The Bargain by Jennifer Michaels

Dargent obediently came to a stop and let his rider dismount. Johannon gratefully slipped off his saddle and stretched his legs. His legs and behind were both tight and uncomfortable, but a slow walk back and forth began to ease the pain. Meanwhile, the elf examined his surroundings carefully. Neither the clearing nor the lake were large. The stream that kept the lake filled and the grass green trickled over rocks and shoals, making a sweet music. Letting Dargent have his freedom to graze, he walked over to the water’s edge. He couldn’t determine how deep the water was, but it was deep enough that he couldn’t see the bottom. The crystal clear water seemed to go down indefinitely.

“Let’s get this over with.”

Turning his back on the lake, he pulled his gold signet ring off his middle finger. It was a heavy band of gold with the Rose family symbol engraved and lacquered red. If this didn’t work, Johannon would never see the ring again. Somehow, that gave him comfort. “Not only will mother look the fool, she’ll have to have a new ring made, too.”

With a crooked smile, Johannon tossed the ring over his shoulder and wished. He didn’t realize his eyes were closed until he heard the “kplunk” behind him. Opening them, he turned, but the ring was gone.

“Now for the flowers.”

Looking again around the clearing, Johannon realized there weren’t many flowers to be seen. Perhaps the tall grass hid most of them, or other previous wishers had plucked the majority. From his vantage point, the only spot sprinkled with color stood where Dargent was eating his fill.

“Stop that!” he cried, running over to his mount. With an angry neigh, Dargent trotted off, crushing enough of the remaining flowers to make the elf curse.

Meticulously, he selected the undamaged buds, careful to pull them from the ground so as to have long enough stems to twine. Purple hasslebuds, red daisies, yellow popockets and white geranums made up the majority, but he spotted a few pink losenholes and a single sunnybud to add variety. Then he sat down to braid them. When he was done, he admired his work for a moment before getting up to stretch his legs. It was late afternoon now, and no sign of the Little Person. Perhaps she knew when he would be ready for her, and she would arrive soon. In the meantime, he had food in his saddle bags.

He was just digging into them when Dargent jerked his head up from the grass and laid his ears back.

He turned to see what caused the reaction, and there she stood. With long dark hair, very round ears, the expected small eyes set in a round face, and the fabled five fingers, she was exactly as he had imagined except for one major difference. She was not little. In fact, from where she stood six yards distant, she still rose tall enough for him to have to look up at her. She was not a Little Person, but a Giant!

More than a little confused and feeling decidedly weak in the knees, Johannon grabbed for Dargent’s reins.

“Is this yours?” the giant asked, holding something out in her hand. Glittering in the dwindling sunlight was Johannon’s signet ring. He nodded dumbly, unable to speak.

“You have made a wish, then.”

Again Johannon merely nodded.

“Tell me, what was this wish?”

Answer her questions honestly, his mother had directed. Clearing his throat noisily, he spoke. “I seek a way out of my duty to follow in my mother’s footsteps and take on the burden of serving the Realm.”

The giant looked at him curiously. “Can you not deny the burden?” she asked.

Johannon shook his head. “An elf has honor and duty to bind him.”

“Obviously not,” she retorted, “if you wish to deny it.”

Her meaning evaded him for a moment, but when he realized her criticism of him, he grew offended. “I have honor and know my duty. My honor tells me I cannot accept such a burden, for I am not equipped to handle it. It is my duty, then, to solve this dilemma and find an alternative to the path lay before me!”

“Interesting interpretation,” she said with a smile. With a sigh, she settled herself on the ground, crossing her legs before her. Johannon resolved to control his fear. Releasing Dargent, he walked to sit before the giant. On his feet, they were nearly the same height, but as he sat, she towered over him again.

“I thought you were the Little People,” he accused.

“Perhaps we once were,” she answered. “Now, however, the name more suits you, don’t you think?” Her smile showed round white teeth, so different from his sharp yellow ones.

“And you still grant wishes?”

“It’s more of a trade. We negotiate so I get what I most desire if I can help you get what you want.”

Johannon’s eyes narrowed. “And what do you want?”

Again she smiled. “Like all of my kind, I want power and wealth.”

The elf nodded. That he could understand. “I can give you wealth, but power comes from good breeding or hard work. It isn’t something one can give.”

“Wealth will bring me power,” she answered simply.

“What is my ring worth to your people?” he asked, trying to learn just how much wealth she would require.

“This?” She held his ring up and laughed. “Hardly anything. It’s too small.” Indeed, in her hand it did look small.

“How many rings would it take to make you wealthy?”

The giant shook her head. “I cannot lead you to offer your trade, just as I will make my offer without your input.”

“Then how will we know if the offer is fair?”

She merely shrugged. “I give you your solution, and you give me wealth. That is all.”

Johannon was exasperated. By the time he gathered enough rings and other precious metals and gems for her to consider herself wealthy, his mother would be dead and he’d be stuck with the burden. “When is payment to be made?” he asked.

“When we seal the bargain and exchange gifts, we will have a fortnight to make good on our bargain. If someone defaults, they become the other’s property until such a time as they are released.”

“And if we both default?”

“Then no harm done,” she shrugged. “But I will not fail, little elf, so you had best not, either. I want to be wealthy.”

“Then give me a solution,” Johannon retorted, holding out the flower wreath he’d made.

She took it, holding out her hand so he could take his ring back. The she rose to her feet to tower over him. Compared to his average height of three feet, she truly was a giant. Standing face to face as they did now, he reached only to her waist. He felt relief when she turned back towards the lake.

