Upon My Knee, I Beg Of Thee

How do you tell someone how much they mean to you?

When an old friend has no idea of the fact that just by being there all those years when you needed them, how do you tell them?

By now, most of you realize that I am a bit of a dork. My big hobby is a group called the SCA. For those who don’t know what the SCA is? Well, the best way to describe it is as a renaissance faire on steroids that is for members only.

And, our biggest event is something called the Pennsic War. Imagine the cast of “Camelot” mixed with a Viking miniseries and all rolled up with a huge helping of love, friends and a LOT of alcohol.

And the biggest night of Pennsic is something called Midnight Madness. On that one night, all of the merchants close early and then reopen at dark. Bands play…parties roar…and everyone wears their finest.

Everyone loves Midnight Madness.

That is how I met my friend Caitlin or should I say Duchess Caitlin Stuart. We met about 26-27 years ago and she always had this huge smile and a laugh that could compete with a donkey to make you laugh.

 I remember she and her fiancé, Osis, walking down the rows at Midnight Madness laughing and joking and making everyone feel part of it all. I was pretty new to the organization and her gracious manner made me know I was welcome. They were so in love that you could practically hear the birds sing when then walked by.

Caitlin and I also had mutual friends, so I also got to see her when she was not “on” and it was the same person all over.

But bad things happen to good people.

A couple of years later, word came down the grapevine of a tragedy.

Caitlin’s fiancé, Osis, had been driving to an SCA event with friends  A truck lost control on the highway and slammed into their vehicle. Osis and another died instantly.

The SCA is like a huge family, and everyone was suddenly in mourning. Everyone was there for Caitlin, but she locked herself away. The bright star became a hermit, and the world was dimmer for it.

Caitlin’s close friends worried about her, but she needed to heal in her own time. She would come to Pennsic but lock herself in her own camp and few if any saw her.

Although we had not been close friends, I had always admired her and could see how worried everyone was.

At the third Pennsic after Osis’ passing, I overheard her campmates talking about how worried they were about her and a weird idea struck me.

It was Midnight Madness night so I put on my finest medieval garb and went up to Caitlin’s camp and asked to be admitted. There she was sitting in a chair by the fire.

I went down on one knee and said, “ Your Grace, Midnight Madness is upon us! I beg of thee to be my companion this eve!”

There was a pause and then her face just lit up.

“Give me a second to get dressed!” she shouted and ran to her tent. All of the women in camp went in and helped her get ready and she came out in the most beautiful dress I had ever seen.

I held out my arm and she grabbed it and away we went.

What an amazing night!

We walked along and her face glowed. Everyone was so glad to see her that it took us almost an hour to walk 100 yards. I will always remember that night.

So…

Midnight Madness became our ritual.

Every year, the first thing I would do upon my arrival is to head to her camp, go down on one knee and beg her to be my companion for Midnight Madness. And, every year, she would hem, haw and then smile huge as she accepted.

It became my favorite night of the year. And Caitlin’s, too. (or so she said)

Then, there was the year I could not get off work in time for Midnight Madness.

To make it up to Caitlin, I asked a  group of friends called The Thieves of Hearts to accompany her. They went into her camp upon their arrival and went down on one knee and begged her to be their companion for Midnight Madness. Knowing I could not be there, she accepted grudgingly.

BUT…

It turns out I was able to get the night off at the last minute, so I drove to Pennsylvania at warp speed and watched as the Thieves went into her camp to picked her up for Midnight Madness. Wrapped in a cloak and hat I went in last.

The leader of the Thieves said, “Your Grace, we have a special friend to introduce you to.” At that, I threw off the cloak and the hat and walked up to her and went down on one knee and begged her to be my companion.

Her face lit up and she said, “Dammit! Now I need to put on a real dress!” and she popped into her tent to change.

It was a great night.

Midnight Madness was our ritual for over 20 years.

As Covid did not allow Midnight Madness for the last two years, I was looking forward to this year. But it was not to be.

You see, Caitlin went into the hospital last spring and could not attend. So, I walked around and took all the video I could of people saying hello to her and walking along the rows.  Her data usage soared.

Caitlin passed about ten days ago… She and Osis are now together again.

But she will always be my companion for Midnight Madness.