The Matter of The Roil Wedding
 
 Part II
 
 When the Crow is on the wing,
 And Great Love is in the air,
 In the center of the ring,
 You will find The Merlin there.
 For the wedding of the King,
 A Pendragon affair.
 
 Paris favored the Forest
 Deer Abbey wanted a church.
 Roils were asked to volunteer,
 And Merlin did a search.
 The worthy hounds came forward;
 Everyone wanted to help,
 Every roil and mini roil
 From elders to smallest whelp.
 
 So it was that Brogdar's ring
 To the Rainbow Forest came.
 Merlin called to its power
 And Merlin knows its name.
 Lochs came of their own accord;
 Water creatures would not miss
 The wedding of the century
 Or one legendary kiss.
 
 To Glastonbury Abbey
 Went the request in his mind.
 It appeared made from the mist;
 Deer Abbey was soon to find
 This temple more beautiful
 Than anything she had seen.
 She loved her magick Paris
 And she was to be his Queen.
 
 All of the clans assembled
 Round Kullen's Old Papa Oak
 Where the Iggies from their basket,
 Woven by some Elven folk,
 Fluttered tiny wild violets
Which drifted down through the air
 And upon the witnesses
 Gathered in the circle there.
 
 Macbeth and Lyra Skerry,
 Oscar Dragon and Dogwood,
 Karee, Sonny, and Dresan,
 Brenda the Bold and the Good.
 Maeve, the younger and elder,
 Foxy, Pennyroil, and Red,
 Charme, Tengu, and Jetsy
 Kent! is his name, he said.
 
 Emma, Goldie, and Ivy,
 Judson Jagger, Hetty Mae,
 Sophia, Aggie, Diplomat,
 Spennie, Coast, Callaway.
 Graeham, Connor, Duie,
 Winchester, Bert and Blade
 Ida, Lulu, Falala,
 And Margot, the lovely maid.
 
 Angelina and Magic
 Valentine and Eisadore
 Raider, Doughal, and Boomer
 Anamaree and Jynx and more.
 Kenzie, River and Raven,
 The Faster Sister, Ms Kit
 Bentley, Brogan and Smoke
 Anoona with more than one it.
 
 Then there came Sir Hannibal,
 And even little Possum.
 Brendan, Destiny, Inigo
 Monsieur Michou the Awesome.
 Tip and Twinkle and Rommy,
 Linnet, Leathen and Arlo,
 Braedie, Gunny, Lance, and Starr,
 Fillan, Hoosie, and Harlow.
 
 Hannah and Greyling and Pen,
 Sydney the mallymutt friend,
 Beginning of the circle
 But the circle did not end.
 Tutu, Linga, and Saffy,
Hamish from Oz long ago.
 The wisdom showed in their eyes
 Of what we have yet to know.
 
 Metaphysical Harry,
 Uther and Morgan Le Fay,
 Cara, Meg, and Eleanor,
 Old friends who had gone away.
 Taibet, Queen Cira and Blitz,
 Kullen, Charlie, Glenda Good,
 Macalister and Leddy
 With Akasha Peter stood.
 
 Laird Taurus, Lady Tapestry
 Speedo, Sabre, Senna, Kayce,
 Brian, Merlyn, and Murdo
 Rory, Darby, Black Queen Lacey,
 Cookie, Kamora, Spencer,
 Micah closed the circle round.
 They joined their minds together,
 And the wedding spell was bound.
 
 When the circle has been made,
 Rainbow Forest will sing
 Of the legend that will not fade
 And harmony love can bring.
 Even holy stones obeyed
 For a Pendragon King.
 
 Luna Rosa trumpeted;
 McBain piped under the tree.
 The Iggie Choir sang sweetly,
 Joined by deerie harmony.
 Iowa and India
 Accompanied from below,
 And all of them directed
 By the Angel Ms JoJo.
 
 Little Penny Poetess,
 Charlie, Becky, and Beau,
 Huckleberry and Tali,
 And oftentimes Auntie Crow.
 The standing stones vibrated
 As the violets rained down.
Slant yellow eyes were glowing
 From the forest all around.
 
 There was Mz Amy Needles
 On a branch above the rest.
 Her unmistakable song
 With sweetness the forest blest.
 The first Wee Merlyn joined her;
 Evening Star rose in the sky.
 The Egg Moon hung suspended,
 Ready to sanctify.
 
 Merlin opened the circle
 Joined by Crispin the Best Dog.
 Capy brought the wooden box;
 Sonic emerged from the fog.
 His white fur shone in the moonlight,
 And the purple ribbons danced.
 Abbey's giver-awayer, Mickey,
 Was so happy that he pranced.
 
 Abbey was walking on air
 Like a pup, she seemed to float;
 To love of her Pendragon,
 Forever she would devote.
 Easily ribbons entwined
 And paw to paw they were bound
 Furs were mingled together,
 And buried beneath the ground.
 
 Paris spoke his wedding vow
 Before all who would hear it,
 All souls that were gathered there
 In Body or in Spirit.
 He pledged Abbey as His wife
 To all that was His to give,
 Honor above all others
 Always as equals to live.
 
 First lap from their water dish,
 First bite of kibble or meat;
 Into her eyes each morning
 With a smile to always greet.
 He pledged his love, life, and death
 By the stones and by the loch,
Now, tomorrow, across The Bridge,
 With her in Beauty to Walk.
 
 And Deer Abbey likewise pledged
 Her devotion to her groom.
 Then paw in paw together
 Stepped over the heather broom.
 The older newlyweds kissed
 To the crowd's extreme delight.
 They had waited all their lives
 But finally got it right.
 
