Mary

This article is about Mary, based on the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb", and also the second incarnation of the nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," who lives at the Farm. You may be looking for the first incarnation of "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," Mary Mary, who is a prisoner in the Golden Boughs Retirement Village; or the mundy named Mary, or her reflection Bloody Mary.

Mary
Biographical information
Real name	Mary
Status	Alive
Species	Human (Fable)
Gender	Female
Appearances
First issue	Fables #33 — "Until the Spring"
Last issue	Fairest #32 — "Glamour Day: Chapter Six of The Clamour for Glamour"
Original source	"Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary"

“	It's been hard enough coping, without my own dear, deceased little lamb, but now to lose my garden too!	„
	~ Mary to Sergeant Wilfred, Fairest #31 — "Super-Lamb, the Just Us League of Animals, and Other Unexpected Tails: Chapter Five of The Clamour for Glamour"

Mary is a Fable who lives at the Farm, and first appears in Fables #33 — "Until the Spring." Her beloved little lamb is accidentally killed by the Zephyr Ghost, leaving her devastated with sorrow. To help deal with the grief of losing her dear companion, she finds solace in gardening.

History

Background

Mary resides on the Farm with her beloved little lamb. She lives in an idyllic cottage surrounded by a white picket fence.

Companion's death

One early morning, the lifeless body of the lamb is discovered in the center of the Farm square. After examining the corpse, Doctor Swineheart determines that, like several other victims, the lamb had been suffocated with no visible injuries. He passes the lifeless lamb to Mary, informing her that she can bring it back home with her as there is no need for an autopsy — he won't gain any insight from it (it is later discovered that the murders were tragic accidents caused by Snow White's Zephyr son Ghost). Tears stream down Mary's face as she mourns the loss of her beloved lamb. Rose Red visits her in her cottage and reports back to Beast that Mary is inconsolable.

Mary is later seen at Snow and Bigby's wedding, enjoying herself; and she, along with the other Fabletown women, is trying to catch the bouquet.

After losing her lamb, Mary becomes fixated on gardening, reaching a level that resembles characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also begins a romantic relationship with the milkmaid responsible for milking Luna.

Ten years later

A decade after losing her cherished lamb, Mary is competing with Old Maid Hollyhock for the title of "Best Garden at the Farm." While Mary is preoccupied with her flowerpot one day, Reynard the Fox makes an unexpected visit to the garden. He reaches through the fence and plucks a handful of tulips, planning to present them to Snow White. Fuming with rage, Mary yells at him to return the flowers and calls him a vandal.

Before the Farm's Lottery, two security guards are stationed outside the Pumpkin House. This is where the highly coveted glamour prizes are housed. As Mary walks by the small structure, she pauses to inquire why the two guards are stationed there. The two individuals clarify that entrusting animal Fables to guard glamours was deemed too risky due to potential temptations. Mary expresses her disbelief, prompting the guard to explain further. He emphasizes the importance of this rule, especially with the big Lottery drawing coming up, and refers to cows and lambs as examples of animals that should not get any clever notions. The mention of lambs brings a wave of sadness over Mary, as it reminds her of the fate of her own little lamb. The man quickly apologizes upon realizing this. He asks her, "How does your garden grow?" and she replies, "With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row, of course!" As Mary walks away, her strange response leaves the other man puzzled. The first man takes it upon himself to explain what happened with her lamb and how she ended up taking up gardening as a hobby. Mister Sunflower, listening in on the conversation, disapproves of Mary's love for gardening. He believes that after losing her submissive pet lamb, Mary has now turned her controlling nature towards his fellow flowers and plants.

Mary goes back to her cottage to be with her lover, the milkmaid. She realizes her pruning gloves are missing and asks the milkmaid if she knows where they are. The milkmaid gives them to her. Mary points out that the milkmaid's hair is getting long, and the milkmaid agrees, commenting on how quickly it seems to be growing. Mary expresses her joy in the milkmaid's decision to return to her natural dark hair color and questions why she ever chose to dye it blond. The milkmaid confesses that she colored her hair to avoid people mistaking them for sisters. The two remember how that mischievous Reynard used to tease them and call them the kissing cousins. Mary notes that Reynard's assumption was partially correct, and they lean in for a kiss. However, their intimate moment is interrupted by loud commotion outside. As they peer through the front door, they see a group of Fables busily constructing a training course for animal "superheroes." Mary wonders how she could possibly focus with the loud noise going on.

