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( #storythread! Rating: 2/5, CW: regression.)
Once upon a time, upon a land most fair and sunny, lived a man and a woman who were much in love, but not so happy. They dearly wished for a child, for years and years they had tried, but never would an infant grow in her belly.
Once upon a time, upon a land most fair and sunny, lived a man and a woman who were much in love, but not so happy. They dearly wished for a child, for years and years they had tried, but never would an infant grow in her belly.
Doctors from around the land proved most fruitless, priests from every church prayed to no success; even snake oil merchant would leave them penniless for as little as no success.
Desperate and tired, the couple traveled around the world, looking for their ever-absent child.
Desperate and tired, the couple traveled around the world, looking for their ever-absent child.
Until they found the forest where Faes lived.
Faes are whimsical and fickle: they would curse you to Hell or let you out with barely a tickle. Many men had walked these beaten paths before, a wish in their heart, looking for a Fae.
How many came back? No one could say.
Faes are whimsical and fickle: they would curse you to Hell or let you out with barely a tickle. Many men had walked these beaten paths before, a wish in their heart, looking for a Fae.
How many came back? No one could say.
Still, their wishes silent on their lips, they stood at the entrance. "Let's split up", she said, "we'll double our chances".
So the woman walked to the the left, and the man to the right; whether they shall ever meet again, they didn't know. Although they might...
So the woman walked to the the left, and the man to the right; whether they shall ever meet again, they didn't know. Although they might...
The forest was twisted and tortuous: the woman got lost, knowing such act was perilous. But she couldn't escape the sound that rang to her ear: the cries of an infant, so far, yet so near. For hours she walked and searched for a baby, but the Faes kept her from finding any.
The man had more luck as he found the Faes, lighting the path like fireflies. But he could never catch one, for they slipped away and vanished in the skies.
He ran after them, deeper and deeper in the forest, where the grass is as tall as a man and beasts don't dare to thread.
He ran after them, deeper and deeper in the forest, where the grass is as tall as a man and beasts don't dare to thread.
He ran and ran after the elusive Faes, until he tripped on a root and fell on his face.
His pride was most hurt, but he soon discovered that he couldn't stand on his legs. The Faes laughed at him and left him alone, ignoring the man's pleas and begs.
His pride was most hurt, but he soon discovered that he couldn't stand on his legs. The Faes laughed at him and left him alone, ignoring the man's pleas and begs.
The man heard a cry of surprise and joy from a voice he knew already. It was his wife, towering over him, tears flowing from being so happy.
"Oh thank Faes you for granting my wish!" she exclaimed in stupor. Then she picked him like he was no heavier than a sack of flour.
"Oh thank Faes you for granting my wish!" she exclaimed in stupor. Then she picked him like he was no heavier than a sack of flour.
The Faes had made him an infant, neither bigger nor stronger than a newborn. Facing his new mother, the heart of the man was torn. He wanted to tell her of the Fae's trickery, that he was no mere toddler. But halas! In his transformation, the Faes had taken away his words.
The path outside the forest was clear and straight: the new couple found found their way. Soon, they were back in their home, where they would forever stay.
He would never grow up, and she would never grow old: the Faes made sure her happiness would never unfold.
He would never grow up, and she would never grow old: the Faes made sure her happiness would never unfold.
The moral of this story? Be careful what you wish for when you deal with Faes and tricksters.
For the woman wished to have a child to call her own,
And the man only wished for her to be a mother.
For the woman wished to have a child to call her own,
And the man only wished for her to be a mother.
(Please pardon me for the awkward rhymes, as this narrator is a poor storyteller. But I doubt, ladies and gentlemen, that a lack of it would have made the story any better.)
