Eve dropped to her knees in the forest. "We haven't finished the dance, Julian...where did you go?"
She held her head in her hands. "I need you," she cried softly, her shoulders trembling. "I never thought that I would love you so, the way you kidnapped me. I don't care that we are so different. I love you, Julian. I love you," she sobbed.
Grace and Samuel came upon her, having overheard only Eve's last sentence. Grace had discovered Eve missing from their cottage, and sought Samuel's assistance in finding her.
"Samuel." Grace held a hand up to her mouth."Look how broken she is. Whomever this man is she fell in love with, it's tearing her heart asunder."
He nodded. "I've never seen Eve like this. Let's get her home so we can help her."
Samuel approached Eve carefully. "Eve? It's Samuel and Grace." Her eyes looked in his direction, but no recognition shone in their depths.
"Eve?" Grace held her hand out to her. "We've come to take you home." Eve suddenly brightened, and she stood up, focusing on Samuel.
"You've come to take me back home?" she repeated. "I love you so much..I don't want to ever be apart again, not for a moment."
She cocked her head to one side. "How did you get so small...?" Eve fell into a dead faint, landing in Samuel's arms.
"Grace, she was sleepwalking. What happened to cause her to sleepwalk? "
"Love, Samuel. It was love."
center/center
Julian held his head in his hands. He knew it was best for Eve to return to Harmony. Yet his heart was broken without her. Her face haunted him wherever he turned...
Visions of her lying on the hill where he first laid eyes on her ran through his mind. Hunting was easier for him at night, but that evening he saw something he wanted more than sustenance. Julian knew it was wrong to take her as he did, but he could not help himself.
He never dreamed he would find someone to love in his gigantic state. As he carried her back to his mountain home, he thought only of ending the loneliness that scarred him. Now, alone again, he tried to remember it was for the greater good. Eve's happiness.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spied another article of of Eve's clothing. The pink gown she wore to the picnic the day he was bitten by the viper. He stumbled toward it, and held it to his cheek. How she cared for him warmed his heart, and her confession of love made him happier than he dreamed possible.
A woman with such goodness, so much kindness in her heart, deserved to share that with a loving husband and children. Something he couldn't be or could ever give her.
"I can't think of myself. I must think of you." Julian knew in his heart this decision, regardless of how painful, was right. Still, his head, and the part of his heart that would forever hold Eve hated the very idea. The thought that another man would hold her in his arms. Share a marriage bed and children with her. It angered him. He wanted Eve to go on and find love and happiness, but another part of him wanted her to just think of him, and want to be with him as much as he wanted to be with her.
He brought her gown to his cheek. The softness reminding him of Eve's delicate skin. That beautiful golden skin. His enchanting little treasure. Julian closed his eyes, as once again, her smiling face sweet voice haunted his senses. His chest tightened. How he missed her. He fell onto his bed, clutching her tiny gown to his chest. Tears burned his pillow. Could one die from longing?
center/center
"Promise me you'll never leave me again. Promise me."
Grace turned to Samuel. She shrugged, seeing the confusion on his face.
"She's dreaming, Samuel. She's thinking of that man who kidnapped her."
"Kidnapped?"
"Yes. Like I told you, when we thought she was dead, she was with this man."
"Why isn't she still with him?"
"I don't know."
Eve began to cry again. "Why are you hurting us this way? I know you still love me." Grace's heart went out to Eve, hearing the agony in her voice. She smoothed a curl from Eve's forehead.
"It's all right, Eve. You're here with Samuel and Grace...everything is going to be just fine."
"No! He loves me! He wouldn't leave me! Let me out of here!"Eve tried to rise from the bed, but Grace firmly held her down.
"Eve, this man is gone! We can't have you wandering around the forest again! Do you want to be kidnapped by the mountain monster this time?"
"What...what did you say?" Eve focused on Grace.
Grace sighed. "I don't want you to be abducted by that creature that hides in the mountain."
Eve shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts.
"No," she whispered sadly. "That would be...terrible."
center/center
Julian stared at the ceiling of the cave. He did not know how he would be able to feel anything ever again, other than his all-consuming love for Eve.
Perhaps a walk would help, he thought. Anything to take his mind off of the woman who held his heart in her hands. Only now...the heart he carved for her lay forgotten, when he took her back to Harmony.
He got up, placing Eve's dress lovingly in his pocket.
" If I cannot have you close to my heart, my darling", he whispered mournfully, "I can dream that I can."
Julian made his way outside, not caring where he was going. What did it matter, when his only love was not with him? How would he be able to go on without Eve?
"Giant Julian Crane...so we meet again!" Tabitha Lenox appeared in front of Julian, a devilish gleam in her eyes.
