With a flourish of trumpets, the Knight candidates entered the hall. Rolf expected a crowd,, and he was not surprised. He would have done just as well as a private ceremony, and the congratulations of the Lord Trainer.
The cadre stood in formation before the throne, and one by one, knelt, swore their oath of allegiance and fealty, rose, and were presented with their sword and standard.
Rolf knelt accordingly, but looked directly at Princess Elisabeth when His Majesty touched his blade to each shoulder and bade him rise as Sir Rolf. The acclaim in the hall was deafening. Surely he must have imagined that distant howling above the din?
The knights were then dismissed to remove their armor and military gear, to return in their dress tunics. Their was then a receiving line, which the new knights file through, presented with the Lord Trainer, His Majesty, Her Majesty, the Princess, and the Bishop.
Rolf presented himself as trained, received their congratulations, and thanked each in turn. Her Majesty surprised him when she proferred her hand, and Rolf presented a bit of fluster in taking her fingertips gently in his, bowing, and murmuring "Your Majesty". The Princess similarly proferred hers, and he attempted slsightly more grace in following suit, but his mind was swimming when he touched her perfumed fingers.
The cadre stood in formation before the throne, and one by one, knelt, swore their oath of allegiance and fealty, rose, and were presented with their sword and standard.
Rolf knelt accordingly, but looked directly at Princess Elisabeth when His Majesty touched his blade to each shoulder and bade him rise as Sir Rolf. The acclaim in the hall was deafening. Surely he must have imagined that distant howling above the din?
The knights were then dismissed to remove their armor and military gear, to return in their dress tunics. Their was then a receiving line, which the new knights file through, presented with the Lord Trainer, His Majesty, Her Majesty, the Princess, and the Bishop.
Rolf presented himself as trained, received their congratulations, and thanked each in turn. Her Majesty surprised him when she proferred her hand, and Rolf presented a bit of fluster in taking her fingertips gently in his, bowing, and murmuring "Your Majesty". The Princess similarly proferred hers, and he attempted slsightly more grace in following suit, but his mind was swimming when he touched her perfumed fingers.