 Love ever has its reasons;
 It comes with the wishing star
 And follows its own seasons.
 You must come as you are.
 Yet many are its treasons,
 Hailing from both near and far.
 
 
 Only Zephyr saw the barge
 Bearing Avalon's three queens.
 Could only be The Merlin
 Who understands what it means.
 It drifted by silently,
 In shadows then disappeared.
 The three queens were beautiful;
 Zephyr knew not what she feared.
 
 The fragrance of the lilacs
 Banished all negative thought.
 Violets for the faithfulness
 Of finding the one you sought.
 Lavender for purity
 And inspiration to last.
 Roses for the forever,
 Future as well as the past.
 
 Something borrowed round her neck,
 And her partner by her side,
 Crispin spoke some saintly words
 Unto the radiant bride.
 As above you are the stars
 And the stones beneath your paws
 Firm and fixed your love shall be
By divine and mortal laws.
 
 May you walk and laugh and dance,
 This path that is old yet new.
 Love that is inside your heart
 Will forever see you through.
 Blessings from the Beings here;
 Blessings from all of the Saints.
 Blessings build a Rainbow Bridge
 When freed from earthly constraints.
 
 And then from out of nowhere,
 A fiddler began to play.
 Abbey got her Wedding March
 In a teasing sort of way.
 It was the Pugess from Oz,
 The Lady Arwen, her name,
 She gave that march sweet slow swing
 To Abbey's delighted acclaim.
 
 Ms Hound was waiting for them
 Beneath the Pendragon flag.
 With stately grace she welcomed:
 For Abbey, a special wag.
 The circle moved around them
 In deference to their years;
 Abbey thought she could jump the moon
 Or explore foreign frontiers.
 
 When the spiral had been turned
 And blessings had been received,
 Merlin thanked the beings there
 And all those who have believed.
 Elements were thanked as well;
 All were invited to stay.
 Toasts were made by everyone,
 Paris spoke his final say.
 
 He hailed all who listened there:
 Relatives, Shades, Roil Friends,
 In your company most fine
 We sang beginnings and ends,
 Welcomed poopies, suffered ITs,
 Shared wonder, mirth, and sorrow
 Cheered wit and athletic feats,
Hoped for wisdom tomorrow.
 
 We always danced for healing
 No matter the time it took..
 Learned of coaches and couches
 And how to keep a good cook.
 Let us celebrate shared lives,
 Make merry one more fool moon.
 Deer Lairess Abbey and We
 Must be away very soon.
 
 We have long sought Harmony
 So all could Walk in Beauty,
 Now must bid Hail and Farewell
 As is Pendragon duty.
 Feast and dance and make merry
 Beneath Awakening Moon,
 Then to Blairquham Castle.
 Pipers, play a joyous tune!
 
 Both broken but unbroken,
 The circle rite has been done.
 Too soon we will betoken
 A place in the Rainbow Sun.
 Paris his vow has spoken
 To Abbey, the bride he won.
 
 No Russians sprang from the cake
 To everyhound's great relief.
 The ancestors were honored
 By those ones who kept belief.
 The carving ceremony
 Started with the wedding cake,
 And the couple shared their bites,
 Some added good luck to make.
 
 Paris carved the highland steak,
 And many more toasts were made.
 Feasting began in ernest,
 And a highland jig was played.
 The next tune was romantic;
 The couple danced once around.
 Eyes for only each other,
 Away from the crowd they wound.
 
 Paris gave the carving job
 To his second in command,
 And went with his Deer Abbey
 To tour Scotland's sacred land.
 Their border collie pawman
 Had readied the pony cart;
 When Wee Annie heard the need,
 She offered to do her part.
 
 The honeymoon arrangements
 Had all been made in advance
 By the dogsbody Eclipse
 Who leaves but little to chance.
 Castles had been contacted;
 Beside the luggage he sat,
 Waiting for The Roils, his friends,
 And auld country's habitat.
 
 As Annie went clip-clopping,
 Abbey tossed the something blue
 Right straight at Anamaree,
 Taking good aim as she threw.
 The guests bade them safe passage,
 Sprinkling lavender flowers,
 And all the watchers marveled
 At Love's mysterious powers.
 
 
 Of Great Love, stories are told,
 Stories the harpers will sing.
 Two found love when they were old;
 Together made their own spring
 Because true love waxes bold
 And overcomes everything.
 
 Of the night's celebration,
 Many and many the tale.
 The interesting flirtations,
 The wee drams, red wine, and ale.
 Legends made up on the spot:
 The length and breadth of the feast,
 Had they really chased White Stag,
 And was that Highland Roast Beast?

  Did the party last all night;
 Did the faeries really stay?
 Did the Russian girls perform
 A tabletop ballet?
 Did Grace and Tal hit it off;
 Did Sims ever get a date?
 Twists and turns the story takes
 Are now in the paws of Fate.
 
 This is but a harper's tale;
 It fades like dying embers.
 But its hounds will all live on
 Each time a Roil remembers.
 So my younglings, tell it well:
 Make it laugh and dance and sing.
 Tell of Abbey's awesome eyes
 And her once and future king.
 
 Love that soars with quickest flight
 Sees the most colorful birds;
 Flame that shines the fairest light
 Remembers the poet's words:
 
 Till all the seas gang dry, my dear,
 And the rocks melt with the sun
 And I will luve thee still my dear,
 After the sands of life have run.