An Interview with a Rose

[Hanrahan 2983]

A N    I N T E R V I E W   W I T H   A   R O S E

 

B R O U G H T   T O   Y O U   B Y

 

T H E    M I N I S T R Y   O F   C I V I L   A F F A I R S

 

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The following is a series of correspondent interview letters taken from the Minister of Civil Affairs, and the Elf Tanith Toov. Tanith Toov lived several centuries ago, and was an integral member of the Order of the White Rose, and has a unique view of that historical time period, as the interview reveals.

 

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"To Miss Tanith, D.E, 

 

Thank you for your writing back to me, as it was a terrible gamble whether or not this correspondence would even find you ! To start with, I should like to know a quick summary of your most early life, and how you were introduced into the Kingdom of Oren. Although present in the Empire even at its earliest stages - an Elf living in the Empire was a rarity at the time, and it is most curious how you managed to make it your home. Did you face initial bigotry and racial challenges, or was it a smoother and friendlier affair?"

 

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"To Mr. Napier - I am indeed impressed your letter managed to find its way to me. I made myself scarce intentionally following my husband's passing. In my heart, I carry a great deal of shame for what I did and how I acted during my time with the Rose. In the intervening centuries, I have taken time for myself - to find out who I am separate from my identity as a servant of the Rose and of House Chivay.

 

In my early days, the Empire was not yet the Empire. It was the kingdom of Renatus, lead by Godfrey Horen. I did not come to the human kingdom as my choice, but rather as chattel. My early years were spent in indentured servitude in a nobleman's house... a man whose name I can unfortunately no longer recall. I was very young then and I believe my parents gave my service to the lord as payment for a debt. The exact how's and why's escape my memory. He was a minor lord of no historical note, though he had an impressive estate and two daughters. Land was plentiful in Renatus and even minor lordlings had acres and acres of property. My duties were to cook, clean, and maintain the estate as well as monitor the girls. The lord had no wife to speak of - I believe she died in childbirth - and I more or less fulfilled the role of managing the house. But eventually the lord died and his daughters released me from my contract. 

 

I found myself adrift in a land that was wholly unfamiliar to me. My youth had been spent on the estate and I had not been allowed to leave. I did not want to return to Malinor, though, as the Elven Lands would have been even more unfamiliar and alien than Renatus. I had not been in the company of other elves since my early childhood and I knew nothing of their culture. So I set about finding work in Renatus. By chance while wandering and looking for work, I stumbled into the land holdings of a fledgling knight order known as the White Rose. They had a modest fortress in the lands of an Adunian lord - again, whose name escapes me. I had stopped to admire their vegetable garden when I was caught by a man known as Velwyn Ashford. Mr. Ashford was surprised to see a stranger wandering their small village and asked me my business. I remember him as a polite and curious man, somewhat stoic but kind and deeply intellectual. I told Mr. Ashford that I was looking for work and inquired whether or not his fortress had a housekeeper. He was dressed in armor and wearing a brightly-colored tabard, so I mistook him for the lord of the fortress. He invited me inside and interviewed me, asking about my experience.

 

I will never forget how shabby that fortress looked! Dust everywhere and mud on the floors, books heaped in the corners, clothes thrown over the chairs! I could see they needed a woman's touch. Just a gaggle of bachelors living together in a small fort and turning it into a pigsty! Mr. Ashford seemed properly ashamed of the state of the place... and he agreed to hire me if he could get the consent of Thomas and Peter Chivay, the two brothers who founded the White Rose. Mr. Ashford asked me to stay until he could speak with them.

