Hey! I'm back with chapter two! Thanks for the reviews you guys gave, and I hope you guys enjoy the next chapter!

Don't forget to review at the the end of the story!

Disclaimer: I do not own Jack the Giant Slayer or any of its characters.

Chapter Two: More Losses

Victoria groaned as she felt something against her cheek. She tried to turn her head to block the pest that was annoying her so early in the morning, but it was no use. She mumbled quietly with a hint of annoyance lacing her tone, "Jack. Stop. It's way too early, and I have a headache. Go away."

"Early? Why, I daresay it is exactly the right time to get up." At the sound of a man's voice, Victoria's eyes shot open. That was not Jack's voice. She sat up only to curse herself once the sudden movement made her headache worse. She put her hands to the sides of her head, hoping to soothe her throbbing head. What had happened?

When the man cleared his throat, Victoria was reminded of his presence. She looked up at him. Oh! It was the man who had retrieved her basket! The knight. He continued speaking, "Just what on earth do you think you're doing out here, girl?"

Victoria was confused. "Why, Sir, this is my hou –" Victoria was cut off as she finally got the chance to scan her surroundings. When she had awoken, she had dismissed her visions of a magical stalk growing out of her house as a dream. Obviously, it was not merely a figment of her imagination. Another thought came to her. "Jack! Where's Jack?" Victoria looked around frantically for her friend, praying that he was alright. She would never be able to forgive herself if Jack was hurt.

"I'm right here, Victoria." At the sound of his voice, Victoria's shoulders immediately relaxed as she scrambled to her feet and launched herself at the man.

Victoria pressed her face to his chest as she held back her tears. "Jack! Don't ever do that to me again! Do you hear me?"

As the two parted, Jack replied, "I'm sorry for worrying you, Victoria."

A new voice rang in her ears. "As much as I'd love to watch this happy reunion, I must ask why exactly you have my daughter's bracelet." When Victoria saw who the speaker was, she instantly curtsied. First she had met a knight, and now she was in the presence of the king! What a bizarre turn of events!

"Your majesty." The words fell from her lips automatically, amazed at his mere presence.

Jack explained himself, "Your daughter came to my house, seeking shelter from the rain. I could not refuse her. She's still in the house."

The King frowned. "And where exactly is your house, boy?" Jack swallowed thickly as his hands pointed behind him towards the sky. Realization dawned on Victoria. That was why he was trying to get up the stalk.

The King was silent for a moment before he ordered, "Elmont. Get your best men that can climb, and retrieve my daughter." The knight who had woken Victoria up, who she now knew was named Elmont, nodded curtly before turning around to speak to his soldiers, once again speaking in a tone that commanded attention and obedience.

Another man spoke up, "I must ask to come along as well. It would be a great way for me to prove myself to my fiancé." Now, she was meeting the princess's fiancée! Victoria never would have thought that she would be in this situation, meeting so many important people in the course of a day. It all felt like a dream.

The King nodded. "Very well, Roderick."

"Wait!" The voice came from Jack. Elmont turned around to look at him. Jack took a step forward. "I'm coming with you."

Elmont gave him an amused look, but before he could reply, the King spoke, "Yes, Elmont. The boy may be able to shed some light on this situation. Take him with you."

Jack was going to go up that thing? He couldn't! It was far too dangerous. She had to do something. She had to protect him no matter what.

Victoria surprised herself at what came out of her mouth next. "Wait! I am coming as well!"

The men were silent as they looked at her. Elmont raised an eyebrow at her before speaking, "I think that idea to be highly inappropriate and even more so, it is dangerous, little girl."

"I am aware of that, Sir, but I cannot let Jack go without me." Victoria did not know whether it was her love for Jack or her guilt at not being able to help him yesterday, but whatever it was, she knew it was the right thing to do even if it did put both of them in harm's way.

Elmont, however, was firm in his decision. "No. I simply cannot take –"

He was interrupted by the King once more. "Elmont. Take her with you. You heard her. She may be of some help to you." Victoria smiled gratefully at the man who she figured simply wanted his daughter safe.

Elmont sighed, "Yes, your majesty. However, I do urge you to change into," he paused, gesturing to her ripped and dirty dress, before continuing, "more suitable clothes." He ordered some of his guards to bring clothes for her. Flushed at her inappropriately ripped dress, Victoria simply nodded as Elmont's guards brought her a simple attire of trousers, a black long-sleeved shirt, and boots. Thanking them, she hurried over to an empty soldier's tent and changed.

When Victoria emerged from the tent, she heard a voice and froze in her tracks. "Victoria! Jack!" It was her father. He would be absolutely furious at her beyond normal, and Victoria was afraid to confront him. She could not help but tremble at the memory of last night with her bruises fresh underneath her clothes, disguised with the long sleeve shirt.

She was surprised to see Elmont looking at her as he stopped her father from coming any further. His words fell upon deaf ears as Victoria made her way to Jack, a sudden numbness overtaking her frail body. What had she gotten herself into?

Victoria watched as Elmont got off the ground and started to calmly scale the vines. She gulped. It had been easier to climb this thing when adrenaline was coursing through her veins like a mad man. She was brought out of her daze by a hand hanging in front of her. Grinning sheepishly, she took Elmont's hands as he helped her to get a grip on the beanstalk.

Before she could say any words of gratitude, Elmont spoke, "You insisted on going on this trip. Please do not hinder us." Embarrassed, Victoria looked away, her face flushing out of the humiliation, but she simply nodded.

