NANCY FAIRY
by Unknown · from Popular Tales from the Norse
Adapted Version
An old woman lived long ago. She lived in a small house. Her name was Granny. Granny liked to take babies. One baby was very pretty. Granny did not eat this baby. Granny took care of the baby. She called the baby Nancy. Nancy was her little girl.
Nancy grew up. She was very pretty. She did not know what Granny did. She was a happy girl.
One day, Nancy looked through a small hole. She saw Granny. Granny had a baby. It was a baby Granny took. Nancy felt sad. Nancy felt a little scared.
Granny asked Nancy, "Did you see me?" Nancy said, "No, Granny." Granny asked many times. Nancy always said, "No, Granny." Granny sent Nancy to a small house. It was in the wood.
A servant walked in the wood. He saw Nancy. She was very pretty. He told The Prince. The Prince saw Nancy. He took Nancy for his wife.
One year later, Queen Nancy had a baby. Granny came in a big wind. Granny took the baby. Queen Nancy could not speak.
People said Queen Nancy lost her baby. They said bad things. The Prince did not believe them. He loved Queen Nancy very much.
Next year, Queen Nancy had a new baby. Granny came again. She took the baby again. Queen Nancy was very sad.
The Maid did not like Queen Nancy. The Maid said, "Queen Nancy lost her baby." People believed the Maid. The Prince was very sad. He said Queen Nancy must leave.
Queen Nancy was ready to leave. A big gold carriage came. It was very shiny. Granny was in the carriage. Two children were with her. They had The Prince's star.
Queen Nancy could speak again. She sang a sad song.
Granny asked, "Do you know these children?" People saw the children. They looked like The Prince.
Granny said, "The Prince took my Nancy. He did not ask me. I was angry. So I took his children. I will give them back. If you know."
They all said yes. Granny gave back the children. She gave the gold carriage. The Maid was sent away. The group was happy now.
Granny could visit the children. She could visit any time she liked.
And so, the Queen and The Prince and Granny lived with joy. They were a big, kind group. It is good to be kind to all people. It is good to tell the truth. All were happy now.
Original Story
NANCY FAIRY
There was once an old woman called “Nancy Fairy”. She was a witch, and used to steal all the little babies as soon as they were born, and eat them. One day she stole a little baby, who was so beautiful that she had not the heart to eat her; but she took her home and brought her up. She called her “daughter”, named her “Nancy Fairy”, after herself, and the girl called the old woman “Granny”.
So the girl grew up, and the more she grew the more beautiful she got.
The old woman never let her daughter know of her doings; but one day when she had brought a baby home, and had locked herself in a room, her daughter peeped through a chink to see what she was about, and the old woman saw her shadow, and thought her daughter had seen what she was doing, and the daughter thought her granny had seen her, and was very much afraid.
So the old woman asked her, “Nancy Fairy, did you see what I was doing?”
“No, Granny.”
She asked the girl several times, “Nancy Fairy, did you see what I was doing?” and the girl always said, “No, Granny.”
So the old woman took her up to a hut in a wood, and left her there as a punishment; and she took her food every day.
One day it happened that the king’s servant, going that way, saw the beautiful girl come out of the hut. Next day he went again and saw the same beautiful girl again. So he went home and told the prince that he could show him in the wood a girl more beautiful than he had ever seen. The prince went and saw the girl, and then sent a band of soldiers to fetch her home, and took her for his bride.
A year after she had a baby. Soldiers were set to keep guard at the gate, and the room was full of nurses; but in the middle of the night the old woman came in a whirlwind and put them all to sleep. She stole the child, and on going away gave the mother a slap on the mouth which made her dumb.
Next morning there was a great stir, and they said the mother had eaten the child. There was a trial, but the mother was let off that time.
Next year she had another baby, and the same thing happened again. The old woman came in the middle of the night in a whirlwind, and put them all to sleep. She stole the child, and struck the mother on the mouth, which made it bleed.
In the morning there was a stir; and the servant maid, who was jealous, said the mother had eaten the child. All believed it, as her mouth was covered with blood; and, besides, what would be expected of a girl brought out of the wood? So she was tried again, and condemned to be hanged.
