Kate soon discovers that, although the seeming death of little Cecily was an accident, Christopher is still so overwhelmed with grief that he has exiled himself from castle life.

When Kate learns of the local villagers' fears that the "Fairy Folk" will kidnap their children, she guesses that Cecily might not be dead after all.

The Fairy Folk are ruled by the Lady in Green, who believes that only a sacrifice can help her people hold their own against the advancing modern world.

Kate's refusal to be drugged or manipulated in other ways soon gains her a measure of respect among the Fairy Folk.

The sacrifice of the "teind," or "tenth," which plays a major role in the novel as well as the ballad, is based on Scottish fairy lore.

Since half-yearly rents in Scotland were due on All Saints' Day, or "Hallowmas," local laws may have contributed to this tradition.

As the story unfolds, however, she finds that the folklore she once despised is based on fact, and that understanding it may allow her to save Christopher from the Fairy Queen.

Cheaney declares that "the 'fairies', as Ms. Pope presents them, are scrupulously just in their dealings with humans and any bargain struck they will keep, no matter the cost to anyone.

'"[4] Cheaney, in keeping with her view of paganism rather than the fairy tale aspect of fantasy, says of the ages-long-ago historical pagans, theirs was a "nature-worship paired with blood sacrifice, mindless ecstasy marred by fear, a relentless eye-for-eye accounting system that left no room for compassion.