A fairy, fata, fay, fey, fae, or member of the fair folk, is a type of mythical being or legendary creature in European folklore (and particularly British, Slavic, German, and French folklore), a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural, or preternatural. Fairyland, traditionally Faerie, is the fabulous land or abode of fairies, either located in a hidden part of Earth, or in a parallel universe accessible by certain forest gateways on Earth.
Myths and stories about Faerie and fairies do not have a single origin, but are rather a collection of folk beliefs from disparate sources. Therefore, modern fantasy writers can pick and choose from many different qualities to give to their fairies: beautiful or ugly, benevolent or malevolent, miniscule or gigantic, strong or weak, etc. Creatures such as gnomes, goblins, etc., may be considered a subspecies of fairy or a wholly different taxon, as the author chooses. The government of Faerie, assuming it has one in any relevant story, is usually depicted as monarchical in nature, with Oberon, Titania, and their analogues being frequently used as stock characters for this purpose.
Various folk theories about the origins of fairies include casting them as either demoted angels or demons in a Christian tradition, as minor deities in pre-Christian Pagan belief systems, as spirits of the dead, as prehistoric precursors to humans, or as personifications of natural forces.
Faerie in "The Castle of the Sparrowhawk"[]
Prince Rupen of Etchmiadzin traveled to Faerie on an obsessive quest for his heart's desire.
Faerie in "The Garden Gnome Freedom Front"[]
The realm of Faerie has long had a strong presence in the Norman regions of France.
Faerie in "A Late Symmer Night's Battle"[]
Faerie was a realm ruled by King Oberon and Queen Titania. Most of its inhabitants were the size of small rodents. Reremice were wild animals that preyed on the fairy population.
Following a much-publicized dispute between Oberon and Titania over custody of the apprentice Ghosh, Faerie was threatened by an invasion of German kobolds, who'd been evicted from their silver mines in Greece. Under General Hinzelmann, the kobolds engaged the armies of Faerie while Oberon and Titania were on the their Second Honeymoon tour.
The battle proved to be a skirmish. While there were more kobolds, they were plainly physically weak and desperate. Then reremice attacked both sides. The Faerie retreated to a deep cave Ghosh had found while digging. The kobolds had no defenses against the reremice. Realizing that a cultured people were being attacked by mindless predators, the fairy Mustardseed convinced military leaders General Pard and Lady Quill to allow her to ride to the kobold line under a flag of truce. The truce was further helped by the fact that Hinzelmann was injured, and that a colonel named Hödeken had taken command. The kobolds accepted the fairies offer of peace.
With this act, the war was over. Hinzelmann died of his injuries. With him gone, Titania and Oberon successfully negotiated an agreement with the kobold leaders. The cave Ghosh had found contained enough silver to support the kobolds for some time. For her part, while attending Peaseblossom's party celebrating Cobweb's return to archery training, Mustardseed took the opportunity to dance with Hödeken.
Faerie in "The Man who Came Late"[]
Faerie remained relatively quiet and non-threatening, nearly 30 years after the war between Chaos and Law.
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