On Being Fey
I was challenged to write a fantasy short story. Although it is not my usual genre, I came up with a tale about the ‘fey’ offspring of a human father and a fairy mother – and what happened when he and his mother wanted to return to fairyland. The tale is told in two halves: Benjamin’s story, and the judge’s response.
‘“Strange, other-worldly; elfin; whimsical, or clairvoyant.” Yes, I know everyone here is aware what “Fey” means, but has anyone here, apart from me, had to live it in the human world? …
‘Yes, I am aware you ask the questions, but I am trying to …
‘Am I allowed to tell you they are seen as feminine characteristics, even in the twenty-first century? I am never going to develop the strong shoulders, or ‘the six-pack,’ seen as desirable in the human male. Fully human male…
‘Yes, I am aware my mother was cast out of all Counties in Fairyland when she coupled with my human father, and I, a Fey, was the result…
‘I am sorry, again, sirs and madams of the Interrogating Committee, but being Fey is a problem in the human world. And, if I may say so, especially for the male – a female Fey can term herself as “petite,” and be accepted that way if she likes, but this isn’t an option for me. I am not Fairy, so I cannot flit between the leaves and branches of the trees as we can’t shape-shift (not to that extent), and even if we grow our wings, we’re too heavy to fly … I know I’m telling you what you are already aware of, but may I, please? The thing is, I’m not exactly human either. I am much too slight to be any use on the rugby field (even if I wanted to play such a barbaric sport), and my ability to fade away and reappear elsewhere really unnerves the full-blood humans. I will admit, when I was being chased home from school, it was useful being able to do that. But of course, you know about it, as you sent your Correctors to see mum to ask what else she’d been teaching me.
‘And if you will please indulge the history lesson, we all here know there have been times when young, female Fairies were sent to beguile and entrance male humans. All those who know their history, hear of the land clearance schemes and forest-felling plans that were thwarted or overturned that way – and the lady Fairies, their mission complete, could be recalled… Why am I going over old ground? Because the recall was never one hundred percent successful, was it? The beguiling worked both ways – as is clear from a close examination of the texts … Yes, sir. My mother did teach me Fairy history, I was not aware it was against any law. I can also tell you the beguiling still happened after the policy shift five hundred years ago, when too many Feys were taken for witches, and rescue attempts beyond the resources of the Countyside Entente.
‘The Countyside Entente? Surely you know …? All right: my understanding of the Countyside Entente is that it came into existence when towns and cities began expanding again after the human population recovered from the Black Death. It stopped making sense trying to differentiate between woodland sprite and field or farmyard fairy. Everyone had to work together – including, originally, Feys …
‘Yes, I am also aware that policy changed, and I know why. But, if I may, how many of these Feys were asked which side they wanted to be on before they were assumed to be pro-Human? All right! You ask the questions.
‘That is why I’m before you now. I am pro-Fairy, and I do want to come home, if you like. My mother wants to return home – yes, we’ll stick to my case only. You are aware, even if the Correctors don’t like it, I do know how to fade and reappear. My wings are grown and, for a male human, I am considered unnaturally slight and “un-macho.” Some have made other assumptions, my human father for one. He had hoped when I ‘hit puberty,’ I would develop muscles – my failure to do so was one of his stated reasons for leaving us.
‘What’s that? Oh, he knew mum was Fairy. He knew she risked banishment – she was banished, we’ve said that already – because she joined him in the human world … Why am I hesitating? You’re asking me to discuss in front of you what I know of my parents’ relationship! My Lord …? Can’t you talk with my mother? She admits she’s made a mistake – you’ve said we’re here now to discuss my case alone …
‘Yes, my Lord. As you wish, and as I understand it: my father’s raptures at being able to have a naked Fairy fly around his bedroom did not last very long. “Wonderment to whatever” in the time it took for her to get pregnant with me. And then I turned out the way I did – as if I had any say in the matter … NO, I do NOT know precisely why I have no brothers or sisters!
‘Sorry, my Lord. I do realise I am not supposed to shout, but surely these questions … We can move on? Thank you.
‘No, it isn’t just because my father has left that I, or my mother, want to come back. Unlike other Fey, I have always been able to see you … Sorry? … Oh, I see. I shall put it another way: I have always chosen to see you, and not ignore you until I could not see you, even when you were right in front of me. Is that better? Also, I have always been able to recognise other Fey, even when they did not want to recognise me. I am sure this panel is aware that a young, slim, female Fey is considered very attractive by young, male, broad-shouldered humans. Most of these female Fey do not want another Fey, male or female, spoiling their party. After all, as you explained in the preliminary hearing, and as my mother pointed out repeatedly to me, there are so many difficulties possible when Fey mates with Fey.
‘Do you really need me to spell it out? You want to check my understanding? … It is simple genetics, my Lords and ladies. If both parents are Fey, then it depends which set of their genes combine and dominate in the offspring. While it is most likely two Fey will produce Fey offspring, they can also – with a chance of one in four – produce a Fairy: who has to be spirited away back here to be fostered. Or, of course, two Fey can produce a full human.