A while later, Victoria found herself getting used to climbing the vines. It was a lot easier this time around as it was not slippery from the rain like it was yesterday nor was it dark enough to hinder her visibility. Jack was below her, getting used to climbing the beanstalk as well. As she looked down at him, she felt happy to see him give her a smile of encouragement. She could not help but wonder why he was so determined to go up this beanstalk though. She knew that he was scared of heights or rather not too keen of heights as he liked to call it. He must be looking for an adventure then. Well, this certainly was one indeed.

She was out of her thoughts by the sound of Jack's voice. "What do you suppose is up there?"

Victoria hadn't really thought about it. What was up there? She shuddered as her mind overflowed with images of mythical creatures, stemming from the bedtime stories her father used to read to her when she was little. She was overreacting.

"I don't suppose Jack. I simply prepare for everything." Victoria let out a soft laugh at his response. How on earth could that man be so calm? It seemed that he did not hear her as he kept climbing the beanstalk that seemed to go on forever. Distracted, Victoria slipped, but before she noticed what was going on, a hand held her up once more. Elmont. It seemed as if he was always helping her. She needed to be more careful. She didn't want to give him any trouble.

She released a sigh of utter relief as she looked at him. "Thank you." He nodded, much as he had done when she had first met him in the market before resuming his climb.

Once they reached the top of the particular sprout they had been climbing, Victoria gulped as she saw that they were supposed to transfer to another part of the beanstalk. Curiously, Victoria looked down. She was not afraid of heights, but being this high was enough to frighten her. Behind her, Jack was getting to the top of the vine as well.

"Jack, don't look down." Victoria knew that if he did, he would lose his will and determination. To her side, Elmont shot an arrow through the beanstalk. Victoria gaped. Surely, he did not expect them to use only that to get there, did he? Gracefully, Elmont slid to the other side as if it were something he did every day. She swallowed thickly. It was her turn.

The man behind Jack, who Victoria had heard as being referred to as Crawe, spoke with a smile, "Wanna know a trick? Just stare ahead and imagine something good. Kind of like a reward waiting for you."

Victoria nodded gratefully, and with trembling hands, she undid her belt to use it as a hold on the rope. She fastened it into an upside down 'V' before grabbing on to it tightly. At the other side, she tried her best to imagine that it was her mother. She had her arms wide open as if she were welcoming her daughter, beckoning her over. Victoria let out a breath before jumping off of the vine and making her way towards where Elmont was standing, furiously willing herself to think of her mother at the end of the line.

She felt a thud as she crashed into someone's arms, snuggling into the warmth. "You can open your eyes now." Victoria did not realize how tightly her eyes were shut and was embarrassed to be so snug in Elmont's arms. She had imagined it was her mother who had been holding her, but the mirage was gone now. She was harshly brought back to reality. Shaking her head, Victoria gently pushed herself off of Elmont and looked back at Jack who was now making his way over to them. Her heart lurched out of fear when his grip failed him, but luckily he had made it across. Once he dropped and was lying flat on his back, Victoria hurried over to him, wanting to see if he was alright.

With gentle hands, Victoria shook Jack awake. "Jack. It's alright. You're alright." She smiled as his eyes slowly opened. Victoria knew it must have been hard for him, and she was proud of him.

Victoria froze as she felt something wet against her cheek. Rain. As time passed by, the rain came down harder. The dark, pouring night that had now replaced clear skies simply reminded her of yesterday's events. She was immobilized with fear as she remembered being helpless, unable to help Jack as she fell to what she had thought would be her death.

"It's alright, Victoria. Keep going. You're alright." The voice was that of Jack's. Looking down briefly, Victoria gave a small smile before finding the courage to lift her hand up, finding another spot to grab on to.

Suddenly, there was a tug on the rope around her that was keeping all of them tied to one another. Victoria almost lost her grip but was grateful to find Elmont holding tightly to the rope, enabling her to get a steady grip on the beanstalk. She looked down to see Jack also tightly gripping onto a vine.

Elmont's voice took her out of her thoughts. "What's going on down there?"

Victoria was shocked at the response from Roderick. "The line. It broke. They're gone." He paused before continuing, "They're all gone." A look of sheer terror flashed through Victoria's face. All those men were gone just like that. This was too much for her, but she knew she had to keep going. She could not let all of their efforts go to waste. A thick silence enveloped everyone as she looked up. She took a moment to scan Elmont's face, worried at what he must be feeling right now. They were his soldiers, after all, but he was not looking at her. He was looking off into the distance. Victoria recognized that look though it was masked with a brave face. Grief. When he snapped out of it, he looked towards her, feeling her gaze.

Victoria furrowed her brows before giving him her best look of encouragement. He nodded at her before continuing, and Victoria could not help but admire the silent strength that coursed through the man. Especially when she knew she did not possess the same strength. He was like Jack, taking in the bad and using it to strengthen himself.

"Victoria? Are you alright?" Jack asked, concern apparent in his voice.

"Yes, Jack." Victoria shouted through the noise of the rain. A thick silence enveloped everyone as they thought about what had happened and grieved for their losses. Victoria's heart went out to Elmont as she did so. She knew the brave man was heavily affected by this even if he put out a strong front for everyone. This was his loss more than anybody's.

Victoria sighed as she kept going.

The chapter was going to be a bit longer, but I felt that I should end it here for now. Anyway, thanks for reading once again! Don't forget to tell me what you think!

Next Chapter: Camping? :)