Ursulwyck Medieval Faire – part 2 of my personal experience – specifically my protégé ceremony binding me with Zahra bint al-Rammah! I was so honored and humbled by this experience!
I don’t generally get stage fright or struggle to speak in front of a crowd, but this was vulnerable and emotional and truly drinking the Kool-Aid in a way I haven’t done thus far. The time to be overly self-conscious came earlier than expected, though, since I needed to find a witness to represent me in the ceremony! Since Jaida, Zahra’s first protégé and one of my favorite people, was already involved in the ceremony as our Herald, we opted to bring in other folk for these roles.
How do you choose who to include in something like this? It turns out there were a lot of people that are important to me at this event, but for this, I hunted down Skallagrim and asked him, awkwardly, “As my oldest advisor, will you please be my witness?” I was met with a big smile, and if he was laughing at me instead of being happy for me, he didn’t let it show! So, I had a witness, and then a trail of spectators as we made our way to the appointed space, just off to the side of the merchant’s row.
Before long, it was time for the ceremony and Zahra and I approached it equally weird, just as we’d planned, just as we’d acknowledged from day one of our formal mentor/student conversation. Good things are weird! What can I say?
We had agreed to a variation of Sample #3 on this site (http://www.modaruniversity.org/Protege.htm) though she did include a last chance for me to run! When we reached the point where I ‘gave her my lands and property as a token of my pledge’, I moved my string of bells that I’m well known for from my neck to hers, as a symbol of that moment and in turn, when she ‘returned all my lands and property’, she returned my string of bells to my neck. I love that this adds to their story and meaning!
After that, it was time to sign the contract, followed by our witnesses, Geirleikr and Skallagrim, before cutting it in two!
Zahra had asked me to create the contract since I’ve been practicing my calligraphy, with instructions to write it twice on one page with room for signatures below both, with the intent that each of us would be able to walk away with a copy once it was cut in half. I believe she also knew that taking the time to calligraph the contract truly added to the experience. Calligraphy is a slower art, and you have time to contemplate the words very specifically, as you create them on the page, and by the time you’ve drafted your words and then calligraphed them twice, you really get in touch with them. I feel like this adds to the ‘are you taking this seriously?’ of it all, and I appreciate that.
So, after all that work to create it, she let me be the one to carefully cut it in half, reminding me to add some squiggles to make it a unique key-like match, showing the two copies as a pair.
And then Zahra gifted me with a truly handsome golden yellow necklace, adorned with a deep red teardrop jewel. This was gifted in lieu of a protégé belt, as I’d told her I don’t tend to wear belts with my persona’s garb. She included the beautiful jewel representing the blood drop that is a symbol often used in the SCA in association with service and sacrifice.
Zahra – I’d expected some kind of token, but this is SO in line with my aesthetic and persona and even my little goth heart! Thank you so much for this truly heartfelt gift! I need you to tell me more about it now that my brain isn’t so overwhelmed! Baroness Tabitta, said she taught you how to tie the individual beads on?? I need to learn these ways, because this whole thing is so well made! 
After this, my *tiny* token of connection I gifted in return was a small brass bell each for Zahra and Jaida (as my now ProtoSister) – an offering of protection and joy, as the sound of bells is believed to ward off negativity, evil spirits, and to bring peace. I have duplicates of each of those bells and will be adding them to the string that I often wear, symbolizing that I’ll be carrying them with me going forward.
Adeliza then surprised me by gifting me with a ring that Rosamund had gifted her, to remind her of her oath, in hopes that it would do the same for me. I am so touched that she thought of me and gifted me with something that meant so much to her!
The ceremony ended after that and was followed by a flurry of congratulations and hugs and it all became a blur!
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Zahra, I am so grateful to you for this opportunity and for agreeing to do the ceremony with me at this demo event. We knew it’d be awkward, and it was, but it also ended up being so much more touching than I had expected. It’s not just Kool-Aid, folks, it’s friendship and support when done with the right people. You can see more of my gushing in the contract, but truly, you have been somebody I’ve admired for years and I feel so fortunate to share this experience with you.
I would also like to thank Jaida, not just for Heralding the ceremony, but for more than that. You were the one who inspired me to get involved in volunteering again after a break and connected me with some really good folk, including Zahra. I couldn’t ask for a better ProtoSister!
Geirleikr and Skallagrim, thank you so much for your support all this time, and for standing with us and joining in the ceremony as our witnesses. This weirdness is in part thanks to you both, and I am so glad you were both able to be a part of it!
Michael and Angharad, thank you so much for taking photos and helping memorialize this whole thing. I was surprised at how emotional it all was and would regret not having these to remember it by!
And I would also like to thank Camilla and Lóftr for organizing such a joyful event! I can’t imagine a better atmosphere to have shared this moment, so thank you both so much!
And all of you who chose to join us and observe this ceremony, thank you so much for taking the time to be a part of that! I hope you enjoyed a good laugh, felt the joy, and are inspired to pursue your path and help others on theirs as well!
Sabina di Zorzi 