DREAM IN THREE ACTS

Dreamed on February 22, 2014

Act 1- Orgy

A nightmarish portion of my dreams last night – a brutal, violent orgy from which we were all trying to escape, but by powers beyond our control, we can not. I was very happy to wake up and not go back to this.

Act 2 - Abduction

I am simply living my life when I am approached by a couple of scary looking men. Before we can say anything to each other, I am suddenly grabbed and wrapped up in blankets, tied up and tossed into a rickety wooden cart that has three or four other people in it. There is a discontinuity in time frames – as though the men are from another time period, wearing rough dirty clothing. I am dumped next to a man who absolutely stinks and I find it doubly hard to breathe. Almost on top of me, they throw a young man, also trussed up in blankets and twine. 

I have no idea how long we travel like this, but eventually the two men decide to stop for a break – at a gas station convenience store of all places! I hear that they will also be getting water for us, so I know that they don’t want us to die. While we were on route, I managed to loosen the bindings, and quickly get out of the blankets while they’re in the store. I also loosen the young man, who is now more like a teenage boy, and tell him to run. Recognizing the district, I give him directions which way to go. I run as though I am in a marathon, like I’ve (quite literally) never ran in my life. Somehow, the area and streets change around me, and I now feel a little lost, but still urge my companion to run. There’s a set of stairs leading to a beautiful small garden, and I now know that just beyond that will be a major street where we will be safe. We run through the garden, down another small set of stairs, around the corner, and just as I thought, find ourselves on busy College Street in Toronto, where we finally can stop and catch our breath…

Act 3 – Something Scadian 

I am with a group of people and we’re talking about the way things were back in the ‘golden days’ of the SCA. Someone mentions that Ariadne and Reynard will be holding a mini-revel at the Fassel Manor and anyone with SCA ties is invited, so off we go!

Only after we get there do I realize that I don’t have any garb, but almost as the thought crosses my mind I walk into a hallway and see a mannequin with a beautiful pale blue brocade cotehardie, with all appropriate silver accessories – including a pair of pants made of the same material. This is rather intriguing to me, since pants like this are not usually worn with gowns, but what the heck, I get dressed in the entire outfit. The skirt is beautifully heavy and full, and I now realize the benefit of such an undergarment, because it’s obvious I’ll be doing a lot of twirling in this garb.

Everyone else finds something to wear and are equally delighted in their finds. Our hosts make an appearance and greet us warmly, but with apologies – apparently, their home is undergoing some renovations, and we will be assailed by noise and workmen going through the grand hall. I suggest we go outside into the garden, and lead everyone out, but there we find the grounds to be full of puddles and soft mud – not suitable for any kind of partying, so cheerfully we go back to the house. 

After a short time of just mingling and chatting, someone starts to dance, but doesn’t get far. Seems that without music or someone to lead us, things won’t get far. I say, “If Kilderick (John Van Opham) was here, we’d be dancing no matter what the circumstances.” Everyone nods in agreement. “But why should we wait for him? I know how to lead, as does Baroness Ariadne – so let’s to it!” Instantly the gentles form a circle and we do “Salenger’s Round”.

Time passes, and the conditions of the house begin to deteriorate to the point that it becomes dangerous to walk around. To make things worse, I am now surrounded by a hoard of little children who want me to read ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to them. They pull me towards the only room which hasn’t been demolished yet, but it’s downstairs, and the stairs are in very bad and dangerous conditions to use. The children laugh, and tell me that they can simply jump down, just like Alice down the rabbit hole, and off they go, floating gently through the air. Of course, I do the same, with my full skirts forming a undulating parachute about me. Safely down, I sit in the chair with the children around me, and begin to read them the story.

Shortly afterwards, another lady comes in to take charge of the girls, and tells me that I’m needed upstairs, this time to look after some boys. I float up to where they are, amid the construction rubble and experience a momentary onset of panic – where can I possibly take them that would be safe? I glance outside, and see my answer. Instead of the grounds, I see the saucer section of the Enterprise. “Let me tell you an amazing story, boys,” I say, as I point to the window. “Come, let’s go and play on a Starship, and visit the stars!” To them this is amazing and unbelievable, since again I have gone back in time – they’re all dressed in Victorian garb.

Immediately, we transport ourselves there, and I tell them all about how the mighty Enterprise battled the Klingons and Romulans, finally reaching peace among them all. 

At the same time, I now have the added responsibility of keeping the invoices straight for all the workmen. The file drawer is far too small to hold all the documents, but somehow, distracted by the workmen, keeping the children in line, I manage to get this job done as well. Of course, I am nervous that this being my first time, I will make a mistake, and tell the foreman this when he comes to collect the papers. He tells me not to worry, then Ariadne appears, telling me that she is deeply impressed by how I juggled everything, and thanks me with a silver brooch largesse.

Instantly, all the repairs are done, the house is cleared of all rubble, and only the Scadians remain in the now newly renovated Great Hall. From somewhere, music strikes up, and we step sprightly to the tune of the Black Nag…