Here We Come A’Wassailing pt 3
In which Anne and Ring make plans
Anne pulled one of the few stools close to the bar and parked her elbows on the scratched, polished wood. She sipped the chervil cooling water. It was not her favorite, but the light, licorice flavor was a refreshing change from the warm, heavier drinks typically served in colder weather. “That you for the water, it is very thought of you.”
“You must tell me if there is something you like better and I shall try to have it on hand.” His long tail flicked like a satisfied cat’s. “Now tell me about what brings you here today.”
“We are back on school holiday, and I am dreadfully bored. But I want to do something normal for the holidays, or at least as normal as can be had at Pemberley.” She must not roll her eyes. Many dragons considered that an expression of aggression.
Ring chuckled. He leaned his elbows on the bar to match her posture. Mama said that was a sign of welcome and interest among the cold-blooded. “You have something in mind?”
“Wassailing. I want us to go wassailing.”
Ring blinked his bright eyes several times. “That is an interesting choice.”
“What do you mean by that? Interesting does not sound like a compliment.”
“Just that of all things you should choose to be, as you say normal, by which I think you mean like the dragon-deaf, wassailing seems an odd thing.”
“Is that so? What would you choose?” It was possible, though unlikely, that he might have a better idea.
“Well, parties of all sorts seem far more…natural.” He dodged her gaze.
“Natural?” That was a strange word for him to choose.
“The dragon-deaf throw parties all the time. For any and all sorts of reasons. You could have a sleighing party—there should be snow enough for that soon—an evergreen party, a skating, a mask, a parlor party with games—”
“But those are so mundane.”
Ring cocked his head until it was nearly sideways. “I thought you said normal, is that not what you meant? Parties are a very normal warm-blooded activity.”
“I know, but …” She frowned and stared at her hand. “I don’t know. I just want to go wassailing.”
Lovely, Ring wore that expression that Mrs. Feildings wore when she tried to demonstrate how reasonable she was. “Have you thought about exactly how and what you want to wassail?”
“I am not sure of what you mean by that.”
“Well, wassailing is mostly about ritual to ensure prosperous harvest and the well being of the farming portions of the estate. You could wassail the orchards, the crops, even the livestock. Anything you would want to bless on the estate. really. Or at least that is what I understand.”
“Forgive me, but may I ask how you have come to know about wassailing?”
“Many dragons visit on their way through the Keep—this particular spot is a well-known safe place for travelers to rest. They often want to share their experiences, and I like to listen. I have heard some … talk … about the … custom.”
“That sounds exactly what I want then. It is how the common warm-bloods would show their appreciation at this time of year.”
“But what or who exactly would you want to wassail?”
“You said orchards, yes? That would be the most natural place to begin.”
“Well, Grove would be the dragon to see for that.”
“And the fields?”
“Then that would be Gates?”
“The livestock?”
“Then Welles would be your fellow. He’s in charge of the shepherding drakes.”
“Those are all dragons though. Could we not wassail—”
“Without involving them? No, Miss Anne, I think not.” Ring’s eyes grew wide, and his brow knotted. “They take their roles very seriously and would not take kindly to their part of the territory being invaded without their approval.”
“Invaded? We are the family? How could we invade our own territory?”
“You have discussed how dominance works in school, yes?”
“Yes, but I do not understand how it is relevant here. It is a complicated subject, at least when one is not born with cold blood in their veins.” So many lectures on the issues of dominance had ended with a headache and no better understanding of the matter, she had nearly given up altogether.
“It is a matter of respect, that might be a clearer way to think about it. While Pemberly is the dominant dragon of the estate, different ones among us are responsible for different areas and within those areas.”
“Is that the delegated dominance thing? One of our teachers tried to explain it, but then she got into an argument with one of the other dragon staff over the precise definition and I am afraid none of us walked away with a good understanding.” Especially when Mrs. Fieldings was the dominant force in the school and did not share dominance with anyone.
