Alliance (M-Giant)

[Vintagedarling]

(The idea of nobody wants the sick Giant around has always been a favorite of mine/// and the poor soul stuck with the job— just a quick story)

 

Out of the corner of his eye Vlaedeus saw his Advisor motioning to him, trying eagerly to get a word in with him, but he’d already made up his mind.

 

“I’mb glad that we ha’be decib’eb to unify our kingdoms,” Galium talked humiliatingly through his thick congestion. “I’ll take m’by leave n’dow.” The King of Giants fought back sniffling as he stretched out his hand to shake, stirring the congestion would only cause trouble for both parties. 

 

“It was a pleasure,” Vlaed hummed as he stretched out his own hand which Galium’s hand closed loosely around to shake. “But I hate to see you off just as you’re starting to feel ill. It’d be a pleasure if you’d grant us this opportunity of seeing you into better health to further settle in our newly formed alliance.” It was a gamble the King was taking, but if things went well then he could possibly use this favor for a slight leverage in the future. 

 

It’d take him several days just to be halfway to his own sanctuary and in the comfort of his own attendants and Galium felt awful right now. “If it wouldn’t be too mb’uch of an imposition?” He queried allowing hope to alight his tired eyes. 

 

“Not at all!!” Vlaed boomed emphatically as he motioned and at once an attendant came forth without hesitation. “See that our new ally is put up comfortably.” 

 

“Sir.”

 

He never got tired of the simplicity of his every whim being addressed and so he gave his guest a nod and headed off to see to other courtly concerns. 

 

Galium smiled weakly as he looked down to the uniformed man, “I’mb not picky,” he offered wanting desperately to lay his head down and  rest. 

 

The attendant kept his face blank as he gave a curt bow, “Please follow me sir.” 

 

“Alri—“ Galium started to nod which he regretted as it dislodged something within his sinus cavity. His head was already tilting back, chest swelling his ears picked up scattered murmurs but there was nothing he could really do but steady himself in place, so matters wouldn’t worsen. Bracing his hands on the castle walls as his nasal spasms took control of him. 

“H-He’HH!—“

Yet a cry from someone below scared the sneeze back enough that he thought better of it and moved to cover the coming sneeze. 

Which he shouldn’t have.

“HEh-HhEAeEHESHEEUHHH!!” 

The expulsion threw his already shifting weight even more off balance, which would normally be fine if he was home or outside. 

But he wasn’t. 

Galium was inside a petite castle he’d decided to call it when the wall his free hand had been against crumbled. Galium nearly toppled into the next room but managed to recover before his weight was added to the mix. “I-I’mb so sorry,” he gasped backing away halting when his head painfully knocked into the chandelier a wax coated warped iron monstrosity that barely moved. 

 

 

Bon’s quaint inn shook with familiarity. Dishes rattled in the cupboards, securely hung paintings held fast, she eyed her fireplace as a lit log jostled but didn’t stray from its hearth to set fire to her home and business and so she relaxed. She never would have setup homestead with her late husband had she known it to someday be a route used by many of the behemoths. But that was the reason he didn’t ‘bother’ burdening her with the cumbersome decision of location and fill her in on his intentions and before he could even see his business open he’d gone and left her with the inconveniences. 

She sipped her tea and set the cup aside to then eye that as it rattled on the saucer. But it stopped just as quickly. She blew out a small puff of breath in relief. Turning her attention back to her readings when a knock came at her door. 

Excited at the prospect of a late night customer she hopped up out of her reading chair and pulling her shawl tighter quickly composing herself before opening the door and letting in the cool night air. “Officer? Can I get you a room,” she smiled hopefully. 

 

“You can.”

 

Her hopes soared.

 

“HA-EHhGURSHHEEIOOOO!!!”

 

Bon yelped and jumped terrified into the arms of the annoyed man. And just like that her hopes sank as she saw the Giant standing outside her converted farm building, hand on the specially crafted doorknob as if he was about to open it. Shoving herself out of the guard’s arms. “No! Don’t open that door!” She exclaimed testily with a wave of her hands. 

 

Galium was still recovering from his sneeze when he saw what he presumed to be the inn keeper charging at him. Letting go of the handle he turned to adhere for the moment as he waited for a good reason for that tone she’d used with him. 

 

Bon skidded to a stop as the Giant look down his long nose at her and crossed his arms. 

 

“As by decree of the King,” the tired Knight said as he strolled over, “‘his new ally is to be put up comfortably’, and since the castle is not suitable your fitted inn is to be utilized without refusal.” 

 

Not wanting this to be spun badly, in her favor Bon waved her hands defensively. “I-I’m not refusing you service!” She lied quickly, relieved when she saw the angered expression that had settled on the Giant’s face, soften. Which eased ‘a’ concern. “No, no, no.... I would be more then happy to put up the King’s new ally, who can’t stay in his castle for some reason. But I only have one room that’s built for your ‘needs,’” Bon didn’t bother keeping much of the contempt out of her tone. “But I’m not vacant,” she smiled proudly up with her quickly hatched plan. Pointing up to the dark window, “The light is out so my guest must be asleep and as proprietor of this establishment I can’t let you wake him...” Hot damn did she sound professional, she was going to reward herself with an extra fruity tart tonight once the nuisances had gone. Her eyes misted as another thought struck her all of a sudden and brought with it a wave of emotions she did not want to deal with, so just a swiftly as it had happened she stuffed them away again to keep functioning. Regardless the fib worked when the Giant looked remorseful and took his hand away, blowing out a breath Bon relaxed. A bit too soon. 

