Hello, night owls! It's finally Friday, and with that, we bring our fantasy extravaganza to a close with the Top 10 List of Fairy Rules! The fairy folk are known in legend and lore to be treacherous and mischievous, so if you're short of iron or lucky clover and you're wandering alone, keep these things in mind.
1. Never wander after mysterious music. Several stories in Irish folklore talk about young men who hear beautiful music from over the hills. Suffice it to say, if you hear mysterious music, the fairies are around and you should leave before you're swept away in their dances. A few minutes in their ring might mean a few years in your world!
2. Never walk into fairy rings. We've seen them before in fairy tale illustrations - those circles of brightly colored toadstool mushrooms. A ring of mushrooms or even a circle of dark grass indicates a popular dancing spot of the fairies and stepping into one will trap you in their dance (which will have the same horrible effect as mentioned in the rule above!).
3. Be respectful and courteous. If you should happen to meet a fairy, this is the most important rule to remember. Fairies tend to be very "black or white" in judgment and even the slightest folly could be perceived as an insult. So basically be polite, be careful with your words, and all should go well.
4. Never be fooled by looks. Fairies have the ability to change form or to make themselves look beautiful and they often use these abilities for mischievous or wicked purposes. And some fairies may look fearsome or wretched, yet they can bring great fortune if you show them kindness. So remember to be kind to the mysterious horse following you a few yards away and know that the lovely lady washing clothes in the river might have an ulterior motive (in case you were wondering, a beautiful woman washing clothes in the river means someone's going to die...probably you).
5. Never give your name. Words and names are everything in the fairy world. By telling a fairy your name, you are vulnerable to being bound to spells, curses, hexes, and all other forms of enchanted enslavement. Think about using a nickname if you're caught in conversation with spirit. Or should you decide to risk giving your name to a fairy, make sure this fairy is one you can absolutely trust...you have been warned!
6. Be wary when presented with gifts. If a fairy desperately wants a new mortal plaything, he/she might try tricking you by giving you a magical gift of some sort. You probably won't be able to refuse the gift, since refusal is seen as rudeness punishable by a curse. If you can, however, you should find some way of disposing the magical, possibly hexed gift when the fairy isn't there. NOTE: if the fairy in question is benevolent or a friend, the item is probably safe and meant to help you. Just be sure you stay in that fairy's good graces!
7. Never eat or drink anything from fairyland/given by a fairy. Getting stuck in a fairy ring might trap you for years, but eating fairy food or drinking fairy wine is a first class ticket to trapping you for eternity. Because of this, it's extremely important to remember that if you plan on traveling through fairyland, you should bring your own lunch if you wish to return home. NOTE: some say that if the fairy is benevolent or a friend that it's okay to eat/drink whatever he/she gives you. This might be true, but it's a good idea not to take any chances as far as food is concerned!
8. Never thank fairies. There are many occasions in folklore where fairies will voluntarily help humans in housework, quests, and other such tasks. But the instant they are thanked - whether through words or gifts (like clothes) - they vanish! To fairies, being thanked for their actions takes out the significance of what they've done and it insults them (definitely adds a whole new meaning to the phrase "Don't mention it"). So keep in mind that if a fairy assists you in slaying a dragon or cleaning your room, think of how lucky you are and just leave it at that.
9. Never make deals with fairies. Why? For the exact same reason you wouldn't make a deal with Rumpelstiltskin - the price you have to pay may be more than you bargained for. Fairy godmothers don't work for free and assistance for a heat-of-the-moment desire may turn into a life-long payment or enslavement. On top of that, you don't want to run the risk of breaking a deal. Fairies mean their word and if you break your word, they'll break theirs before you can blink.
10. Be careful what you wish for. After I just said it was a bad idea to make deals with fairies, throwing this in might seem crazy. However, there are times when the hero needs some otherworldly assistance and in that case, this is extremely important. When you are wishing for something, spell out what you want to the letter. If you make a generic wish ("I wish I was anywhere but home!"), you create loopholes that the fairy might exploit to their advantage/your misfortune (this happens very often in folklore!). Be precise, and you should get your wish exactly as you wanted...oh, wait. There's still a price for all this. In this case, don't simply wish and wait for things to happen - negotiate your terms to reach some form of agreement. Then you'll be able to enjoy your wish without worrying about what will follow.
And that is the Top 10 List of Fairy Rules and the end of The Night Owl Review's fantasy extravaganza! Have a great weekend and I'll see you all on Monday!!
~Maud,
Official Night Owl
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