Until October’s wane
I’ve long had an obsession with the tale of True Thomas and the Fairy Queen, elements of which are also found in stories such as Thomas the Rhymer and Tam Lin.
This story, in whatever form it’s told, contains a whole collection of worlds for me. It’s one of those proto-stories that has informed my entire life, captured me in the way that some stories can. And as such, it will not let me be until I claim it… or let it claim me. When it comes to stories such as these, one can never be quite sure which is which.
For a long time, I’ve been working in fits and starts on writing my own version of this story. Or perhaps this story, in fits and starts, has been working on living a version of me. Again, one can never be quite sure. Either way, my efforts have always ended up leading me down wandering pathways, none of which have brought me to a tale I could actually form with words.
But, this Fall, seven years will have come and gone since I first put a tentative draft to paper. And now, my time of meandering mutely through the strange halls of this story is over. It’s time for me to finally pay my tithe to this tale. And methinks a dark night in late October might just be the perfect time to make the offering.
So, for those of you who think you might enjoy a scary erotic tale of other selves who live in worlds which spiral around and through this one, well… it’s coming. But you must wait until the veil thins a bit more.
However, because I’m not a completely cruel tease, I offer this little mood-setter of a song to tuck away in your mind for now. And if you’re a real glutton for spooky-ish fae sorts of things, you’ll take my advice to listen to it at night, with eyes closed, inside the privacy of a good set of headphones.
But when you do, know that you won’t be alone.
Thomas, The Fairy Queen and I… we’ll all be there with you… foreshadows of voices you already know, moving through the dark forest of sounds in your head.
Until October’s wane then, my pretties…
Song: Tam Lin by The Mediaeval Baebes
Image: Out of the Dark by Mosredna at Deviant Art
eeeep! I lived it.
Link.
Sorry, I have an extream emotional reaction to the story of Tam Lin, for I failed to hold on when my lover was ‘turned into a snake, or a lion’ in my arms.
Having failed, I’m left with the impression that perhaps ‘I’ was not Janet at all, perhaps I was the fairy queen!
I look forwards to reading your version of this story!
My other favorite is Mr Fox with the command “Be bold, be bold, but not too bold least your blood run cold”. There is a detail in one version about three different kinds of wine, first the red, then the white and then the yellow “Which causes her heart to burst”.
So many Powerful images in old tales!
xx
Intriguing and captivating. Thank you.
o xxx
RideFlame,
Powerful images in these old tales, indeed!
…perhaps ‘I’ was not Janet at all, perhaps I was the fairy queen!
Yes, it’s not pleasant to realize that perhaps one has acted as the cold inhuman queen rather than the innocent, righteous girl she “thought” she was playing. *smile*
Not long ago, I came to the conclusion that I’ve been, in fact, all three in my life: the enchantress, the enchanted, and the one who gets left holding the bag of tricks.
So, this story is not just a story for me. As for you, it’s a mythical telling of very real experience.
orchidea,
Oh how I love to intrigue and captivate you!
I am intrigued and really looking forward to your tale … my original and long-held online name was Medb (variations of which are Mab, Maeve ) - I even called my eldest daughter Medb although I “anglicized” it to Maeve …
Mythopoesis…Telling one’s own story enriched with mythic elements, to weave one’s own thread into the fabric common to all.
But, like Janet in Tam Lin, I was left holding the baby. Perhaps my Tam Lin wished to remain with the fairy queen?!
Which represents another tale, of men chosing to remain aloof from the realities of life! Of ‘the hero’ who enters the tower, refusing to return…of the golden boy wishing to remain golden, refusing the pain of his crossing back into this world of fragile mortality…hmmm
x
Selkie,
Well, I hope my tale, when it comes, entertains you well. *smile*
RideFlame,
Oh, we do travel similar thought roads, you and I! And though I’m tempted to respond with much more concerning what you brought up in your last paragraph, I’ll leave it for the story instead. *wink*
If you look closely at tales of the denizens of faerie, you see that one of the chief features of their interactions with mortal folk is to “steal time”. They take us out of the mortal world and into the realm of faerie. When we return mortal time has flown by us. Now, what does that better than a faerie story? i submit faeries are faerie stories.
i am working on a series of tales, the adventures of victoria and balthazar, told in webcast that explore this idea. You can hear the main theme of the webcast here.
Yes, to support this observation about mortal’s engagement with faerie, this source suggests that the “older” tale of True Thomas involves a time warp of 200 years.
greg,
Welcome. It seems you have your own doings with the old tales, yes?
i submit faeries are faerie stories.
Are you saying what I think you’re saying here? That the stories themselves are faeries? If so, what a fiendishly delightful concept! And in the way of the fae, probably more true than truth.
As for how much time supposedly passes in these stories, I suppose I’m not so much interested in knowing the number of years the fae are capable of stealing as I am in how much untold experience exists between the lines of these stories.
And speaking of untold experience: The adventures of Victoria and Balthazar sound interesting, but I couldn’t find the actual story anywhere on your site! Also, the link you left in your last comment goes to a music file. Is that the link you intended?
And though I’m tempted to respond with much more concerning what you brought up in your last paragraph, I’ll leave it for the story instead. *wink*
Oh, cruel lady!
More seriously…I’m fascinated.
xx
Yes… i feel it safe to say that the stories themselves are faeries. Or, that one of the principal aspects by which we directly engage with denizens of faerie is in their presentation of themselves as faerie stories.
And, i agree, the amount of time stolen doesn’t have to be centrally significant — though every clue should be carefully considered (who, after all, is on the other side of this post? One never knows if Oberon himself is visiting until all is just too fae to deny it). i just didn’t know that True Thomas had a time warp in it, too; so, i was delighted to see that this tale also exhibited the key trait.
The webcasts for Victoria and Balthazar are videos. They are still in production. The link was just to the main theme of the soundtrack for the series. When the first series goes live, i’ll post a link.
Greg,
Who, after all, is on the other side of this post? One never knows if Oberon himself is visiting…
Good point. A disturbing, but good point.
Thanks for the clarification on the Victoria and Balthazar link. I’m looking forward to what you’re doing with this story.