The Enchanted Island

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Matilda raises her veil and throws her arms around Trudii. “I love you,” she says.

Pandemonium breaks out as the well-wishers stand amid accolades and shouts and cheers. The worst offender of all is Celeborn the snake who walks out to centre stage to complete a short ballet before returning to his seat. This draws howls from the audience. The queen just shakes her head.

When normality returns to the assemblage, the king stands, “The celebrations will now begin.”

The small orchestra takes their places and as the conductor walks to the podium he is met with loud applause. The concert begins with a sacred choral work celebrating the return of their heroes. This is followed by three soloists, two women and one man. Then Puck, the poet laureate in residence, takes to the stage to a large roar from the lions, his fan club. He curtsies low to the royal box. He then clears his throat and begins.

“The glorious mountains and everlasting hills
The roaring sea, the gentle streams all give mute
testimony to Aine our gracious goddess.

In her benevolence she showers upon her loyal
devotees the abundance of the Earth the fish of
the sea, the winged fowl of the air.
These blessings are magnanimously bestowed
upon us without request for reward.
What perversity in this divine dichotomy warrants such
outpourings of these manifold rewards?

What titles or adorations can be attributed to such
magnificence who is the author of such manifestations?”

He bows and sits down to rapturous applause. Next up is Pan, much loved for his depiction of nature.

“I sing of the glorious music of the nightingale,
the cries of the lark, the melancholy of the hawk.

In the botanic gardens the Orchids tall and majestic bespeak
of their own beauty.
The roses in their profusion of colour and beauty cry
to the wayfarer, Pause awhile and luxuriate in my nectar.

The sea celebrates its own profusion.
Porpoises cry to one another as they frolic above and
below the waves.
Humpback whales move with a grace that belies their size.
All sing an anthem of serenity and peace.
Beauty in its extremity extols its virtue.
All this extravaganza are we privy to as we traverse our
several paths”

He curtsies to loud applause and a roar from the royal box. Next up is a ballet troupe. They perform a dance depicting a bevy of swans trying to comfort a young swan dying of unrequited love. They glide upon the stage with a grace and agility that defies description, curtsy to the royal box and then take up their respective positions. The conductor drops his baton and so begins the lamentation. The music rises to a climax with the death of the young swan. The music, like the ballet, is extremely moving. The premier danseur and the premier ballerina complete a beautiful pas de deux which receives a standing ovation. To end the afternoon, there is a duet between the queen and Levenna, both of whom have beautiful coloratura voices. As they are led by Celeborn the snake unto the stage, everyone takes to their feet.

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