"We did Your Majesty." Esme said, yet again Kumiko was seamlessly summoning the escort over "Welcome to Achkaerin, there is a reception after the festival. May I introduce
Lady Emma Elsif she will be your escort for this evening well up to the reception at least and she'll answer any questions you may have."
"If you and your delegation would follow me Your Majesty we can get to our seats." Emma said
Over the next hour others were welcomed and soon Esme and Kumiko were making their way into the Royal Box, taking their seats among the rest of the Royal Family and Household, there were two empty chairs in the box. Silence fell in the auditorium, the lights were down for a brief moment before coming up again on the stage and then the Valtheim Guards Band struck up the
fanfare that was the traditional start for the night, everyone stood as
Emperor Peter Azurewind and his fiancee
Renee Sandiego entered the Royal Box and took their seats. When the fanfare was over
Oliver Thornton the Speaker of the Achkaerinese Senate stood on the stage behind a podium.
"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness's, Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen." Oliver said "Tonight as we have for every Memorial Day since the first one in 1946 we come together tonight in this place to remember those that fell in the conflict regardless of sex, colour or creed. This year is a momentous year for the Achkaerinese Armed Forces in particular the Achkaerin Air Force which celebrates it's centenary as a formal branch of the Armed Forces. We also pay special tribute this year to those who fell under the banner of the Commonwealth Treaty Organisation as the Holy Empire of Achkaerin prepares to leave that organisation. We begin with the recognition of the battles of Flanders in southern Vanora a battle that celebrates it's eightieth anniversary this year."
A spotlight now came up on
Princess Cerys Azurewind standing centrally she looked up as the spotlight lit her up and spoke the poem:
"Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields,
Sleep sweet - to rise anew!
We caught the torch you threw
And holding high, we keep the Faith
With All who died.
We cherish, too, the poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led;
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies,
But lends a lustre to the red
Of the flower that blooms above the dead
In Flanders Fields.
And now the Torch and Poppy Red
We wear in honor of our dead.
Fear not that ye have died for naught;
We'll teach the lesson that ye wrought
In Flanders Fields."
The spotlight dimmed and Cerys left the auditorium floor for the stage, it wouldn't be the last contribution from a Royal in the event but it was what they did during it. A few moments later the festival moved on as a choir of
Military Wives took centre stage, while they sang a torch was brought up from one end of the auditorium and brought to the stage.
"With this torch of remembrance we remember all who gave their lives in the Great War and all conflicts since. May they never be forgotten. With this we reaffirm our commitment to caring for those in need, standing with those who serve and striving for justice." the Sgt who'd brought the torch in proclaimed before handing it to Cerys who placed it in a stand on the stage.
“Over the last two years we have seen the servicemen and women of the Achkaerinese forces deployed across many different situations on Mundus, some under their own banner others under the banner of the Commonwealth Treaty Organisation, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives to save others.” Oliver said “Tonight is our tradition we welcome the relatives of those that have died in service.” there was a moment’s silence then one of Achkaerin’s lesser known musical artists, Taylor Davis
started playing a melody on her violin, as she did so a group of relatives of fallen Achkaerinese soldiers walked in through the supportive audience that stood out of respect and then out onto the arena floor where an honor guard of the Mossflower Irregulars stood, the relatives made their way across the floor to the stage where they took their seats in front of the orchestra.
