The Rose and the Yew Tree

Fanfiction
Title:	The Rose and the Yew Tree
Author(s):	Macedon and Peg Robinson
Date(s):	1998
Length:
Genre(s):
Fandom(s):	Star Trek: VOY
Relationship(s):
External Links:	at Archive of Our Own
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The Rose and the Yew Tree is a Star Trek: Voyager story by Macedon and Peg Robinson.

It is the eighth (and last) story in the Talking Stick Series.

The Series

• Talking Stick by Macedon
• Circle by Peg Robinson
• A Cherished Alienation by Macedon
• The Red Queen's Repose by Peg Robinson
• Walking Across Egypt by Macedon
• Raisins and Almonds by Peg Robinson
• Otterskin by Macedon and Peg Robinson
• The Rose and the Yew Tree by Peg Robinson and Macedon

See fan comments about the entire series.

Fan Comments

1998

Macedon and Peg's amazing epic, "The Rose and the Yew Tree," one of my two favorite stories of the year ("Closing In" being the other, so don't miss that either). Even if it weren't following up the rest of the thoroughly impressive "Talking Stick/Circle" cycle of stories, "Rose and Yew" would stand on its own as much, much more than "mere" fanfiction. This is better, more sweeping, more moving, more complex than a whole slew of professionally published novels that I've read in my life as a reader/writer. Thankfully, Peg's talent has been recognized through her selection as one of the SNW anthology authors. I can only hope for similar at some future point for Macedon. If you haven't read "The Rose and the Yew Tree" -- if you haven't read *any* of "Talking Stick/Circle" -- you're depriving yourself of a reading feast. I almost wish I hadn't read it so that I could read it again for the first time. Instead, I 'll content myself with having the cycle to read again and again. I've printed this out to keep, I've read it aloud to my husband, I've recommended it to friends -- I recommend it to you.

Oh, man. I don't know how I can write coherently about this one. It's the culmination of the "Talking Stick/Circle" series, and what a culmination it is! Truly sweeping -- epic in scope -- yet the humanity is not lost. This one has everything -- love, war, death, despair, redemption, peace -- all woven together in a seamless narrative by Peg & Macedon that, despite its length and sweep, never loses its focus on the "human" side of things. The characterization of all is rich and full and complex, both for series characters (Janeway, Chakotay, Paris, Torres, etc.) and for original characters (Magda, Anyas, Chessie). Aliens who are *alien*, culture shock -- oh, I'm starting to ramble. But it's a wonderful, gripping, amazing story. Hard to imagine that it all started with a little gem like "Talking Stick" or that it ended up here. Read it, read them all. And if you don't like it -- well, I guess I just don't see how that could happen. I suppose it's possible, but I just can't imagine it.

Is there anyone left who hasn't read this? Voyager fic..fanfic in general..can hardly get better than this. An incredible end to the Talking Stick/Circle series. One of the most carefully written J/C romances I've ever read, yet interwoven so wonderfully into so many different plot twists that it is far from the focus. Rather, it unfolds naturally out of the relationship that has been developing throughout the series. Peg and Macedon created a very realistic race of aliens, the conflict is gripping, and the final scene is in my top five favorite scenes in fanfic, ever. Sometimes, the roses will do.

The final <sigh of disappointment that there will be no more to follow> installment in the 'Talking Stick Series'. This one *can* stand alone just fine, but it will make more sense if you've read the earlier stories in the series.

As a result of playing good samaritans, Voyager's crew is drawn into a bloody genocidal war. The bad guys are truly, truly awful as a group; but rather less so as individuals. The good guys have 'right' clearly on their side (they are fighting desperately for their very existence), but they are far from perfect. The aliens are fascinating: a fantasitc mixture of morphotypes cemented together -- at least in part -- by their shared victimization.