 

Thomas and Peter... they were two men whom I would come to love as dearly as brothers, but our relationship did not start out gently. The Chivays were somewhat notorious for their violent hatred of elves. I believe the brothers' parents were killed by elves in a raid and it left scars upon their hearts. Peter, the older brother, was more moderate in his dislike. He had a gentler and more easy-going temper, suited for leadership. Thomas, on the other hand... Thomas hated me from the moment he saw me. I had no name to him, simply 'knife-ear' or 'elf woman'. He had a penchant for shouting, drinking, and carousing. There used to be a rumor that the Chivays had dwarf blood, simply because of how Thomas drank. But Thomas had a gentle heart. He loved cats and children. Though he was rough and mean to me at first, we came to be close and dear friends. I remember how Thomas shouted when he saw me, a dark elf, cleaning his fort for the first time. He was ready to chop off my ears and throw me out in the snow, but Mr. Ashford interceded on my behalf and convinced him to allow me to stay. So long as I agreed to keep out of his room and not to touch his cat, of course. And that is more or less how I came to be the housekeeper and cook for the Order of the White Rose. 

 

...And there was also Mr. Toov, of course. The man whom I would later marry. But I do not wish to linger on him. Though a rather mysterious man, he was very kind to me from the outset and I quickly grew to like him. I suppose that is all that needs to be said.

 

I did face hatred, disdain, and bigotry - though less than one might think. Even Thomas Chivay, whose hatred for elves was nigh on legendary, eventually grew to like me and care for me. 

 

The sad part is... I did not cure his hatred for elves. I only cured his hatred for me, Tanith. And the longer you spend with someone, the more you become like them. You absorb their opinions and their feelings. As I worked and lived with the Roses, I began to disdain my own kind. I found them foreign, strange, decadent, and degenerate. Their customs and culture made no sense to me - especially that of fellow dark elves, whom I found to be especially repellent. I wished to be human, like my friends and my husband, to the point where I willingly trimmed my own ears. However, due to my skin, hair, and eyes, I would never pass for anything but a dark elf. The Roses often held me up as an example of a "good elf" who "knew her place." And I agreed with them! I thought... if only the other elves could just be like me, they wouldn't be so hated by humans. How arrogant, don't you think? To blame an oppressed people for their own oppression? To hold myself up as a model minority? To distance myself from my own peoples' culture and history... and act as if this is a good thing? To scoff at those being brutalized and killed... and to say to them, "if only you had acted more like me!" Looking back, it disgusts me. And to this day, I wish I had not cut my ears.

 

But the Rose was the only family I had ever really known. I never knew life as an elf. I was a human in upbringing and culture - in everything but my species. The Roses gave me camaraderie, made me feel useful and loved. I owed them for everything. And I still hold them dear in my heart. They did not endeavor to isolate me from my own kind. I isolated myself - and, to my shame, I gladly turned myself into a cudgel to be used against elvenkind. I consider myself a peaceful person. In my hundreds of years of life, I have never lifted a sword against another. But my example... my example was used as an excuse to crush, murder, and obliterate the unique and storied culture of the elves. And that is a sin I shall atone for until my death. I am deeply gratified to know that life is more equal now... and that elves do not have to forsake their ancient ways in order to be accepted among humans. Would that I could do my life over, I should like to be reborn in this more tolerant time.

 

-Tanith the Dark Elf"

 

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"Dear Tanith, 

 

A wondrously exhaustive and rich reply! I thought this interview might fit into a small pamphlet, but I think it may soon fill a book instead. If I may - There are other questions, but they may be more sensitive. If they are unpleasant and come with terrible memories, feel not the need to answer them. I ask you; What was life in the First Empire like? How was the Rose like? In our day and age, we have but one Emperor, four provinces, and one army between the lot. Military orders have since been banned, criminalized by law. The days of Knights themselves are over, and we award gentlemen knighthoods for literary excellence, or scientific discovery. The world seems a polar opposite to the days of your Empire, and in many circles - the reasons as to why a Knight Order would ever come into being, or be allowed to operate is a mystery.

 

 -Edward Napier."

 

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"To Mr. Napier -- 

 

I'm afraid my knowledge of the political workings of Renatus and the early Empire might be limited. Though I was often at the periphery of political dealings... and certainly affected by wars and the like... I was not really allowed to participate due to my elven heritage and also my sex. I've never been a gossip or an eavesdropper, so I tended to simply mind my business whenever the Chivays had a political meeting. Even when I was a noblewoman - a baroness, I think? It's hard to remember the precise rank - I kept to myself and my kitchen and my little vegetable garden. My two great loves have always been gardening and cooking, you see. The Roses liked to joke that you could always find Tanith in one of two places - either her kitchen or her garden. 