“This year.” Oliver said “The Royal Hospital for Veteran’s has begun to admit its first veteran’s of the first Toshikawan Civil War, the work of the staff there and all those involved in the outreach program’s is something truly exceptional, the care given to the veteran’s of wars gone by, the commitment, the sensitivity and the respect is an example to many others. And it is an honor to welcome all veteran’s of conflicts here tonight. We have here represented tonight those veteran’s.” Once more the audience stood and applauded in the Achkaerinese veteran’s of wars gone by. They paraded in taking their seats in front of the orchestra. Oliver then looked up at the Royal Box, and was relieved as Peter had left the box since this next bit was important “Ladies and Gentlemen please welcome His Royal Highness
Prince Jack Azurewind”
The lights on the stage focused on Jack as he started to sing, his song was
the Last Goodbye as he sang, from the five entrances into the arena came members of the various branches of the forces each of them carrying a drum it was time to get to the serious part of the evening, the drums were placed together in the centre of the arena until they formed the
Drumhead and then the standards of the Achkaerinese forces were paraded in, led by the Air Force and Navy and then those of the Army. Two standards went to the Drumhead, the first the Achkaerinese flag carried by a veteran of the Toshikawan Civil War in the nineteen eighties, the other was one of the paraded standards, each standard was on a rota for this role - this year it was the standard of the Wyvern Legion, carried by
Corporal Maisie Adams the two standards stood either side of the Drumhead as another group made their way onto the floor it was led by
Alexis Minette the High Priestess of the Cult of Namis, it was traditionally the case that the High Priestess wore something regal or regal like on this occasion but Alexis wasn’t she was wearing a simple black skirt, a red top and over that her service jacket, she headed to the stage followed by the other Achkaerinese religious leaders. Behind them came
Major Fleur Mishima, the senior officer on parade, she was carrying in both her hands, clutched to her chest a white leather bound book - the Book of Remembrance, containing the names of all the servicemen and women who had given their lives. Fleur went to the Drumhead and placed the book on top of it before taking a step back and reflecting. On the stage Alexis had taken the podium from Oliver and had been joined by Peter.
“Your Majesty, Your Royal Highness’s, Honored Guests, Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen.” Alexis said “We come now to the formal part of the evening, the service of remembrance. This is a gathering that reflects the nature of all those that serve, all who have served and all who have made the ultimate sacrifice. It is a multi-faith gathering. We begin with our traditional opening song -
Edelweiss”
When the first song, a traditional Achkaerinese one finished, Fleur stepped to the side of the Drumhead and saluted Peter, who returned the salute
“Your Majesty the Drumhead is assembled. Permission to begin the Muster?” Fleur asked
“Permission granted Major.” Peter said
“Sgt Major.” Fleur barked at the soldier conducting the orchestra “Begin the Muster.”
It was quite simple what would happen now, Alexis would announce in turn each element of the Achkaerin Forces that were going to be on parade first up as the
music suggested was the Army, with representatives from the frontline soldiers, the special forces, the armored corp, medical personnel and cadets, they formed the front of two blocks with a central aisle to the Drumhead between them created. The
music changed and now the Navy marched in with the same breadth of representatives as the Army had they had their sailors, their officers, their cadets and their medics. Next with
another change in music entered the Air Force representatives they had pilots, navigators, controllers, medics and cadets. Finally the members of the civilian services entered from the sides and stood around the edge of the parade.
“In the book of Rebirth. It is written.” Alexis said “When the great unspokens darkest form lay broken and slain at her feet the Goddess Namis turned to the people of the chosen land and extended her hands, the souls of the dead were summoned once more to walk the soil of Mundus. ‘It is done!’ she declared ‘The journey is complete, the slate is wiped clean death is conquered, war is finished, peace is victorious, the sacrifices of the dead are recorded and all who are worthy in heart and deed shall sing the long song of peace in Meridian.’” it was probably the first time some of the guests had heard a quotation from the holy scriptures of the Cult of Namis contained in their holy book the Trinity Tome. Alexis looked around for a second before stepping back and allowing the Priestess of the Cult of Helus
Hannah Barker to step forwards. She wore a simple red dress her sword tied on a gold cord around her waist.
“Members of the Imperial Armed Forces I have here a letter from King David of East Moreland addressed to you which I shall now read.” Hannah said “To the Men and Women of the Imperial Armed Forces.
I am regretful that this year my many duties have meant I am unable to attend this event. I therefore believed that it was important for me to take the time to communicate my nations best wishes to members of Achkaerin's military both past and present. Our nations military forces have stood side by side on many occasions and I know that many Morelanders will have mourned the deaths of Achkaerin comrades in arms, people they do not see as colleagues but as friends. Together our two nations have achieved much, often being the tip of the spear in difficult circumstances, never shirking our share of responsibility to the international community. I know in the years ahead there will no doubt be times when our forces once more go towards danger together and I will be reassured seeing the Achkaerin flag flying once more alongside our own.
