The Fest
Part Three
Disclaimer: Mulder, Skinner, Scully and anyone else from
the X files don't belong to me, I just play with them a bit, the
Danville people are not mine either, and didn't even break
them, much, the RenFest items, shop names and events
are semi accurate, and taken from a visit to the 2000
Michigan Renaissance Festival who did such a wonderful
job that inspired this flight of fancy. I own nothing but my
computer and two kids, and I do this all for free.
Note: Many of the events in the story actually happened,
including but not limited to meeting the Queen, winning the
contest, and riding the ponies, but of course, some things
were changed to protect the innocent and get a certain
young man's rump roasted *grin*
Thanks to Joey and Claire for Betaing.
The next morning, bright and early, the whole Skinner clan
were up and at breakfast, stacks of pancakes and
sausages were consumed along with the usual coffee, milk,
and juice. Everyone knew to get a move on so they could
get a good parking place. Laughter filled the room and for
one moment Walter Sr., reached over and took his wife
Rachel's hand, squeezing it as they watched their loud
brood.
Finally, breakfast was over and the dishes were done.
Everyone trooped up to get into their costumes. Jean gave
Fox back his costume, the few alterations completed.
"Remember, Fox, Renaissance people didn't wear boxers,"
Jean teased and tossed him a pair of Y fronts. Fox had the
good nature to blush, but kept his mouth shut.
15 minutes later he went down stairs, grumbling at the tights
and the way the pants bunched up, (he wasn't thrilled with
the way the Y fronts felt either but wasn't going to say
anything out loud). Tugging at the collar of the doublet *what
was that thing anyway * Fox stopped dead in his tracks,
blinking at the people before him .
Gran was there, and Gram, dressed like a country folk of
the 1580s England, complete with Gran in hose and Robin
hood like hat, including the feather; Gram was in a corn
colored dress and a wide hat.
Fox looked at the rest of the family, each one was dressed
similar to what he was. The look was startling. Joe, Nora
and their children were dressed like a fairy family, wings
and glitter abounding. Andy's brood looked like nobles,
crowns and heavily bejeweled clothing. Jean's family was
eclectic, each one different, but Jean looked like .. like, like
a tavern wench and a lusty one at that. Fox blushed deeply
trying not to looks at his Aunt's, ahem, endowments.
"You look great son." Walter's voice came behind him, Fox
turned and almost fell over in shock. His Father, Walter
Skinner Jr., AD of the FBI was dressed exactly like King
Henry VIII, from his hose covered legs and black satin
slippers? To the heavy chain about his neck and the hat
with the feather. A belt around his waist, sword scabbard
and dagger both hanging from it. Fox just stared at his dad
for a moment, eyes wide, mouth hanging open.
Walter bowed a bit, then reached over and gently closed
Fox's mouth with one finger under his chin. Fox blushed
again and with a supreme feat of will coupled with the fact
he knew he looked just as silly (though it didn't seem so silly
when everyone was dressed the same way) refrained from
laughing.
"You, amm, you look great Dad," Fox said with a big smile,
bordering on a giggle.
"So do you Son" Walter said then laughed loud and hard.
That was all it took for the whole room to dissolve into gales
of laughter.
"Right, now," Walter said wiping the tears from his eyes as
the laughing calmed down, "the rules."
All attention was on Walter at this point, from little Haley up
to Walter Sr.
"Everyone has a buddy and stays with that buddy, no matter
what. The festival is a large place, we don't want anyone
getting lost.
Don't eat so much that you make yourself sick.
Spending, do not over spend your budget, no mortgaging
the house to by that special pair of thigh high boots," a
pointed look at Andy who blushed and stammered, "Hey,
that was only one time and it wasn't the house it was the
car," more laughing.
"Let's go so we can get a good parking place and be there
for the opening ceremonies."
The group moved into several cars, Walter and Fox taking
Gram and Gran in the jeep with them. "You stay with me at
first Fox, there are a few things we need to do."
Fox missed the wink between Walter and Gran. "Sure thing
Dad, no problem."
Rachel patted Fox's arm, "Don't worry Foksik, you will have
a wonderful time." Fox just smiled back to his Gram.
Water maneuvered the jeep into a parking place at the
festival. Fox jumped out quickly a little embarrassed as he
saw others getting out of their cars, not in the Renascence
period dress. He turned, helping Gram out of the jeep and
whispered "Gram, are we in the right place? No one is
dressed like we are."
Rachel laughed softly, "Yes, we are in the right place, not
everyone dresses in costume."
Fox shifted, a bit more self conscious now "Then why did
we?"
Walter laughed and slapped Fox on the back. "For the fun
of it," he declared and pushed Fox toward the entrance
gently.
