Is noone gonna talk about the fact that in tcp, in that scene where Jude gets poisoned by the faerie fruit, they see 7 shooting stars and Jude describes that at as dozen deaths. I haven't heard anyone mention that that could have been foreshadowing what was to come later during the coronation as 6 Fae died then (Elowyn, Eldred, Dain, Rhyia, Caelia and Taniot) and also Valerian earlier on which makes 7 deaths like prophecied.
I thought it was really clever, nothing a reader would have really paid attention too.
I have been obsessed with this book series and I wanted to create a wallpaper that had the first book’s backdrop with hints of gold in it so I made an edit :)
“Faerie is a perilous land, and in it are pitfalls for the unwary and dungeons for the overbold... The realm of fairy-story is wide and deep and high and filled with many things: all manner of beasts and birds are found there; shoreless seas and stars uncounted; beauty that is an enchantment, and an ever-present peril; both joy and sorrow as sharp as swords. In that realm a man may, perhaps, count himself fortunate to have wandered, but its very richness and strangeness tie the tongue of a traveller who would report them. And while he is there it is dangerous for him to ask too many questions, lest the gates should be shut and the keys be lost.”
— J. R. R. Tolkien, On Fairy-Stories
(Taken from the TV Tropes ‘Land of Faerie’ main page)
Description in Folklore:
The Land of Faerie is often described as beautiful and full of treasures; the fae may live in fantastical palaces full of food and fine things, and the environment may maintain in perpetual summer. However it is also a place of illusions, and the beautiful things you see may merely be glamoured to look that way.
The Land of Faerie is a plane full of the supernatural, illusions, and danger. It can be accessed by finding a secret entrance, but a person could accidentally stumble into that world as well- or be taken against their will by its inhabitants.
In Celtic folklore, entrances to the Land of Faerie could be found in underground caves and springs, and in fairy forts (long abandoned architectural structures) and fairy mounds (large mounds of earth that may contain an ancient fort, tomb, or other structure within.)
The entrances to Faerie are often well guarded, and entering them without permission could have severe and even permanent consequences on the invader.
The Sidhe and the Sí
In Old Irish, these places were often referred to as sidhe (pronounced as “shee”.) In modern Irish, sidhe (or the modern spelling, sí) may refer to either the place or a supernatural being. The Irish-English Dictionary gives the following definitions:
The Irish-English Dictionary also provides the following terms for further context:
Aos sí: inhabitants of fairy mounds, fairies.
Bean sí: fairy woman, banshee.
An slua sí: the fairy host.
Long sí: phantom ship.
Ceol sí: enchanting music.
Solas sí: misguiding light.
Sí gaoithe: whirlwind, fairy wind.
Euphemisms for the Sidhe
In many folktales, it is believed to be unwise or unlucky to refer to the fae by name. The following are some alternative names used for the fae and their homes, meant to prevent you from needing to speak their name directly:
Aes Sídhe, Aos Sí, or Daoine Sidhe: People or Folk of the Mounds
The two humans wandered down the cobblestone street of Elfame, looking at the lush grass and beautiful trees that grew on the sides of the road.
"This place doesn't look dangerous."
"Yeah, but don't let your guard down. And don't forget what he said. We can't..."
He took a few more steps, then froze. His friend stopped right beside him.
"Crap. What was it? We're not allowed to—to—"
"Eat!" the first one shouted. "We can't eat anything, or we're stuck here forever! But he warned us, right? This place'll make us forget. We have to remember. Don't eat."
The second friend put a hand to his head. "Right. No eating. Man, that was freaky."
They started walking again.
"We can't eat anything."
"I know."
"Good. 'Cause I was starting to forget."
They walked for about ten more seconds.
"We can't...oh, frickin'—we can't...eat! Right?"
"Okay!" The first one stopped again, digging around in his pockets. "We gotta be smart about this."
He took out a pen and wrote DON'T EAT in huge letters down his left forearm. He handed it to his friend, who grimaced as he tried to do the same.
"Can barely see this against my skin..."
"Well, maybe writing it will help us remember anyway. We can't eat," the other snapped, staring at his arm as they continued their journey. "Can't eat. Can't eat. Persephone rules. Do. Not. Eat."
They kept walking. The second human murmured "Don't eat" under his breath every ten seconds or so. His companion kept staring at his arm, an expression of mixed determination and annoyance on his face.
After a while, his arm began to ache, so he let it fall to his side. His friend had stopped muttering a minute or two before.
"Man...I'm getting hungry."
"Me, too. How long have we been walking, do you think?"
"I dunno. Maybe we can—oh, hey!"
He pointed at an apple tree growing a few yards off the road. They jogged over. The first friend inhaled deeply.
"Man, those smell good."
"Probably taste even better," the second said, grinning as he plucked one from a branch and rubbed it against his shirt.
He brought it to his mouth, and there was a horrible half-second when his companion suddenly realized what was happening.
