| “ | I'm the Queen of Toyland. The land and the Queen are one. I command the many powers of the great pretend. I did from the very beginning--from my first step onto these shores--but didn't know it until recently. Too much of a spoiled brat to realize it, I suppose. In any case, you're about to see how well these powers dance on the end of my string. | „ |
| ~ Therese Wolf to the citizens of Toyland, Fables #121 — "Toy Repair: Chapter 8 of Cubs in Toyland" |
Therese Wolf is a hybrid Fable (part wolf, part wind and part human) who is one of the children of Bigby Wolf and Snow White. She first appears in Fables #30 — "The Cruel, Hot Summer." Following her sudden transportation to an unfamiliar realm by a sentient toy, Therese faces numerous challenges that compel her to mature and evolve. Ultimately, she ascends to the throne as the Queen of Toyland.
History
Therese was quite stubborn and often wanted things. She bickered with her siblings a lot, and often acted spoiled.
Cubs in Toyland
| “ | The third will do an evil thing. | „ |
| ~ The Summer Prophecy, Fables #109 — "Cardinal Virtues: Chapter Two of Inherit the Wind" |
One Christmas, Therese received a plastic toy boat. Disappointed by her gift, and with no knowledge of who sent it, she sulked and was overall upset. As she sought to play with her siblings, Darien teased her. The boat eventually began speaking to her, and led her to a river in the forest.
When the boat touched water, it grew in size, big enough for her to embark. The boat told her she was going on an adventure.
The boat, it turns out, took her to Toyland, or Discardia, where broken and forgotten toys live. Toyland was seeking a new queen, and Therese is the new candidate. Therese begins to worry about her absence from her home, and soon the idea of being the queen of her own kingdom loses its appeal. With no food to eat, Therese grows hungrier and moodier.
Eventually, Darien attempts to save her, with the help of the tiger. The toys take this as an attack on their queen, and manage to injure Darien, while they captured the tiger. They take him to Therese to be tried for treason, and the girl, starved, inflicts death upon him.
She then demands to be fed, and eats parts of the tiger raw. The tiger was once a friend, but Therese is losing herself in hunger and despair. Displeased by the raw food, she asks for the meat to be cooked, and when told that there is no wood for fire, she points to the wooden toys.
Eventually, Therese stumbles upon a big cauldron filled with food that never runs out, a magical item. She quickly figures out that the cauldron was activated following Darien's sacrifice. Overwhelmed with grief, Therese closes into herself until she decides to fix Toyland and make it a better kingdom. She works for years to that effect, feeding herself off of the cauldron, despite the food never tasting like anything but ashes to her.[2]
Finally, she decides she must return to Wolf Valley to tell her mother and father what happened to her brother Darien, and where she has gone all those years. Time, however, moves differently in Toyland, and although she is years older now, she returns to her family home to find her siblings at the age they were when she left.[2]
Physical appearance
| “ | What magical kingdom can be lovely lacking its queen? But Therese is the prettiest daughter of the fairest woman. The land will wake to your beauty--in time. | „ |
| ~ Mr. Steampuddle to Therese, Fables #115 — "Teddy Bear: Chapter Two of Cubs in Toyland" |
In her childhood, Mr. Steampuddle characterizes Therese as "the prettiest daughter of the fairest woman."[5] Her complexion is fair, and she has long blonde hair paired with with grey eyes. As an adult, she has developed sunken cheeks, a characteristic that was not present in her childhood.[2]
Personality and traits
| “ | Once upon a time a brave but spoiled little girl had a great adventure. | „ |
| ~ Lord Mountbatten describing Therese in Fables #121 — "Toy Repair: Chapter 8 of Cubs in Toyland" |
Lord Mountbatten characterizes Therese in her childhood as brave yet spoiled. Therese herself describes her younger self as a "spoiled brat."[2] During her stay in Toyland, Therese's thoughts were occupied with her mother and siblings, and how much they would be worried about her absence. Following her tenure as the Queen of Toyland, she appears to have transformed into a quiet and sullen individual in her adult years.
Etymology
The name "Therese" is of Greek origin and means "summer" or "to harvest."[6] This is quite fitting, considering that Therese and her siblings were born during the summer months.[7] Ironically, Therese's sister is called Winter.[8]
The family name Wolf[3] is an obvious reference to Therese's lupine nature, particularly given that her father is named Bigby Wolf.
Gallery
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Fables #116 — "Cubs in Toyland, Part 3: Clockwork Tiger"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Fables #121 — "Toy Repair: Chapter 8 of Cubs in Toyland"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Fables: Camelot: "Who's who in Fabletown"
- ↑ Fables #162 — "The Black Forest Chapter Twelve: Rightful Prey"
- ↑ Fables #115 — "Teddy Bear: Chapter Two of Cubs in Toyland"
- ↑ Therese, November 8, 2024, TheBump.com. "Meaning: Summer; To harvest; The Greek island of Santorini • Therese is a feminine name of Greek origin, typically found across Scandinavia and Germany. It is considered to be derived from the Greek word therizo, meaning “to harvest,” or theros, which translates to “summer.”"
- ↑ Fables #30 — "The Cruel, Hot Summer"
- ↑ Fables #48 — Wolves, Part 1"