Beauty and the Beast
Once there was a very greedy man who lived with his equally tight-fisted wife, their son and heir, and an unwanted daughter. The man was a merchant, often away from home for long periods of time. He would bring home moderately elegant silks and velvets for his wife, as well as good, sturdy woolens for himself and his son. His daughter, however, was left with her mother's cast-offs.
Up the hill, deep within the forest near their home was an ancient castle. Rumor claimed that it was inhabited by a monster that ate all trespassers. Strange howls and screams were sometimes heard, usually after someone decided to brave the forbidden forest. One day, the merchant was at the tavern down in town, looking for trading prospects. Hoping to curry favor with the man, not knowing his stingy nature, some of the other merchants had bought him wine, hoping to get him drunk enough to loosen his purse-strings.
At last, one of the outlanders proposed a wager. He would pay the merchant a sack-full of coins if he took the shortcut through the woods to get his goods transported to the forest's far side more quickly. Blinded by the gold, the trader agreed.
Snow began falling as he lashed down the casks and barrels of wine and cider, bolts and bales of cloth, caskets of fine jewels.
"Be careful, husband," his wife told him.
"Bring me something sophisticated from town, Father," the boy demanded.
"Farewell, Father," the girl said with a demure curtsey.
The merchant had hoped that he could make it to the far side of the forest before nightfall. But the snow began to fall faster and heavier as the day wore on, and soon his wagon was slowing, the horse stumbling as the road became impassible.
Cursing the poor lathered animal, the merchant struck it with his whip. Suddenly the whip was wrenched from his hand. Looking up, he found a giant shape looming over him.
The monster from the castle!
"Please, do not eat me!" he pleaded.
"You are not to my taste," the thing replied, its tone wry. "However, you have been found trespassing upon my lands. For that, I must exact some payment, something of great enough value that you will not ever consider entering my lands again."
"I am a simple trader, Sir. I have only the goods in my wagon, worth only a little..."
"You lie so poorly, it's a wonder you sell anything to anyone with eyes to see. You have far more wealth than this, including much of great wealth that you do not value in the least."
The merchant thought quickly. "Is there anything of my possessions that would be to your... taste? Anything at all – name it and it's yours."
"Should I ask for all of your gold? And believe me, I will know if you short me a single coin."
The merchant felt the blood drain from his face.
"Or should I ask for the most precious thing you possess?"
The merchant frowned. What could the monster mean? Was gold not the most precious thing there was?
"Whatever you ask, of course."
"Give me your daughter."
The merchant sighed with relief. "Yes, of course. My daughter."
"And the goods in your wagon?"
The merchant swallowed. "I thought you didn't want..."
"I don't want them. But if I allow you to deliver them, what assurance do I have that you will give me your daughter?"
"It seems to me..." he hesitated, but given that the beast had not yet eaten him, he thought he could finish safely. "It seems to me that you know everything about me, including where I live. If I were to renege upon our bargain, you could easily come for what I owe you, and more. I have promised you my daughter for my life. I will deliver her as soon as I return from the fair in town."
"You have one week. After that, the consequences will be dire."
"Daughter, I have decided that you should accompany me on my next trading session. It is time we found a husband for you."
The girl's mother frowned. "We cannot afford a dowry, husband!"
"I'm confident that I can find a good husband for our beautiful daughter without too much expense, wife."
While the daughter knew better than to believe her father, she was anxious to leave home. Surely any husband would be better than living with her selfish father, mother, and brother.
Packing her two worn dresses and her extra pair of boots, she climbed up onto the wagon-seat beside her father. "Why are we headed into the woods, Father?" she asked as her father turned off the road onto the rutted track that led into the trees.
"I have found someone who wants you, daughter. You will be obedient to him."
The wagon stopped outside the gatehouse. "Go in. Go."
Trying to hide her trembling, she climbed from the wagon. The gate swung open as she approached, then closed with a metallic clang behind her. She turned and watched her father drive away without looking over his shoulder.
"Come in out of the cold." The deep voice echoed lowly from the far side of the gatehouse. The daughter turned and made her way through the courtyard, following a dark shadow, concealed beneath a long, hooded cloak. She paused momentarily as she caught sight of the house, dim in the falling light, then resumed as the cloaked figure stopped, and the hood began to turn towards her.
"You will follow my instructions. If you hesitate, you will be punished. If you refuse, you will be punished more severely. If you obey... I do not think you will find life so unpleasant."
"Yes..." she began. "Forgive me, but how should I address you?"
"Master or Lord will be appropriate."
"Yes, My Lord."
"This will be your home. The servants will see to your needs. If you try to escape, you will be punished. There are leagues of woods in all directions; you would not get far."
"Yes, My Lord. I mean, no, My Lord. I mean, I will not try to escape."
"Good." They had entered a long room, and the girl could see a fire blazing in the hearth at the far end. "Come warm yourself. Your things will be taken upstairs to your room."
