Tales of the Fae and a Beating Wooden Heart

By Neil Arnold

They are returning.

While Man wages its Great War, the fabled creatures of story and legend creep back to the world they once lost.

'Tales Of The Fae And A Beating Wooden Heart' is an introduction to the history of the fair folk and their re-emergence during humanity's greatest war.

A collection of poetry and short stories written by Neil Arnold.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326479329

Book preview

Tales of the Fae and a Beating Wooden Heart

Tales of the Fae and a Beating Wooden Heart

Neil Arnold

All rights reserved, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the permission of the author and associated artists. 

Copyright © Text Neil Arnold 2015

Copyright © Cover design Stephen Lui 2015

ISBN 978-1-326-47932-9

Thank you

A massive thank you to everyone who contributed to this book, with their time, their skills and their friendship.

Special thanks to

Freyja Taylor-Law for her critical eye and editing prowess.

Stephen Lui for his gorgeous designs.

Christopher Atkinson for his beautiful photography.

Without you this would not have been possible.

Foreword

When I was a child I loved stories. I still do. I loved the fantastical, the tales of villains and heroes, noble causes and dreadfully deeds. I've grown up (slightly) since then. My appreciation for the craft of storytelling has been nurtured along with my ageing body and mind. I learnt nothing is in black and white. The fables and fairy tales I thought I understood held a broad scale of grey which I had previously not seen. The villains were not all that bad and the heroes not particularly good.

If there is a theme to Tales Of The Fae And A Beating Wooden Heart  it is this; the subversion of old fantasy. Are we not dissimilar to the monster under the bed? Are people that far away from the orcs assaulting the land of men? The big bad wolf or a witch and her gingerbread house? The villains of bed time reading were motivated by much the same reasons as normal people. Acting sometimes through selfishness and sometimes through necessity. I'm not sure where I read the phrase but it is a favourite of mine, 'we are God and the Devil in equal measure.' If that is truly the case then I would like to think a Goblin has the same capacity for good or evil. A witch is misunderstood or a dragon driven by the need to survive. I want to believe that even the villain can be redeemed and that in universal fairness the hero can be corrupted.

The anthology you are about to read is a love letter to my childhood. Written by a young man who has no right to be so nostalgically attached to things not so long ago passed. It will hold familiar creatures and some of my own design. And all of it painted in shades of grey. Thank you for reading.

Neil Arnold

Introduction

When Man's life blood washed over land,

Turned the seas red, weapons in hand,

Dug deep into their Mother's womb,

Thousands falling to earthy tomb.

Distant brother killing brother,

Lowered eyes from loving Mother,

The old others stirred once again,

They returned back seeking to claim

What man had tarnished and abused,

Perfections which they had refused.

Man's apparent reign at an end,

The Fae crept to surface to tend  

What loving Mother had gifted,

And Man's arrogance had twisted.

Creature slunk from legend and tale,

Becoming more than child's fable,

So while war is fought on all sides,

The winds begin to change and the tides,

Old life starts to bloom over land,

Not with weapon, with love in hand.

The Gargoyles

When first the great races were born,

They all lived in harmony, safe, peaceful,

The lost realms in balance, void of evil,

But amongst the roses a thorn,

From the Earth's womb the Dwarf came,

Tough, stoic, stubborn, long of chin hair,

Then the Elves, haughty, heroic and fair,

Finally, Man, young, lost and tame.

Other creatures came into being,

Goblin, Troll, Imp, Fairy, Nymph and Gargoyle,

Not like the masters, none of them royal,

Important as well, all living,

All dwelt in the Mother's garden,

Elf taught Man, music, love and poetry,

Dwarf, iron work, the forge and alchemy,

But in the end all hearts harden,

For jealousy began to feast,

The Elf yearned for their Mother's loving gaze,

Resentment for brothers they had to raise,

When once were beautiful now beast,

They turned from brotherly embrace,

Threw aside love, teachings and compassion,

Quill and lute for sword and shield, took action,

And put frightened Man to chase,

Some stood in war's deathly path,

The sun worshipping Gargoyle's protection,

Offered to shield Man from Elven aggression,

Heroic against brothers' wrath,

When their tree living former kin,

Brought arms against the fairest of races,

All to save naïve Man, terror on their faces,

The Elf put Gargoyle to fighting,

They struck down kindly protector,

Burned homes, slew family and destroyed,

Taking from them all they had helped Man avoid,

All for being the objector,

Finally one last poisoned kiss,

A curse on the Gargoyle, a punishment,

To never see the sun, from light banishment,

From Eden's serpent a last hiss,

Time passes, the hour glass empties,

Creatures claw up chapel to highest height,

Trying desperately to glimpse God's light,

In vain gripping to old memories,

Over Man statues now stand guard,

The tale of the Gargoyle tribe here is told,

Their honourable house - brave, noble and bold,

Sacrificed creatures skin cursed hard.

A Beating Wooden Heart

Now, we've all heard strange things. Strange tales and odd stories. I'd like to tell you a true one, one from my younger days,