Just the entrance was enough to make Fox gasp and stare,
there were people in all manner of dress from regular street
clothes, to costumes more elaborate than the ones the
family was wearing. Fox just stared, as they waited in line
for tickets.
As they reached the front of the line, Fox pulled out his
wallet from the pouch tied to his belt, taking out a credit card
only to have a firm hand placed over his. "I'll be taking care
of this, son," Walter said softly.
"But sir, I can pay for," that is all the farther Fox got before
Walter shook his head.
"I know you can son, but this is my treat to the family every
year. You understand."
Fox couldn't argue with that, and put the card away, feeling
a bit like a kid at fair time when his Dad handed him his
ticket. Skinner seemed to see how Fox was feeling and
said teasingly "Now don't lose this before we go in, son."
Fox blushed first, then laughed. "Cute, Dad," he said.
"Real cute"
After the rest of the tickets were distributed, the group
made its way to the ticket gate; three large arches with a
person dressed in period costume standing in each. They
took the tickets, ripped off one part and handed the other
part back. Normally, handing someone a ticket was not a
problem, but across each arch way was a pair of jugglers,
with Indian clubs. They would juggle three of them each for
a moment then pass them back and forth several times, still
juggling before again doing the solo juggling.
Fox watched for a moment, not sure if he was to cross
them when Haley took his hand, "It's easy, stick with me, I
will get you across." Fox held her little hand tightly, and at
the exact moment the jugglers went solo she darted across
the opening with him.
Fox laughed when he realized his little cousin was the one
to take him though rather than the other way around and
caught her in a tight hug "Thanks, kiddo," he said.
Haley just grinned, "No sweat, kiddo."
Fox laughed again.
After the archway, they were greeted by a lovely young lady
dressed in a peasant costume. Brown course material for
her skirt and bodice, a tan colored chemise, just covering
the swells of her bosom, her hair was caught up in a bun
and covered with a little a cap. She sank into a deep
curtsey, saying, "Greetings M'Lords and M'Ladies, and
welcome, to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth Gloriana's
court. Be well all and merry well."
At that moment, bagpipes began playing, the entire
assembly turned as a group of three highlanders in full kilts,
came stepping up the path. The crowd parted as they
passed. In their wake came a town crier calling for all to
"make way, make way for her Majesty Mary Stuart, Queen
of Scots, and his Highness Lord Darnley, King of
Scotland." Fox was floored by the lavishness and
authenticity of the costumes worn by the group, this was no
rinky dink affair, these people took all this seriously.
A poke in his ribs caused Fox to turn, only to see his whole
family bowing or curtseying, to the "Royalty." Fox blinked
for a moment, then with a grin he swept off his hat, and
gave a deep bow that would have delighted his childhood
dance instructor. Suddenly, he was aware of the entourage
stopping, right before him.
"You may rise," came a very regal sounding command. Fox
stood up straight, and found Queen Mary was looking right
at him, but her hand was in Walter's hand, who was kissing
it with great gallantry.
A moment after Walter released her Majesties hand, Fox
found himself being pushed right up to the Queen. "Your
Majesty, may I present, my son, Fox Mulder, of the District
land of Columbia. Fox, Her Most Royal Majesty, Mary
Stuart, Queen of Scots." Walter said, as the Queen
presented her hand to the blushing man in tights.
If nothing else, Fox could charm the pants of anyone, and
this was no different. Barely grasping the Queens hand, he
bowed again over it, kissing the ring letting those lips that
could pout so well just brush the warm flesh as well. "A
privilege and an honor, Your Majesty," he murmured. "I can
now go to my grave an happy man, for having been so
blessed as to kiss the have of such a beautiful and
esteemed woman as Your Majesty."
Mary was pleased with the handsome young man's
attentions, "We are pleased to make your acquaintance.
Any son of Sir Walter, is more than welcome in Our court."
Turning to Walter, "A fine son you have Sir Walter. We
shall arrange to be at his knighting this day."
Fox perked up, "Knighting?" but the group was moving
again, Fox bowed to the King, and the queen's brothers,
Robert and James, and kissed the hand of the Queen's
Maid of honor, Lady Mary Flemming. Then was standing
alone again as the they moved on.
"Knighting?" Fox asked turning to Walter. Walter laughed,
"Yes, later today there is a knighting for anyone who wants
to be a lord or lady of the realm."
Fox laughed, "Lord Fox" he quipped, and laughed again.
Walter joined him, "Come on, son, there are a few things
we need to do before we get you knighted."
A few minutes later, after conferring with the family, the
groups split up, with promises made to meet at lunch time.
Fox went with Walter, Gran and Gram, and Andy and Joe.
Fox thought this arrangement of people was a bit odd, but
didn't question it. Awed by the sights and sounds of the
festival, he walked along, catching glimpses into the
different booths and shops as the went. Shops with names
like, Maple Valley Fibers, Wenchworks, Kilts and more,
Dragons Den of Glass, Grandma's Cauldron, Lizards,
Wizards and Ringz, Moon Angel, Sand Bottle, and The
leather Rose all with people calling to them, beckoning
business seemed brisk even in the early part of the day.
