Tam Lin

Long ago in Scotland, there was a green wood called Carterhaugh, full of wild roses. People said the fairies lived there, and most of them stayed far away. But a brave young woman named Janet was not afraid, and she put on her green cloak and went there anyway.

In the middle of the wood, Janet found a rosebush and picked a red rose. At once, a young man appeared beside her. “Who said you could pick my roses?” he asked. “This wood belongs to my father, so I may pick a rose if I like,” said Janet. The young man laughed, and they sat down together under the trees. His name was Tam Lin, and soon they were the best of friends.

One day, Tam Lin looked very sad. “I am not really a fairy,” he told her. “When I was a boy, I fell from my horse, and the Fairy Queen caught me and carried me away.” “Now she wants to keep me in Fairyland forever.” “But there is one night when I can be set free, and that is Halloween.”

“Tell me what to do,” said Janet. “On Halloween night, the fairies will ride past the old crossroads,” said Tam Lin. “Let the black horse go by, and let the brown horse go by.” “I will be on the milk-white horse, and you must pull me down and hold me tight.” “The fairies will change me into all sorts of creatures, but they cannot hurt you.” “Hold on, and do not let go, no matter what.”

On Halloween night, Janet waited at the crossroads in the dark. At midnight, she heard bells jingling, and the fairy riders came along the road. The black horse went by, and the brown horse went by. Then came the milk-white horse, and Janet pulled Tam Lin down into her arms.

At once, the fairies began their magic. Tam Lin turned into a wriggly lizard, but Janet held on. He turned into a hissing snake, but Janet held on. He turned into a big growling bear, but Janet held on. Then he turned into a glowing coal, as warm as a little fire. Janet ran to the well and dropped the coal into the cool water. Out of the water stepped Tam Lin, himself again, and Janet wrapped him in her green cloak.

The Fairy Queen was very cross. “Janet has won Tam Lin, and I have lost him,” she called, and then the fairies rode away into the night. Janet took Tam Lin home, and they were married, and they lived happily all their days.