The Knight of the Giant
In a village long ago and far away lived a giant. Not a bad giant as far as giants go. He never ate people, (at least as far as anyone knew) and never consumed more sheep, goats, and other livestock than needed to support his great girth. The residents of the village lived in poverty since they surrendered most of their domesticated animals and produce to satisfy the appetite of the giant. However, no one complained because, he didn’t eat too much and never people (as far as anyone knew).
One sunny Spring day a knight in dull, battered armor arrived in the village. He rode up to the village smithy attending his fire. “Kind sir.” The knight said. “Could I trouble you for a bite of food and some grain for my steed? We are fresh from battle and require sustenance and rest.”
“Good sir,” came the reply, “you can sleep in my hay loft and stable your horse in my barn, but as for food I have none to spare. A giant in our village has eaten most of what I have. I scarcely have ample supply for myself and my own.”
The knight nodded and requested permission to leave his horse. The smithy agreed and brought hay for the fine animal. What a strange place, observed the knight. Beasts eat better than people. He dismounted and walked through the village searching for something to eat. “Just a morsel would suffice,” he pleaded. However, at each house the same answer, “We have nothing to spare. Our giant eats it all.”
After he knocked on the door of the last house, the valiant warrior contemplated, I have some daylight left. Perhaps the next village will provide better fare. And so, he returned to the smithy to fetch his steed.
However, he discovered his horse, saddle, and bridle missing. He drew his sword with intent to apply it to the worthy man who had proven not so worthy. The smithy cowered in anticipation of deathly strokes from the knight’s mighty sword. “Good sir,” he whimpered. “I carry no blame. I told you about our giant. He took him to his cave on the outside of town.”
This did little to change the good knight’s disposition. “You did nothing to stop him?”
The smithy shook his head. “What could I do? He is a giant and I, but a mere man.”
The weary warrior sheathed his sword, requested directions to the giant’s abode, and departed to seek out the brute that plagued this village.
Locating the giant’s lair, the knight espied the giant lounging on a large tree stump adjacent to its entrance. The giant smacked his lips and burped. The knight did not need to guess what the brute had eaten. His horse’s saddle and bridle lay on the ground at the giant’s feet. He approached the cruel goliath.
“Good giant,” said the knight politely (This was the proper thing to do. You wouldn’t want to come in saying you mean to slay him even if that is your purpose. It carries the tendency to set his type a bit out of sorts.)”I see you have had a good meal.”
“Not at all, sir,” returned the giant. “This?” He pointed to the empty saddle. “But a snack to tide me over ‘til supper. But I perceive you are here for something else. What do you want?”
The knight smiled and approached close enough to feel the brute’s hot breath. “I heard your magnificence proclaimed in the village. You must be very important that they feed you so well.”
The giant patted his tremendous belly. “No more than necessary for me to maintain my, er, what did you call it? My magnificence. When I came here as a little giant those villagers welcomed me. I kept away wild beasts, thieves, and other oppressors. I just required that the good citizens attend to my needs. When I grew, so did my appetite. I eat no more than I need, and I have never eaten people at least none that can be proven. ”
The valiant warrior came even closer. “Do you think I could feel the mighty strength in your arms?”
“Certainly,” replied the flattered goliath.
The knight climbed onto the giant’s knee and felt his biceps. This pleased the giant so much he failed to see the warrior thrust his mighty sword. The giant fell dead. The knight jumped aside and withdrew his blade from the brute’s heart.
The weary warrior spoke through gritted teeth. “Now you will no longer eat horses, and the villagers will have no lack of what they need.”
When the good man returned to the village, its citizens circled about him. “What have you done?” asked the smithy.
“I’ve freed you from your oppressor,” the kindly knight replied. “Now you will have plenty to eat.”
“But who will chase away the wolves, drive away thieves, and protect us from other adversaries?” asked another in the crowd.
The valiant knight smiled. “I will, and I’ll stay as long as you need me.”
This satisfied the villagers for the moment. Someone remembered the good man had asked for food. They brought him a few crusts of bread and half of a wheel of cheese.
Days passed. The villagers prospered since they no longer had a giant to maintain. They now had plenty to eat from their gardens. They enjoyed milk from cows since no giant was present to eat them. The looked forward to having meat for themselves.
However, they good people began to complain. The knight received the blame for every unwelcomed event that occurred in the hamlet. “We never had to worry about wolves and thieves when the giant was near.” “My children never fought over seconds at dinner either.” “My roof never leaked like this before.” The knight renewed his promise to defend them from wolves and thieves. As for children fighting over seconds? Was not that a good thing? Up until now they had nothing to fight over. As for roofs…
The knight fully expected the villagers discontent to pass, and since he felt responsible for them he stayed. Besides, he still had no horse to mount and ride away on. But alas, some people are never satisfied. In the middle of the night the month after the giant’s demise the citizens of the village rose against the good man, stripped him of his armor, tarred and feathered, and abandoned him in the wilderness.
The knight recovered from his injuries and traveled to other villages where the chronicles report he fought new battles with much success.
With the good knight no longer in their midst, the people of the deceased giant’s village sent an emissary to the land of giants. These representatives located a young goliath whom they invited to their hamlet. Their only requirement: that he not eat too much and never any people.