“What about you?” she asked. “Can you come back to the real world now?”
He shook his head, and she pulled away. She should have known better than to hope. Her voice trembled. “Will I see you again?”
“Perchance. I have an inkling that the magic of Faerie is not yet done with the two of you.” He looked at Tam. “Guard your lady well, bold knight.”
Tam stepped up beside her and slid his arm around her shoulders. He felt warm and solid - a strength she could lean into.
“I will,” Tam said. “And she’s watching out for me too, you know.”
Thomas nodded. “Then I bid you both farewell. And good luck.”
He began to fade as though he were made of mist. Jennet could see the pale bells of the meadow flowers through him, the transparent half-smile on his face.
“Goodbye, Thomas,” she whispered as he disappeared.
Then there was only empty air, and birds singing. And Tam beside her, holding her, strong and true.
He looked at her, his green eyes so serious. Slowly, he dipped his head, bringing their faces close. His hair brushed over her cheek and she tilted her mouth up to meet his. Their lips touched in a perfect kiss.
Jennet closed her eyes. Light spread through her, like she’d sipped the sunrise.
No matter what happened next, she and Tam would face it. Together.
THE BALLAD OF TAM LIN
I forbid you maidens all
That wear gold in your hair
To come or go by Carter Hall
For young Tam Lin is there.
Janet has kilted her kirtle green
A little about her knee,
And she has braided her yellow hair
A little above her bree,
And she's away to Carter Hall,
As fast as she can hie.
When she came to Carter Hall
Tam Lin was at the well,
And there she found his steed standing,
But away was himself.
The steed that my true-love rides on
Is lighter than the wind,
With silver he is shod before,
With burning gold behind.
She had not pulled a double rose,
A rose but only two,
Till up then started young Tam Lin,
Says, ‘Lady, pick no more.
And once it fell upon a day,
A cold day and a snell,
When we were from the hunting come,
That from my horse I fell;
The Queen o Fairies she caught me,
In yon green hill to dwell.’
'And pleasant is the fairy land,
But an eerie tale to tell,
Aye at the end of seven years
We pay a tiend to hell;
I am so fair and full o flesh,
I'm feared it be myself.
The night is Halloween, lady,
The morn is Hallowday,
And for to win me, win me well
Take heed to what I say.
Just at the mirk and midnight hour
The faerie folk will ride,
And they that would their true-love win,
At Miles Cross must bide.
Oh first let pass the black horse,
And then let pass the brown,
But quickly run to the milk-white steed
And pull the rider down.
'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,
An adder and a snake;
But hold me fast, let me not go,
To be your worldly mate.
'They'll turn me to a bear
And then a lion bold;
But hold me fast, and fear me not,
As ye shall love your child.
'Again they'll turn me in your arms
To a red hot bar of iron;
But hold me fast, and fear me not,
I'll do to you no harm.
At last they’ll turn me in your arms
Into a naked knight,
Then cloak me in your mantle green,
And cover me from sight.'
Gloomy, gloomy was the night,
And eerie was the way,
As fair Janet in her mantle green
To Miles Cross she did go.
About the middle of the night
She heard the bridles ring;
This lady was as glad at that
As any earthly thing.
First she let the black pass by,
And then she let the brown;
But quickly she ran to the milk-white steed,
And pulled the rider down.
So well she minded what he did say,
And young Tam Lin did win;
Then covered him with her mantle green,
As blithe's a bird in spring.
Out then spoke the Queen o Fairies,
Out of a bush of broom;
'She that has gotten young Tam Lin
Has got a stately groom.'
Out then spoke the Queen o Fairies,
Out of a bush of rye:
'She that has gotten young Tam Lin
Has the best knight in my company.
Had I but known, Tam Lin,' she says,
'Before I came from home,
I’d taken out that heart of flesh,
Put in a heart of stone.'
Collected by Francis James Child, English and Scottish Popular Ballads
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Thank you to the many people who made this book possible: the encouragement of my terrific CP Peggy, fabulous proof and beta-readers Colin, Sean (aka Captain Grammar Pants), Chassily, Marissa, Nicole, Kaitlynn, and Brynn. My patient and supportive in-house editor, Lawson, and keen-eyed reader Ginger. Thanks also to Annette Nishimoto for skillful copy-editing.
For great design work, Kim Killion, and for the inspiration to move forward, gratitude to Kris, Dean, and PG.
Finally, for all the adventures in-game, epic thanks to Sylven, Dom, and Fates Legion that was.
Resources used include: Katharine M. Briggs, An encyclopedia of fairies: Hobgoblins, brownies, bogies, and other supernatural creatures: Faeries by Froud, Larkin, and Lee: and www.tam-lin.org.
For other wonderful YA retellings of the ballad of Tam Lin, Anthea recommends Elizabeth Pope’s The Perilous Gard and Diana Wynne Jones’s Fire and Hemlock.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Growing up, Anthea Sharp spent most of her summers raiding the library shelves and reading, especially fantasy. She now makes her home in the Pacific Northwest, where she writes, plays the fiddle, and spends time with her small-but-good family. Contact her at
[email protected] or visit her website – www.antheasharp.com
Anthea also writes historical romance under the pen name Anthea Lawson. Find out about her acclaimed Victorian romantic adventures at www.anthealawson.com
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Stay tuned for FEYLAND: THE BRIGHT COURT – Coming late May, 2012
The trilogy concludes with FEYLAND: THE TWILIGHT KINGDOM – Fall 2012
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