Once there was a farm where a poor man and his wife lived. They had one daughter, who they had named Rarity. When she turned fifteen a drought hit the land and made life worse for the family. As if the high taxes weren't enough, now they didn't have any livestock or crops left, and to make things worse than worse the taxes were raised. Now the family could barely afford food for one, and they could no longer afford new clothes.
Then one day the father came back with news for Rarity.
"Well, Rarity. Here at home there is not really anything to eat or wear, I think it's time for you to try your luck with a job." he explained, which the mother nodded to in agreement. "I've talked with the sheriff. He just recently chased away his farm boy and the position is open. The payment may be slim, and you'll most likely don't get any new clothes." he continued.
"But food you'll get at least." the mother said.
Rarity couldn't really argue with this decision and agreed to it and she was sent down to the sheriff for work not long after, but she had to work hard to get any food and the sheriff ruthlessly put hard work on her from dawn till dusk. If she didn't work, then Filthy Rich didn't hesitate to bring out the whip.
She had to pump water for hours at a time when summer came around, when autumn came, she would usually chop firewood until she passed out from stress.
Then winter came and she had to continue the hard work in the same clothes she came with. Over time she outgrew the clothes, but Filthy Rich refused to buy her new clothes and instead she had to sow rags on her clothes in order to keep up with her growth, but it did not help her keeping the warmth in any way.
After three years of harsh treatment she told Filthy Rich that she wanted to travel and for some payment for the hard work she had done.
"Well, I can't deny that you've been useful and that you deserve a little reward for the good work you've done. One year can't be worth less than a shilling, that makes three shillings. One shilling for one year." he said to her.
"Well that wasn't very much, I had hoped that I could get a little more than tha-" Rarity began but was cut off.
"MORE?! You want more?! You spoiled brat. You get three shillings and that's final! You grab some food from the kitchen, but more than that you won't get! No get out before I throw you out!" Filthy Rich boomed loud enough to rattle the plates that stood on the shelves.
Rarity didn't gain much, but she was equally happy as she walked down the dirt paths, barefooted, while whistling a happy tune, thinking of what she was going to buy with her three shillings. When she came to a forest, she stopped to take a break by a small boulder. The birds were chirping happily as she looked around. Suddenly a tall man came up behind her.
"Good day my dear." he said.
Rarity looked up at the tall figure of a man in shock and fear.
"No, no, don't be scared. I'm just asking for a shilling in the lord's name." he said.
"Oh dear, I only have three shillings, and those I'm going to buy clothes for." she answered.
"I have no shilling, a bigger body and less clothes. So, it's worse for me than for you." he explained.
"Oh well then, I'll let you have one then." she said as she gave one of her shillings to the man.
"Bless your kindness and have a good day." he said before walking off.
A few hours later Rarity walked up a mountainside road while humming to herself. Almost singing about what she wanted to do with the two shillings she had. She stopped in the middle of a bridge that was elevated over a waterfall to look at the view. The slightly misty forest down in the valley gave a calming feeling as the sun was beginning its descent.
"Good evening my dear." a gruff and slightly raspy voice said beside her.
Rarity looked up in surprise and saw an even taller man standing over her. He was in even worse condition than the man she had met earlier that day.
"Don't be scared. I'm just a poor man asking for a shilling in the lord's name." he continued.
"Oh goodness me, I only have two shillings and those I'm going to use for clothes. If only I'd met you earlier." she said.
"It worse for me than for you. I have no shilling, a bigger body and less clothes." he said.
"I guess you can have one at least." Rarity said and gave the man one of the two shilling.
"Thank you so much and must the lord bless your generosity." the man said and walked away.
Rarity stood there for a few moments before she continued down the road.
The sun had set over the horizon as she walked down an empty road that had multiple rock formations on each side. She wasn't really paying attention to what was in front of her as she looked at the scenery around the pace when a voice caught her by surprise.
"Good evening my dear!" the voice seemed to shout.
Rarity gasped in surprise, seeing the unbelievably tall man that towered over her.
"Goodness me how tall you are!" she shouted.
"No, no, don't scared, I won't do you anything! I'm just a poor man asking for a shilling in the lord's name!" he shouted down to her.
"Oh, dear me, I only have one shilling left and that I'm going to use for clothes! If only I'd met you before!" Rarity answered.
"I have no shilling, a bigger body and even less clothes, so it's worse for me than for you!" he shouted.
"That is true. Guess I'll let you have the last one I have." Rarity said and held out the last shilling she had.
The man bent down and took the last shilling, but he also picked up Rarity in his hand.
"Ha ha ha ha! Thank you again. You see, it's to me you've given them all. I've just changed shape so you wouldn't recognize me. Ha ha ha!" he said as Rarity looked dumbfounded at him.
"But since you have such a generous heart and gave away everything you had; I'm going to give you a wish for every shilling." he explained.
Rarity lit up at that statement and began searching her mind for things she wished for.
"I've always wanted to see people happy and dance. So, I wish for a fiddle that makes everyone who hears it dance." Rarity said.
"That, you're going to get, but it was a frail wish. You'll have to wish better for the next shilling." the man said in a disapproving tone.
"I also wish for a rifle that'll hit anything I shot at, no matter the distance." Rarity said.
"You're going to get that as well, but that was also frail wish. No, you'll have to wish better for the last one." the man said as he put her down on the ground again.
"Then I wish that people won't be able to deny me the first thing I ask for." Rarity said for her third wish.
"Why look at that. That wish wasn't so frail." he said to himself under his breath. "Tomorrow when you wake up, your wishes will have come true. Good night and sleep tight!" he said and left.
"Likewise, and thanks!" Rarity shouted after him.
Rarity walked off the road and up to a small rock formation where she lay down to sleep. When she had fallen asleep and midnight came both the fiddle and rifle appeared out of nowhere beside the sleeping girl.
Author's Note
Next chapter will diverge a lot more from the folktale than this chapter.
