Stars on her cheeks - The Faerie Creation Story

Stars on their cheeks is the unofficial name given to the classic, most commonly believed faerie creation story. It is known among fae as The Original Tale of Love and Dedication.

It serves as an explanation to the origin of folks, as well as why faeries bear the four freckle-like dots on their cheeks. It is one of the most well-known tales in all of Limitless.

Summary

When the world was created, the youngest of the three great deities, Ara, was given the earth to rule over. Ara, initially in wonder at the new world, soon grew bored and lonely, and yearned for company.

He fashioned a companion out of the earth, a young androgynous being of great beauty to rival Ara and his siblings themselves, with hair a great brown and eyes of every colour imaginable. With affection, Ara named his new companion Faer.

Faer was the most fantastic being, kind to all they met and eager to learn all about the world. They found beauty in everything: the land, the flowers, and the stars. They moved with a grace that Ara had never conceived, and their smile was mesmerizing. After not long, Ara had fallen in love with his creation.

He declared his love to his companion and was met with a request. Faer would marry Ara if he gifted them a star. Ara promised his beloved that he would give them what they desired, and they married.

Now Ara was met with a dilemma. He was but the ruler of the earth; the sky was the domain of his stubborn eldest sibling, Ni. He knew that Ni would never permit him to take a star for his spouse, so over four nights he stole a quarter piece of the nearest star in secret. On the fifth night he presented the pieces of star to Faer, who is said to have loved Ara as much as one could ever possibly love at that moment.

Several blissful years passed. Ara bore the pair two children. Their lives were perfect.

Ara and Faer's eldest daughter was five years of age when tragedy struck. Ni noticed that one of her stars had gone missing, and after finding it in the hands of Faer, the vengeful deity had them smote with a lightning bolt. Ara wept.

In seeing her brother in bereavement and depression over his lover, Ni felt remorseful. She let Ara keep the star pieces.

Ara took the star pieces and put them on his daughter's face, two on either cheek, in remembrance of Faer. They later on became known as fae marks, the identifying feature of faeries. The girl's name is lost to history, but she is the ancestor of all faeries. Her younger brother is the ancestor of all humans.

Spread

This tale is one of the first told to all faerie children. Even non-faeries know of the story. Humans are especially interested in it.

Cultural Reception

It is not only the creation story aspect that makes the story timeless, but the themes of love and dedication. Ara and Faer are two of the most well-known lovers in all of history. Countless books, plays, songs, and poems talk of their love.

Beautiful as Faer is an idiom known to mean "possessing a beauty that defies gender".

In Art

Much of faerie art is based on Ara and Faer. One of the most famous contemporary examples is the musician Jan's Stars on your cheeks, stars in your eyes, popularizing the tale among faeries and non-faeries alike.

Date of First Recording

Long, long ago

Date of Setting

When the world was still young, the gods' age

Related Species

• Elf
• Half-Elf
• Pandean
• Siren