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a-flickering-soul:

In the end her job was surprisingly easy: she wrapped her arms around Harrow Nonagesimus and held her long and hard, like a scream. They both went into the water, and the world went dark and salty. The Reverend Daughter fell calm and limp, as was natural for one being ritually drowned, but when she realized she was being hugged she thrashed as though her fingernails were being ripped from their beds. Gideon did not let go.ALT
"They'll turn me to a bear sae grim, And then a lion bold, But hold me fast, and fear me not, And ye shall love your child. "Again they'll turn me in your arms To a red het gand of airn, But hold me fast, and fear me not, I'll do you nae harm. "And last they'll turn me in your arms Into the burning gleed, Then throw me into well water, O throw me in with speed. "And then I'll be your ain true-love,ALT

Gideon the Ninth, Tamsyn Muir / “Tam Lin”, trad. collected by Francis James Child

In the “Tam Lin” ballad, Janet’s love is taken by the Queen of Fairies and in order to get him back, she must hold onto him as he is turned into a variety of wild animals, a red-hot brand of iron, and a burning coal. It is only through her determination and her love of him, though he fights and hurts her at every transformation, that he is made human again.

ALT