First off I really want to apologize for the awful delay between updates. Real life, holidays, writer's block and other plotbunnies kept me from writing this chapter. But I'm back now and hopefully updates will come more frequently now.

Thank you everyone for your kind words, favourites, alerts and reviews!

It had been a long but productive day. They had ridden long distance from village to village, meeting new people, giving them provisions. Some of the villagers even gave them gifts as a thank you. Christine smiled as she went over the events of the day, lying in her bed in her chambers. It was late at night, everyone had gone to bed and her only companion was silence and her thoughts that kept her awake. Even though her backside still hurt slightly from riding on the horse for so long, she would not have it any other way. She had got to know Marquis Erik a bit better, simply by observing his habits and the way he interacted with people.

It had been evident that he did not enjoy being the center of attention, instead chose to remain off to the side, making sure all the villagers got their provisions and if needed, lending out a helping hand repairing damaged structures. Christine had discovered that the Marquis had quite a temper as she watched a young knight being berated for not performing his duties. The mask combined with the scowl on the Marquis' face made him an intimidating figure, yet no one feared him but showed the utmost respect.

Christine sighed, turning over onto her back, trying to get comfortable. Why did she feel so drawn to the man? Prince Raoul did not spark her curiosity or the wish to get to know him better as much as Marquis Erik did. She sighed once more, pushed the covers back and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Now that she was wide awake, she didn't feel like lying in her bed. Pulling on her dressing gown over her cotton nightwear, she left her chambers on quiet feet, intent to explore the castle. They had not had much time to get acquainted with their new home but now the opportunity presented itself.

The halls were lit with torches, the floor was cold under her shoes and everything was silent. Christine surveyed her surroundings, studied various tapestries hanging on the walls, peeking into rooms that had their door opened. As she moved further and further from her own chambers, she realized she was in a different part of the castle. The lighting here was sparser, as if these parts weren't used as much. Dark corners made her wish she brought a candle with her but she didn't have time to dwell on that thought when a sound of music carried on the air from somewhere around her. It was faint but as she moved further, the music grew louder and louder. Curious, she followed the sound, not paying attention where she was or how to get back. As she neared, she identified the instrument that was being played - a harpsichord.

The melody was beautiful but haunting, it was a song she had never heard before. Drawn to it like a moth to a flame, she continued until she was standing in front of a partly opened door, a soft warm glow of a fire inviting her in. Christine peeked her head in just so she could see, not wanting to intrude or to make the music stop. What she saw took her completely by surprise; she saw the Marquis sitting on the stool, coaxing wonderful melodies from the harpsichord with ease. Lulled by the music, she didn't realize she moved further into the room until his fingers on the keys halted and his voice, deep and velvet, finally caught her attention.

"It is a bit late to wander through these corridors. Are you lost?"

"I could not sleep, so I decided to explore a little." She looked around the room; it was bathed in low light from the fire, tapestries hung from the stone walls, red carpets adorning the cold floor. Bookcases trimmed the perimeter of the room, a small reading corner that made her feel so comfortable just by looking at it. There were numerous musical instruments, some she had never seen before, and wondered whether he knew how to play them all. Realizing Marquis Erik was still looking at her awaiting her answer, she cleared her throat and licked her lips. "Can you play something? I really enjoy hearing your music."

His visible eyebrow rose but he consented with a small nod a few moments later. He rose from his seat and picked up a fiddle that was lying nearby. Before he touched the bow to the strings, he said softly:

"One song, then I will escort you to your chambers." Satisfied with seeing Christine nod, he went back to his seat and placed the instrument under his chin. Christine settled on a mahogany sofa, tucking her legs under her. Propping her arm on the armrest, she listened with rapt fascination as he brought the violin to life. She closed her eyes and let the soft melody lull her into sleep.

When Christine opened her eyes the following morning, she was momentarily confused as she gazed on the ceiling of her chambers. The last thing she remembered was sitting in Marquis Erik's music room but not getting back here. She stretched on her goose feather mattress, feeling happy and well rested. Pushing the covers off of her, she swung her legs to the side of her bed, noting she still had her nightgown on top of her nightclothes. Did the Marquis carry her sleeping form all the way back? Her cheeks slightly colored at the thought.