“What do I call you?” he asked before leaving.

“Anessa,” she called over her shoulder.

“Anessa the Giant,” Johannon murmured, turning to get Dargent.

Johannon returned home in a pensive mood. He found himself staring at it his ring in the fading light, letting Dargent lead the way. The ring was made from the purest gold, by the best craftsman, yet it was nothing to the giant. How much would it take to hold up his end of the bargain? Perhaps his mother would know. After all, this whole thing had been her idea.

It was late when he reached the palace. Dargent made his way through the gates to the stable yard. His guards were waiting within, and escroted him to his suites to clean.

He was just buttoning up a clean doublet when the guards announced the Lady Rose’s arrival.

“Gracious Mother,” he said, bowing before her.

“My son.” Johannon rose and gazed into his mothers cool blue eyes. Those eyes held a remnant of the woman she used to be, but her beauty and youth had long been drained from her elfin features. What remained was a dried husk. At a mere fifty summers old, she was ancient, and the damage would only grow worse as her ties to their Realm sucked the life force from her. Johannon suppressed a shudder.

“Tell me of your journey,” she commanded, taking a seat nearby.

Johannon relayed all that had occurred, spelling out his side of the bargain, including his fear that there was not enough gold or gems to appease the giant. He kept his wish to himself, and she did not probe.

“I shall handle the matter of payment,” she said when he was finished speaking.

Johannon bowed his thanks while sighing his relief. “I will leave it in your hands, Gracious Lady.”

“Do.” He looked up at the sharpness of that single word, but her face was unreadable as always. “When the day comes to return to the lake, I will leave a package for you. Until then, relax and enjoy the comforts of your suites.”

If his mother’s words seemed colder than usual, Johannon refused to notice. Lady Rose departed, leaving him to his own devices. He sent orders to the kitchens for dinner and to his companions for company. When the six concubine companions arrived with a hearty meal, he satiated all his hungers before sending them off again. Then, pleased with the future before him, he succumbed to sleep.

The day he was to complete his end of the bargain dawned at last, and Johannon woke to find the promised package from his mother. It was not what he’d expected. Instead of a massive trunk or chest, what he found was a small satchel sealed closed with red silk stitchings. It was heavy, but too small for his liking, though Johannon refused to doubt his mother. She knew the price of his failure, if not what her aid would purchase.

He dressed meticulously, and looked himself over in the mirror. His long auburn hair was pulled back into a golden clasp, and his sharply pointed ears, long, angular face and large auburn eyes made him a perfect model of elfin nobility. He would not lose his good looks and strength as his mother had, for today would change his destiny.

With one last approving look at himself he turned from the mirror, snatched up the satchel, and headed down to the stables.

The journey was just as harrowing as the last time, but Johannon’s spirits were high in expectation. It was just before noon when Dargent carried him into the clearing by the lake. Anessa was waiting for him by the water’s edge with her legs crossed.

“Well met,” he said, reining Dargent to a halt. His voice filled the clearing- light and happy.

“Well met, indeed,” she replied. With a flick of one wrist, she beckoned him nearer.

Unhooking the satchel from the saddle, Johannon gave Dargent his freedom before walking over to sit before her. He hefted the satchel for her to see. “Time for the exchange.”

“Indeed. My part of the bargain was to find a way for you to not take over your mother’s burden upon her death. My solution is this- herbs that will grant your mother everlasting strength and beauty, that she may never grow too weak to carry her burden. If she never dies, you will never have to replace her.”

Johannon’s eyes grew round at her proposal. Anessa’s plan would not only save him from his current fate, but benefit the Lady Rose, as well. This answered all questions regarding his mother’s aid. Johannon shivered with suppressed glee.

Forcing himself to remain calm, he thought her plan over more carefully, searching for flaws. “You can and are willing to supply such herbs?” he asked after a moment. That could been a major loophole.

“I already have,” she replied lazily. “Now for your end of the bargain.”

Johannon tossed her the satchel, his mind racing. If it was really true, his future was bright indeed!

Anessa caught the satchel in midair and examined it closely. Made of the softest deer hide, it was worth a small fortune itself. With a sure hand she tugged at the scarlet stitches and opened it. One eye peered in, then her brow furled. With a curious glance at Johannon, she dumped the contents out into her other hand.

What came out was a small crystal globe and a note. The giant set the globe aside and unfolded the parchment to read it. As her eyes perused each line, her smile grew. With a laugh she finished reading and looked at Johannon.

“Did you not read this?” she asked incredulously.

The elf shook his head. “What does it say?”

“It says, ‘Thank you for your gift, kind girl. A woman of my status should not fade from this life in such a fashion. As for your repayment- take this spoiled, dishonorable son from our Realm.’” Anessa laughed at his stunned expression. “I’ve given your mother supply of those herbs- for you.”

Johannon’s heart pounded with sudden fear. “You’ll certainly make me a wealthy woman, little elf. Do you know how?”

Dumbly, Johannon shook his head. His world had dropped out from under him and his was falling into chaos.

“People will come from all over to see you, and will pay dearly for you to tell their fortunes!”

“But-” Johannon choked. “I cannot tell the future!” he finished, his voice sharp with panic.

“My people are gullible, little elf.”

Before Johannon could respond the giant picked him up by the collar of his cloak. She waded into the lake and through to another world. That was the last time he would ever see the Inner Realm.