I've been going on a deep dive into the King Arthur mythos as it pertains to Fairy Faith. The main object of my attention at the moment is the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight-- a topic from which Briar of the Greene Chapel gets her website name and has done some comprehensive exploration into already: the Green Knight's connection to oaths, honor, right leadership, and fixed star Aldebaran.
I am specifically intrigued by the "moral" of the story, if there is such a thing. The Green Knight does not cut off Gawain's head like he said he would. Instead, he gives him a small cut on his neck after Gawain flinches at the strike. At Gawain's confusion and embarrassment at flinching, the Green Knight explains that he showed up at the Green Chapel as promised; he's done his absolute best to fulfill the pact he made and that's what counts.
This is a curious message to impart. The Folk are well known to be quite exacting with their words. If you were to make a deal, you'd better follow it to the letter-- so it's interesting to see a member of Themselves (and a knight, no less, a double helping of oaths and being true to one's word) make such a notable exception.
Perhaps the Folk understand that we are human still, and that we are not perfect, but still trying. Perhaps they are inclined to give leniency in the face of honest effort, just as we can be.
