For your edification I present, Garrett's Dictionary:
Rogue - A member of the International Brotherhood of Rogues, Scoundrels and Cads. It's a Faire thing.
rogueing - When several Rogues encircle a lass and, one at a time, present her with a rose and sweet words. It can be sweet, playful, or naughty depending on the lass in question and how well she knows the Rogues.
Wench - A member of the International Wenches Guild. In Faire circles, this term is not derogatory.

Now on with my tale... Karen and I woke early, showered and headed off to breakfast so that our room guests could sleep a bit longer. When we came back upstairs only one of them had stirred. I pleated my kilt (Scottish male attire) and Karen's arisaid (Scottish female attire). Soon enough we were heading out the door towards MDRF. We managed to get a decent parking space. After I put on my belt, jerkin and hat I led my lady over to greet the other early arrivals.

Even while greeting people that I haven't seen in almost a year, I'm counting noses. You see, I picked eleven other Rogues to join me in rogueing Karen, at the end of which I would propose. I find Ani and she tells me the roses she got are pink and hidden behind one of the booths. I introduce Karen to some people that she hadn't met yet and then we run off to get soup in a bread bowl. Having finally accounted for all my Rogues, I relax with some clam chowder for a few minutes while a friend of mine (MrWhizzr) runs off to buy a white rose for me to present.

All too soon, it's time. I know it's time because I keep getting faintly hidden signals from people making the not-too-obvious gesture of pointing at their wrists and raising their eyebrows questioningly. I started shooing people over towards the chapel and when all my Rogues are accounted for, I delivered some quick instructions. I walk back to the Dragon Inn (about 30 feet away) and look for Karen. I tell her we're going to do a rogueing of Capi (one of the visitors from California) and she needs to hurry if she wants to see it.

There were at least 50 people gathered to witness the event. I dragged her through the crowd and made some pretense at searching for Capi. Then I turned to her and said, "Oh well, I guess we'll just have to do you.".

She froze and proclaimed, "But you already did me!". (Meaning she had been "rogued" at another faire last year)

"I didn't." I replied.

I led her to the center and then took my place in the rogue circle. (Click here to see pictures.) Soon it was my turn. I didn't have a cemented plan, but I had run several scenarios through my head in preparation for this day. Bowing, removing my hat, what to say, how to move... naturally they all leaked right out at that very moment.

I went forward, handed her the white rose and then took all of the roses from her. These I handed off to my official FlowerGrrl, Ani. Then I took Karen's hand and raised it up over our heads. Slowly I walked her around in a circle -- so that everyone could see her -- keeping my eyes on hers the whole time. When we came back to our original starting positions, I stepped close to her and said, "I love you so very much." Then I started tearing up and losing it. I managed to keep myself under control, but the strength of all that emotion surprised me. I realized that I had better get to the question before I completely forgot how to speak English.

The change to her face when I said, "I talked to your parents yesterday." was like night and day. Her mouth came open, her eyes went wide and she almost burst into tears right then. Thankfully she didn't because I didn't have any plan at all for dealing with THAT. Somehow I managed to spit out that her parents had given us their blessing. I was quickly degenerating into grunts and animal noises at this point.

While I fumbled in my pouch for the ringbox, I said "So I have just one question to ask you now." I knelt down on my left knee. I lifted her left hand to my eye level and whispered, "Will you marry me and be my wife?" (At least that what I think I said. I was concentrating on breathing so much that the details are a little fuzzy at this point.) Karen choked out a small "Yes." Thinking I might not have heard her, she added "Yes, I will." in a just barely discernible voice. But I heard it.

I stood up, hugged her and the crowd shouted out three "Hip-hip-huzzahs!" I heard that we stopped a show on a stage about 200 feet away. Oops. I guess nobody else heard her answer because while I was hugging my new fianceée there was a shout from the crowd, "Is that a yes?!?" Karen cried out a resounding "YES!" which set off a whole new round of cheering from those assembled.

And they hope to live happily ever after.         Pictures can be seen by clicking here.