Heaps of adoration and good cheers to LuvinEvian and Courtaney, for their selfless help and suggestions! And credit to Evian Dreams for the pic! --EF
"I don't want to leave, Julian," Eve whispered, Helene in her arms. She did not want to leave the estate and face even more unfamiliar people and situations.
Julian stood by the buggy, his heart aching at the confusion on his wife's face. He did not want to traumatize her further, but this was the only way he could help her.
"My darling, we have to take this trip. I promise you we will not be gone long, but this must be done."
"Why can you not just tell me what is happening?"
"Trust me, my love. You must see with your own eyes, not from my words. Only then will you understand everything."
"Where are we going? You never mentioned anything--you simply had your valet pack the carriage with food and clothing, but you did not say where we were traveling."
He walked back over to Eve, his hand moving to her cheek.
"All will be revealed, my dear. Have faith in me, and in our love."
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Julian's chest tightened with a curious mixture of anticipation and dread. Though the journey here was uneventful, the closer they drew to their destination, the more anxious he felt. He prayed what he was planning to do would bring back Eve's happy memories of their life together. Yet how would she react to his having been under an enchantment? Even more distressing, how would she react to the lies he told her?
"Helene's asleep again," Eve whispered, looking at their daughter. Though she could not remember giving birth to the precious babe that lay in her arms, she felt a deep love flowering for her. "She is such a beautiful little girl."
"She is so like you, my darling. I could not bear life without either one of you," Julian said huskily, glancing at Eve. "I thank God every day for your being in my life."
"And yet you hide things from me, Julian. Why is that? What is this gigantic secret that you cannot reveal to me in our own home?"
Precisely, Julian thought. Gigantic secret that I hope will cause you to recall how our love came to be, not drive you away in madness and fear. "I must show you, Eve. There is no other way."
"I don't understand."
"You will, when the time comes. Please, trust me."
"I would, if I were given a hint of why we are being spirited away. Why are we journeying here alone, without any servants or guards?"
IBecause I could not risk others finding out the truth, my love. /I
"I wanted to show you without others around," Julian said. "You and Helene are my family, my life. No other person need be present."
Eve's eyes widened. "It must be devastating."
"Soon, my darling. Soon all will be revealed."
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After several hours, Julian reined the horses in front of the entrance. It was partially obscured by overgrowth, but he was prepared for such happenings. Looking back into the carriage, he could see his wife and daughter sleeping peacefully. A lump rose in his throat at the sight.
"I pray that this brings you back to me, Eve. You have to remember how it was for us." Julian climbed out of the carriage and went to the back, reaching for the ax that was stored there. For better or worse, here they would find out their future, through their past. Mount Harmony.
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"What is this place?" Eve's eyes darted about. They were in a kind of large cave, larger than she imagined one could be.
"It is where you first laid eyes upon me, my dear." Julian watched her face intently.
"Here?" Eve's gaze swept the room again...if it could be called a room. A fireplace of immense proportions was directly in front of her. Water gurgled from a spring to her left. Curiously, what stunned her most of all was the sight of two buckets next to the spring. One seemed right at home with the enormity of her surroundings, but the other... It was so small in comparison to everything else. She could not keep her eyes off that smaller bucket.
She held Helene closer. What was it about this bucket that made her so uneasy?
"Tell me what you are feeling, Eve," Julian urged.
"I-- feel tired, all of a sudden, Julian. " Eve looked down at the ground. "Perhaps I will nurse Helene, and then retire for the night."
Julian nodded. "As you wish, my love," he said, disappointment clear in his voice. Eve felt bad about hurting him, but she couldn't explain something she didn't understand. She needed time alone. "I prepared a sleeping place for you against the wall over there." He pointed at a spot somewhat away from the fireplace. "Would you care to eat before you go to sleep?"
"I'm not hungry, Julian." With that, Eve went and sat upon the blankets that Julian had fashioned into a bed for her. She cuddled the baby in her arms and prepared to nurse her, not wanting to look at her husband.
Julian stared longingly at them, before walking over to where their food was stored. He did not know how much longer he could bear Eve's inability to remember. Bringing her here, where they fell in love with one another, seemed to be the right decision when he made it, but now he was not as certain.
"Please remember, my love. Remember what we meant to one another, in spite of our differences."
A short time later, Julian noticed Eve sleeping with Helene still clutched in her arms. He gently lifted the baby, patting her on the back to burp her. "We'll bring your mother back to us, won't we, Helene?" he cooed at the baby. Julian changed her, then held her to him, rocking her to sleep.
When Helene was resting peacefully in her little basket, Julian went to sit next to his wife. He noticed she was tossing and turning, and he held her in his arms, trying to soothe her.
"Eve, it's all right, my darling. I'm here; nothing can hurt you," he intoned, smoothing her hair away from her damp forehead.
"Julian, leave me alone! Why can't you let me go?" Eve sobbed, caught in the throes of her nightmare. "You have no right to keep me caged like an animal!"
Julian closed his eyes, pain shooting through his heart at the sound of her anguish. He remembered well the agony he'd caused his beloved Eve. He remembered all too well. He steeled himself, as he watched Eve and wondered just how this particular memory would affect her.
bIFlashback/I/b
I will not stay here!" Eve vowed as she ran towards the entrance of the cave. Seeing sunlight ahead, she sprinted toward it.
"EVE!" The thunderous voice reverberated from the cave. Eve shuddered in fear and broke into a run. "I cannot let him capture me again," she declared, panting. "He would never let me out of that horrid cage!"
A giant hand appeared in front of her, causing her to fall to the ground. Stunned, Eve looked up to see her captor, rage in every line of his face.
"No!" she screamed, backing away. The giant ignored her cries, gathering her in one swoop.
"When will you learn you cannot escape me?"
"I refuse to be kept as some kind of pet for your amusement! I am a free woman, with a life of my own!"
"You run into the forests, where there are wolves and other dangerous animals that would delight in making a meal of your delicate person. Do you not know how you put your very life at risk?"
"My life is my own, and not a concern of yours!" Eve screamed as he lifted her to his eye level.
"You are my concern. You will not leave here, ever! I go to sleep for a few moments after hunting and gathering wood for you, and this is how you repay me? You prove yourself unworthy of my trust, Eve, so you shall remain in the cage you despise so much. At least then I can be assured that you will not escape. Staying in the cage will be for your own protection, as well!"
"Protection from what? The only thing I need protection from is you!"
"I have taken care of you since I found you, Eve. I hunt for you, provide you with shelter, and protect you from all harm. What more could you want?"
"To go home!" she answered. "I want to be among my friends again, not kept here as your prisoner!"
"You could be lost for days on this mountain without hope of finding your way home. Is it really so bad with me that you would flee, ignoring your own safety?"
"I want to go home. I do not belong here." Eve sobbed.
"You belong with me, Eve. Your home is with me, and you shall never leave again."
"I'm trapped," Eve cried softly, her head in her hands. "The life I knew is gone forever."
"Your life is now with me, Eve. The sooner you accept this, the easier it will be."
bIEnd Flashback/b/I
Eve's eyes flickered open, to see Julian's worried expression. "Julian?"
"Eve, you seemed to be having a nightmare. Are you all right?"
"A nightmare? No, it wasn't a nightmare, I don't think. You were in it, though."
"I was?"
"Yes. I think it was you, but it was so strange--you were...you were..." Eve could not bring herself to finish the sentence.
Julian looked deeply into her eyes. "I was what, Eve? Tell me what you saw."