Invitations were sent out to all the grand folk to come and see her hanged; so many fine carriages came driving up. At last, just before the time, there came a very grand carriage, all of gold, which glistened in the sun. In it were the old woman and two children, dressed in fine clothes, with the king’s star on them. When the queen saw this grand carriage she got her speech and sung,
“Do spare me till I see that grand carriage.”
The old woman came into the courtyard, and asked the people if they saw any likeness to any one in the children. They said, “they were like the prince”, and asked her how she came by them, and told her she had stolen them. She said she had not stolen them; she had taken them, for they were her own; the prince had taken away her daughter without her leave, and so she had taken his children; but she was willing to give them back, if they would allow that she was right.
So they consented, and the old woman made the prince and his queen a present of the grand carriage, and so they lived happily. The old woman was allowed to come and see the children whenever she liked. But the servant girl, who said the queen had eaten her babies, was hanged.
Story DNA
Moral
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Plot Summary
An old witch, Nancy Fairy, adopts a beautiful baby girl she couldn't bring herself to eat, raising her as her own. When the girl, also named Nancy Fairy, accidentally glimpses her adoptive grandmother's baby-stealing, she is banished to a hut. There, she is discovered by a prince, marries him, and becomes queen. However, the old woman repeatedly steals the queen's newborn children and magically silences her, leading to the queen being falsely accused of infanticide and condemned to hang. At the last moment, the old woman arrives with the children, reveals her revenge plot for the prince taking her daughter, and after a reconciliation, the queen is freed, her children returned, and the jealous servant who accused her is hanged instead.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Reflects a pre-modern justice system where accusations could lead to swift, harsh punishment, and the power of royalty was absolute.
Plot Beats (15)
- An old witch, Nancy Fairy, steals and eats babies, but adopts one beautiful baby girl, naming her Nancy Fairy and raising her as her granddaughter.
- The adopted daughter grows up beautiful, unaware of her 'Granny's' dark deeds.
- One day, the daughter peeks through a chink and sees her 'Granny' with a stolen baby, leading to mutual suspicion and fear.
- The old woman repeatedly questions her daughter, who denies seeing anything, but the old woman punishes her by leaving her in a hut in the woods.
- A king's servant discovers the beautiful girl in the hut and tells the prince, who then takes her as his bride.
- A year later, the queen has a baby, but the old woman appears in a whirlwind, steals the child, and strikes the queen, making her dumb.
- The queen is accused of eating her child but is acquitted due to lack of evidence.
- The next year, the queen has another baby, and the old woman again steals the child and strikes the queen, making her mouth bleed.
- A jealous servant accuses the queen of eating her child, and with the blood as evidence, the queen is condemned to be hanged.
- As the queen is about to be executed, a grand golden carriage arrives with the old woman and two children, bearing the king's star.
- The queen regains her speech and sings to spare her until she sees the carriage.
- The old woman asks the crowd if they recognize the children, who are identified as resembling the prince.
- The old woman explains she took the children as revenge for the prince taking her daughter without permission, but is willing to return them if her actions are acknowledged as justified.
- The court consents, the old woman returns the children and the carriage, and the family lives happily; the jealous servant is hanged.
- The old woman is allowed to visit the children whenever she wishes.
Characters
Old Woman (Nancy Fairy)
A hunched, gaunt elderly woman with a wiry build, likely with a sharp nose and chin. Her skin is wrinkled and weathered from age. She moves with an unnatural swiftness when performing magic.
Attire: Simple, dark, and practical peasant clothing, perhaps a dark wool skirt and a rough linen blouse, possibly with a shawl or cloak to conceal her movements. Her clothes would be worn but clean.
Wants: Initially, to satisfy her hunger for babies. Later, to punish the Prince for taking her 'daughter' without her consent and to reclaim what she sees as her own (the grandchildren).
Flaw: Her possessiveness and her twisted sense of justice, which leads her to extreme actions.
She begins as a baby-eating witch, then becomes a vengeful 'grandmother' seeking retribution, and finally reconciles with the royal family, gaining access to her grandchildren.