“Let me see if I can help. In my pond, I am the dominant dragon and those smaller water dragons who live there—there are only a few to be sure—answer to me as I answer to Pemberley. If, for example, Sir Fitzwilliam were to decide to fill in the pond and get rid of it, he would have that right, but it would be bad form, and an insult to Pemberley, to do so without consulting myself, first, and then Vicontes Pemberley if he and I reached an impasse.”
“A bit like Cook answers to Mrs. Reynolds who answers to Mama then?”
“I doubt any of them would threaten to bite the other, but that is close enough for these purposes.”
Anne chuckled. Occasionally Cook seemed ready to bite any who wandered into her kitchen uninvited. “So if we want to wassail the Orchards, we would first approach Grove?”
“Yes, you would, or should is probably a better description, you should approach Grove, wassailing him first. Then he might give you access to do so in the orchard.”
“Oh, that does make this a very different prospect that I expected.” She chewed her lower lip. This was far more cold-blooded involvement than she wanted. Far more opportunities than she wanted to be told “no.”
She was the daughter of the estate, though. Should she not be able to do as she pleases?
“Pray, Miss Anne, do not think me too forward, but do not be tempted to try to skirt around the dragons assigned to those territories within Pemberley. I would be an insult to the vicontes herself. I know you would not want to do that.”
“No, no I would not. Although, in some ways it is her fault that my life is so utterly not-ordinary. It would not do to insult her in any way.” Or Mama and Papa, as an insult to Pemberly would also be an insult to them. “I suppose there is little choice then, we will have to wassail those dragons first.”
Ring cocked his head as he caught her gaze. “Are you sure I could not persuade you to hold a party instead? I would be happy to offer you the pub as a location to hold it. It would be away from the main house, where you could entertain as you liked, not under Mrs. Reynolds most proper, and sometimes a little staid, supervision.”
That was a very polite way of describing the very proper housekeeper.
“That is very generous of you, but my mind is made up. We will go wassailing.”
Ring sighed, sort of like Mama did. But she was not going to let that dissuade her.
“Can we go right now?”
“I think not. There is much to be prepared, first.”
“Prepared? What do you mean?” Or was he making things up to discourage her?
“We will need to toast to hang in the trees, the ribbons, the music, a pot and spoon to make noise. You have not decided the song you will sing yet, have you? Or the verses you will use?”
“There are different songs? Different verses?”
“Oh yes, wassailers often write their own verses to the songs. To call out the specific orchards, trees, families, animals—ever so many things. You and your siblings need to give that some thought.”
“I do not even know one such song. I did not realize they were so specific.”
“Your Mrs. Sharpe hails from regions where wassailing is common. I am sure she can tell you about her experiences and teach you the song she sang.”
“I do not want her involved. Nothing involving her is normal.” And she had an alarming tendency to say “no” to anything that sounded remotely amusing.
Ring chuckled. “Then perhaps you can talk to Mercy and Truth, her zaltys friends about it. I expect they would know as much as she does.”
“I could do that.” But it would not be normal.
“And we have to have a wassail bowl and make the wassail itself. We cannot forget that.”
“That makes sense. Can you help us make the wassail?” How very vexing this all was. But she wanted to do it properly if she was to do it at all. “May I let you know when we are ready?”
“Of course.” Ring nodded, if a little hesitantly.
Watch for part 4 next week! Catch up with prior chapters here.
While you wait, check these out!
Explore more festive foods, forgotten customs, and holiday entertainments.
Explore An Historical Christmas>>
Or follow your curiosity into…
Games and Frivolities
Discover how our ancestors made merry during the holidays.
Want to spend a little longer in Christmas past?
Discover the real traditions of the Regency holiday season in A Jane Austen Christmas, or join Elizabeth and Darcy for a festive visit to Pemberley in The Darcys’ First Christmas. After all, reading about a Regency Christmas is delightful. Spending one with the Darcys might be even better.
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