As introduced in earlier parts of the 'Talking Stick' series, Janeway and Chakotay are portrayed slightly differently than we see them in canon -- all to the good, on the whole. They became lovers previously in the series, and in the context of this story, they are drawn even more firmly into a satisfying, strength-giving, but nonintrusive, domestic relationship. To my eye, the principal strength of this story is the portrayal of the long, slow, grinding pressure of living on a damaged ship overcrowded with beings who really do not understand one another. Cultures clash and tempers fray to the breaking point, as 'inconveniences' inexorably turn into major deprivations of even the basic necessities of life.

One nit I have to get off my chest though -- and I apologize for no doubt being the 5,000th person to bring this up. The analogy Janeway was searching for in describing the manner in which the Bandei assisted their escape was *Dunkirk* (or Dunkerque) not 'Normandy'. The Normandy *landings* took place on June 6th 1944 (D-day), when allied troops made an all-out frontal assault on a series of beaches in that Provence. The desperate *evacuation* of British and French troops from Dunkirk (which is not in Normandy) took place much earlier in the war, in June 1940. Every fishing boat, private yacht, and garbage scow which could make the trip across the channel was enlisted to help. And it *was* quite something (not like I was there to see it, mind you, but the movie version was great ;)).

Another long story that had me on my toes for days. Peg and Macedon have established a great A/U for Voyager. I especially like their version of Chakotay with a background that is better worked out as in the series. I also liked the relationship he and Janeway developed gradually during the series, its realistic and mature. In previous installments they have introduced very compelling original characters, which the reader can care about. Killing of one of them was as effectfull as the death of someone of the tv-crew would have been. To call the new cultures they introduce in this story very interesting is an understatement. The interaction between them and voyager's crew was great - the resentment they have towards one another and the way it was overcome slowly. I was drawn into the story and felt with the characters. The story itself is everything I want from Trek - thought-provoking, daring, intriguing. The despair, the hopelessness of the situation was portrayed very well. I liked the turn, when they finally are rescued but then discover that nothing's for free. With fanfic like this, who needs Pocket Books?

2012

Wild applause, profound thanks...and deepest gratitude. The entire series is one of the best things I've ever read, and indeed is far more likely to realistic of the situations in which Voyager found itself than the series as it played out. Although it wasn't bad; just constrained.

Beautiful.

2013

As breathtaking and profound this time through as the first time I read it so very many years ago.

2015

What an outstanding piece of work.

I want you to know I read this story series continuously over a two-week vacation, read it like the best of novels, inhaled it like marathoning a beloved show. Couldn't put it down. Lost sleep and possibly sanity.

The whole journey here is truly epic in scope, not just the wonderful plots and character development, but especially the theme: what colonization does to a people, how nomadic and refugee cultures must learn their own kind of resistance and pride -- for me, as a person of privilege, nothing I've ever read has made it more real. The moment when Kathryn offers her quilt to be met for the first time by the kind of prejudice Chakotay has been trying to explain to her for years, was probably the most beautiful thing I've ever read in fanfiction.

Thank you so much for this stunning, important work.

Absolutely loved every minute of reading this. So well written and well thought out. I've been reading these on the bus in to college every morning and I don't know what to do with myself now that they're over!

Thank you!

Holy. Shit.

I've read this whole series in just a couple days -- had little choice, because every time in the last few days I've stepped away from reading this, I've been unable to focus on *anything else* -- and it is breathtaking. Brava, and I speak as one who doesn't even know Voyager well. This, to me, is Voyager.

Não saberia dizer do que gostei mais, da profundidade dos personagens, da busca por um sentido mais real e respeitoso de outras culturas, da ação, do gato em neon...tudo tão maravilhoso, lamento não ser muito boa em escrever em inglês, eu não saberia me expressar, falar só "GOD JOB" é no minimo desrespeitoso, vou tentar traduzir pelo google tradutor. mas até para honrar uma obra que prega a diversidade cultural e a tolerância eu estou me expressando na minha linguá natal!