She cleaned herself up and dressed, getting ready for the day. Prince Raoul would have a break between the studies, so later they would meet and get to know each other better. She exited her chambers and went down the hall to join everyone for breakfast, when she saw the Marquis turn around a corner, heading in the same direction.

"My Lord." She called out and he halted his stride and turned around.

"My Lady." He slightly bowed his head and watched as she caught up with him. Christine discreetly observed him, hoping he did not taken offense after she had fallen asleep during his music playing last night. The visible side of his face seemed relaxed when he looked at her and asked. "May I escort you to the dining hall?" With a smile she gave him her consent and they walked in silence for a couple of minutes, Christine trying to avoid looking in his direction, the Marquis calmly looking straight forward, his hands linked behind his back. She could no longer stand the silence.

"I wanted to apologize, my Lord." She cast a sideways glance and saw his visible eyebrow rise in question. "I did not mean to fall asleep last night. Please do not take it as a reflection on your music. I really enjoy your music and do not find it boring." Blushing suddenly, she halted in her speech. The corner of his mouth lifted upwards in a rare smile, his visible eye crinkling in the corner with amusement.

"Nay, I did not take offense, my Lady. If anything, it was a reflection on how tired you actually were after such a long day." She nodded and chose not to ask how she got back to her chambers and into her bed. Now that they talked, she felt more comfortable and less tense, relieved he did not find her actions disrespectful. Soon they were at the entrance to the dining hall where they stopped and he turned to her.

"This is where we part. I bid you a good day, my Lady."

"Will you not be joining me for breakfast?" She almost let the disappointment cloud her voice but caught herself just in time.

"I already ate. I will, however, be seeing you at dinner." Happy with his answer, she nodded with a smile and watch him leave.

"My Lord?" She called out after a few moments of deliberation, breathing in deep as he turned and locked his eyes with hers. "Can I...will you play for me again?" The Marquis paused for a moment to think, then came with a reply that surprised her.

"Meet me in the music room after dinner." He bowed his head and headed to the direction of the courtyard. Christine smiled widely; she had something to look forward to.

The rest of the day passed slowly; she spent her day exploring her new home, introducing herself to the servants and knights she had not met before. They all welcomed her warmly even though they were busy with their chores. The castle itself was bustling with activity and she enjoyed watching the knights train, children playing, running around under the watchful gazed of their mothers, and all the activity that happened in the courtyard among ordinary people.

She was in the library when Prince Raoul found her later in the afternoon, observing Marquis Erik training with the knights, telling them how to correctly block the opponent's move. He moved with the agility of a cat, easily countering the knight's attack, their swords clashing with a metallic sound.

"My Lady?" She looked from the window to the Prince, giving him a small smile. Standing up from the window seat, she gave him a small curtsy.

"Your Highness." He smiled and walked over to her, shaking his head.

"I told you before, you may call me Raoul." He took her hand and led her back to the window seat, taking a spot next to her. "How was your day?"

"I have explored the castle, it is such a beautiful place. And everyone is very friendly." Prince Raoul chuckled and nodded his head. "I have done some reading as well. How was your day, Raoul?"

"Very busy and I apologize I could not find a moment to talk with you sooner. I have my studies, just today I had diplomacy and history. Very boring."

"It is necessary for a future king to know these things, so he can lead his country."

"Aye, that is true. However that is not what I wanted to talk to you about. How have you been? I have not seen you in what, fifteen years? Such a long time. You have grown into a beautiful woman, Christine."

"Thank you." She blushed and lowered her gaze to her hands folded in her lap. She looked up when he started speaking again.

"I remember the days when we were little, how your father told us tales of brave knights and princesses, dragons and treasures..." Aye, she remembered those times, but they were not children anymore. If they were to marry, she wished to know the adult and not dwell on their childhood. They talked more after that but soon the Prince excused himself.

"Father wants me to join him for a hunt. With any luck there will be venison for dinner today." He gave her a cheeky smile. "I enjoyed our conversation, Christine. Have a good day."

"You too, Raoul." She relaxed back in her seat and her gaze turned involuntarily back to the training below. She reflected on her conversation with Raoul; it was slightly awkward and uncomfortable for her, but she guessed it would get better the more they got to know each other.

