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Gracious socialization
is very Earthen.
These teas are no exception and designed to encourage socialization among guests, allowing the
faeries to come and know us better. Similarly, our Earthen friends wish us to know them. As storytelling is as well very Earthen,
an important part of each tea is the original Tale of Faerie Lore to be shared. These many wonderful stories acquaint and
entertain us, permitting us to know them as well. However, the Faeries decide which tales they wish to have told at each tea.
The tales are shared in a storytelling manner-not read-which provides an authentic flare. Your tea might include
one of these samplings. Might you hear more about Willow, Beyzel, Neegari, or the Three Gruff Goats and a Troll, indeed? Or
perhaps it might be about the Sprites, Drahgons, or our other Earthen friends.
Did you see her? Oh, probably not. What was I thinking? For even by faerie standards she is petite, lithe, lively, quick. Willowy! Hence she got her name, Willow. For she is one of the very quickest fairies there is. Very fast moving. She is also a dreamer of dreams. But she's so fast, so quick, that she never stops long enough to allow her dreams to solidify. Poor little Willow, moving about in tune with nature, yet unhappy. Her unhappiness is not because she doesn't appreciate and love the joys and beauty of nature and her interactions with them; it's because she feels that she has no purpose.
One day, as Willow was flitting about, she took notice that the communication from one place to the next was ever so slow. She had great trouble with that, for she knew she was quite fast. How could this be fixed? Why, she could carry their messages for them. That would give her purpose, which would result in a sense of fulfillment. So she decided to be a message carrier. She would take messages from here to there and hither to yon. Unfortunately, Willow found this to be draining her energy, for there were so many messages and so many distances to travel. Even though tired, she felt obliged to continue. What was she to do?
Now, because she has been working so very hard, she actually needed to stop and rest. Where else would Willow go to stop and rest but in a field of flowers by a pond! As she paused, she began to ponder. Willow mused, if they hold history, the words and deed of what has already been done, and if they send this news forth, could they also help her? Would they, the holders of all history, help? She was overjoyed! Yes! The roots are excellent communicators, so they could carry these words to make communication more effective.
While it is true that fairies are not thought of as herders, instead more frequently known for tending to Mother Nature's children-the plants and such-some do follow this most uncommon path. They are the prized few that are herders. But herders are not a lone group of fairies, but an eclectic mix of many Nations. Why, the group in our story was comprised of fairies, dwarfs, giants, pixies, and baggets! This medium-sized village of herders tended a large, carefully worked herd. The village's size enabled them to herd cows, sheep, and runyons. For those of you who aren't familiar, cows are a grazing animal, domesticated for milk, meat, and hides. Sheep are cud-chewing animals known for their wool, meat, and milk, especially coddled milk. And, of course, the less familiar and quite uncommon runyons, smelly, clairvoyant, dwarf musk-oxens known for wool, hide, and the most succulent meat, and also known for being readers of thought.
This particular group of herders had a reputation far and wide for
their quality herds and-imagine this-well-behaved runyons, who have a reputation of their own for wild, unruly behavior. The
good fortune of this group and their herd was attributed to the village's gentle manner and astute care of all and each animal
in their herd.
Now you know of this, and the group as a whole for the care of their herd. Now know all children-tiny,
young, and old-received the same care and attention, as did the herds. None was finer than one fairy family with seven children.
All seven children were well mannered and happy, gentle souls. The youngest, not much more than a toddler, fun loving, and
dearly loved, was little Beyzel. Since there was an age gap between Beyzel and the next child up, all her elder siblings showered
Beyzel with attention. Each of her siblings had a different skill and talent to share with her. And although she was only
a toddler, she was clever and quick to learn-very attentive, skillfully watching and delighting in mimicking all she saw.
Oh, I'm sorry to tell, this tale does not begin during times of peace, harmony, and cooperation. Regretfully, it begins during times of strife and jealousy. To a fine fairy family of humble tenders was born a precious baby. This child was not born into nobility, royalty, or wizardry. No, this child came to a family of fairies who prided themselves as supreme herb tenders, nonetheless. But, you ask, aren't all babies precious? Rightfully so, for at least we hope all babies are precious to at least his or her family and loved ones. However, in fairy word, this precious child was not precious in the way all babies are. No. This child was classically precious, of-great-value precious. The fairies knew immediately she was special, even though there had been no foretelling of her birth or what she was meant for.
How did the fairies know she was precious? you ask. Let me continue with her story.
There were those who valued power and control above cooperation, harmony, respect. Yet to the great surprise of all, a "precious" child was born. Since there had been no foretelling of her auspicious birth, such an elegant, special child surprised this Fairy Kingdom. This tiny baby was diminutive even by fairy standards, her skin so white and opalescent, it seemed almost transparent. These features, though notably distinctive, did not convey the enormity of responsibility this child had as much as that which was told by what lay in the palm of each of this wee one's hands. She had a mark of power.
Many questioned how such a small, really tiny creature could fulfill a prophecy not even foretold by the seers. How did we know there should have been a prophecy? you ask. It was quite simple-the mark. She had too marks, one on each palm, this is true, but when she rested her two palms together, next to one another, the two halves became one whole.
Here is a story you may think you know, but I must say, it is not really a fairy story, but one which trolls know well, oh, so very well. Sadly, they are known by the altered story, which they consider awful and deceptive and which causes them to grit and gnash their teeth and spit on the ground. Here is what is said to be correct and true.
One day, three brother goats wandered around the land. Now, mind you, time and again they were warned to respect the land they had. Alas they were ALWAYS hungry. Though this was not visible, mind you to the naked eye. But in goat-terms, they were hungry. There was plenty to eat on their land. However, their tastes turned to rich, lush, tender grass. Grass so succulent and sweet it would melt on the tongue. Their land had been over-grazed and was little more then scrub grass. There was still plenty to eat, but not what they considered succulent and sweet. If they could have eaten a healthy amount and managed their land by allowing areas to grow, their land would have grown to a rich state. They refused. They ate and ate and ate to nausea and beyond.
Frustrated with their plight to only have worn grass, leaves, and stale flowers to eat, they lamented, and pondered how they could fill their cherished bellies just as they wanted them filled. Knowing of a land of lush grass, not quite as succulent as their tastes desired, yet far more flavorful than their mere pittance of grass, had them thinking. The more they grumbled and complained, the more correct it seemed to believe they had no other choice than to take control. They talked themselves into believing they had the right to graze this land. For wasn't it their right to nourish their bellies?
Though greedy, they were not entirely foolish. Rumors told of the nasty troll who let none pass over the guarded bridge to the land of succulent grass. This led them to wonder why the troll had the right to guard this land and deny them dinner. They knew they would have to have a clever plan.