52, Winter
The Knighting of the Companions
General Summary
51st of Winter
Castle Brynhold, Eorldom of Swords
It had been a mild winter in the Eorldom of Swords despite the customary whipping gales coming off the Sea of Winds. The winds rattled the shutters on the great castle of Brynhold, seat of the Eorl of Swords. The Eorl Rovin Brynagar was a young man and recently risen to his station on the peaceful passing of his father, the late Randuin Brynagar. The only son born to Eorl Randuin from his late wife, Ceolith Brynagar, Rovin was deemed young but competent and many in the Eorldom had high hopes for his rule. The Eorl was the vanguard of a new generation of knights and maidens in the Kingdom of Rhone. A generation that lacked the direct scars of the infighting and insurrections that had been ended with the Widow's Bargain in 45 ET. While the Western Lands were never free of conflict, the Treaty did put an end to the open bloodshed between Rhonish vassals in the absence of their Queen.
And so it was that the Castle Brynhold becomes the focus of the Eorldom as a new generation of knights are sworn to their oaths and to their Eorl. The mild winter weather had blessed those who had traveled far for the ceremony and there were quite a few. While there were several knights being sworn to their blades today, it is to a chosen few that our attentions rests with care. The heirs of lands in the north of the Eorldom were finally coming into their own.
After several years of tutelage under their mentor-knights, the aspirants had returned home to take up their lands and their oaths to their liege-lord. They had spent the past few months reacquainting themselves with the Eorldom and each other. Fortuitously, all of them had grown up as far-neighbors to one another and their old friendships were easily rekindled as they prepared for these trials.
The Display of Skills
The Swearing of Oaths
Deep beneath the castle, the petitioners traveled to a room that was barred to all not sworn as knights. There at the door, accompanied by their mentors, the words of introduction were spoken and the applicants were passed through into the domed chamber under the castle. Framed by the light of braziers burning were many of the knights of the Eorldom arrayed around a dais. Atop the dais was Ser Obial Lechondal and the Eorl of Swords. The applicants were shuffled forward and their mentors stood behind them as Ser Lechondal opened the ritual. He spoke in a strong, firm voice as he greeted them.
“In the beginning, the great King Rhuanon had his Companions, sworn followers and heroes of the King. For their service, they were granted privileges and honor but these came with duties even more heavy. They served with pride and valor and made this kingdom that we stand in today. This tradition has been taken up by the knighthood; it is an honor and a tradition to serve one’s Throne and Lord with all of one’s strength and to the last drop of blood."
The ritual opened, Ser Lechondal turned to each of the mentors standing behind their squire one last time. Lechondal's voice continued in that firm tone that rang with reverence but also conviction. He questioned each of them in the customary fashion; inquiring of the three responsibilities they had sworn to undertake when they accepted the aspirants as squires.
“Have ye a candidate that has shown honor, bravery, skill and faithfulness?
-I have.
And have you trained and tested them as your own blood that they may not fail in their duty?
-I have.
And who do you bring before us who has passed all of these trials and secured the approval of your honor?
One by one, each of the mentors stepped forward and presented their squire with a formal naming.
Catriona Ruariaccompanied by her mentor, Eorl Nalil Damalda of Shields.
Kalawun Ember was escorted by Lord Gilander Melagin. The young man's dark skin betrayed his Eastern blood, by way of his father, and marked him out from the others.
Eadric Léowen accompanied by Ser Nyrim Alcwyn, a Sworn Knight of the Eorldom of Stone-and-Sea.
Emrys Gwalchmai
Once they all were before the dais, Ser Obial removed the sharp, slim dagger at his side and held it up. The applicants could not repress a shudder knowing the purpose of that blade. It was carried by every knight to administer the last mercy to a foe or a friend. It was also the last option of a dishonored knight.
“This is a Shir. It will guard your honor as your shield and armor guards your body. In all things, a Knight must seal their honor with blood; whether in oath or in battle. Today, you bind your honor and your family’s honor with the blood that they have gifted onto you in this generation, your mother and father’s generation and all the generations that have come before you.”
A rustle came from behind the applicants as their mentors unsheathed similar twinkling blades and held them out to Lechondal. Though some of the blades were from the squire’s own family, the mentors had held them close and with honor while the squire was in their service. For those who did not pass down their honor-blades, the Shir was the last gift given by them. Ser Lechondal stepped before them and reached out to the first applicant’s Shir and took it in his hand. In doing so, he displayed his palm out to them, as did the other knights, where a line of three scars was faint but visible upon each. He explained each of the scars and the duties incumbent upon accepting the marks of knighthood in Rhone. The aspirants nodded and as he finished the speech.
Then the aspirants accepted their own Shir from the knight who had trained them and brandished them for Ser Lechondal. One by one, he went down the line and used each aspirant's honor-blade to mark the three cuts and gather their oaths.
The first cut, is for the honor and loyalty you owe to the Throne. Do you swear to hold the Throne and its edicts foremost in your hearts and to serve them against the Darkness wherever it may gather?
Do you swear to so be bound?
The second cut is for the honor and loyalty you owe to your liege. Do you swear to hold the Eorl of Swords to be that rightful lord and that your duties and your honor flow from him?
Do you swear to so be bound?
The third cut is for the burden which we now ask you to bear, as we have, in swearing to the precepts of a true knight and a servant of Rhone until the end of your days or your honor.
“Be without fear in the face of your enemies; shirk not from the face of evil.”
“Be brave and upright; a knight worthy of the name so that Domiel may know and love ye.”
“Be honest and clear in your counsel and actions so that all may know your honor.”
“When sealed with blood or honor, your word must be your bond. Let neither it nor your blade weaken and tarnish from ill-use.”
“Serve with truth, bravery and justice so that you may serve the people rightly.”
“In death, as in life, hold to these words so that your time here was in the service of good.”
The razor edges of the honor-blades brought no pain as they cut three times on the sword hand of each aspirant. But the blood welled up quickly and, by the third cut, it was dripping onto the stones below. As Lechondal stepped back from the third cut, he squared his jaw and waited for the Oath. The aspirants spoke in unison as they completed their only words of the ritual oath that would bind them for life.
So do we swear and are bound.
Ser Lechondal stepped back from them and, in unison, all of the knights present spoke the final words.
You have been thrice-sworn in blood and steel. Rise a Knight and never forget.
The ceremony was finalized when each of the now-knights knelt before the Eorl Rovin to swear their fealty. As each of them did so, the Eorl invested them with their ancestral lands and title. Once done, a great cheer echoed in the chamber from the assembled knights as they welcomed their new comrades-in-arms.
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