[Farael]

The morning came and Osmod opened his eyes. He looked around and could see that Meghan, Rædwald and Sythric were up already, but Eostre and Fionn had not woken up just yet. He enjoyed a few more minutes in his bed-roll and slowly got up. He had gotten a good night of sleep and felt happy and good to go. He stretched and waved happily at Meghan and Rædwald who were around. Sythric was no-where to be seen, until he came back from the river. Someone had already taken the horses there to let them drink and they all followed Sythric and Thydrë back into the camp. Good horses they were, strong and smart.

By the time Sythric sat down by the fire, Eostre and Fionn started showing signs of life and finally woke up. Lucky for them, Osmod thought, that they woke up just when Sythric offered some food and drink. After a good breakfast, Osmod thanked Sythric and could not refuse to answer when he repeated his question about the drawing on the ground.

“My friends,” he said looking at them all gathered around the fire “you will think me crazy, and after too many a night slept under the stars, I might just be. But when I was little my grandmother taught me everything there is to know about camping, or so she said. She always reminded me that if I ever set camp close to a forest there were two things I had to do. One was to draw a ‘door’ for good luck and fun times to come into my camp. That door is the drawing you have seen. The other, was to sing a song to bid them welcome. I am not as good a singer as Meghan here but I hope my voice will do.”

He smiled at Meghan, and then stood up. As he sang, he paced around the fire, giving a quick glance to one of his fellow campers, a pat in the shoulder to another, just to jump ahead and sit for a moment next to yet another of them.

I now must tell, to you my friend
A story that concerns us men,
‘tis not for elves nor dwarves nor ent,
but rather ladies and us gent
Oh, Oh, Ho! ‘tis for good ladies and good men

It was one night, when Mister Fun
Tired of wasting time around
He walked into where trees abound
To spent the night upon the ground
Oh, Oh, Ho! to spend the night upon the ground

Then Lady Luck, who felt alone
And even though the moon light shone
Into the forest she walked on,
and soon enough from sight was gone
Oh, Oh, Ho! And soon enough from sight was gone

The man was searching, right and left
For a good place to get his rest
Sang to himself as he did best
For singing often helped him rest
Oh, Oh, Ho! he sang his best to get his rest

And Lady Luck who now was lost
She heard a song of beauty most
and answering with her voice, soft
she called the one she thought a ghost
Oh, Oh, Ho! she thought the man had been a ghost

But Mister Fun, who heard her song
And feeling that he must have found
The woman he had longed for long
Towards her voice, he then moved on
Oh, Oh, Ho! towards the one he longed for long

He found her there, standing alone
Pretty she was and he swore on,
The moon and stars that lead him on
To never from her side be gone,
Oh, Oh, Ho! he’d never let her stay alone

Taking a deep breath and slowing the pace of the song a little, he sang the last part looking into their eyes. Eostre came first, then Rædwald, Fionn was sitting next to him and Sythric second to last. He finally smiled at Meghan again as he sang the last line of his song

And why I tell you this, my friend…

‘cos Luck and Fun will come to them…

Who sing their song and do it well…

For they remind them of them-selves….

Oh, Oh, Ho… they bless all those who sing as well

Osmod sat down where he had began singing, his face beaming with a big smile. “Of course this is just a myth, and it mentions so many creatures that no longer exist among us. But I thought that we would need all the luck we could muster and well… having fun is always a good thing”

Still, having mentioned their quest seemed to dampen his spirits a little, and grabbing some more lamb to chew on he offered ”I know I’m no longer the leader in here, but should we not get going? I would like to be on the other side of the river well before the sun sets in the horizon”

Lead by example, he always thought, and forcing a smile on his face, he stood up again and started packing his things.