"You must give me your eldest daughter."

The King's heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach.  He couldn't believe it.  Not his daughter.  

Still staring up at the giant he said, "My…my daughter.  You…you want my DAUGHTER!?"

"Yes King, your daughter, the princess."

"No, no.  This isn't right.  See, what you ask of me…my daughter…I…I just can't do it!"

"Then I just can't help you King," he shrugged.

"Wait, there must be something else you could want.  There MUST be something else?"

The Colossalen shook his head.

"Gold possibly?"
  
"No, your daughter."

"What about a thousand droves of sheep?"

"Your daughter."

"100 herds of cattle?"

The giant's dark green eyes narrowed.  "It's STILL your daughter," he growled.  The giant's tone sent shivers down his back, yet he pressed on further, hoping he would accept another offer.

"Maybe 100 servants, 500 pounds of gold, and thousand sheep and cattl—"

"NO!" Kygron bellowed out, slamming his fist down beside the King.  The King stumbled backwards from the impact and fell to the ground. His heart began to pound even harder as he stared at the large hand before him. Realizing what he had done, Kygron quickly withdrew his hand from the King, leaving behind a fist print in the ground. The quick movement startled him more and his trembling body backed away from the giant.  Kygron watched him regretfully and sighed heavily.  This wasn't going to be easy and he knew that, but he had to control himself.  

"Look I'm sorry King, but as much as I would like those things, having your daughter means a lot to me."

"No, please NO!  Anything but that!"  The King was at the point to tears now. "She's my only daughter, my child.  Take me as a sacrifice.  Take me instead!"  

"Woah, calm down your highness!  I can understand how this could be hard for you, but no one is getting sacrificed here, ok.  I'm not that type of giant."

"Then why? Why do you want my daughter?" he pleaded.

Kygron wanted to tell him. He really did, just not now.  He thought it be best to save him the long story seeing that they probably didn't have much time left.  Were all the King's men probably dead by now?  The King didn't seem to worry much, and this is what really frustrated Kygron. He was willing to sacrifice the lives of these men and yet, not at all willing to accept this one loss.  Yes it was his daughter.  He understood this; however, the King had to understand there was something more to this than just his daughter.  

"I asked you why Kygron!" the King practically yelled up at him.  The young giant raised an eyebrow.  He was a little surprised to see that this was the same man, shaking in his boots earlier, now talking to him in such a tone.  He had a lot nerve.

"Alright, your Majesty," Kygron smirked.  "Just calm down, please!  I will tell you.  It's the least I can do right?"

The King didn't respond.

"Yeah, well then, I begin by saying you are aware that were wasting precious time here?"

Still no response.  He sure is stubborn thought Kygron.

"Fine! Here's your explanation. You know that at one time Colossalens and humans did dwell in unity peacefully, until some of my people thought it would be in our best interest to basically enslave you humans.  And not all of us Colassalens were in agreement with that so between all the drama and wars, humans and Colassalens decided that each race should just separate themselves completely.

"Some Colassalens stayed behind, like myself, serving as boundary keepers and guardians protecting you humans from those of our kind who want to cause you harm.  Me and the other guardians have been hoping for years that one day we could forged the bond again between our two races. We have thought of many ways to do so; however, as reasonable as our ideas might have seemed, none of them were likely to work.  For example, an old friend of my Father had suggested that we simply just walk up to a Kingdom and ask kindly for an alliance. Well, seeing that you humans are afraid of anything more than two feet taller than you, we knew such an attempt would only come across as an approaching threat. There would be no talk, no agreements, just you humans attacking us."

The King couldn't help but agree with him.  The many past experiences of Colossalens attacking made them all paranoid, and it had become part of their human nature.

"Therefore, we all agreed that if we could think of any idea or plan that allowed us to reach our goal without any innocent humans being harmed physically, we would discuss it amongst ourselves first.  If an agreement could be made, then when the first chance was available, the guardian or guardians would have to follow through with it.  One of those ideas agreed upon involved me.  So here you are opportunity practically yelling out to me from below and to answer, well the princess…I need her.  Believe me when I say I don't want to marry—"

"Marry?!!!!  You didn't say anything about marry???"

"Well, you didn't think we were just going to shack together, did you?  To make this plan work, we have to marry or no one else would take it serious.  Just think of it as a marriage alliance.  You see, an alliance formed between two parties through marriage has a more solid, legitimate foundation then any regular alliance.

"Eventually, when others see how well you and your Kingdom, the princess, and the other guardians and me are getting along, this will hopefully encourage both of our races to develop that bond of unity we once had.  And like I said, I don't want to marry her, but I made a vow as guardian that the first chance I got to create that bond again, I would take it.  Please know King it's not for my own selfish intentions.  I'm doing it for my people and not just for them, but for you people as well.  An endeavor I think you yourself can understand.  You do understand, don't you?"

As much as he hated the logical reasoning behind it, he did understand.  

"I do, it just that it's…it's so hard.  I was prepared to give you anything, ANYTHING! Even my own life, but this!"  

"I know…this wasn't what you were expecting, still if your men are doing as bad as you say out there, we don't have much time.  So what is it going to be, will you give me your daughter in exchange for my help or will you give Halkalie another sure victory?"

Kygron now waited for his answer.  He hoped the King would take into consideration all that he had explained to him, understanding that if he went along with his request, it would be for the greater good of both their people.  Both of them hated using her as some bargaining chip, still it was something that had to be done.

Wiping tears away, the King looked to the ground and painfully mumbled, "Okay…you can have her."  

His dark green Colossalen eyes lit up with joy.

"But you must first protect my kingdom for the next five months."

"What! How dare you make another request like that!  You are trying my patience King!"

Kygron's voice was rumbling once more in the Kings chest.  The King held his ground though.

"Now you have to understand.  Once you go out there and stomp down Halkalie men like dirt, my Kingdom will be a prime target for those who are in support of him.  Do you really want to put my daughter…uhh your future wife, through the stress and worry for her people's safety?"

"Well, alright.  You make a valid point. Two months then."

"Three!"

Holding back his anger, "Okay THREE MONTHS," he said through clutched teeth.
"I'll help you win the war, and you will give me your daughter's hand in marriage after three months, nothing more, nothing less.  Deal?"  Kygron stretched his hand out to the King in attempt for a handshake.  It was very amazing and frightening at the same time to see such a huge limb coming his way.  Earlier, this same hand could have crushed and pulverized him for being so difficult, but he had patiently made agreements with him.

"I said is it a deal King?"  Do I have much of a choice?

"Deal. It's a deal Kygron," said the King sadly, shaking Kygron's larger index.

"Good," Kygron said showing of his toothy smile.  "I knew you make the right choice.  I knew you would."

For his poor daughter's sake, he hoped so.