The Ballad of Tam Lin

It’s no surprise that some of Scotland’s oldest and best known folk stories come from the Borders. Young women were often warned to avoid the forest of Carterhaugh to protect them from a mysterious fairy called Tam Lin. The daughter of the local landowner wouldn’t listen to the warnings though. Janet had been gifted this forest by her father and she would walk in it if she pleased.

As she wandered the forest picking flowers, Janet suddenly found herself face to face with Tam Lin. Tam challenged her for entering his forest and stealing his flowers, but Janet wouldn’t back down. The two were evenly matched for bravery, wits and beauty.

Before long, the argument developed into something much more pleasant. Soon after Janet returned home, she discovered that she was pregnant. With the father a fairy, there was no hope of marriage and she would be forced to raise the child on her own.

The pregnant Janet returned to the forest and found Tam Lin there once more. Unsure of what to do, Tam revealed that he used to be a mortal man but had been trapped by the fairies. He feared that his time was coming to an end though, soon he would be offered up as a payment to hell. Tam begged Janet to rescue him and together, they came up with a plan.

That night, the fairy procession rode past with Tam Lin on a white horse. Suddenly, Janet appeared from her hiding place and pulled her lover from the horse, catching him in her arms. The Queen of the Fairies transformed Tam Lin into hideous beasts in an attempt to force Janet to drop him but she held firm.

When at last he was transformed into a burning coal, Janet threw Tam Lin into a well and he changed back into a man. His saviour quickly threw her cloak around him, shielding him from view. The Queen was furious but there was nothing more she could do. Tam was mortal again to live his life with Janet and their child.