Copper maybe seen in bedtime tales (5)
I believe the answer is:
metal
'copper' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'seen in bedtime tales' is the wordplay.
'seen in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'METAL' is hidden within 'bedtime tales'.
'maybe' is the link.
(Other definitions for metal that I've seen before include "Eg, titanium" , "Broken stone used in road-making" , "Copper, perhaps" , "Aluminium or copper for instance" , "Intrinsic quality; stone for roads" .)