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Author Insight
Fairies
Anglo-Saxons explained infant death by saying the child was so desirable "the fairies" took the babe. So, when Queen Ethelberga said the fairies could take her newborn daughter, her entire household quickly denounced the child as too ugly for the fairies to take. It seems harsh for a mother to reject her child, but when the newborn turned out to be female, Queen Ethelberga's hopes for a secure future were immediately quashed.
Book Excerpt
Saxon Heroines
“You have a daughter, my lady.”
Daughter…
No. That’s not possible. I carried a son. The fairies must have taken him and left a girl in his place.
I turn my head. “Take it away. I don’t want it.”
Where did I fail? Why did God take away my hopes and expectations? The last queen produced two strapping sons. They practice their weapons every day under their father’s proud eye. Without a son, I’m nothing in the king’s eyes. Tears crawl down my cheeks. I had such hopes. My hands make loose fists. Breguswid pushes the swaddled infant at me again.
“Won’t you look at her?” Breguswid coaxes.
“No! Let the fairies take her.”
Every woman in my chamber gasps. “The fairies don’t want her,” they chant in unison. “She’s too ugly.”
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