| “ | Plant life, get it? Flowers are relatives. Distant ones, yes, but related. What if I presented you with a bouquet of slaughtered gerbils? They're distant relatives to men. Would you be pleased? Would you find them pretty and delight in their fragrance? | „ |
| ~ Princess Alder when Mr. Pickles presents her with roses in Fairest #14 — "Aldered States" |
Princess Alder is a dryad native to the mundane world, assigned to be Geppetto's bodyguard by Grandfather Oak along with her brother, Prince Aspen. She first appears in Fables #91 — "Geppetto: Chapter Five of Witches."
History
Geppetto's bodyguard
Princess Alder and her brother Prince Aspen are two dryads[1] who are among the few magical beings that are native to the mundane world. When Geppetto wandered into the deep woods of the Farm, he meets Grandfather Oak, the Patriarch of all the trees in the woods, in not just the area around the Farm, but in others. The old woodcarver recognized the tree's power and proposes an alliance between the two. Grandfather Oak complies to Geppetto's offer and gifts the former Adversary two of the offspring of his sapline,[3] his grandchildren Princess Alder and her brother, as bodyguards. The two are jolted awake from their slumber. This disturbance, in the midst of winter, throws off their natural sleep cycle.[1]
Accompanied by their employer, the two individuals arrive at the main square of the Farm. Alder and her brother politely request for people to make way for Geppetto as they make their way through the crowded area. He instructs them not to be so courteous, and simply push others out of the way instead. Alder is delighted at the falling snow, as they have never before been awake to see snow before. The two stand by Geppetto's side as he attempts to convince the occupants of both Fabletown and the Farm alike to choose him as their leader, so he can save everyone from the grip of Mister Dark. However, when Ozma rudely interrupts him, he orders Aspen and Alder to slay the meddler. Aspen refuses to kill anyone for him, stating that they will only protect him from genuine danger. They clarify that rude behavior does not warrant their intervention. But when Ozma threatens to cast a spell on him, Aspen confronts her and warns that they will step in if she tries it. It's at this moment that the Blue Fairy shows up at the Farm, seeking retribution against Geppetto.[1]
Alder and her brother move in to protect Geppetto, but things take a surprising turn when Geppetto's son Pinocchio attacks the Blue Fairy, as he is mad at her for making him stuck as a little boy for centuries. Geppetto beckons for the two to interfere, explaining that his son is in grave danger. However, Aspen reminds him that they are only bound to protect Geppetto himself, not his son. Alder chimes in, noting that it doesn't seem like Pinocchio is in need of rescuing anyway. The Blue Fairy overpowers Pinocchio and moves to attack Geppetto, who orders his bodyguards to keep the fairy from harming him. The two comply, and Alder orders the fairy to step no closer, or they will have to harm her. However, the situation calms down when Beast intervenes. The two then watch as Geppetto tries to free Pinocchio from a magic cage conjured by the fairy.[4]
Fired
The dryads later accompany Geppetto for a secret meeting with Ozma and Brock Blueheart. Brock points out that Geppetto was supposed to come alone and asks him to send the dryads away, but the old woodcarver counters that Aspen and Alder are sworn to stay by him by binding oaths, and he couldn't dismiss them if he tried. Brock Bluehard becomes furious when Alder's brother Aspen refers to him as a "beast," and grows into a giant, armored badger. Geppetto orders his bodyguards to protect him, and Alder does so while her brother neutralizes the badger with his tree magic.[5]
The two siblings accompany Geppetto when Rose Red addresses her fellow Fables after finally overcoming her long depression. Tired of Geppetto's antics, she warns him to leave her porch before she gives him a good slap. Prince Aspen cautions her to be mindful of her words, and Princess Aspen adds that any more threats towards Geppetto will result in violent actions from her and her brother. In case Alder, Aspen or Geppetto threaten her again, Rose Red orders her enforcer Clara, a fire-breathing raven, to destroy Grandfather Oak by burning him down if any of the three threaten her again. Alder reacts in horror and disbelief, but Rose says to Clara that she is free to take action if they act.[2]
Following this, Rose has a discussion with Princess Alder. The princess stresses the importance of finding a way to cooperate, as both she and her brother have a duty to safeguard Geppetto. However, they are unable to fulfill this responsibility while constantly under threat of their sacred patriarch being burned. However, Rose counters that their job is over; no one gets bodyguards or special treatment on the Farm, and if Alder and her brother are still lurking around the Farm by nightfall, they will be apprehended or potentially face even worse consequences.[2]
A deplorable dating life
Alder and her brother move to the outskirts of the Farm, where Princess Alder becomes friends with Peter Piper and Bo Peep. Alder's unfamiliarity with the customs of modern courtship and rules of "recreational pollination" leads to several awkward situations, and what she describes as her "deplorable dating life." One of the men who try to woo her is Mr. Pickles. Alder likes him at first, and even loves his subtle dead fish smell, which so many human women find off-putting. Unfortunately, however, their first date ends in disaster, when the dryad's plant-based perspective turns his seemingly romantic gesture on its head: When Pickles brings her roses, she points out that dead flowers have all the sentimentality of a person handing over the corpses of her distant relatives.[6]
She also attempts to date Reynard the Fox, who now has a human form. However, due to her unfamiliarity with dating customs, the date does not go well; Reynard leaves, embarrassed that he has vomited in front of her. Geppetto and Aspen convince Alder to give up dating, especially after Geppetto promises to grow her an ideal mate.[6]
Physical appearance
Princess Alder, described as "at least half tree," is a beautiful dryad with skin the hue of brown tree bark and eyes that resemble green chlorophyll.[6] Her eyes were previously brown,[4] but had turned green by the time she befriended Peter Piper and Bo Peep.[6] Her physical structure is similar to that of a human, but with a few noticeable differences in her appearance. Instead of hair, she has a long mane made up of green leaves, and her pubic area is covered in green grass[1] which eventually turns into leaves. At one point, her leafy mane caught fire, but grew back as lovely as ever. Her skin is peculiar, with wood grains in it, but entirely soft and pliable like a human's. When she takes root in her maturity, she will return to being fully tree.[6] As a plant, she goes without clothing and is completely naked, regardless of the setting.[1]
After moving to the outskirts of the Farm, she enhances her appearance with some make-up, in the form of green lips, green nail polish and dark green eyeshadow.[6]
Personality and traits
Alder and her brother are highly protective of Geppetto, but they will not obey any order that will force them to kill someone. Due to her naturalistic nature, she has no qualms about being nude and is fully comfortable appearing in public without clothes.[1] Her plant-based perspective is also reflected in her vocabulary: She uses the expression "thank sod" rather than "thank god." She is offended at the idea of being given a bouquet of flowers, likening it to giving a human a bouquet of slaughtered gerbils.[6] Alder has a fear of fire, which most likely stems from her tree-like nature.[2][6] As a tree, she has an interesting diet that includes manure, decomposed carcasses, and various types of mulch. The scent of dead fish is also appealing to her.[6]
Mister Kadabra describes her and Prince Aspen as being "saturated in power."[1]
Appearances
Fables
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Fairest
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References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 Fables #91 — "Geppetto: Chapter Five of Witches"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Fables #98 — "Red Dawn, Chapter Five of Rose Red"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fables #90 — "Ozma: Chapter Four of Witches"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fables #94 — "The Barbara Allen Incident, Chapter One of Rose Red"
- ↑ Fables #97 — "Dark Age Party Girl, Chapter Four of Rose Red"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 Fairest #14 — "Aldered States"