Quote Originally Posted by chksng19
A very well-written piece, with the ending sentence answering almost all the questions.

Sadly, the source of the legend, who the guy was and why he haunts, might not be known to non-Scots like me.

Superior story, though sir. Nicely done.

Chuck
Aye Cap'n Chuck,
Me veins be as thick with Scottish blood as yer's sir. Truth is my sassy wench feels I cut a dashing figure in my tartan kilt as I waggle a stiff claymore before me. So whilst I may not truly be one I do on occasion play the Highland lad upon the net.
Now then to the legend, I first met Tam lyn in a piece of SciFi where he was a trickster computer who ran an interstellar ship. The name intrigued me.

Now if you were to stop poking that poor lass with yer belayin pin and turn a weather eye to the Isles of goggle.

Yes Yes I know your busy so I'll help ye out this once.

Ahem, Tam Lin, well in the mildest story he be a good christen lad held captive by the Fey Queen and he be rescued by a fair princess who takes him to her father the king…

Damn it man does she have to moan so loud it's purely distractin…

Yes that’s better I can barely hear her. But do you really think it's safe? I mean if she gets excited and nips down, well you could end up a few inches shorter than gawd intended.

Well you trained her I guess you know what your doing.

Now where was I, Oh yes Tam Lin, As I said that be the English version cooked up in a monistary to keep the Lawds whelps from crying at night.

In Truth Tam Lin be a warrior of the Fey Queen who guards the portal betwixt the worlds. The King warns his daughter not to pass by the Portal ( a well or a cave dependin on the tellin) but being a reckless lass the princess trots off to Tam Lyns well and there she calls him forth by picking a rose.

From there on the legends all agree. She is caught between the worlds and must pay Tam Lyn a toll if she's to return. Either gold ( sometimes her golden locks), or her green coat must she pay or her maidenhead the price will be. As you might guess the lass returns with her gold and cloak but she has paid her toll in full. Now if the teller of the tale was a bit mad and had a harder edge perhaps it would become something like…
Mad Lews