Lake

Lake
Biographical information
Real name	Lady of the Lake
Aliases	The Green Woman The Green Woman of the Lake Lake
Status	Alive (resurrected)
Species	Fairy (Fable) Great Power
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Great Powers
Homeland	Deep Realm
Family information
Relatives	Ambrose Wolf — Husband Bigby Wolf — Father-in-law Blossom Wolf — Sister-in-law Conner Wolf — Brother-in-law Darien Wolf † — Brother-in-law Ghost Wolf — Brother-in-law Six unnamed children Snow White — Mother-in-law Therese Wolf — Sister-in-law Winter Wolf - Sister-in-law
Appearances
Firstmentioned	Fables #69 — "The Good Prince, Chapter Nine, Conclusion: Eternal"
First issue	Fables #122 — "The Destiny Game, Part One"
Last issue	Fables #162 — "The Black Forest Chapter Twelve: Rightful Prey"
Original source	Lady of the Lake from Arthurian legend

The Lady of the Lake, also known as the Green Woman and Lake, is a Fable who is one of the Great Powers. She is a messenger of the Fates and has the ability to assign and reassign different destinies to particular individuals. She first appears in Fables #122 — "The Destiny Game, Part One."

History

Early career

Lake is initially a sly and conniving woman. According to World Turtle, she looks attractive on the outside, but is a wicked person underneath. She doesn't just predict fates, she has the power to assign and unassign them as well. She has the power to select from a multitude of possible futures and decide who will receive what. People say that she only acts selfishly; it's as if she doesn't care about anyone but herself. The World Turtle suspects that Lake is a personal courtier serving the Fates, ensuring that the essential destinies are conveyed to their rightful owners. She wonders if Lake is keeping some of the best fates for herself. But she also considers that Lake's peculiar decisions could be the results of the fates she has appointed. The Turtle is convinced that Lake makes agreements with the "lords and ladies of scythe and harrow," because many people perish before completing their destinies. Regardless, Lake has the power to hand out destinies as she sees fit.

However, Lake turns more diligently after an encounter with Bigby Wolf.

Excalibur

The famed sword Excalibur is given to King Arthur by the Lady of the Lake, who rises up from the water and holds up the sword for him, asking him to take up Excalibur and become the rightful King of Camelot.

After Flycatcher's heroic deeds in the Homelands kingdom of Haven, he asks Lancelot to throw Excalibur into the biggest lake he can find, and tells him to not be surprised if a "green bejeweled hand" reaches up to grasp Excalibur before it sinks out of sight.

Later, in the mundane world, a mysterious old man comes out of a river in the Grand Canyon, carrying Excalibur and says that the "green woman's gift must not fall into evil hands," before thrusting the sword right into Jack Horner.

Later life

Lake later marries Snow and Bigby's cub, Ambrose and the two have six children together.

Physical description

Lake is a pretty woman with smooth green skin; as Bigby Wolf puts it, not-goblin-green, and not a wart or canker on her.

Appearances

Fables Fables #69 (first mentioned, indirectly) Fables #122 Fables #123 Fables #124 Fables #127 Fables #128 Fables #129 Fables #132 Fables #133 Fables #136 Fables #137 Fables #141 Fables #150 Fables #162 Jack of Fables Jack of Fables #12 (mentioned indirectly) Fairest Fairest: In All the Land

Original source

She is based on the Lady of the Lake, a water fairy and enchantress from Arthurian legend. She is known by several different names, such as Viviane, Éviène, and Nimuë. Her most famous role was presenting King Arthur with his legendary sword, Excalibur, pulled from the depths of her lake. When Arthur is fatally wounded in battle, he returns Excalibur to its watery home as a final act.