[Ponte Alto] Fwd: [Branchseneschals] Fw: Tale of the Golden Rose

Tue May 5 04:36:26 PDT 2009

-----Original Message-----
From: Bonnie Harvey/ Alesia Gillefalyn <alesiaglfyn at juno.com>
To: branchseneschals at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Mon, 4 May 2009 10:57 pm
Subject: [Branchseneschals] Fw: Tale of the Golden Rose

I know there has been a bit of a buzz about this event. Since the event itself is a little different, I thought I would forward this one. Please feel free to cross post. 

Alesia

Baroness Alesia Gillefalyn, OP
Atlantian Seneschal 

---------- Forwarded Message ----------
From: "The Batty Bard" <MysticSableWolf at hotmail.com>
To: "Merry Rose" <atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>
Subject: Tale of the Golden Rose
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 18:24:22 -0400

In a Kingdom by the sea there grows a garden.  In this garden are some of the most beautiful flowers in the world.  Roses, delicate and fine.  The beauty of this garden is not measured by what one can see with one's eyes, although that in and of itself is a sight wondrous to behold, but measured by the heart. 

This Garden is vibrant and alive with all the colors of the rainbow.  Blues to rival deepest sapphire, reds alive with warmth like rubies, the deepest black of midnight and greens vibrant enough to make even the richest of emeralds look pale by comparison. 

One day, as I walked among the garden, a Rose, Golden in color, caught my attention and I sat in wonder.  Its petals were delicate, soft and fine and much to my surprise, it spoke.  This Rose's voice was gentle=2
0and lilting and She asked me (me!) to attend to Her. 

I was honored and humbled by the request of such a beautiful flower and attend Her I did, to the best of my abilities.  I am but a simple cook, by trade...but I did what I could.   There were many that attended this Rose and I learned.  Not only about what it was like to be in the Garden, but I got to spend time among those other rare and beautiful flowers.  Miracle of miracles!  What sorcery is this, for They spoke as well!  

Their voices strong and sure, I heard many stories that inspired my lyric heart.  Stories of Strength, Honor, Courage and mostly... mostly stories of Inspiration.  I watched with what devotion all of the Roses were tended  and my heart was full.  These fair Flowers were a wonder to behold, They had done so much and my soul ached for some way to show how Their stories had moved me.. how they had inspired me. 

The gods are kind, for one day as I sat with the Golden Rose, She told unto me a tale.  She spoke of a vision that She had always held near and dear to Her heart.  

"More precious to Us than any Golden trophy or award are the concepts of Courtesy and Grace.  I dream of a day when great men and women take the field in order to uphold those principles.  When they can put aside their personal quests for glory or recognition to Honor those concepts which I and my Sisters hold dear.  I dream of a day when we20can all come together in support of these ideals.  I dream of a day when we look at one another and say, this is not for "me" this is for "them".  I don't know that it can happen, but if I could have but one Wish, then this is what it would be." 

Now my love for this Rose is great and in sharing Her dream with me, I had been given a rare gift. For I saw a way in which this Dream could come to fruition and so the Rose and I began to weave dream into Reality.  

I left  the Garden hurriedly and returned to my Kingdom by the Sea and there began to lay my plans.  Great and wondrous things began to happen and slowly but surely a Grand Tournament was in place.  The Roses cast Their glances far and wide throughout the land and chose from its people great champions who would represent them on This day.  These men and women, they were chosen NOT for their prowess or ability to carry the day, but for their ability to carry onto the field the ideals held dear by these Roses. 

"I know that we cannot choose them all," the Golden Rose said to me, "but perhaps those not chosen will be Inspired and hold fast to these ideals.  For while who We can pick for this day is limited... there are other days and their presence and support will encourage and add to the day."  Again, I agreed and hurried off to put  the Rose's desires into action. 

All is set and the day, though not upon us, is drawing nigh.  As per
 my usual custom I visit my Rose and realize that the Garden is not as vibrant as it once was.  I walk gently among these Regal flowers until I come to the Golden Rose and sit beside Her. 

"My Lady," I ask in hushed tones, "the Garden is not as vibrant as it once was?  Is there something that ails?" 

"Alas," replies the Golden Rose, "upon the wind I hear the tales.  I fear my Dream will not be realized.  It seems that although some understand this Dream of mine, to others it is not so clear.  The Kingdom by the Sea is a great and wondrous place.  Its people are strong and proud and its warriors are among the fiercest in the Known World. The skill of its populace, be it  as warrior, artisan or servant are known to all a force to be reckoned with. Yet it was my most fervent Wish to establish a tradition that would last far beyond one day's tournament.  To bring to the Kingdom by the Sea something it had never seen before.  Not just a day of Pageantry and Prowess, but a day devoted to the things that truly make the Kingdom by the Sea a great place to live. Devoted to the Courage shown by those people willing to do something different.  To  the Grace and Courtesy that is as essential to Us and the very air we breathe.  To the Honor that you bring to yourself when you do for another without thought of reward or personal gain."  

My heart broke, for I too had heard the whispers upon the wind.C2 In my idealistic world, I had hoped that these whispers were few and far between, but too late I realized that this was not the case.  I had put the call out and thought that these ideal concepts would be easily grasped by the land that I love so well, but perhaps that was my own naïveté.  

I also realized that any call that I made would be seen as an attempt to entice and cajole people into the Garden on Tournament Day. How to make them see that this was more than just a lure? Perhaps my ability to see and grasp the abstract blinded me to  harsh reality?  

Perhaps. 

Yet I will raise my voice against the whispers in the wind and howl until my song is heard! 

This Dream and Vision goes beyond any meager attempt to entice or cajole participation.  Why travel the width and breadth of the Kingdom by the Sea to "merely" watch a Tournament?  I would think that it would be in the name of Honor... honoring the choices made by the Rose Garden.  I would think that it would be in the name of Courtesy... These champions will take the field, put their skills to the test in defense NOT of themselves, but in defense of that which is held dear by the Garden and courtesy dictates that we be there to support them in these endeavors.  I would think that it would be in the name of Grace, for this will be a day of great beauty held in honor (look.. there's that word again) of what is right and proper.  I would20think that it would be because there are things that are bigger than personal glory, for to me, those fine gentles who attend any event "merely" to be there, with no personal stake in the days' activities show as much Courage and Courtesy as those fine gentles who have some commitment to the day's activities. 

My tale is not yet ended, for this Tournament has not yet taken place.  The time is coming, however.  I am hoping that these whispers I hear are the exception and not the rule, but I am but a Servant of the Garden, a cook by trade and a sometimes bard, so I do not know for certain. 

I do know that I will do whatever I can to support the vision of the Rose Garden.  To do my part to establish this event, this tradition and to bring something new and wondrous to the Kingdom by the Sea and the lands that I love.  For I believe in the Ideals put forth by the Garden.  I embrace them and will help sow those seeds however I can. 

I can do no less for the Rose that Honored and Inspired when She chose me.

____________________________________________________________

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