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."