b2mem | The Giant's Crown, by Zdenka

B2MeM Challenge: N31. Crossover . . . with a fairytale or folktale
Format: teaser
Genre: crossover
Rating: G
Warnings: Canon, what canon? I think I may have lost it somewhere over thataway.
Characters: Beren, Huan, and Thingol (sort of)
Pairings: none yet
Summary: This is the beginning of my latest fill for the crossover card. More to follow, if the crack!Muses are with me. ;-)

Once upon a time there was a young man who was all alone in the world. His father was a poor woodcutter who died, leaving him nothing but an old ring. The young man thought he may as well try his luck, so he put on the ring. Instantly, a magic spirit appeared in the shape of a giant hound. “How may I serve you?” the spirit asked.

The young man thought this was very fine. “I have no family,” he said, “and I do not like to be alone. I want to have a wife -- and not just any woman, but the most beautiful woman in the world.”

“That is very difficult,” the hound said. “The most beautiful woman in the world is the daughter of the King of a neighboring kingdom. He guards her so closely that he does not allow any other man to see her, let alone marry her.” But the young man insisted. “Climb on my back,” the hound told him, “and I will bring you to the King’s palace.” So he climbed on the hound’s back, and quick as the wind the hound carried him to that kingdom and into the King’s very throne room.

The King was very surprised to see a young man with patched clothing and worn-down boots appear before him in the palace. “Who are you,” he said to the young man, “and what do you want?”

“I am the son of a woodcutter from the next kingdom,” the young man said, “and I would like to marry your daughter.” You may imagine the King was not well pleased at that. He wanted to have his guards slay the stranger at once or throw him into the dungeon. But the hound was very large and his teeth were very sharp, so the King thought perhaps he would try another way.

“I will let you marry my daughter,” the King said, “if you prove your worth. There is an evil giant who is vexing me and harming my folk. This giant has a crown with three very beautiful jewels. Bring me one of those jewels, and then you may have my daughter’s hand.” He thought the young man would surely be killed by the giant, who was very fierce. Nothing daunted, the young man promised he would.