 

“I want to see this occupant,” the guard ordered flatly having paid close attention to the owner’s body language. 

 

A pang of dread went coursing through her at the challenge. “No! Y-You can’t do that!! I-I can’t let you do that! I-It’s one thing if I’m flat out denying but that’s invasion of my customer’s privacy and what kind of proprietor would I be if I just let you burst in on them?!” Oh she could just imagine Chadwhich rolling in his grave to see her defending a Giant. Even the Giant in front of her looked surprised and a bit touched at her stance. Ugh, she lamented. 

 

“He’s the King of Giants,” the guard said as he grasped at any excuse. He did not want the gross behemoth coming back with him to the castle where it would be who knows how many sleepless nights with the loud bastard going off. “Surely the denizen of his land would like to at the very least pay respects to his Lord! On behalf of this lands rightful nobility I shall take the responsibility and wake them for myself so they may have that honor,” hoping to call her bluff and not wake another beast he pushed passed Bon and opened the proportionality sized door. 

 

Bon gasped in shock at the rudeness. “How rude!” She decided to inform the guard since her goose was cooked. 

 

“Just as I suspected,” the guard beamed triumphantly as he found the building vacant.

 

Galium heard the relief in the guard’s voice and didn’t hold it against him much as the light flicked to life from the window. Taking up the doorknob again he opened the door and what he saw delighted him. Flames in lanterns decorating the establishment grew brighter, all the necessities were coming to light. What also became obvious was the care put into making the space appealing. Turning to look scornfully back at the woman. “And I agreed with you about him being rude,” clucking his tongue at her, his opinion of her shifting. 

 

Bon’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Well what the ‘King’ decrees is always someone else’s problem now isn’t it?” She bit out to the guard as her hip jutted out with stubbornness. 

 

Galium sympathized, he really did but the pocket square on the nightstand caught his eye and beckoned him. Grasping the fabric he brought it up to his aching appendage. His nose reveled in it’s softness before becoming too much for him to bare. “H-HehH—EHh!!” 

 

A sense of pride went through Bon as she watched the Giant go for the blanket she had suggested to leave out. Chadwhich, the smart man had given her the gift of decorating the room to distract her from yelling directly at him and to feuding over what ornaments. It was her husband’s dream to have a bed and breakfast after all and Bon would help of course but he had to provide little niceties if he wanted regulars. Providing a handkerchief would be a nicety to a creature with a nose and needs. What she’d kept from Chadwhich was that she’d insist that HE be the one to launder it and the sheets, and as the man she loved he would without bickering, but there’d be teasing. All the satisfaction of their hard teamwork went out the barn door as the dutiful cloth got snatched up and pressed to the underside of the Giant’s nose. The edges fluttered, struggling against the winds being whipped around like sails in a hurricane. 

 

“HAEhH—Hheh—!!”

 

It was her work alone now. 

 

“HEh-GehHIISHHeHUHHHH!! Hh— hhEhH! EhH! hGhH—“ the sneeze felt nice for a moment but then Galium was tormented with hitching. 

 

Bon watched as the Giant leaned against the bed for support in his duress. “I’m not open for business,” she tried again turning back to the guard. The Widow angle was her ace in the deck, “The fantasy of catering to Giants and others was that of my late husb—“

 

“HAH!! h—h-H—HEIHH!!!—-“ 

 

Bon and the Knight turned to look at the Giant as he called for an audience, but when the sneeze eluded him her focus returned to the officer that had taken the distraction as an opportunity to get to his horse and mount. “I’m not open for business!! The King can’t make me,” she stammered. 

 

The Knight shifted to address the woman. “I knew Chadwhich from the war,” he’d stoop lowly for his own gains just as she. “And this is the only establishment designed to host all sorts to our area. If you want to deny your late husband his dream then by all means refuse this poor man hospitality again.” What he didn’t add was that if she did refuse he’d just place her in a cell for the remainder of the night as a lesson and the Giant would be staying anyhow by royal order, but he prayed obligation won out and she’d be stuck with this hassle rather then the Monarchy.

 

The guard had all the higher cards necessary.

Defeated, Bon hung her head. 

 

“AhH—EeHHSHEEIIOOOO!!” Galium fell back as he was finally freed of the mockery his nose had subjected him to. The bed he landed on wasn’t ideal but it didn’t collapse when suddenly charged with aiding him. Soreness saturated him, Galium was about to force himself back onto his feet to leave when—

 

“Stay,” Bon said indifferently as she waved her hand at the weary Giant to stay seated. “You need your stamina so the next sneeze doesn’t have you crashing through the walls,” she warned, bidding farewell to head back to her own quarters. 

 

Reprieve coddled Galium at the invitation, but the  feeling of dread wasn’t going to go away anytime soon with her lasting remarks.

[starpollen]

Nice 👍🏻 Looking forward to more!

[PennyLane]

Ooooo! I also love giant stories! So excited!

[Jettous]

Aww poor guy. I think he is need of some caretaking 😉

[MidnightCatK]

Absolutely adoring this!