Words: Queen's Rapier Champion '09

Brunissende de Brocéliande did the calligraphy and illumination for this scroll.

Having written many fencing scrolls from foppish sources, I tried something different and used the more manly Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus (aka "Saxo the Learned") The Danish History, Books I-IX, Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD.

SCROLL WORDS
Queen's Rapier Champion '09

Alethea Regina, also Alethea the Learned, wise and temperate Queen of the East, flower of Elysium, muse of song and saga, bids you greetings. Know that in order to try the bravery of Our champions, We bid them not skulk timorously at the heels of others, but to come to the duelling-ground and requite by noble deeds of combat the trust placed in them by their Queen, and to avenge with heaped interest any wrongs to their illustrious lines.

On this Feast Day of Saint Ermine, the 28th day of February, We have tested the valor of Eastern warriors and found one whose heart is not afraid, and who welcomes challenges with a smile. So do We name ____________ Our Queen’s Champion of Rapier and bestow suitable appointment amongst Our champions. This We do at Our King's and Queen's Rapier Championships in the Barony of Bhakail, AS XLIII.

SOURCE TEXT (cut for brevity)
Selected Anecdotes and Accounts of Epic Combat from Saxo Grammaticus
(aka "Saxo the Learned"), The Danish History, Books I-IX
Late 12th - Early 13th Century AD

For he sank down half-conscious, and, leaning on his elbow, welcomed death with a smile, and spurned destruction with a laugh, and passed rejoicing in the world of Elysium.

[...]

Then, in order to try the bravery of the champion, he bade him not skulk timorously at his master's heels, but requite by noble deeds of combat the trust placed in him by his prince, who had chosen him to be his single partner in the battle. The other complied, and when shame drove him to fight at close quarters, Uffe clove him through with the first stroke of his blade. The sound revived Wermund, who said that he heard the sword of his son, and asked "on what particular part he had dealt the blow?" Then the retainers answered that it had gone through no one limb, but the man's whole frame; whereat Wermund drew back from the precipice and came on the bridge, longing now as passionately to live as he had just wished to die. Then Uffe, wishing to destroy his remaining foe after the fashion of the first, incited the prince with vehement words to offer some sacrifice by way of requital to the shade of the servant slain in his cause. Drawing him by those appeals, and warily noting the right spot to plant his blow, he turned the other edge of his sword to the front, fearing that the thin side of his blade was too frail for his strength, and smote with a piercing stroke through the prince's body. When Wermund heard it, he said that the sound of his sword "Skrep" had reached his ear for the second time. Then, when the judges announced that his son had killed both enemies, he burst into tears from excess of joy.