"DUDE!"
He swatted it out of the other's hand just before he could take a bite. The second human jumped back and looked indignant.
"What the hell, man?!"
"We can't eat anything! Remember?!"
He blinked hard. Then swore, very loudly.
"Come on," he first one said, shooting a fearful look at the pretty trees with its tempting red apples. "Let's get out of here before we forget again."
"Yeah."
They walked away quickly. The second one breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thanks, man. You saved my ass back there."
"Yeah," his friend said vaguely. Then he started, turning to look over his shoulder. "Hey!"
"What?"
He laughed nervously. "We were so distracted talking about how hungry we were that we walked right by that apple tree!"
The second one snorted. "How could we—wait!"
He grabbed his friend's hand and pulled him away as fast as possible.
It is a long held and strong belief amongst both Traditional and Natural Crafters that there is a strong link between Witches and the Fay; Witches are seen as a race apart, having preserved a trace of Elven blood through the ages, either genetically or spiritually, known as the Red Thread. Elfhame - the home of the Faere Folk - is said to be the place where Witches or Crafters go when they die, there to rest with their kin and, indeed, some say that the Faere Folk are only the spirits of the Dead waiting to be reborn. Some Crafters have reached such a level of advancement that they do not need to come back again and remain in the Land of Elfhame, to act as spirit guides and teachers to those that do incarnate again. This is an aspect of Witch lore generally ignored and shunned by most modem pagans, but they ignore it to their detriment and lack of further advancement in the Mysteries.
Walking the Tides: Seasonal Magical Rhythms and Lore by Nigel Pearson
Summary: One year into their marriage Jude had started to feel sick. She had gone to the mortal world visiting Vivi and Heather. They convinced her to take a test to be sure. Only one problem for Jude, she is now a queen on the run with an hotheaded husband on her trails.
One year after the end of Queen Of Nothing
Chapter 2
[Cardan’s pov]
I stepped out of the golden horse pulled carat. Breathing in the honey sweet air, I could not be happier to be home again. Home to my Jude. The trip was boring, long meetings with the living council was not nearly as entertaining as when my sweet Jude was with me there. Walking into the palace I was meet by the servants and guards, but something was off. I was almost like I could smell the nervousness in the air.
I looked at them but no one - not a single person - meet my eye, strange. Opening the door into me and my wife’s chambers, expecting to see Jude watching her sword like a baby, but meet with nothing. Looking around the palace, the library, the kitchen, the garden, the shadow court’s spots. She were with none of those places.
It was at that moment that the nagging feeling inside me started to grow and I became sudden worried for my dear wife. I went out and went to the nearest guard I saw - which happened to be Fand - and asked “where is the Queen?”
Nervous sweating was almost started to become visible around her ears, “My King, the Queen is... she is in the mortal world, she ran off four weeks ago and have not been seen ever since.”
Rage. I was burning up with rage and vicious anger. It was boiling inside me. I turned around and walked back to my chambers, sitting on the bed and popping my head in my hands.
Why did you do that sweet Jude? Was it all an act, a mere theatric for you? Wad this your punishment for all of the horrendous things I have done?
Stop. Stop being so weak and vulnerable, take yourself together. You are the High King of Elfhame for gods sake. Now go find your wife Cardan, I told myself. I have to find Jude.
***
Knocking on the fragile door, it was soon opened by a tired Vivienne , still rubbing the sleep out of her cat eyes.
“Cardan! What are you-”
“Where is she, where is my wife?”
She avoided my burning glances at her. “Come in and sit, I will tell you everything you need to know.”
Sitting awkwardly in the beige coloured sofa, trying to adjust my sitting without moving to much became a hard task. Looking at Vivienne, giving her an angry glance telling her with my eyes to start talking soon or you wont ever talk again.
“I haven’t seen Jude in about three four weeks, but I do know where she is staying for the time being.”
Opening my mouth, only to be cut off before even starting to talk.
“She is pregnant, I think that is why she left.”
What.
Jude is pregnant, like with a baby, a child, a fetus in her uterus? Oh god I might faint. My wife is pregnant, she is pregnant with my baby. Our baby. I am going to be a dad!
Then the thought hit me, she left. She left me, because she is pregnant, that thought angered me, it made me even more angry than her leaving in it self.
Keeping calm I ask her that one vital question.
“Where is she?”
***
Walking outside an worn-down neighborhood, I look up at the grey numbers finally finding apartment number 67. Inside the hallway up, it is disgusting. Besides it being the mortal world it was disgusting because the stank, the dirt, the design, the everything.
Finding the door that was supposedly the right one, I lift my hand knocking on it twice.
Waiting a few seconds and it did not open so I tried again.
Then a grumpy voice could be heard from behind the ugly wood door, before it opened completely leaving me to the sight of an heavily pregnant Jude with tear stained cheeks.