Today we will conduct prayers in the Temple of Jekar for our Achkaerin friends who failed to return home, we shall ask the Gods to watch over those they left behind and ask Helus to watch over the ones they have left behind. To those who went to war and returned injured I pray for their swift recovery and that a day comes once more when they can overcome the challenges their sacrifice has created for them, they have my thanks for the service they have performed.
May The Gods Watch Over You and Your Swords Stay Sheathed.
King David III of East Moreland.”
“We now join together in our Armed Forces Hymn.” Alexis said, this was a
hymn that had its origins in the War of the Five Queen’s back in the mid seventeen hundreds but it was most closely associated with the Great War when it had echoed across Mundus such had been the Achkaerinese deployments throughout that period of time. It was actually likely that some of the special guests were familiar with it.
When they’d finished singing that the Bishop of Ashwood
Martin Deed stood centrally on the stage.
“Divine Spirit, source of all being, from whom we emerge and to whom we return, we have gathered today to remember lives lost in war. For it is written,
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
We are thankful for the great love that gave us freedom and for the sacrifice of those who died that we may live in freedom. But we wonder sometimes if our freedom was not bought at too dear a cost.” Martin said
“And we pray for peace among the nations, and dialogue between warring factions. May we always remember those who died in war and persecution.” this was
Bishop Katherine St Claire of the Church of the Revealed Saint she was stood on the left hand side of the stage “not only the soldiers, but the civilians who were raped and tortured and butchered. May we honour those who stood as a witness for peace, because they would not turn their hands to killing.”
“May our lives and our communities be a beacon of justice, peace and hope, and may our words and deeds be a witness for peace, all the days of our lives.” now the leader of the Rosarity community in Achkaerin
Asano Yūki said standing on the right hand side of the stage “And when we fall into strife and bitterness, may we forgive ourselves and others, and work for reconciliation and renewed trust.”
“We would live our own lives in such a manner that we plant seeds of peace, and not seeds of war. We would work for peace and justice and tolerance, so that war may be prevented. For we are held in your vast and mysterious love, each life a bright thread in the tapestry of being, and all are one, and one is all, and the divine life shines in each and all.” Hannah finished the prayer off from her position just next to Martin.
While the prayer had been spoken, Peter had made his way down to the Drumhead where he stood with it behind him facing the massed ranks of the Achkaerinese Armed Forces stood at attention it was time for the reason they were all there it was time to pay their respects.
“They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.” Peter said, getting slightly emotional as he always did when he did this “At the going down of the Sun and in the morning. We will remember them.”
“We will remember them” was the echoing answer from all present,
The Last Post sounded out from a bugler on the stage, the two standards beside the Drumhead and those standing behind the orchestra were lowered and the auditorium fell silent as each paid their silent thanks and respects to the fallen, reigning down on the centre of the auditorium was what could have looked like red rain, these were poppies, some of them resting on the headdresses and shoulders of the people on parade. Peter had eye contact with Fleur it was strange that the two knew each other since they hardly inhabited the same social circles but her grandfather was the reason, his deeds during the Great War meant that Fleur got a lot of attention, not that she ever said a word about it publicly and even in private it was rare. When the two minutes was over it was signalled by the sounding of the
Reveille, Peter stepped to the side of the Drumhead as the standards were raised once more. On the stage Alexis moved to the front. But also two more people entered the floor taking positions one on the stage and one in the aisle at the back of the massed ranks.
“When you go from here tell them of us and say” Alexis said “For our tomorrows these gave their today.”
That was it there was just one more thing to do the orchestra struck up one last time for the traditional finale - the Achkaerinese national anthem
I Vow To Thee My Country, during the singing of this the torch was taken from its stand by the Sgt who’d carried it in and handed to
Lori Downing to take out with her. At the Drumhead the other person who’d entered at the end of the silence
Fiona Minette the younger sister of the High Priestess had walked up to the Drumhead where Fleur had handed her the Book of Remembrance, now Fiona turned and with Lori ahead of her and the two standards from the Drumhead behind, walked down the aisle. Now Peter started applauding and soon all gathered were applauding the people stood in the centre.
Now to complete the evening there was the reception.