A new little lamb

During the animals' training session the next day, an unexpected incident occurs where the little dog and Bonny Lamb are unintentionally launched through the air in a barrel, resulting in the destruction of Mary's garden. As soon as they hear the loud noise, both Mary and the milkmaid rush to the door to investigate. Mary is devastated when she sees her once beautiful garden destroyed. In a moment of frustration, she picks up Bonny Lamb by her superhero cape. The milkmaid warns Mary to be careful with the lamb, believing it was an unintentional mistake. However, Mary believes the lamb must face consequences and decides to seek out Sergeant Wilfred. She carries the lamb away, still gripping it by the cape.

Mary storms into the Farm office with Bonny Lamb in tow, demanding that Clara and Wilfred take immediate action against this troublemaker, who has destroyed her garden and crushed all her flowers. Mister Sunflower witnesses this and is horrified at the loss of innocent plant life. Wilfred sentences Bonny Lamb to two months of service as Mary's new little lamb, tasked with helping to restore her garden and completing any other tasks requested by Mary. The mention of "anything" sparks an idea in Mary's mind, causing a mischievous glint to appear in her eyes. She sees this as the perfect chance for payback. She adorns the lamb in a frilly pink outfit and parades it around on a leash, while she and the milkmaid stroll together with their arms linked towards the grand Lottery drawing. This causes Bonny Lamb to feel embarrassed and humiliated. Mary teasingly reminds Bonny Lamb that her that "everywhere that Mary goes, her lamb is sure to go."

At the Lottery, all three of them are in attendance when Bonny Lamb wins a glamour. But Mary reminds her that this does not exempt her from fulfilling her reparations as a human. Ready to receive her glamour, the lamb is paired with Mary as her human chaperone. But due to a mishap by Mister Sunflower, not only is Bonny Lamb glamoured as a human, but Mary is completely transformed into a lamb. Mary is stunned, blurting out, "What the...?" Seeking retaliation for her earlier embarrassment, Bonny Lamb chases after Mary, declaring that for her first taste of human food, she has a craving for lamb chops. Mary shouts, "Nooo!" The milkmaid chases after them, scolding Bonny Lamb for harassing Mary. But the lamb persists in its pursuit and teasingly nicknames Mary "mint sauce Mary!" Thankfully, Morgan le Fay is able to fix the problem and change Mary back to her original form. The milkmaid wraps a soft blanket around Mary's shoulders, noting that she now looks human once more, albeit a bit sheepish. The lamb smugly reminds Mary that it must be less fun for her when she is not playing the role of a shepherdess. As Reynard arrives at the Farm with his new mundy girlfriend Meghan by his side, Mary nearly gets hit by their car. Thankfully, the milkmaid manages to save her just in time by pulling her out of harm's way.

Appearances

Fables Fables #33 (first appearance) Fables #59

Fairest Fairest #29 Fairest #30 (mentioned) Fairest #31 Fairest #32

Original source

• Mary is based on the character from the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb," first published by Sarah Josepha Hale in 1830; and the titular character of the nursery rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary." In Fairest #31 — "Super-Lamb, the Just Us League of Animals, and Other Unexpected Tails: Chapter Five of The Clamour for Glamour," Mary and the glamour guard both quote stanzas from the latter, with the guard asking, "How does your garden grow?" and she replies with, "With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row, of course!"
• "Mary Had a Little Lamb" goes:

Mary had a little lamb,
Its fleece was white as snow,
And everywhere that Mary went,
The lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school one day;
That was against the rule;
It made the children laugh and play,
To see the lamb at school.

And so the teacher turned him out,
But still he lingered near:
And waited patiently about,
Till Mary did appear.

And then he ran to her, and laid
His head upon her arm,
As if he said, "I'm not afraid;
You'll shield me from all harm."

"What makes the lamb love Mary so?"
The little children cried;
"Because she loves the lamb, you know,"
The teacher quick replied.

"And you, each gentle animal,
In confidence may bind,
And make them follow at your call,
If you are always kind."

• A common version of "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" goes:

Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.