Hello everyone!
I have some great news before we go into our archives for the Fae Chronicles! I have officially finished the rough draft of Closer, my Halloween novel. I meant to only write about 30 chapters, but have ended up with 64, so more than double! NOW, I am going through to fill in what needs to be filled, and edit what needs to be edited. ;) My husband, Elliott T. Campbell, is working on some artwork for the book now as well, and I hope to have a cover reveal very soon! :)
Now, lets learn about Underworld customs!
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The Royal Archives
Edition IX: Fae Customs — A Traveler's Guide
“There are customs in the Underworld that exist for the protection of our guests. There are others that exist for the protection of our hosts. Learn the difference before you accept an invitation.”
— Royal Archivist Maeve, Notes for Visiting Scholars
There are rules in the Underworld.
Some are written.
Some are spoken.
And some, unfortunately, are learned only after someone has made the mistake of breaking them.
Humans often assume that Fae customs are strange because they are unfamiliar.
This is only partly true.
The Fae have customs surrounding nearly everything: introductions, names, gifts, hospitality, celebrations, mourning, and even the simple act of accepting a seat.
Travelers are therefore advised to observe carefully.
On Names
A name is not merely a word.
Do not offer your full name to a Fae unless you understand why they are asking for it.
Likewise, do not assume that a Fae giving you their name means they have offered you the whole of it.
There are names for family.
Names for friends.
Names for strangers.
And names that are never spoken outside the oldest circles of the kingdom.
If someone tells you that a name is private, believe them.
And if someone asks, “What shall I call you?”
You may wish to think before answering.
On Gifts
A gift freely given is one thing.
A gift offered with expectation is another.
Never assume the two are the same.
If a Fae offers you something, ask what it is.
Ask why it is being offered.
And perhaps most importantly...
Ask what happens when you accept it.
The Fae are not obligated to explain.
You are obligated to be careful.
On Food
This rule is simple.
It is also one of the most frequently ignored.
Humans must never eat food offered to them by the Fae.
Not at a royal feast.
Not at a village gathering.
Not from the hands of a stranger.
Not even if it smells wonderful.
Especially if it smells wonderful.
The reasons vary depending upon whom you ask.
Some Fae will tell you that human bodies were never meant to consume food from the Underworld.
Others will offer considerably more entertaining explanations.
The Royal Archives will simply say this:
Do not eat it.
There are tales of humans who accepted food during celebrations and never returned home.
Some danced until they could dance no longer.
Some disappeared.
Some remained in the Underworld.
And some...
Well.
The Archives contain paintings.
We shall leave it there.
On Banquets
A Fae banquet is a spectacle.
Music fills the hall.
Creatures from distant realms gather beneath one roof.
Humans may be invited to dance.
They may be welcomed as honored guests.
They may even be encouraged to join the celebration.
Enjoy the music.
Enjoy the dancing.
Admire the decorations.
Do not eat.
If you notice paintings hanging throughout the hall, observe them from a respectful distance.
Some depict heroes.
Some depict kings and queens.
Some depict moments from the long history of the Underworld.
And some depict humans whose crimes were never punished in their own world.
The Fae have their own understanding of justice.
It does not always resemble ours.
Nor does every Fae agree upon what justice should look like.
This distinction is worth remembering.
There are those who believe every punishment is deserved.
There are those who believe justice should be left to the courts.
And there are those who simply wonder what would happen if a human were foolish enough to accept the wrong offering.
These individuals are best avoided.
On Hospitality
Once a Fae has formally welcomed you into their home, you are considered a guest.
Guests are protected.
Guests are fed.
Guests are expected to behave with respect.
However, being offered hospitality does not mean you should accept everything placed before you.
A polite refusal may save your life.
This is particularly true where food is concerned.
On Compliments
Compliments are appreciated throughout the Underworld.
However, travelers are reminded that beauty is not always something that should be commented upon.
Do not compliment a Fae on something you do not understand.
Do not ask why someone looks different from another Fae.
And under no circumstances should you tell a member of the royal court that they look “surprisingly human.”
The Archives have recorded the consequences of this particular mistake.
They were avoidable.
On the King's Tree
The King's Tree is a place of celebration, remembrance, and gathering.
It is also a place of respect.
Do not carve your name into its bark.
Do not break its branches.
Do not extinguish its lanterns.
And if you are invited to sit beneath its branches, accept only if you understand the meaning of the invitation.
The Tree has stood longer than many royal bloodlines.
It has witnessed promises, grief, celebrations, coronations, departures, and returns.
The Fae do not consider it merely a tree.
Neither should you.
And Finally...
The easiest way to offend a Fae is to assume that your intentions matter more than your actions.
You may not have meant to insult someone.
You may not have intended to accept a promise.
You may not have realized that a gift carried significance.
You may not have understood the rules.
The Underworld does not always care what you intended.
So listen carefully.
Watch closely.
Ask questions.
And when someone who has lived here far longer than you tells you:
“You probably shouldn't do that.”
For once...
Perhaps take their advice.
— Royal Archives, Ninth Edition
Filed under: Customs, Hospitality, and Avoidable Disasters
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~ Joli
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