 

I will try to discuss Renatus and the Empire as well as I remember it, however. Renatus was but one of many smaller human kingdoms. Other names I recall are Hanseti and Salvus. Hanseti was the home of the Teutonic Order, ruled by Mirtok DeNurem. Salvus had its preternaturally youthful queen, Dawn Perea, whose family dated as far back as Al'khazar. It was a time of clashing factions, with blood spilt between hated rivals Augustus Flay and Mirtok DeNurem - August believing himself to be the natural king of Hanseti and Mirtok, understandably, disagreeing. The White Rose was so small at the time, an ant at the feet of clashing titans. I remember seeing the Teutons in their massive, magical suits of armor and wondering if we would ever reach the heights of their power. Little did I know, we would. The White Rose slowly gained influence over time. We were less exclusive than the Teutons, allowing members to join more easily, and less bloodthirsty than the Flays. We had honor and dignity - and soon we gained prestige. I remember how shocked I was when Godfrey's son, Horen IV, came to us and asked to become a squire under Thomas Chivay. Before then, I had only cooked and cleaned for farm boys and peasants looking to make a name for themselves - yet here was an Imperial Prince standing in my kitchen! Asking me to patch holes in his tabard after practice! As we gained influence, we became rivals with the Flays who reviled anyone who got in the way of August's glory. We suffered through many raids on our holdings and many deaths at the hands of the Syndicate. Though all of that changed when Thomas married his niece, Lorin, to Augustus. (Poor thing - she had been so terribly in love with Siegmund Carrion. To be married off against her will and lose the man she loved in one fell swoop... My heart broke for her.) The factions and knight orders often warred with each other and clashed in conflict. I am told this was allowed due to 'low crown authority'. And in times of 'high crown authority', the rivals must cease to fight and unify under Godfrey. Though a time of high crown authority never arose during my time, as far as I know. There was never a time when the Flays and the Teutons and the White Rose were not at each others' throats. Even after the marriage and the alliance with the Flays, there was still tension with the Roses. Indeed, the rivalry between groups was often so intense that full-scale wars would break out. And Godfrey would watch from a distance like a god, intervening only when it suited him to do so. Perhaps he thought it better to let them fight for his approval. That way, they would waste their energy and their armies on each other, rather than on rebellion against him. I do not know much of politics, so I cannot say with certainty.

 

Life in the military order was one of strict discipline, but also great joy and fun. The feeling of brotherhood, camaraderie, and friendship was infectious. People came to our fortress from far and near to enjoy our company. The Chivays were jovial men who loved to eat and drink. And I daresay I became known as a marginally famous chef for our splendid feasts. I felt just as much a part of the Rose as the soldiers. They often came to me asking for advice on how to impress girls. Or they'd ask me to mind their children. We worked together, raised families together, broke bread together. As someone who grew up without a family, it was everything I had ever wanted.

 

As for why such knightly orders arose... I suppose my explanation speaks for itself. Men, longing for a purpose and a community, swear their fealty to a cause, a code, and a leader. It is more intimate and personal than fealty to a nation. A soldier may never have the chance to eat a meal with his Emperor. He might serve for fifty years and never exchange words with his monarch. But in our Knightly orders, the leaders slept in the barracks and ate in the dining hall next to you. Even a lowly housekeeper like me could become their friend and confidante. I was friends with Thomas's wife Lynesse. I babysat his children and they knew me as their auntie. Would such closeness and friendship happen if I served in your Emperor's castle? Somehow I can't imagine such a thing. But I have been long separated from Oren and - as you have noted - times are different now. 

 

But, to me, Godfrey was as distant as God in Heaven. And Thomas and Peter were as close as next door. That made all the difference in the world.

 

 -Tanith the Dark Elf"

 

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"To Miss Tanith, 

 

Thank you again for such a rich description of the figures and times. Moving away from bigger histories, I now look to the minutae of everyday life, of which you in your role as a domestic woman were intricately linked to. In our modern Empire, everything is vastly different from the medieval days of the first Empire, in Fashion, in speech, in diet, and lifestyle. What was the food of that era like? What sort of plants did you grow? What 'isms' and little particularly prudent cultural practices stand out to you in that time period? 

