Rose, Queen Mother

In the enchanting heart of a sacred realm, there exists a fairy unlike any other—Rose, the revered Queen Mother of all fairies! She graces the rocky plateau adjoining Treasure Mountain and the timeless Valley of the Seven Lakes alongside her fellow fairies. Together, they safeguard an ancient secret that could aid Anabell and Tarragon in their quest to re-enchant the Kingdom of the Lake at the End of the World, where clouds are born.

In Slovenia, fairies have been known by various names, reflecting the rich folklore tradition across the country. They are called White Ladies, Black Ladies, Triglav Ladies, Gods’ handmaidens, Holy Ladies, and Venerable Women, among others¹. They are easily recognised by their short white gowns and woven flower garlands worn on their heads. Perhaps most striking is their bright hair, a luminous blend of yellow and white.

They are intrinsically linked to their landscape. Flowers, such as the Edelweiss, bloom from the tears of fairies who have fallen on rocky slopes. Meanwhile, the morning frost that covers meadows is said to be formed from the jewels lost from the gowns of fairies at dawn, returning home after their nightly escapades.

Interestingly, all the fairies of Slovenia share a common origin as water fairies. Slovenian folklorist Jakob Kelemina explains that their lineage can be traced back to the Great Mother, known as Baba, Zlata Baba, or Pehtra Baba². In my fairy tale "Anabell," the fairies who inhabit the Rocky Plateau and the Valley of the Seven Lakes are proud descendants of the noble water fairy race.

Although it is widely believed that these fairies departed from the region over a thousand years ago, a remarkable photo in the upper left corner serves as inconceivable evidence that not all have left³.

The name Rose is borrowed from "Roža Magota," an omnipotent flower esteemed in Slovene folklore. It is said to hold the key to unlocking the treasures of Mount Bogatin and is thought to embody the Philosopher's Stone—capable of transforming dust into gold and granting centuries of life. While many claim that the "Roža Mogota" is the Triglav rose (Pink cinquefoil: Potentilla nitida), I disagree and plan to write an article about it, but that is a story for another day.

1. Fanny Copeland, Slovene Folklore, Folklore, 42:4, (1931), 430-431. Marija Cvetek, Bajeslovno izročilo v bohinjskem folklornem pripovedništvu, Traditiones (Ljubljana), 34, No. 2, (2005), 179-216. Matija Majar, Sibile. Nekaj od Slovencov, Kmetijske in rokodelske novice II, (1844), 159. Monika Kropej, Supernatural beings: from Slovenian myth and folktales (Ljubljana: Žalozba ZRC, 2012), 146).

2. Fanny Copeland, Slovene Folklore, Folklore, 42:4, (1931), 435-436.

3. »Tako je bilo v starih časih, pri Slovencih so bile v veliki časti in so močno slovele, ako ravno je več ko tavžent let kar so ginile, si naš narod še današnji dan mnogo od njih visoke učenosti, od njih dobriga srca in od njihove velike slave ve pripovedovati.«

   — Matija Majar, Sibile. Nekaj od Slovencov, Kmetijske in rokodelske novice II, (1844), 159.

   "Thus, it was in the old times, among the Slovenes, they were held in great honour and renown; even though it's been more than a thousand years since they disappeared, our people can still tell us much about the things they learned from these women, their kind hearts and their great renown."

   Translation attributable to Daniel Goulding.