Abraços e obrigada pelo presente de ter tocado meu coração com uma peça tão maravilhosa!

uma obra de arte, com uma profundidade de emoções incríveis, eu ri, eu chorei, chorei e ri de novo, é algo para se ler, reler e novamente, me sinto até culpada de usufruir de sua generosidade em compartilhar algo tão precioso e belo.

obrigada e abraços.

Wow!! Just read all parts of this Novel. And can only say what an honor and privilege it was to read it. So powerful.

2016

What an awesome chapter and story overall. This truely could be a Vouager movie. So well written and such a complex world of characters and cultures. Your work has been filling my dreams with wonderful images of adventure for days. I only wish the story wouldn't come to an end. Xx

What a fantastic series of stories that just got better with each new chapter. I've read a lot of fanfic and this has to be up there with one of the best, well written and imagined, thought provoking works I have read. I hope your careers are in writing because otherwise it is a talent explored only by us lucky to find it here. I am now depressed these are over! I have been addicted to these stories for days! I have never read these characters portrayed so well. I actually cried when they were saved by the Bendi in the last chapter! Thank you so much for adding to my quality of life! This is how I wish Vouager had been. Though I love it dearly, this was the non pg version. Thank you both.

Beautiful series! I adore your characterisation of basically everyone, the back and forth of the POV is amazing. I really like the way you both portray the tension between chakotay and tuvok. And your portrayal of Kathryn, both her strengths and weaknesses is so great.

Basically I really loved it which is why I haven't commented til the end of the series and now there's too many things I could say! Thank you both so much for writing and sharing

I'm in the process of rewatching Voyager and recently watched "Resolutions", which reminded me of how Janeway/Chakotay was basically my first ever ship... So I went off to AO3 to look for fic, and came across this series. I read the entire thing in just under a week. I just couldn't stop. I read a lot of fanfic, and this is among the best I've ever come across. It was very much exactly what I needed to read in terms of various things that have been going around in my head recently, both things I was actively thinking about and also things that I only really noticed as important as I was reading this (sorry for not being more specific, I'm still processing and not really able to express my thoughts). Anyway, thank you so much for writing this!

2017

This was an incredible journey.

I've had so many feelings reading through the entire cycle. And I just. I'm so emotional right now.

Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you.

This is a story that stays with you.

2018

This is...incredible. This story, these stories, really took me on a journey. Les Voyageurs. This is so beautifully wrought, and I loved every minute of it - I have been obsessed, over the past few days as I read. Thank you so much, for the writing, and for sharing.

2019

This series is a great work of art. I cried, I laughed and it gave me food for thought. What more can you expect? I loved every minute of it!

I love both your writing, but together you make magic!

Wow. I feel like I need this whole series in print to rest on my shelf and bring me back to all of these memories. I loved this series so, so much.

2020

Gosh, wow, I'm so grateful for this full story. The world that the two of you built around these characters and within them is so much richer, more generous, more thoughtful, than what the show provided. I know that I will be thinking about this series for a long time.

This series has been an absolute ride, and I've loved it. It kept me on the edge of my seat and broke my heart and reminded me, as Star Trek always should, of the hope humanity has. We try our best and that's all we can do, and hope for better. And dream of the stars. Simply amazing work.

2021

This opening hits so incredibly differently when you come back to reread the novel I don't even know where to start. What an incredible fanwork. Laughter and tears.

I remember crying when I first read this chapter [#14], all these years ago when the story first came out. I just did again. This is magnificent -- powerful and profound and emotionally intense. These people are real, and believable, and their plight tears at the heart. And then, just at the moment when all hope is lost, when they will certainly fail and fall, they are saved by an unexpected act of grace and valor.

This is perhaps the best chapter of one of the best damn "Voyager" fics I've ever read -- and I've read a ton. Thank you both for this wonderful gift to "Voyager" fanfic readers.

2023

I just had the pleasure of reading this group of fics for the first time. I wanted to write a long detailed comment about what I thought of it, but I don't think I can sort through it. It is, simply, one of the best things I have ever read and it will haunt me for a long time.