Fairy Doe Sweetheart

There is a story from 1644 about a forester in Argyll's army who fell in love with a fairy sweetheart who took on the appearance of a doe (female deer). Whilst they were in camp near Ruthven Castle some officers started to mock the forester about his deer follower, and unfortunately Argyll commanded his soldiers to shoot the hind. They took aim and fired but not a single bullet pierced her. However Argyll noticed that the forester had disobeyed his command, refusing to shoot at his love, and he was brought before Argyll and told that he alone must fire at the hind. The forester replied bravely, “I will fire at your command, Argyll, but it will be the last shot that I shall ever fire”, and scarcely was the charge out of his gun when he fell dead upon the spot. The fairy gave a terrifying scream and rose up like a cloud of mist and vanished into the mountains and was never again seen following the army.