Brogan arrived not long after and was, Comyn hopes, pleasantly surprised to find he would not be the only member of the Tuatha to attend. He was soon set up in Fjolnir's wedge with all the accoutrement needed for a liesurely event.
The Norsemen had built many new things since we were last in their land. Upon the space where so many Viking ships have burned for Norselanders making their final journey had been constructed a stout two story castle gate. Mounting the battlements by a stair at the rear, one could take in almost the whole of the site except for the many hidden and secret areas where the Norselanders worship their ancestors, conduct ceremonies and handfastings and make sacrifice to their strange gods.
In Ravenclaw Ogier had three of his brews on tap and Comyn sampled them so many times he can barely remember their names but one was an IPA, another a Stout, and then one was running an Irish Red for some time.
Friday night revelry was attended in Freehall where Comyn and Angus and several of Freehall sang many of the Tuatha's favorites from the Book of Song around a table set up in front of Angus' new home. Comyn doesn't remember too much more about Friday night except that he knows Angus was still playing tin whistle at 3:30am only because he removed an ear plug to check at that time.
Saturday weather was as wonderful as Friday and the Norsemen spent much of the day laboring on various tasks in preparation for the nights feast and activities. The youth of that place spent a lot of their time in competition for many prizes. Comyn contributed to these gifts a mandolin that he has used at events for many years to show the generosity of the Clann. The crafting competition had many entries and Comyn did not catalog them but they were all very impressive. Olaf's oven won the prize and it was fired and used to bake the deserts for feast. Brogan stood before, and spoke at Thyng Assembly to remember Aonghus to the gathered and there were many in attendance who had known Aonghus well even as there were many others being remembered similarly at this 45th anniversary of Norseland who had also known Aonghus.
The return of Elezar was noted. Especially because of the legend that had grown up around the fact that Halfdan and Elezar were never to be seen at the same event leading some to speculate that they were actually the same person. This theory was dashed as they stood side by side before the assembly!
Angus, Halfdan and Comyn spent not enough time playing tunes in the shade on Friday and Saturday but after nightfall when it had gotten quite chilly, it was only after Angus kindly invited us inside his heated A-frame that we were able to continue making this uniquely Celtic music, and this turned out to be the musical highpoint of the event for all three of us to be sure.
Sunday there was no rush to pack up and leave site. The weather was just as wonderful and hot fresh food from Freehall just as plentiful. Brogan and Comyn coordinated so they could leave more or less around noon and help each other bring down their tents without cracking the beams.