They stopped first at a shop called Wassail Horns. Within
the open shop were all kinds of drinking vessels, from small
glasses to huge horn mugs. Walter spoke to the shop
keeper for a moment, and then slid his card across. He
took a package from the shop keeper and signed the slip.
Turning to Fox, Walter said, "As you are of noble
parentage," grin, "it is custom that you carry your own
drinking mug on your belt, and in tradition with our family, I
have selected a vessel for you personally, one that reflects
who you are." Walter kissed Fox in the Russian way, on
both cheeks, and pressed the package into his hands.
Fox opened it, took out a simple brown leather tankard, with
a black insert; the brown leather was carved. As Fox
looked at it, he realized this was done ahead of time to
exact specifications, in hard fancy lettering were the initials
FWM-S. Fox knew this was for his name, Fox William
Mulder - Skinner. He was very happy his dad included both
the M and S. Around the tankard was a scene of a small
fox chasing a star, followed by a large bear who was
stepping on a hound that seemed to be trying to get the fox.
Fox laughed and smiled at the scene on the tankard, and
hugged Walter, "Thank you, Dad, its wonderful," he said, his
voice filled with emotion.
Walter smiled and took out the small leather clasp helping
Fox fix it to his belt and hang the tankard off it.
"You can actually drink out of it. " Rachel said, her eyes
shimmering as she watched. It was then Fox realized that
all of them had one just like his, the same brown leather
though the scenes on them and the initials were different.
"Come on, times a wasting," Joe said, as they left the shop,
heading down the lane.
"Where to next," Fox wondered, but had almost no time to
think before he was ushered into House
Lochmor/Salamander Armory. Fox was impressed; this
place had every kind of sword, dagger and knife imaginable.
Bastard swords, rapiers, epees, long swords, daggers with
straight and curved blades, foldable, and the hilts, Fox was
stunned just by the enormity of it all.
Again Walter pushed his credit card across the counter
after speaking a moment with the shop keeper, and got a
package back, which he presented to Fox. "When a child of
ours becomes a teen, and begins on the path to adulthood,
his or her father buys them a dagger, to show the starting of
their ascent into adulthood, they begin the trust that will
carry for the rest of their lives. No one would give a child a
weapon."
Fox understood the solemness of this simple act, "You
grew up so fast my son, there wasn't time before, but there
is now."
Fox looked at the loving eyes of his dad, and took the
dagger offered to him, drawing it, admiring the workmanship
on it. A fine weapon indeed, his initials down the blade, and
on the hilt the same fox chasing the star followed by the
bear. Fox felt Andy removing his belt again. Threading the
scabbard onto it, but he didn't replace it right away.
Walter held out another package, this one larger, there was
no mistaking what that was, a sword. "When a son
becomes a man, a sword is bought " Walter, Sr. was
saying, "and blooded, so the blade will know that this is
family, and by their blood who to protect."
Walter held out his hand, as Andy took the sword, and drew
it, Fox extended his arm, then Walter Sr. and Joe did the
same, and finally Andy. Walter Sr., took Fox's dagger and
made a small nick in the ball of each mans thumb, making a
small smear on the blade, "By blood and family" he said,
then each one made the same smearing the blood on the
blade, letting it mingle each repeating the phrase. Then the
sword and dagger were both resheathed. Rachel produced
several Band-Aids, each man binding the tiny nick. She took
out two ribbons, handing them to Walter.
"The fest has a rule about weapons, none drawn unless by
the players, and any bought must have a peace tie to
prevent them being drawn" Walter said as he wrapped the
ribbon three times about the scabbard, then over the hilt
and back down to the scabbard, then once more up,
finishing it with a small bow. He repeated the process on
the dagger with the second ribbon, and buckled Fox's belt
back in place. Fox was too choked up to speak, tears stood
in his eyes. Walter crushed him into a bear hug, clapping
Fox on the back. Gran, Andy and Joe did the same.
As they stepped from the shop, Fox grabbed his dad's arm
in a tight grip, "Dad! LOOK!" Fox said excitedly.
Walter looked up, tensed for a moment, then seeing where
Fox had pointed, laughed. Across the way was a shop, the
sign had crossed ears of buttered corn on the cob on it.
The shop was called The Cobber.
"We have GOT to get some corn" Fox said making a bee
line for the stand. Walter laughed again, following, corn on
the cob had to be Fox's favorite vegetable. 10 minutes later
Fox had butter on both cheeks as he munched on the
delicious hot buttered corn. Walter smiled, seeing the child
come out in the man so much like before.
to be continued
eventually