Bartona's Jester :: Miriam McMillan

Story: Some time ago, there was a well known Bartonan show, known to all as the Spades Circus. A famous group that toured the province, the Spades were known by all. The show contained acts and performances many people thought not to even be possible, and was something people just seemed to be amazed by. But they also feared it. Be it the forboding name of the circus, Spades, The dark and dangerous themes of some of the acts, or the magical power used to bring the acts to life, the circus was both famous and infamous in one. The artists of the circus didn't find anything to be dark about their work. After all, this was the work they and their ancestors had been doing since the beginning of the circus, at least two hundred years previously.

Miriam Rachel Rose McMillan was born to one of these families who worked with this circus. Born just backstage while the circus was on one of it's tours, her parents instantly began raising her to be like just all of her family had been before her; a performer. The McMillans were well known for their part in the show; the acts involving the summoning ("Pulling" a rabbit out of the hat) and flame (Fire breathing). Simple acts. All they involved was summoning seals and fire seals. But something that was not of common knowledge to the public. Perhaps these acts were not as dark as the others shown in the show, but they still were mysterious, and deemed impossible. People didn't have knowledge about these things. And for that reason, people didn't like them.

Since the beginning of the circus, there have been attemps to sabotage the infamous acts. Things only got worse when performances involved serious injury, blood, and even death. Magic was used like never before for what was said to evil purposes. There were those who knew and appreciated the true purposes of these acts - entertainment, but there were those who did not. These were the people who tried to stop the circus from running at all costs. But who would have known that even the king of Bartona would side with these people? The Circus drove people from far and wide to come and visit Bartona. It was agreat source of tourist economy, which the King appreciated. But he still believed the Spades had to clean up their act. There were also many members of the Government who who were against the circus. In an attempt to tone the circus down, he constantly sent out scouts to warn them that he would shut them down if they did not stop, but they took no heed of him. So he decided to get to them another way. How was this? Kidnap.

Miriam was twelve years old when her King decided to take her away from her family, the circus. She was just a year away from becoming a teenager, and being able to perform in the shows. Up until then, she had spent her whole life training to be a part of the Spades. Her talents in the magical arts of summoning and fire were fairly established. She looked like she would be a talented performer. It was a pity she never got to take to the floor. Weeks before her thirteenth birthday, Miriam was out helping the circus by going to collect food for them, when the King's soldiers spotted her. Unluckily enough, she was the first member of the circus they had spotted outside, and as such, she was kidnapped and taken off the castle.

When she awoke in the castle, Miriam was frightened and worried. She wanted to go home and return to her family. She didn't know where she was, and why anybody would use her like this just so that the circus, which to her was a wonderful and pure place, would tone down their act. But half of her was hopeful. Her family were all magicians, and as far as she knew, the king and the guards were not. They would come and save her, and she would be okay. Or so she hoped.

What did the circus do however? They simply left her behind and moved to their next destination. As the old saying goes, The show must go on. Losing performers was nothing. This was a circus that killed their own members to simply entertain others. Even Miriam's parents didn't care too much. They had been raised to serve their circus, and going to bust the girl out would only cause more trouble. And so they left. Informing the King that he could dispose of the girl if he wished, and that they would leave his province, but still keep up the dirty act.

It was then that Miriam's perfect world simply shattered around her. Her whole life she had been taught that the circus was a wondrous place, somewhere where they would be her family, and she would serve them in return. Somewhere where everybody looked out for each other. That was what she had been taught. But it wasn't so. Looking out at the situation from the Dungeon where she was kept, Miriam realized that the circus was a dark, dirty, evil place. They cared not for her, or for the wish of the king. They simply left, in order to continue what their work. And left her there to rot in a castle dungeon, with no use to the world. All she knew was "evil magic" and circus tricks.

But there was a little bit of hope for Miriam. The King felt sorry for her. He hadn't meant to keep her forever, he had said that he would give her back when the Circus simply agreed to calm down a bit. But they did what they did instead, he felt pity for the poor girl, and realized that she perhaps, was not as evil and twisted as the rest of them. He confronted her and offered her the position of the King's Court Jester. The previous one was old, and looking to retire, and the King was in need of a new one. And who better than an ex-circus Magician? Miriam refused at first. She was unwilling to perform any of that "evil magic" ever again, but when the King reassured her that not everyone in that circus was evil, and that he had no problem with her doing what she did best, she agreed to take the job.

Miriam has since lived in the Castle, acting as the King's Court Jester. Her magic and performance skills are appreciated by all in the castle, where she is known by her Jester's name of "Merry Miri,". She spends her time dancing and performing for the King, as well as entertaining the children of the court, who seem to love her. Yet behind the cheerful jester named Merry Miri however, Miriam still has her feelings of sadness and pain coming back to haunt her.

Good work Klee. I like her!