In Fairy Tales of Marchen one often encounters heartless Giants and Genies initially bent on destroying its masters. Are such creatures really evil that (a) they have taken the extra step to hide their heart so that they have no feelings (b) after being released from the bottle initially wanting to kill their master? No. Such creatures do not start out as such. All creatures were born good in our society it is their encounter with humanity that led them to this.

A PROLOGUE TO THE GENIE

Now Genie or Genii as you know are powerful beings, with the power of the Universe at their fingertips. Now the Almighty in his wisdom balanced this out by chaining them. so to speak, inside a lamp and binding them to grant three wishes to whosoever possess and rub the lamp. This story you knew from Aladdin, who eventually freed his particular Genie. But what is not known or hinted at obliquely is what happened with the past or former masters of the Genie and his brothers.

The Genie’s past masters were persons who were human. Some were bad, some were good and some were bad and good. And in all the Genie was obliged to grant their wishes. In certain instances he developed friendships with them. Rare as that can be. Yet it was with these friendships that the Genie suffered the most.

For the Genie as all creatures in our world had a heart. And it was a heart that longed for friendship. You see Genies were creatures of one sort. There were not made for the Romantic sort of love. It was one of the prices they had to pay or choose to become a Genie. And despite having an almost unmeasurable amount of power this was their one weakness.

The tragedy is thst with some Masters the Genie had become friends there was a gradual enthusiasm that slowly dissipated. In other words the Genie was called less and less. Most often only when there was something to be done: A wish to be granted. So the Genie was trapped inside the lamp. And even with all the magical things he couid do inside. The solitude was becoming unbearable.

It was either his Master forgot him or had died. In any case the Genie was trapped inside the lamp and not called upon. Sometimes he would look inside the world of mortals. And wonder why he was not called upon.

Over time and several masters this wonder began to grow into despair, then to resentment and to jaundice view of all Masters.

And that is why the Genie of the Lamp was so mad and even wanted to kill Aladdin when they first met.

AND NOW WHY THE GIANT CHOOSE TO HIDE HIS HEART OR THE WISDOM AND FOLLY OF HIDING YOUR HEART

You might now about the Giant who hid his heart inside an egg inside a duck, inside a well, inside a Churchyard, inside a lake, inside a mountain that was several leagues away from anywhere. And you might also knew about the same giant who ,,, but we are getting ahead of ourselves.

There was a time that the Giant had a heart. It was during his younger days and he was more carefree. His folks and friend, even Giants had parents and friends, warned not to be so carefree or trust in humans for they were fickle and self-centered, and would eventually betray them. But the Giant did not listen. He was enjoying the friendships of humans or non-Giants.

Now it just so happened the Giant became close to these humans. And he would go with them in their adventures and help them fight other mythical creatures. This week was a Dragon or this Fell-beast or an agent of destruction.

And then it happened.

In one village. A feast of was being prepared for the band of adventurers. But at the village gate they were stopped by the sentry. Who told them that all mythical creatures were considered enemies and not allowed to enter. The Giant’s friends told him he could not enter, citing this and that reason. So the Giant stayed and the next day fought with his friends. Then left.

The Giant went to the Darkest Forest in the land. Inside the Forest by doing some magic the Giants have been known to do. He took his heart. Then he hid his heart inside an egg inside a duck, inside a well, inside a Churchyard, inside a lake, inside a mountain that was several leagues away from anywhere.

And that is how he became a Heartless Giant. He thought he would be safe. The Giant thought he would be immune from being hurt. For Giants like all of us can get hurt. Not physically. There are other forms of hurt that is not physical and sometimes they can be the most painful form of hurt.

And it worked for some years.

What the Giant forgot though that the heart was only the physical manifestation of the heart. Each creature had two hearts - the physical and the intangible heart, the heart that cannot be seen but can clearly be felt.

This the Heartless Giant did not know. Nor did not feel. Until, several years later in a kingdom that time forgot and lives only now in stories, he met and tricked a boy into setting him free. He lulled him into believing he was his friend and then betrayed him.

The Boy tracked him down was bent on ending his rule. But before he could do this he had to learn his weakness and had to serve the Heartless Giant for years. He also began to know him and in an odd sort of way their friendship blossomed. But the Boy could not forget his mission and tried to find the Giant’s weakpoint or where his heart was. Until one day the Giant told him.

After several adventures and help from friends the Boy found the Giant’s heart and made him promise to change his ways. And the Giant did. However, although the Boy believed this the rest of the people terrorized by the Heartless Giant did not. And spite for spite they did return to the Giant: They crushed the egg , which immediately killed the Giant. Inside the Giant, where the heart should be was wasp’s nest and as soon as the Giant fell dead the wasps nest left the body.

Everybody was rejoicing except for the Boy. And whj? Because he knew that each creature had two hearts, the Giant still had the intangible heart and whatever people told about him or whatever deed he had done he was the Boy’s friend.

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