Day 3 - 10:03 PM - Solitude

It's finally official!  I am a student at the Bard's College!  I am so thrilled at having this chance to make something of myself.  It sure beats sitting in that cold cabin, scrubbing potatoes, spinning yarn, and making sure Little Stevie didn't set the house on fire.

Let me start from the beginning...

I arrived back in Solitude around noon and went straight to the Bard's College to hand in the song.  I found the headmaster, Viarmo, in the library, reading a book.  He seemed surprised that I had survived the ordeal and had the song in hand.

Headmaster Viarmo reading a good book.

He began to read the poem the moment it was in his hands.  It was only then that we both realized that the song was incomplete.  Much of the writing was illegible because of age.  My heart sunk - gy trip into the Respite was for naught.

"Can't...can't we try to rebuild it?" I suggested, "Can't we make up the missing parts?"

He thought about it for a moment before agreeing to try.  We spent the next hour working on the poem.  It's still hard to believe but Viarmo even asked me for my input!  My ideas are now part of a legend that will forever be passed on to new generations!

After the song was complete, Viarmo asked me to accompany him to the Blue Palace to witness the first reading of the poem before the Jarl.  Of course, I agreed.  I wasn't about to pass up a chance to see the headmaster of my soon-to-be school doing what he does best.

As we entered the throne room, Elisif the Fair was sitting upon her throne, looking bored.  Her eyes lit up when she noticed Viarmo striding towards her.

"Yes, Viarmo?" she asked as he approached her chair, "What do you have for me?"

Viarmo's recital before the Jarl

The headmaster explained why he was there before he began to recite the poem.  All eyes were on him as he spoke of King Olaf's deceit against the people of Solitude.  My heart swelled as I heard him talk - this was history in the making!

At the end, the Jarl commended Viarmo for the poem and agreed that the festival, and the burning of King Olaf, could continue.  She also promised a large reward to the college, some of which I hoped would be passed on to me.

As we left the palace, Viarmo thanked me again for my help and told me that I would be officially admitted into the Bard's College at a ceremony during the festival that would be held that night!  Then he told me that he had some other business to do but if I hurried over to the college and spoke to a student by the name of Jorn, I could help them get ready for the festival.

Jorn, enjoying a drink before the festival

The festival began at 9 PM promptly that night.  There were tables filled overflowing with ale and sweets for everyone to enjoy and many of the students were walking through the crowd, singing and reciting poems.

Just a sample of the treats available at the festival

When Viarmo saw me enter the courtyard, he waved and called me over.  "Since you were the one that made all of this possible, you get to light the effigy."  He handed me a lit torch. "At my signal, light the hay at the bottom and stand back."

I nodded in agreement.  He quickly gathered the others around us and gave a speech, telling about the poem and how it came to be that the festival could be held once again.  He also added that since the Jarl was so happy with the poem, she is allowing the burning festival to become a weekly occurrence!

"And now, our newest student shall light the effigy.  Patrycia, if you would please do the honors...."

I stepped forward and held the flame to the dry straw.  It caught in an instant and before I knew it, the whole straw man was on fire, the flames licking high into the night air.

As the crowd cheered, the headmaster leaned towards me and said, "Welcome to the college, Ms.  Willowbranch.  Your first day will be tomorrow.  Arrive bright and early and be ready to learn..."