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“ | Friends--dear comrades in arms--it seems time has finally run out for us. This boat will be the last one out. But it won't hold all of us. | „ |
~ Colonel Bearskin to the refugees at the keep at world's end |
Colonel Bearskin is a human Fable who appears in flashbacks from the Homelands in Fables: The Last Castle. He was the colonel of the Fables who held back the Adversary's forces and tried to hold their last unconquered territory, and sacrificed his own life so that the last survivors could escape to safety in the mundane world.
History
Background
Bearskin was the colonel of "Bearskin's Free Company," the Fables who held back the Adversary's forces and tried to hold their last unconquered territory. Bearskin fought in many famous battles, at Boxen, Ruby Lake, Oakcourt and Hollyfield. The latter ended in disastrous defeat, where his soldiers were cut down by the thousands, leaving him with less than a third of the troops he arrived with that morning. The colonel cunningly maneuvered to save what remained of his army, leading to nearly a year of constant retreat. No longer clinging to any hope that they could win against the Adversary, they fled beyond the houses of the four winds. Eventually, they found their way to the keep at world's end, where they turned to make their last stand, heroically trying to protect, as long as possible, the only remaining gateway to the mundane world.[1]
The last stand
A refugee calling herself Red Riding Hood manages to reach the keep while being hit by the enemy's arrows, and passed out. Colonel Bearskin tells his orderly, Boy Blue, to get down to the infirmary and wait for the girl to wake up. Meanwhile, Vulco Crow informs Bearskin that the main enemy army is a day away at most, and they are being led by General de Beaucaire, an old rival of Colonel Bearskin's. Bluebeard wished to speak to Colonel Bearskin, to demand that his ship be loaded back up for the next batch as soon as possible, but is told that the colonel has already retired for the night.[1]
The next day, the goblin army finally arrives. Colonel Bearskin's troops succeed, barely, in fighting them off, suffering only a single casualty while the goblins lose three hundred of their own. Their victory brings everyone a feeling of celebration. Boy Blue expresses his excitement to his Colonel, but Bearskin brings him back to reality, telling him that the goblins didn't even use a fraction of their forces. Grimly, he continues by saying that when the real battle starts, the only survivors will be the lucky few on Bluebeard's ship. The enemy brings out a white flag, allowing a chance to parley. Colonel Bearskin, being the highest rank, decides to head over and meet with the enemy General. Being his orderly, Boy Blue is obliged to come along, though he was afraid that it may be a trick. Colonel Bearskin comes face with the enemy General, who turns out to be Count de Beaucaire, whom he's faced in battle several times in the past. The Count offers Colonel Bearskin a chance to surrender, with promises that the women and children in the keep will get to live, albeit as slaves. At first he wants an answer immediately, but Bearskin replies that he'd need to go over it with his troops first. Count de Beaucaire will give him as much time as it takes before he starts getting bored of waiting.[1]
Night falls as Colonel Bearskin rallies everyone at the keep. He tells them all that the final battle will start soon, therefore the next ride on the boat will be the last one. Grounding everyone in reality, he adds that all who stay behind will surely be killed, their sacrifice serving only to distract the enemy long enough for the boat to get away. As for passengers, women and children are given first priority, followed by the non-human Fables, and last will be the husbands of women either already in the mundy realm or who's wives are on the boat. Colonel Bearskin continues by saying any others who seek passage should speak to him in private. A group of soldiers volunteer to stay behind and defend the last gateway so the passengers may live.[1]
The next day, Bearskin is giving out final orders when Boy Blue arrives. Bearskin tells him to climb up to the top of the far tower, where he'll have a view of everything. Boy Blue doesn't understand what the Colonel is asking, so he clarifies. Boy Blue's job was is watch, to remember everything that is about to happen. Bearskin hands Blue a Witching Cloak that will allow him to teleport onto the boat. When the last soldier falls, he is to use the cloak to escape, and live to tell their tale and be with "Red Riding Hood," whom Blue has fallen in love with. The battle commences in full, and Bearskin is the last soldier standing. He is stabbed in the belly and dies slowly while the Adversary's troops mock him. He lasts for several excruciating minutes as delicate pink petals from a peach tree gently fall upon him, resembling a bloodstained snowfall.[1]
Legacy
After discovering the Adversary's true identity, Boy Blue confides in Pinocchio that he has witnessed too many of his friends fall victim to Geppetto's relentless ambition and sword. As he speaks, a brief memory flashes through Blue's mind of him fighting goblins with Colonel Bearskin during the Adversary's conquests.[2]
Afterlife
Following the death of Boy Blue, the authorities responsible for the transition to the afterlife dispatch Colonel Bearskin to receive him, as they believe it is preferable to have an old friend welcome a newcomer, thereby facilitating a smoother transition.[3]
Appearances
Fables
- Fables: The Last Castle (first appearance) (flashback)
- Fables #41 (flashback)
- Fables #134 (mentioned)
Original source
Colonel Bearskin is based on the titular character of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "Bearskin." In the fairy tale, a man serves as a soldier, but when the war ends, he returns home to learn that both of his parents have died and that his brothers have no place for him. While walking in a heath, the soldier meets a man with a green coat and a horse's hoof before shooting a bear that is charging at them. The Devil then offers to make the soldier rich if for seven years, he will neither cut his hair, clip his nails, bathe, nor cite the Lord's Prayer, and wear a coat and cloak. If the soldier survives, he will be rich and free but if he dies, the Devil will claim his soul. The desperate soldier agrees, and the Devil makes him wear both the green coat — telling him that he will find its pockets always full of money — and the dead bear's skin, telling him that he must sleep in it and will be known as Bearskin because of it.
Bearskin sets out, donating money to the poor and asking them to pray for him to live out the seven years. After three years, Bearskin becomes so revolting that he must pay heavily to get any shelter. In the fourth year, he hears an old man lamenting and persuades him to tell his tale: The old man has lost all his money and does not know how to provide for his three daughters nor pay the innkeeper, so he will be jailed. Bearskin pays the innkeeper and gives the old man a purse of gold as well.
The old man thanks Bearskin by allowing him to marry any of his three daughters. The oldest daughter runs away in fear. The middle one says that Bearskin is worse than an actual bear passing off as human. The youngest daughter agrees to fulfill her father's promise. Bearskin gives his fiancée one half of a ring and promises to return in three years. The maiden then dresses in black, waiting for her betrothed as her sisters mock her endlessly.
At the end of the seven years, Bearskin finds the Devil again and demands that he fulfill his promise. The Devil then proceeds to bathe Bearskin, clip his nails, cut his hair, and say the Lord's Prayer. The Devil warns Bearskin not to push his luck, as he has already won their bargain, and disappears. Clean and rich, Bearskin dresses himself as a fine gentleman and goes to the old man's house, where the older sisters serve him, but his bride does not recognize him. Bearskin tells the old man that he will marry one of his daughters. The two older sisters run off to dress splendidly, and Bearskin drops his half of the ring into a wine cup and gives it to his bride. She drinks the wine and upon finding the half ring, realizes that he is her bridegroom and they marry.
When they realize that Bearskin is the suitor they had rejected, one sister hangs herself in a rage and the other drowns herself. That night, the Devil knocks on the door to tell Bearskin that he has gotten two souls for the price of one.