Top 3 Fictional Castle Escapes (Lizzie)

Everyone loves a daring escape. Here are three (plus a bonus) of my favorite escapes from castles. Warning: There are spoilers in these descriptions.

3. The Fall from The Princess Bride 

I don't like heights, so even if a gentle giant is waiting below my window to catch me, I'm not sure that I wouldn't opt for bed sheets tied end to end. However, when Buttercup smiles confidently down at the giant who'd once kidnapped her and then lets herself be dropped out the castle window, it does make for a good scene, especially with her dress fluttering as she falls. Add to that four white horses for them to gallop away on, and it makes for a great getaway.

It should be noted, however, that fictional women were not the only ones to escape castles. Empress Maud (also called Empress Matilda), during The Anarchy (1100s) in England, was battling for England with her cousin King Stephan when she became trapped in Oxford Castle. On a stormy winter night, she was let down from the castle via a rope and escaped over the snow-covered ground wearing a white cloak to hide her from the surrounding troops.

2. Riding Through the Front Gate: Disney's The Story of Robin Hood and The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh

After the Sheriff of Nottingham's disreputable deputies try to incriminate Robin Hood and his Merry Men by attacking the Queen dressed in Sherwood green, Robin Hood and his men find and don the defeated soldiers' real clothes and head to Nottingham Castle. There, they rescue Maid Marian and then ride out through the front gate and across the drawbridge to safety. Robin Hood, however, having stayed behind to see the others safely out, has a more dramatic escape--over the quickly closing drawing bridge into the moat with the sheriff on his tale.

With disguises, a bold entrance and exit in plain view of the guards, plus the dramatic rush over the drawbridge, it's a great castle escape. I love the daring of a disguise and open entrance or exit as much as the slyness of a secret removal.

The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, Dr. Syn.

Another great example is from Disney's The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh, which tells of a priest (aka, The Scarecrow) in Cornwall who leads his parishioners in a smuggling ring (keeping them safe--they'd get caught if he didn't lead them--and giving money to the poor, of course, to make it right). When some men in his care are thrown into the castle dungeon, the Scarecrow and some trusted friends disguise themselves as a press gang and walk the prisoners out right under the commander's nose. Until realizing who the press gang members were, the prisoners probably preferred the dungeon over the fate of those forced into His Majesty's Navy.

1. Gandalf and the Eagle from LOTR

I admit not liking heights, but Gandalf's escape from Saruman's fortress is breathtaking. He jumps off the top of a tower, seemingly into thin air, and then soars away on the back of a giant eagle. It's a fantastic visual image. Dramatic, unexpected, brilliant.

Bonus: Getting yourself marched out and shot: The Scarlet Pimpernel

Sir Percy Blakeney

I forgot this one until I had already decided on my Top 3, but once I remembered it, I couldn't not mention the climax of the 1982 version of The Scarlet Pimpernell. The agent of the French Revolutionists have discovered that the supposed slow-witted dandy Sir Percy Blakeney is really the Scarlet Pimpernel, the daring leader of a group of young Englishmen who rescue French nobles right from under the guillotine, carrying them away in brilliant and sometimes, terrifying, disguises. Sir Percy and Marguerite are trapped in a castle on the French coast, Percy is marched outside and shot by the revolutionists. Marguerite is distraught ... until Percy walks back in, revealing his men had "persuaded" some of the revolutionists to swap clothes and that it's the revolutionists who are trapped.

There are dozens of fantastic escapes, but these are some of the first that came to my mind. What are some of your favorite escapes?

Top Three Weapons (Erin)

I realize wands have many uses, but the recent Top Three types of wands got me thinking about other types of weapons. After all, our fantasy protagonists might have to defend themselves or those they love. So, here are my top weapon picks:

3. Since Thor: Ragnorak just came out, I feel like we have to include a nod to Thor's

Hammer. Tell the truth now,--how many times have you picked up a hammer and thought it would be fun to hit something as hard as possible, instead of lightly tapping a nail into the wall?

2. Oliver Queen's Bow and Arrows. Over the course of 6 seasons, his bow and arrows have gone through multiple iterations. No matter the season, his aim is always impressive...as is his hood.





1.The Sword of Inigo Montoya, from The Princess Bride. After all, Wesley says he has

never seen its equal. And can anything top the fencing scene?

What is your favorite weapon? Leave a message and let us know!

Top Three Memorable Moments of Our Irish Vacation (Erin)

Well, you may remember I was headed out to Ireland in one of my last posts. We spent three amazing weeks sightseeing and visiting family in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and England, and I have some stories for you.

1.  We spent a few days in Dublin and then flew over to England and spent three amazing days in

London. We toured the Tower of London (the site of many beheadings), the Imperial War Museum, and saw Les Miserables at the Queen's Theater. On the way back from the theater, though, Chad thought we really should take the Emirates Gondola ride over the Thames. Now, you have to understand, I don't like heights under normal circumstances, but a gondola? Over water? Now that all my children are old enough to have grown braver than me, I didn't have an excuse to sit out. One of my children snapped a picture when I was feeling terrified, but at least I wasn't hyperventilating or shaking uncontrollably. I actually kept my eyes open the whole time!

2. One of our favorite cities was Galway, where we listened to buskers (street musicians) and poked around in iconic Irish gift shops.

However, the walk-up apartment I had booked us in, while beautiful and spacious on the inside, may have been located on the sketchier side of Galway. In retrospect, I probably should have been covering my husband's and son's eyes as we navigated through combination-locked gates and alleys, only to traipse past stores and lounges devoted to "lovely ladies." We finally fell asleep, only to be awakened the next morning by a blaring alarm and red lights flashing in our living room. I stumbled out of bed and realized my husband was nowhere to be found. After searching in all the rooms, I gave up and convinced my children to put their shoes on. However, I had forgotten, in Europe, you lock the door with a key from the inside. So, the alarm was still screeching, the red light was still pulsing, and I was becoming more frantic as I tried to open the locked door. Eventually, I located my husband's wallet and keys, and we let ourselves out into the courtyard. We waited, while a group of rougher-looking men peered down at us from the balcony where they were smoking and chatting. After a few minutes, the alarms were shut down and we shuffled back into the apartment where my son found a note his dad had left perched on the bathroom sink. He was out for a run.

3. Fantasy fans, close your eyes for a minute and envision the "Cliffs of Insanity." The ones Fezzik, in The Princess Bride, scaled, carrying three people on his back. These are Ireland's Cliffs of Moher. Wesley scaled them solo shortly after. Now, close your eyes again and imagine your three beloved children, or dogs, or best friends scampering at the top of those cliffs! Needless to say, I had sweaty armpits and a shaky voice as I tried to keep my kiddos close to me. Thankfully, my husband didn't let them climb around over the fence, so no one met a rocky death, or fell into the ocean. And despite some mud and mist, no one crashed into the electric fence meant to keep the cows off the other side of the path, either.

Although each of these stories made my heart race at the time, they are fun to look back on. "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).

When is the last time you felt fear about doing something exciting? Was your fear worth the experience?