[Aylwen Dreamsong]

The Inn had become quite crowded in little time. Aylwen thought it couldn't have gotten any more chaotic than the preparations, but she was wrong and realized it early on in the party. However, things had been going well and there had been no trouble yet involving rowdy drinkers. Perhaps just the sight of Talan scared most into drinking sensibly. Raven had come through with a good group of musicians to play for the party, for which Aylwen was very grateful and happy. Leofan had been called in from the stables for a while to enjoy the party, and many of the children had come in as well.

Raven began one song with a jolly and light tune on her fiddle, which was followed closely by the sound of a flute. One of the musicians, who Aylwen believed to be the drummer, began to sing a song he called 'The Nightingale':


One morning, one morning, one morning in May
I spied a young couple all on the highway
And one was a lady so bright and so fair
And the other was a soldier, a brave volunteer

Good morning, good morning, good morning to thee,
Now where are you going my pretty lady?
I'm going to travel to the banks of the sea
To see the waters gliding, hear the nightingales sing.

They hadn't been there but an hour or two
Till out of his knapsack a fiddle he drew
The tune that he played caused the vallies to ring.
O harken, says the lady, how the nightingales sing.

Pretty lady, pretty lady, 'tis time to give o're.
O no, pretty soldier, please play one tune more.
I'd rather hear your fiddle at the touch of one string
Than to see the waters gliding, hear the nightingales sing.

Pretty soldier, pretty soldier, will you marry me?
O no, pretty lady that never can be.
I've a wife back in London and children twice three.
Two wives in the army is too many for me.


Many folk in the inn began to clap their hands or tap their feet, and a few sang along. Children sat around at a lower table that Lachlan had set up from the back, and some sipped Strawberry Punch, pretending to be grown-ups at a feast. Several of the children wore what looked to be baker's hats, which confused Aylwen, but she didn't think twice about it.

Between serving drinks and keeping her balance with the children running around, Aylwen made certain that Tar got enough to eat, and that Delia met a few visiters and perty-goers her own age. The party was going well, with few troubles or problems.