“Why didn’t you tell the fae behind the brick wall that you are Weaver? Or that you are “Friend of Puck”? Wouldn’t things be settled quicker if you dropped that first?”
There’s the name Weaver, and there’s the title Weaver. Those that know me by the name Weaver usually don’t have a lot of expectations for me to live up (read: live down). I’m that human that’s called Weaver, and she’s a lot of fun most times, and occasionally eats bellowing demons.
The title Weaver, has quite a few expectations and responsibilities to go with. Being a storyteller to those that call on it is the least of it, I’ve learned. As The Weaver, I have access to places that just another Weaver wouldn’t even be allowed to know exist. And as a result of it, there are demands and obligations I have to keep up with. Those in rank above me know my limitations and interact with me accordingly. (Not always to my benefit or elucidation.) Those in rank “below” me, have built up a legend around the title. A legend I am not always able to live up to.
If the fae behind the brick wall knew I was The Weaver, they would have called for my friend’s head on a pike, for a start. But I would not have been able to fulfill that wish, which would only deepen their hate for humans because The Weaver is a human and she’s just as shitty as the rest of them. Better for us both, that they didn’t know who I was until it was discovered (by both of us) what the extent of my help to them would be.
Also, how shitty would that be. “Why yes, I am THE WEAVER! ~superhero smile~ But I can’t do shit about your situation. Want my autograph?” Yea… no.
As far as “Friend of Puck”, that was a surprise to me. A BIG surprise. I would never claim to be Friend of Some Person unless that person bestowed the title directly on me. I mean the whole laying on of hands (or appendages or flippers or antenna or whatever physical contact is necessary) and preferably a witness or two when they said it. The word “friend” carries a lot of weight and expectations in the Dreaming, and is not to be batted around lightly like the hem on this season’s skirts.
I would never claim “Friend of Puck” simply because he let me hang with him a couple of times and some of his associates like me. He may not have a royal title but he is a Power in his own right, and to claim “Friend of Puck” is to place myself on an equal level with him with his permission and agreement. Dunno if y’all have noticed or not, but in general, fae don’t consider humans anything more than a pet to play with. I’m not “Friend of Puck”, I’m “that human that Puck sometimes messes with and invites to tea and teases about a blue key”.
Or so I thought.
When the fae behind the gate asked me why I did not tell kir I am “Friend of Puck”, the real answer is because I didn’t know I had been named as such. I’ve turned the phrase ke used in my head several times. While the words ke used was not any human language I could recognize, the meaning was inescapable. I have no idea why Puck would declare me as such, or even if Puck did so in the first place, and I guess I’ll have to wait to hear it directly from him. Until then I will not presume to announce myself as “Weaver, Friend of Puck”.
To answer the last question directly, instead of obliquely as I have so far, sometimes it’s not good for my identity to be known up front. Sometimes it’s better to help someone and never be recognized, than fail and be known for that failure. Things could have been settled faster if they knew who I was first off, but I doubt it would have settled as peacefully as it did.