Rumpelstiltskin vs Miller

She was resigned now, better to see him so that she could get it over with and be done with all the increasingly unbearable tension.

The elf came in that October day, the soul of grace, almost of chivalry. He gallantly bowed and removed his hat like any gentleman in a lady's presence. "Well my Lady Queen", he graciously began, "how wonderful it is to see you and to see how much you have prospered since we last met. And you handle it so well. Your Majesty has such excellent taste in clothes; fine fabric yet you are not overdressed. So little jewelry too! An interesting example of simplicity and elegance." Millicent was pleased to her these kind words until she realized the elf was giving a subtle reminder of what he'd done for her. He who had made it possible for her to indulge her love of fashion was about to demand the price for his service.

"Ma'am you know that I have lived up to my end of our bargain. Now the time has come for you to live up to yours." Millicent listened in a state of despair. She had known all along that this would happen but now that her fear was now reality hit her far harder than mere thought had. Utterly depressed she made a desperate pleas to the elf to reconsider.

"Little man, whoever you are please believe me that I am from the bottom of my heart grateful to you for all that you have done. I do want to reward you but must you insist on taking a baby from his mother? Isn't there something else that will do? Why just think of all the treasure I can give you now that I am Queen."

But the elf was unmoved by this plea. "If all I wanted was material gain, I' d get it by making more gold. To me a living child is worth more than all the treasure in the kingdom."

Millicent now near tears replied, "But why my child? Surely there is a poor widow with many children who would accept your gold for one or an orphan in need of a father. Why me?"

"Because you have a special child, the king's son and heir."

"But that's why your demand is impossible", the Queen wailed. "Can't you see? Even if I gave you my baby my husband would track you down and take the boy back. Then he'd say you were a kidnapper and have you hanged."

However the obstinate little elf replied, "Your tyrant does not frighten me. Even if he could find me and no human can, I am too old to fear death. I will have my boy and I will see to it that someday he will further the righteous causes I have championed."

So that's it, Millicent thought, his demand was really political. Perhaps she could reason with him after all. In fact there was a lot he could do to help her and the kingdom. If he would only listen to reason and cooperate! So the Queen composed herself as best she could and pleaded, "Maybe you think I'm not very queenly but it's hard to be with all you've put me through. But I am Queen and I do have some say about how this government is run. If you'll just tell me if there's some policy or law you want changed I'll see to it that it's done. I'll be glad to work with you for the betterment of the kingdom. Please, please, I'll do anything to reward you but don't take my baby. Think of all we can do if we work together.