Page Education
by: Sir Auggie

Augustus strides into the largest hall in Camelot..
:::looks around at the shining and eager faces of the pages gathered:::
:::steps up to the podium:::
:::clears throat:::

"Brave Pages of Kort.. the Lady Bryne has asked me to say a few words."

:::nods respectfully to Bryne:::

"And when I asked of which she would have me speak.. she replied, 'Oh, speak about the Round Table..'" Puzzled.. I looked askance into her deliberate eyes... My mind whirled as I imagined myself rambling for hours about.. The Round Table... "Heh heh.. My dear Sister.. could ye be a little less specific..?"

:::teasing grin:::

"I don't see how much more specific I could be my Brother..." she responded earnestly. "Would ye do me this favor.. just once.. oh pleeasse...!!"

I shook my head side to side as I submitted.. "Oh, oh, okay... sure." With a smile, "Anything ye ask dear Sis'.." And so I set to pondering... I went to the Table... ran my hand along its tapered edge... sat in my chair... well worn from the years... thought of the many faces I had seen and they were there with me... I knew I could not even start to describe what this table meant to me... I needed a word.. Just one word... that could describe what the table signified... not just to me.. but to all ;)

And so I asked several pages casually... "What does the Round Table Signify..?" Many and various answers were offered.. "it signifies Unity.." "Love".. "The Eternal Tao.." and I pondered deeply... "But this day I offer this thought.. At the table we all sit eye to eye.. there are no sides or corners... All face the same point in the space above the center of the table. And in fact there is no head at a round table..!! Had ye noticed..? If asked directly, I'd say the Round Table signifies Equality. "

:::waits for murmured responses from the crowd:::

"Ahah..! I knew that.."
"Wait.. if that's true then.."
"This Ol' Geeser goes all 'round the stables to get to this..?"

Augustus looks sternly across the pages gathered... feigning distaste at their enthusiastic disorder.. ...the gleam in his smiling eyes betraying his true feelings of hope and love for these brave youngsters.. They fall silent under his gaze....

:::clears throat:::

"And let me indeed say, that the Table Round.. ...if ye include those who sit at it's edge.... Doth include much more... But the Table itself signifies Equality... And Equality is the basis upon which we build respect.. and Love... I know ye hear so very much of titles.. of ranking of endorsements.. too many numbers... I am Knight-Baron. Few reach that rank... But the fact of it is.. We're equals... I stand before ye... An Elder of Kort... and I say this... Ye can call me Milord... M'Lady.. whatever.. <grin> We shall be equals.!!"

:::pauses thinking:::

"Well perhaps ye are my superiors.. ye hold the future of Kort in thy hands... In fact ye have much greater power than me... And to you, the Pages of Kort... I hand my dear guild over in trust that ye shall serve it well.!!! ..and I smile knowing ye will.."

:::eyes glimmer with moisture as he grins broadly::::::
:::pages applaud politely:::
::Augustus bows as he steps from the podium:::

Thank you all for coming ;)
Augustus
Knight-Baron
Guild Elder of the Table Round
Ambassador to the Dryad Grove
Loyal Husband to Dragonflyr...