Cruel, vengeful, cunning, possessive, and surprisingly sentimental (initially sparing the baby girl). She is driven by a strong sense of justice, albeit a twisted one.
Nancy Fairy (The Queen)
A woman of exceptional beauty, slender and graceful. Her skin is fair and unblemished, with a delicate complexion. She is of average height for a young woman.
Attire: Initially, simple, clean peasant attire suitable for living in a hut, perhaps a plain linen dress. Later, as a Queen, she wears elegant gowns made of fine silks and brocades in soft, regal colors, adorned with minimal, tasteful jewelry. Her clothing would reflect the fashion of a European medieval or early modern queen.
Wants: To live peacefully, to protect her children, and to clear her name.
Flaw: Her vulnerability to the Old Woman's magic, her inability to speak when struck dumb, and her initial fear of her adoptive mother.
From an innocent girl raised in isolation, she becomes a Queen, then a falsely accused mother, and finally a vindicated mother who reclaims her children and reconciles with her adoptive mother.
Innocent, observant (peeping through the chink), fearful (of her 'Granny'), loving (towards her children), resilient (enduring accusations), and ultimately forgiving.
The Prince
A handsome young man of royal bearing, likely tall and well-built, as befits a prince who leads soldiers. His complexion would be healthy and clear.
Attire: Initially, fine riding clothes suitable for hunting or exploring the woods. Later, as a husband and father, he would wear rich, tailored garments of velvet and brocade, in deep jewel tones, possibly with a royal insignia or a simple gold chain. His attire would be of a European medieval or early modern prince.
Wants: To find a beautiful bride, to have children, and to maintain order in his kingdom.
Flaw: His susceptibility to gossip and public pressure, leading him to doubt and condemn his wife.
He finds love, faces the mystery of his disappearing children, and is initially swayed by false accusations, but ultimately accepts the truth and reconciles with his wife and the Old Woman.
Curious (following the servant's lead), decisive (sending soldiers to fetch the girl), loving (taking her as his bride), but also susceptible to public opinion and quick to condemn (believing the accusations against his wife).
The Servant Maid
Likely of average build and height, possibly with a plain or unremarkable appearance, contrasting with the Queen's beauty.
Attire: Simple, functional servant's attire: a plain, sturdy linen dress, an apron, and possibly a cap or head covering. Colors would be muted and practical, like grey, brown, or undyed linen.
Wants: Driven by jealousy of the Queen's beauty and position, she seeks to discredit and harm her.
Flaw: Her overwhelming jealousy, which leads to her downfall.
She acts as an antagonist, falsely accusing the Queen, and ultimately meets a grim end as punishment for her deceit.
Jealous, malicious, deceitful, and eager to spread rumors.
Locations
Nancy Fairy's Cottage
A humble, likely rustic cottage, where Nancy Fairy (the witch) lives with her adopted daughter. It contains a specific room where the witch locks herself away to perform her dark deeds.
Mood: Initially appears normal, but holds a dark, secretive, and fearful undercurrent due to the witch's activities.
The young Nancy Fairy discovers her 'Granny's' true nature by peeping through a chink in the door.
Hut in the Wood
A secluded, simple hut located deep within a wood, used by the old woman to punish and isolate her adopted daughter.
Mood: Isolated, lonely, and somewhat melancholic, yet it becomes a place of discovery and hope.
The young Nancy Fairy is left here as punishment, and is later discovered by the king's servant and then the prince.
Royal Palace Nursery/Bedroom
A room within the royal palace, likely grand and well-appointed, serving as the queen's bedroom and a nursery for her newborn children. It is guarded by soldiers and filled with nurses.
Mood: Initially secure and warm, but transforms into a scene of terror and mystery during the witch's nocturnal visits.
The witch steals the queen's babies from this room on two separate occasions, leaving the queen dumb and then bleeding.
Palace Courtyard / Execution Ground
A large, open courtyard within the royal palace, prepared for a public execution. It is filled with grand folk in carriages and common people.
Mood: Tense, somber, and expectant, with a sudden shift to wonder and resolution.
The queen is brought here for her execution, but is saved by the dramatic arrival of Nancy Fairy (the witch) with the stolen children.