The Barleycorn Brides,[1] also known as the Barleycorn Girls,[2][3] and Barleycorn Women,[3] are tiny, miniature women grown from magic tulips, themselves grown from magic barleycorns.
History
Homelands
The Fairy Witch possessed a jar full of enchanted barleycorns back in the Homelands, which she was forced to leave behind when she escaped to the mundane world. Thumbelina's mother planted a barleycorn in a flower pot, and from it grew a beautiful tulip. As the flower bloomed, Thumbelina emerged from its petals, born directly from the blossom itself.[1]
Smalltown
Upon hearing Thumbelina's story and knowing that Smalltown desperately needed women, the Lilliputian Johnny Bullhorn volunteered to travel to the Homelands and retrieve the jar of magic barleycorns. The barleycorns were planted and a great big crop of Barleycorn Brides were grown, and soon there were weddings. The barleycorns were taken to the Fabletown Business Office, and it became tradition for young men in Smalltown to try to steal one as a rite of passage, since Barleycorn Brides were said to be more beautiful than normal girls.[1]
Business Office
When Bufkin is trapped in the Business Office with Baba Yaga, he grows a crop of new barleycorn girls to aid him in his fight against the witch. Following a meticulously devised strategy, Bufkin receives support from the Magic Mirror, the head of Frankenstein's monster, the Barleycorn Brides, and the heads of the imprisoned wooden soldiers.[2] Under Bufkin's instruction, the Barleycorn Brides take turns pouring kerosene onto the witch's vessel – a mortar used for transportation. Each girl has a thimble filled with the flammable liquid.[4]
Bufkin is informed by a few of the girls that Baba Yaga has conjured a mist of death which will sweep through the office, destroying any living being not within her protective circle. The Barleycorn Brides cleverly divert the witch's attention by pushing the heads of the Wooden Soldiers down from above. While the witch is preoccupied with dodging the falling heads, one of the women ignites the cauldron with a match, causing it to burn up in flames. The witch is immobilized by enchanted armor, and the Barleycorn Brides help catapult Bufkin through the air. With a mighty swing of the Vorpal Blade, he successfully severs the witch's head from her body. Bufkin loses his wings during the encounter, and the Barleycorn Brides diligently attend to his injuries to the best of their abilities.[5]
A few years after the incident, the Barleycorn Brides continue their life in the Business Office, tending to flowerpots for food (each full sized pot being as big as a farmstead compared to them), and hunt meat, mostly rats. They use the Magic Mirror as a form of living television. Eventually, the 13th Floor magicians are able to create a new connection to the Business Office, linking it to Fabletown.[3]
Bufkin and Lily
Following Baba Yaga's defeat, Bufkin ascends the tree of the Business Office. Accompanying him is Lily Martagon,[6] who harbors strong feelings for him[7] and secretly hides in his backpack.[6]
Bufkin and Lily have many adventures in many different worlds. Lily becomes Bufkin's wife three times thanks to a mad scientist experiment, a wishing fork and a transformation gas, and the two have many children in the species which they transform into, namely flying monkeys (Bufkin's species), Barleycorn Brides (Lily's species) and korob birds. She and Bufkin grow old together, and eventually die from old age. They are buried next to each other in the Homelands.[8]
Physiology
Barleycorn Brides look like human women, except for their miniature size. They are able to interbreed with Lilliputians.[1] Bufkin is temporarily transformed into a male Barleycorn Bride, thanks to the powers of a wishing fork; however, the effect only lasts for twelve years.[8]
Known Barleycorn Brides
- Blueleaf[3]
- Bufkin (temporarily)[8]
- Crowtop[3]
- Dovewood [3]
- Fern Moss[5]
- Flutterby[3]
- Goose[3]
- Hiding Grass[3]
- Holly[3]
- Lemongrass[4]
- Lily Martagon[7]
- Mollywart[5]
- Nightingale[3]
- Pickleweed[5]
- Simbelmynë[3]
- Snowthorn[3]
- Soakseed[3]
- Spider[3]
- Thumbelina[1]
Appearances
Original source
The Barleycorn Brides are based on Thumbelina's miniature species from the fairy tale of the same name by Hans Christian Andersen.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Fables #18 — "Barleycorn Brides"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fables #89 — "Baba Yaga: Chapter Three of Witches"
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 Fairest: In All the Land
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fables #90 — "Ozma: Chapter Four of Witches"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Fables #91 — "Geppetto: Chapter Five of Witches"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fables #101 — "The Ascent"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Fables #100 — "Celebrity Burning Questions"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Fables #124 — "A Revolution in Oz, Chapter Eleven: Emperor Bufkin"