Thomas the Rhymer, or Thomas of Erceldoune, was a Scottish poet. One evening as he was playing his lute in the forest a beautiful lady on a white horse adorned with silver bells rode towards him. She said that she had come to visit him, and so he played for her to win her heart.

When Thomas made to kiss the lady she told him that would bind him to her for seven years, for she was the Queen of Elfland. He went with her willingly, and remained in the faerie realm for seven years, then was returned to the mortal world. As a parting gift the queen bestowed upon him a tongue that could not lie.

After his return to his home Thomas became renowned for his poetry and his gift of prophecy, but never forgot the time he had spent among the faeries. Many years later when he was feasting in his hall a man came in with the news that he had seen two white deer, a hart and a hind, coming towards the poet's home.

Thomas went to meet them at once, and they turned and led him into the forest. He never lived among mortals again, but visitors to the faerie realm often saw him, entertaining the faeries with his music, and giving them his wise counsel.