 

- Edward Napier."

 

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"To Mr. Napier -- 

 

I'll answer you with the caveat that I was not - and am not - an especially fashionable woman. I was a bit of a black sheep in the Imperial court. No pun intended. But I never quite fit in with the fine ladies. Even with my baroness title, I still spent the majority of my hours cooking in the kitchen or getting my hands dirty in the fields. That is not to say I disdained the fine ladies of court. Not at all. They were my friends and often invited me to their parties. In another life, I would have liked to be a beautiful noble-born lady too. But I grew up with a very different background. Even little things like the texture of my hair and the quality of my skin separated me from them. Imagine a party where the fine ladies are braiding each others' soft, human hair or applying rouge to their pink cheeks. And how awkward that would be for me, with my ash-grey skin and my coarse, wild, white hair. My friends in court would commission their tailors for me, though, and I sometimes got to wear very stylish ball gowns. Silk was very popular at the time. There was a noble family living near the Carrions who specialized in tea and silk worms on their land. Cotton was well loved during the summer for its lightness and breathability. Noblewomen often wore garments with elaborate embroidery, small gems, or pearls. The Chivay women were especially fashionable as I recall. Lorin Chivay had a massive closet of different dresses for every season - in every color of the rainbow. And Thomas's daughter, Rosalie, grew up to be a very skilled tailor. I remember her taking commissions from everyone in court. Tailors were very high in demand, especially for the ladies. 

 

As for the men, they almost always wore armor. Fine armor was very much a status symbol. Augustus Flay was never seen unarmored - not even on his wedding day. Men also usually wore the uniform of their faction. It was odd to see a man without a tabard in his faction's colors. It was very easy to tell exactly who was an ally and who was an enemy when they wore their allegiance plainly on their chest. There were a few men who were more independently minded, though. Siegmund Carrion hardly ever wore armor as I recall. He was a morose looking man who dressed largely in black draperies. Mr. Hadrien, who worked with the White Rose for a time, wore a funny little hat and a cape draped over his shoulder (I did not like him very much but he was rather stylish). Men would show off a little more during the balls and parties, but military uniforms and armor were the order of the day to be sure. Agriculturally, we had many large fields of wheat, barley, oats, and rye. I had a small patch for carrots and potatoes. We kept cows, pigs, chickens, and lambs. As the cook for a large knightly order, I focused on foods that would keep for a long time and not spoil. Hard tack, jerked meats, and the like. We drank ale often for water could be dirty and cause disease. But we would occasionally have lavish feasts where we ate much finer fare. Things like roasted boar, honey wine, venison, fruits imported from foreign lands, fancy cakes and pies. But feasts were usually reserved for a martial victory, a death, a holy day, or a wedding.

 

But the more things change, the more they stay the same. Life today sometimes feels very much like life back then. I'm sure the fine ladies still go to the teahouse for cake and gossip. I'm sure the men still trade war stories over ale. The nobles still throw their dance balls and masquerade parties. And Oren is still as faithful and true to God and the saints. Although there are a good few more saints now than we had back then. 

 

-Tanith the Dark Elf"

 

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A Self Portrait of Miss Tanith.

[Fishy 2709]

The Governor-General sends word to Mister Napier!

 

”To Mr. Napier,
 

I have read your most recent interview published by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, and I must say it is a most intriguing piece. To have the first-hand account of one so close to the Order of the White Rose illuminates much of our history untold to us by modern scholars. Though their way of life has been passed down to us via oral tradition, seldom recorded are the personal lives of the Ordermen save what has been written of their saintly deeds.

 

I would ask after Miss Tanith’s letter box, such that I might correspond with her directly. While you have provided amply with your interview, there is ever more I would inquire about my own genealogy and that of the Kaedreni people’s with Miss Tanith as she is an invaluable resource for the cultural enrichment of the province.
 

Signed,

Prince Henry Frederick Helvets,
Governor-General of Kaedrin”