Julian slipped his hand into the cage. She backed further away. "Leave me alone!" she all but hissed.
He lowered his head and backed away. "I'm sorry," he said, before walking away, out of Eve's line of vision. Eve knew it was foolish to act this way--Julian obviously had control over her very life. Yet she could not help herself. How was she supposed to accept being a bird in a gilded cage? Eve stiffened her chin. No...she would not let him win.
A few moments later, Julian reappeared, coming to stand in front of the cage. He looked at Eve, who returned his gaze, defiance still strong in her eyes.
"My dear Eve--I know how hard this must be for you," he began. "I promise to do everything in my power to help you adjust to your new life with me."
"Except giving me back that which you stole from me." Eve stood up and came to the side of the cage, holding the bars. "How can you help me with anything else?"
"By showing you that although I'm now a very big man, I'm not an ogre," Julian said, and extended a perfect little flower resting on the tip of his forefinger. "For you, my lady."
Eve stared at the flower, softening in spite of herself. She could not deny that it was lovely, and would not have expected such a gesture. She buried her nose in the beautiful blossom. "Thank you," she murmured.
Julian's face lit up at her gratitude. "You're very welcome." His heart expanded with joy. Perhaps the beautiful Eve didn't think him so bad after all. He ran a hand through his silver hair, trying to think of something else that would please her.
Suddenly Julian realized that Eve had not had anything to eat or drink since her arrival by his hand. "My dear, forgive me--it has been so long since I have entertained any company. You must be starving, and thirsty as well."
"Not too thirsty, you drenched me before, but I am a bit hungry," Eve answered. Julian smiled sheepishly at her, remembering his ill-fated attempt at washing her scratches. And then he remembered blowing softly on her...
"I'm not angry about that," Eve said. "You took good care of me, and I appreciate that."
Julian's heart soared. "I'm glad I could be of help."
"What's this about food?" Now that he had mentioned it, Eve realized she was very hungry. "I would like to eat, yes please."
"I'm so hungry, I could eat a cow."
"A cow? I could get one for you," Julian offered. Eve smiled, until she realized he was serious. "Oh no--that was just a figure of speech. I could not possibly eat an entire cow--a little meat and some vegetables would do fine."
"What would you like?"
"I don't know. What do you like?"
Julian smiled at Eve. "I am rather partial to roasted chicken, and clover leaves in the juices."
Eve smiled. "That sounds good. It's actually my specialty."
"Would you like to cook for me?" Julian asked, hope in his eyes.
" I would, but..." Eve hesitated.
"What is it?"
"I cannot cook in here," she told him, gesturing about the cage. "It's too dangerous." Julian immediately understood. Opening the cage, he held his hand out , and Eve walked onto his palm. Protecting her with his other hand, Julian lowered her to the floor.
" I will have to help you, little one--my fireplace is too large for you to stand close to it. I do not want you harmed in any way." His hazel eyes turned serious for a moment. "You will not make another futile attempt to run from me, will you, Eve?"
"You said it was futile, and I know that it is. No, I won't try to escape," Eve agreed, though she still felt upset about the situation. Julian began to walk to what served as his kitchen, but then realized he had left Eve behind with his longer back, he squatted in front of Eve, holding his hand out to her again.She slid down, until just her head and shoulders were peeking out at the top.
"Are you comfortable, Eve? I did figure this may be easier than you on the floor or balancing on my hand."
"I think it is better." Eve's head peeked out of the shirt. She looked from right to left. "My, things certainly look different from way up here."
Even though Julian would have given anything to not have had the view to begin with, he smiled at Eve's enthusiasm. "Yes it does," he agreed, enjoying what he considered a more pleasing sight--Eve close to his heart. He placed his index finger over the pocket which held Eve, at which Eve looked up at him.
"Is there anything wrong?" she asked. Julian shook his head, looking at her with obvious tenderness in his eyes.
"Just keeping you safe, my dear." Julian headed out of the cave, keeping his hand protectively over his pocket. Eve smiled, for the first time in her captivity, she actually felt safe in this giant's care.
Outside, Julian carefully lifted Eve from his pocket and placed her down next to a row of buckets. He lifted the lid off of one of them. Inside were the carcasses of three chickens!
"Oh my goodness!" Eve exclaimed. "You keep your meat out here?"
"Yes, in these buckets, on ice...they are OK. It's cool on the mountain. Things keep well up here," Julian explained.
Eve looked from the dead chickens to Julian. They would barely make a bite for the formidable giant! "You must have to go through a whole lot of meat," she said, shaking her head.
Julian nodded sadly. "Yes, and I try all I can to take from the wild...the forest. But sometimes I have to take from the farms around here. And I know it isn't right. Someday, maybe I can make up for my thefts...someday." He lowered his head sadly, realizing that that day would probably never happen.
"I'm sorry...Julian. I am," Eve said, touching the giant's hand as he bent over her to talk. Julian smiled at the tickle of her hand on his. He had never had such an outpouring of sympathy or care for him in his life...and here he was, getting it from a provincial girl he had snatched as his prisoner.
Julian reached down and picked up one of the chickens. If it were for him, he would simply swallow it whole. But since it was for his lady captive, he knew that would not do. He fumbled with it, trying to pluck off the feathers. Eve watched, touched at his actions. He was really trying to be a good host, even if he were her captor. She smiled at his unsuccessful attempts to pluck the feathers.
"Here, maybe I should do that," she said, reaching for the chicken. "My fingers are much better suited for this kind of work."Eve made fast work of plucking the feathers from the three chickens. Julian could tell she was no stranger to hard work. She pointed to the other buckets, and he shook his head, letting her know they were for him. Eve didn't care. "You don't need to be eating feathers either," she said. "I'll pluck these for you too."
As Eve worked, Julian looked on her in admiration. He thought of what a wonderful woman she was...how beautiful a person, inside and out. And she was beginning to trust him...if just a little. She was beginning to enjoy his company a little too, he thought. At least she no longer feared him.
Julian was suddenly reminded of what that old witch Tabitha Lenox had said about the curse...that it could only be broken with the love of a good woman. Could this be her? Could he really find such a woman to love him? Julian shook his head at such foolishness. No one, not even this exquisite beauty, could ever look on his inhumanly large form with anything but contempt. Of that he was sure...
