Chapter 7
(AN: Sorry I keep cutting the parts from the movie…it's just that everyone knows these parts anyway, and they know what happens! And I wouldn't do it justice anyway. And most of my story happens after the giants anyway…XD okay, enough rambling. Back to the story!)
As Chase blinked awake, she could feel someone's eyes on her. She turned her head up and caught John smiling down at her. "Hey, good morning, beautiful." He said softly, brushing the hair out of her eyes.
"Hey." She snuggled into his side, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her tight against him. She nuzzled her face into his chest and sighed. This is what she had always dreamed of… waking up next to the man she loved, feeling his gaze on her. Feeling the pleasure of belonging to someone. She looked up and met his gaze, staring into his crystal blue eyes that seemed to see right through her. She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, making it stand up even more than normal. He made a face at her, making her laugh.
"You know, I love making you laugh." He whispered, kissing her forehead. Letting her go, he propped himself up on his elbow, lifted her chin up and looked her in the eye. His eyes darted down to her lips, and he gave her a little smirk, then, keeping her head tilted up, he dropped his head. His lips hovered over hers, and she closed her eyes, waiting, waiting, waiting…
Until she was pounced on and rudely awakened by one Madison Jane.
"Miss Chaaaase!" Maddy complained. "I'm hungry!"
"Maddy, it's not even seven o'clock yet!" Chase yawned, pulling a blanket over her head.
"It's time to get up! It's time to get up! It's time to get up!" Maddy bounced up and down on her adoptive mother's legs. Chase groaned, and sat up, running a hand through her long blonde hair.
"Fine. Go, get your chores for the morning done." Maddy cheered, and jumped from the bed. With a yawn, Chase got out of bed, and pulled her robe on tight around her. She quickly brushed through her hair and braided it, then changed into a dark brown dress and a white apron. Walking into the kitchen, she turned on the stove, and checked to see if it needed more wood. Their inside supply was running low, so she hurried out to get more. As she bent over the wood pile, she heard horses on the road. Elmont's words rang through her head. I'll wave, and think of you… Chase turned around, and watched as the King's Guardians rode by, Elmont leading them. Her mouth dropped open as she recognized the older man that rode with Elmont. Is that King Brahmwell?! John glanced over at her as they passed, and his eyes seemed to light up. He raised his hand in a wave, and she nodded at him, then felt her stomach flip as the king noticed. The King! He looked over at her, and she dropped into a deep curtsey. The king nodded, but she could tell that he wasn't really paying attention. Elmont met her gaze and smiled, then turned back to the road. Chase followed his line of vision, and her mouth dropped open. The wood tumbled from her arms, and she stared in shock at what seemed to be a huge vine that grew straight up into the sky. She shook her head. "I must have gotten up too early this morning…"
Maddy ran around the side of the house, clutching a bag of chicken feed. "Miss Chase, what's that?" she asked, pointing to the vine. Chase stared at it.
"I don't know, Maddy. I honestly don't know."
Chase lay awake for the third hour in a row. It was at least midnight, if not later. She sighed and rested her hands on her stomach, twisting her fingers around. I wonder if John is all right… she thought. STOP THINKING ABOUT HIM, Chase! He's way out of your league. He's a knight. You're just the owner of an orphanage. He sees the King nearly every day. You're lucky if you see the King at a parade. He doesn't like you like that! He's your best friend! Chase grabbed a pillow, looked at it, and groaned, slamming it in her face. I'm pathetic. She let the pillow go and curled up under her quilt. Her eyes drifted shut, and she felt herself floating off into dreamland…
Until she felt a thump that knocked her from her bed. She fell onto the floor with a grunt, and lay there for a minute. "Mark, Jasper…if you two did that, I'm going to put you on KP for a week!" She yelled. Suddenly there was another boom, and another. Chase sat bolt upright. Earthquake! "Everybody up!" She bellowed, jumping to her feet and racing down the hall. She banged on the girl's and boy's doors loudly. "I mean it! If I have to come in there and drag everyone of you out of bed, so help me, I will do it!" There was another thump and a scream from one of the girls as a section of the ceiling started to crack. Chase burst into the room and grabbed Annie and Angel under her arms, then screamed at the rest of them to get moving. She ran into the hall, and set the girls down as the other girls followed and the boys hurried from their rooms. "Everyone into the basement, now!" Chase said, opening the door as another thump sounded. Maddy and the boys helped herd the younger children into the basement, as Chase grabbed a pile of blankets and tossed them down the stairs. Suddenly Maddy screamed.
"MISS CHASE! LOOK OUT THE WINDOW!" Chase turned and her heart dropped. There, right outside the sliding glass door, was what looked like a giant…foot? Suddenly it was replaced by a knee, then a waist, and then an eye!
"FEE, FI, FOE, FUM…" The giant roared. The glass was blown out of the window and Chase shoved the children.
"Move it, move it, move it!" she ordered. Maddy fell, and Christian grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder, continuing down the stairs. Chase pushed them faster, and when they were with the other children, pulled an old table out and pointed under it. "Fit as many people as you can-"
"MISS CHAAAASE!" Maddy screamed again. Chase heard a crack as the giant lifted the roof off the house. He stared down at the terrified woman. He bent down and grabbed Chase in his meaty hand, and lifted her up.
"MISS CHASE! NOOOO!" Maddy leapt forward, but Christian grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Stay back, Maddy…We cant help her if we're dead." Maddy fought hard, struggling to follow the giant that held her adopted mother.
"Maddy! Stop!" Mark said, helping Christian hold her back.
"Miss Chaaaase!" Maddy wailed, finally sagging against Christian. Suddenly, she straightened. "I have an idea!"
