which were glad. The ceremony was beautiful, magickal, and moving. They were surrounded by 36 candles, representing 360° if a circle and the $360 exactly that their rings cost. The moon was just past full, and a horn was passed around so everyone could make a toast to the couple.

After that, we went a-wandering, as is appropriate for Saturday night at War (even if I did think I should be helping at Gate). I refilled my cup with wine, and Ken had some beer, and off we went, with Maren, Richard, and Ceara in tow. I had no idea just how silly Richard and Ceara could be, which made things truly delightful. We went to Edric’s party and saw Kelebeck, Richard (whose SCA name I’ve forgotten), Daveed, and Albra; then we escorted Albra back to her encampment. We found the Tavern and drank champagne, and Umberto figured out the period trick cup, but not in the official way. We stopped by the Schaudenfreud party, but I had to find a bathroom and Maren was tired, so we left earlier than I really wanted to. And we found Strawhenge! Someone else has taken up the mantle, huzzah. And a very good Strawhenge it was, indeed.

I sat with some Darach folks for a little while when Umberto back to Gate, but I was sleepy, so I staggered off to the RV, typed in some rambly inebriated notes about the day, and fell asleep.