‘Me? Yes, I do want to wed Bluebell and I want to live here so my children, who would either be part-Fey or potentially all Fairy, would at least know who their father is …
‘You want to go back to my visions? Why do I have them? Because my mother encouraged me to use my eyes, I suppose:
“On every leaf of every tree,
A Fairy sat and smiled at me …”
‘Humans are taught to regard that as poetic fantasy, something to placate little girls while their brothers play soldiers. What? I didn’t play soldiers as I had to wait to be hit or squashed, or leap and fade to avoid that fate. I disliked the first option, and my supposed friends hated me taking the second!
‘Yes, my Lord. I do realise levity is out of place here, but I was trying to speak the truth – and answer your questions.
‘What could I do if I came here? I suppose it depends on what is needed. I do know how to talk with humans: anything to keep the re-wilding and re-forestation projects going. And I can try to talk to the Fairylings to urge them not to marry humans when they grow up – after all, look at me! Sorry – I’ll try not to crack any more jokes.
‘Stand down? Look, I’ve apologised for my joke … Yes, my Lord.’
‘Cowslip, known for the past nineteen years, five months, seven days, as Clara Jones; and Benjamin Jones. We have heard your depositions. You have been cross-examined, and allowed, most generously, to make your case …
‘It is for you to keep quiet, Benjamin. The Committee has been extremely indulgent with your repeated flippancies and given you a large amount of time when we all had more important things to be getting on with. May I remind you; Fey do not normally get to be present here at all?
‘This is an unusual case. In my three hundred and … er … forty-seven years hearing cases, there have only been three attempts for Fey to enter Fairyland as a full member. They all failed and the appellant blinded before being returned to humanity. We can no longer afford to risk Fairyland being exposed in any way to human attack …
‘Be quiet! Or I will have the Hall cleared and give my judgment in private! … No, madam, the Committee only advises: I make the judgment. What? Of course, they were blinded – the case notes are clear! Oh, well, if we must! …
‘My colleague wishes me to make clear, in case of misunderstanding, that the Fey were rendered blind so they could not see Fairies or Fairyland – they were, as far as humans were concerned, ‘seeing.’ Everyone happy? Then I’ll continue giving my judgment …
‘We also have to consider the benefit to the Fey. An increased life-span being only one of the advantages of a Fairy existence over a mere human one. Of course, he is also wishing to return with his mother.
‘Which brings me to Cowslip. When you left, you were warned of the consequences of your actions. But you still went ahead. Still produced a half-breed – who you kept as close as you could to his Fairy blood (not a policy we usually see followed). We can perhaps accept even then, you had begun to realise the folly of your actions – but what about helping your child to fit in where he was?
‘No interruptions! I am merely re-iterating what the inquisitor put to you, before your Fey son entered the Hall and took the stand. You said something about keeping him out of trouble until he was old enough to seek admission on his own behalf. However, I remain unsure that emphasising your child’s Fairy nature, while living in the human world, is necessarily the best way forward, when it has been Fairy policy for centuries not to re-admit those who voluntarily surrendered their place.
‘Be that as it may, you have both, separately and together, submitted yourselves for interrogation. I have before me the reports from the Department of Fairy Observations and Actions Against Human Depravity – the Department which one Miss Cowslip Flowerdew used to be a junior member. (I must, as an aside to that Department’s Director, here present, point out that ‘guaranteed invisibility’ of its operatives can hardly be a truthful watchword! Given it worked neither when Miss Flowerdew went to spy on her human, nor when the Department’s operatives went to see the two on the stand here today. Those two not only saw, but recognised for who they were, those very operatives! Also, back to Miss Flowerdew, as she was then: “falling in love,” building a relationship, takes time. It is remarkable to me that the Department failed to note any of these developments until, if these reports can be believed, very late in the day.)
‘I could spend several minutes briefly going through my reasons for my decision, but they will come out in my full report. Suffice it to say, I have, in that report, examined all the precedents, and given my interpretation of the reasons for those decisions taken at those times. But time has, unfortunately some say, moved on. Humanity has determined to destroy its home, despite all the warnings we have contrived to get to them, and even we are being forced to exercise contingency plans and withdraw from certain environments. How much good can be done, by adding to our number, two who have lived among, and no doubt absorbed much of, humanity’s separatist, domineering, destructive attitude to nature, is a moot point. A very moot point. And, no matter how much the candidates for admission, or re-admission, might protest; their promises of assistance cannot be cashed ahead of time.
‘Right. Colleagues and members of the committee, I think I have said all I need to say – take them down! … What! … Speak up! I have half the Committee wanting to talk with me! … You might be clerk to the court, but you don’t need to shout! … My decision? … Yes, it’s all there in the report. You’ll get a copy for your precious files … I said – didn’t I? Yes, take them down: they are free to join us. Obviously, they can’t be seen by humans for twenty years or so, the exact time they lived among them … Silence in court! I will not have cheering – or unseemly displays of affection!
‘Humph! I think the wedding had better take place as soon as possible. I shall be in my rooms.’