Memories...
Monday, March 26, 2007
DEICHSTOCK AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE
There once lived King Arthur and his noble knights of the Roundtable, who protected and defended their city Avalon. They fought countless battles against foreign invaders and barbarians, and fought for the rights of their people as well.
Unknown to many, there exists a high council known as the Deichstock, who regarded themselves as high intellectuals who noe what's best for the people of Avalon. Indeed, the Deichstock often supplied Arthur and his men with weapons, equipment, supplies, and moral support in the past. The Knights of the Roundtable fought valiantly at the ground level, and often give their all to support the Deichstock in return.
Unfortunately, the Deichstock, high and mighty as they think they were, were too stuck in their thrones in the high mountains of Camlann. In name they always encouraged Arthur and his men to continue to be brave and to continue to promote the sacred spirit of Avalonese, but as time passes, the Deichstock began to lose touch of what's best for the people of Avalon. Avalon's territory was becoming increasingly seceded to the Saxon empire.
One fine day, the Deichstock suddenly announced to Arthur and his knights that they had to give up their stronghold of Camelot. Camelot was the fantastic capital of Arthur's realm, from which he fought many of the battles that made up his life, and so did his fellow Knights and past kings. Camelot was surrounded by plains and rivers, and its magnificent cathedral, St. Stephen's, is the religious center for Arthur's knights. It is from Camelot that the members of the Round Table embark on the Quest for the Holy Grail, held once every year where knights from every part of Middle Earth gathered to build the most magnificent Trojan House. Camelot's location was also extremely significant in the sense that it was from this center which most of Avalon were linked, in which supplies could be sent rapidly to aid outposts. The people of Avalon also strongly identified with Camelot as the symbolic center of Avalon activity and pride.
King Arthur tried his best and gave everything to try and persuade the Deichstock to re-consider giving up Camelot. Esp given the fact that the Deichstock only informed the Knights so late into the Llancarfan period, and expect Arthur and his men to empty Camelot in just 30 days. What's worse was that winter was coming, and the people of Avalon needed to prepare and stock up for hibernation. They had, after all, put in so much for the people during Llancarfan period that they ought to have deserved a good break.
Unfortunately, the Deichstock refused to budge. Rumours begin to circulate that Camelot was going to be ceded to the Saxons, who long complained that they had insufficient "earth and water". Arthur's predecessor, Uther Pendragon, who have been dubbed "Mouth of the North" by some his most vociferous enemies, was previously forced by the Deichstock to give up Glastonbury- known as the Gateway to Camelot, during his reign as well. Glastonbury was significant because it provided the people of Avalon with wood and quill pens. The Deichstock had previously promised Uther Pendragon that they would not deprive the people of Avalon with wood, and in fact, they were going to build new windmills to compensate the people. Uther negotiated hard as well, but to no avail. 1 decade after Uther handed the kingship to Arthur, the Deichstock still had not build the windmills for the people as promised. Glastonbury- the Gateway to Camelot, continues to remain vacant and in ruins today.
It looks like Camelot would face a similiar fate soon.
Uther, who is still alive and kicking, is fuming at the Deichstock in what he perceives as inconsistent promises. Legend has it that all along, the Deichstock already had plans for the ceding for Camelot, but were waiting, waiting quietly and patiently for the right moment to strike.
Meanwhile the people of Avalon are whispering among themselves.. They pay their dues to the Deichstock, and they should have the right to be consulted, to know why Camelot had to be shifted. Instead, what is happening now is that the people of Avalon are only being informed of decisions already made by the Deichstock. Discontent and disillusionment arise among the people of Avalon, many of whom have already felt that the Deichstock do not understand them at the ground level.
The Deichstock always think that they know what's best for the villagers and the people of Avalon, but do they?
