Tales of Edward Mercer

Countess (Dona) Amelot Lisette

Edward's passing has brought up so many emotions for me. When our heroes start to pass we realize: we must become the heroes in someone's life.

---My Edward story --
I made it to the final round of a Queens. It was Edward, Avery, and myself. I knew, I was fighting well. Iago pulled me to the side and gave me the talk...you know the one, you got this.

The pairings were called and it so happened I got Edward first. My mind almost exploded... I knew I was about to fight The myth, The legend WS Edward Mercer.

Layon was called and we had a few wonderful passes, I never put point on him ,but I got close a few times. In the end he took the point and when we hugged he said, "It was nice to finally fight the Don killer." I will never forget that fight and the many others after that Queens. I always tried to found him at events and ask for pick-ups and advice.

Edward always made you feel like it was an honor to lose to him, not just a shot that had to be called.

I will miss his kind smile and joyful heart.

Don Avery Shaw, OD

Today I have been contemplative. Losing someone who was once a person I saw almost every weekend for 10 or so years will do that. Edward was a good man, and supremely competitive. At the top of his game, he was probably one of the most effective rapier fighters I have ever known. But also utterly honorable on the field. The finals of Sereid's first Queens, Edward and Aaron going hammer and tongs...and then they both stop. Aaron not sure if his shot had landed cleanly, Edward trying to figure it out....and after 5 or 10 seconds, he shook his head and said "no, if I have to think that long, it was good"...and fell down. This was the Edward I knew and admired.

For me, he was a contemporary. We started in the SCA within a couple of years, were cadets together, came up at the same time...We met in many tourneys, he won most, but I would like to think I held my own, won a few. He was also there with myself and Ari at the Ravens Fort when "the cadets got bored". :)

That is the thing. I consider Edward a great fighter. I have never considered myself a great fighter. I was good. I had a few days where I was very good...and those I faced were either still on their way up, or had on off day. But I had one day....and now, the last two from that day have both fallen. Christoforo first, now Edward.

Both Queens Championships I won...I had good fights, but I did not have to fight a lot of killers. My opponents were solid, none of my fights were easy, but I did not have to beat Miguel or John or Brendan, or Miguel 2.0... or Edward on those days. You face who stands in front of you, and on those 2 days, I was up to the task.

But...then there was the Guardian of the Gauntlet that I won. Dirk, Ingrid, Edward, Christoforo. In a row. I will put that murderer's row up against just about anyone. And that day....for those fights, I was not just good....I was damn good. Almost great.

The thing is, what I remember about each of those fights is not the rush of winning. I remember the banter, the chess game, the mutual admiration, the respect. Everyone I fought that day gave 100% in those fights....and everyone was happy at each other's success. To use a cliché, we were "Brothers in Arms" (gender is not the point of that statement, please understand that). We fought, we laughed, we pushed each other to be better. I miss that feeling....not saying that it does not happen in the SCA anymore, it does....but not as much for me. My fighting is not what it was, my body will not cash those checks that my mind and ego want to write any more. But I see those feelings when I watch John or Miguel or Miles or Orazio or Feodor or Elizabeth or...the list goes on. And that is as it should be. Those who were my heroes when I started have gotten older and some still show up, but most have moved on. I am getting ready to leave not just my Kingdom, but to move to another continent. I have gotten older, time passes. We get older. We break more easily. And eventually, we will all fall.

Edward was a good man. He had his faults, we all do. But overall, I would absolutely state that I feel his good deeds far outweighed his bad. The world is slightly darker with his passing. So it is up to the rest of us to brighten the light. Whether it is our own, or if it is helping those who come next. We all owe it to those who came before....

Show folks the path. Be good humans. Do the best we can to do what is right. We will not always succeed, but we have to try.

Thank you Edward, for being a good human. And for reminding me that some days, you just need to remember....they let us play with swords.

And that is a wonderful thing.

May his memory be a blessing.

Baron Miklos von Baeker, OD, Trimaris

(In response to photos posted by Don Puck Oneshoe of Sauvage) Thank you for posting these pictures, Puck.

After seeing them, I realize that I faced Don Edward in the Gulf Wars Champions' Tournament about 5 years ago. I can testify that he was the most joyous opponent that I've ever faced there... He was most courteous in meeting me, happy to be in the fight, gracious in his victory, and he delivered one of the most delicately beautiful murders that I've received in that venue. <3

I remember this man and I mourn with you all, Ansteorra.