The Hidden Folk

Come, child, and tell me, were you looking for the Little People in the woods today? Then sit, and let me explain why that is something you must never do. Once upon a distant time we humans were great friends with the People of Peace and all was well. You must remember that They were here long before us, and all the earth is Theirs, but They tolerated our arrival, despite our lack of grace.  They taught us how to live in harmony with the world and we wanted for nothing, blessed as we were by Their patronage.

After a long while The Others came to trust us and offered us a great boon. They own the earth and all that’s in it, and above all, metal is the prize of the Sidhe, but They honoured us by granting the use of copper. It is magic and holds the power of the sun within in, so we were able to make great and beautiful things, like jewels and mirrors; and the world was a lighter, brighter place as a result.

However, smiths can be devious people and many coveted the Tidy Ones’ magic for themselves. One particularly jealous smith stole secretly into a Yarthkin camp and learned the skill of making a cutting edge; so the very first knife was fashioned. This scared the Gentle Folk and we were made to promise that we would only ever use our tools for good. We could eat with them, and prepare our food; we could build our homes and cut our firewood; but we must never wield one in anger.

   

Of course we didn’t listen, and ere long the smiths were forging longer and longer blades – daggers and swords – to please their feudal masters, and warfare was born.  Camp against camp, town against town, even brother against brother, fought for supremacy, all the while forgetting the source of true power. Then one day the smiths realised that iron will conquer copper and a band set out to steal the last great secret of the Fair Folk.

When the Lords and Ladies learned that Mankind had the Knowledge they were angry, and They cursed us forever: “If bloodshed is what you want, then bloodshed you shall have! Whenever you make a metal edge there will be a price to pay. Forget that at your peril!”  And They disappeared.

From that point They closed the doors of Fae to Humankind and hid their Fair Faces from all but a lucky few who had respected Them well, and who were taken to live in the Beautiful Land. And yet They still hold the power. We must always remember that metal is not ours to use. Whenever we forge it anew, or exchange it, we must make a payment, or the Wee Folk will claim their own price; and that price is usually blood. An axman misses his stroke and loses an arm; a kitchen maid is distracted and cuts her hand; a Feudal lord over-reaches his authority and many die.

We who are left must remember that all power still resides with the Old People. If we want our crops to flourish, if we want our stock to fatten well, if we don’t want our milk to sour or our cheese to spoil, we must still pay our dues. We must never use the word They hate – the one that starts with Faer – and we must honour Them in all our endeavours. Above all we must never go looking for Them, because They will never appear to one who does.

But if you are honourable, and you respect the Good People well, maybe one day you might catch a fleeting glance of one, if They choose to bless you so. But never marry a smith, young lady. Never marry a smith!

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July 2015

Inspired by the Damh the Bard song Iron from Stone. This version differs slightly from his explanation, but it's based on what I was told by my Father.