A Changeling
Image taken from inferno-sprite.com
A changeling is a mythical being in fairy tales of the Western World. It is believed that a changeling is a mythical creature placed in return for a human child. When the human child is taken, the changeling is put in its place by fairies. The changeling can take the form of a troll, elf, or a dwarf. The child that was taken could be used as a servant, or even to be killed. Many times the mother would not realize that her son had been taken. The changeling later would take its true form and commit different forms of malice on the mother.
Many years ago people believed that trolls would take the babies and leave a changeling in its place. It was believed that if the baby was unbaptized then the evil creatures had a right to take the child and do whatever they want with it. The trolls wanted to give their children to humans to have them raised as christians. So in essence these changelings were basically mythical babies that were abandoned by their mythical parents. This fairy tale has found its place among legends in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
