Tamlin – A Short
Janet ran down the long hills of heather. Heather purple like the closed eyes of Heaven. Heaven blue above shone down on the hills. Hills long and green, rolling down to Tamlin. Tamlin, tall and strong, knight of the fairy Queen. Queen Titania’s favorite knight, loved by her, but loving Janet. Janet of the village, beautiful and fair met Tamlin in the Vale. Vale below the glooming walls of Cauterhaugh. Cauterhaugh, stern and scowling looked down upon the lovers as they embraced. Embraced in the passion of love, secret lovers. Lovers for more then a year since the day they had met in the world of Cauterhaugh’s courtyard. Courtyard long abandoned in which she had met him was now their secret roost in which they hid. Hid from prying eyes of man and elf, sharing their love. Love bound them and placed a child in Janet. Janet came to Tamlin again on a day in the fall. Fall, the death of summer’s life and the time of the fairies ride, Ride in the dark of night to the Crossing on All Hallows Eve. Eve of a holy day was when they gave their tithe to Hell. Hell required fresh lives and blood every seven years. Years counting Seven had Tamlin been in the service of the Queen. Queen Titania had ordered Tamlin to be the sacrifice. Sacrifice to Dark Gods that night, at the Crossing. Crossing of the roads was where Janet was to be hidden. Hidden at the crossing she waited in the dark of night. Night so cold and dark. Dark as death, the night around her came. Came like cold fingers to steal the life from Tamlin. Tamlin rode behind the Queen on a white steed. Steed of snowy white carried Tamlin to his death. Death which Janet planned to prevent. Prevent it she would and save the father of her child. Child of elfin blood he was, half immortal, half man. Man of elfin queen, he rode calmly past Janet. Janet knew what she had to do. Do it she did, springing up from her hiding place. Place of shelter hidden from the riders. Riders passed as she grabbed Tamlin and pulled him from his horse. Horse reared and shied away as she wrapped him in her arms. Arms that burned as Titania transformed Tamlin into a burning brand of Iron. Iron so hot it scorched her flesh. Flesh burning she held on still. Still clinging to her love as he was changed again into a writhing snake. Snake of many coils, with red eyes hissing at her. Her heart trembled yet she still held on. On and on the torment went until at last the hour passed into the next. Next day it was, All Hallows Day. Day of saints and light and Janet had won. Won her lover Tamlin from the clutch of the Queen. Queen Titania released her spell and Tamlin was returned to his natural form. Form of man once more he lay in Janet’s arms. Arms that clutched him close as she looked up into the Queen’s spiteful eyes. Eyes that burned with hate as she spoke. Spoke words that would for ever haunt Janet. “Janet, you have won this round but it is not finished. Finished it will be when I have your child. Child of thine and Tamlin’s will be mine.” Mine. Mine, such a word to bring so much fear. Fear forever in this curse. Curse to end in a long future date. Date yet unknown. Unknown and yet unwritten. Unwritten is the end.
End