True to Raoul's word, the cooks prepared a delicious venison for dinner. Christine sat at the dining table with her father beside her and observed other people around the table; Prince Raoul and the King were in an animated conversation about their earlier hunt, the other court officials talking among each other, and Marquis Erik on the other side of the table was deep in conversation with the king's chancellor. She was disappointed she could not speak with him during dinner but looked forward to their meeting in the music room afterwards.

After the dessert Christine saw the Marquis excuse himself from the table. She wanted to follow but was detained by the Prince and his father. As soon as she was able to, she excused herself as well and hurried upstairs to the music room. She found Marquis Erik sitting on the stool, scribbling something down on a piece of parchment. What she did not expect was the other occupant in the room. A large dark grey irish wolfhound was lying by the Marquis' feet and upon seeing her enter, its head lifted and ears pricked forward in alert. She stood frozen in the doorway as the animal stood up, its majestic height making her slightly scared. Christine was taller than most women she knew but now she felt dwarfed by such a large dog as its head reached her waist. It sauntered over to her, its tail waggling excitedly and his tongue lolled to the side from its mouth. Her eyes widened when it came so very close to her but a strong 'sh' sound made the dog sit and then slowly lay down by her feet. Shocked at what just transpired, her gaze lifted to the man sitting nearby, now looking at her.

"You do not have to be afraid, my Lady. This is my dog, Apollo. You will not find a more lazy dog than this one." He gave her a wry smile and she looked down at the dog, which was looking up at her expectantly, his large tail waggling on the floor in a sweeping motion. She carefully crouched down, making sure her moves were slow so as not to startle the dog.

"Hello, Apollo." Christine smiled at the dog and rose a tentative hand to his head, her fingers encountering rough fur. The waggling of his tail intensified as she scratched him behind his ears. Apollo gave only what she could describe as a moan and turned his large body over onto his back, exposing his belly. She chuckled and scratched his belly before she rose and sat at the sofa. Apollo followed and despite Marquis Erik's protests laid next to her, putting his head in her lap, watching his owner as if daring the man to make a comment. Christine laughed at the animals antics and caressed his head.

"I have never seen him warm up so quickly to anyone before, he must really like you." At the comment Apollo chose to gave a slight huff, which made Christine laugh even more. Glancing at the man, she noticed his lips were stretched in a small smile. It made him look so handsome and as soon as that thought crossed her mind, she averted her gaze and looked down at the sleeping dog in her lap. "What would you like to hear?"

"Can you please play the song you did last night? I promise not to fall asleep this time." Their eyes met and she smiled at him. He gave her a nod and gathered the fiddle, touching the bow to the strings and coaxing a beautiful melody from the instrument. Christine watched as he played, lost in his own world of music as he slightly swayed with the motion of the bow. He was fascinating to watch; he was a strong powerful man but handled the instrument in a very gentle manner. All too soon for her liking the song eased to its natural end.

"Would you like to hear more? Perhaps on the harpsichord?"

"I would like that." The Marquis sat behind the instrument and soon his fingers flew over the keys with played a multitude of compositions, all of which she had never heard before. His music sent her pulse racing with the song's intense notes, reached her heart with a mournful melody and then calmed her with a different song. Christine had no idea just simple music could move her so. When it ended he simply looked at her stunned form.

"That was beautiful, thank you." She breathed, then carefully rose from the sofa, trying not to awake the large dog sleeping across her lap, and moved to stand next to the harpsichord, running her hand over the carved decorations on its side. "Were all of these your compositions, my Lord? For I have never heard them before."

"Aye, I have composed a few."

"One day I would like to be able to play like that. I can only play the harp." She bit her lip, trying not to ask whether he would be willing to teach her. "Where do you get your inspiration, my Lord?" After a brief moment of contemplating, his reply stunned her.

"Life, my Lady." Such simple answer, yet with so many thought-provoking implications. She could understand that; life with its many ups and downs, profound human emotions, the quiet moments of solitude when one looked up at the night sky, the rustle of leaves under one's feet when autumn arrived to the lands...everything was his inspiration. In the Marquis she sensed a kindred spirit, maybe that was the reason why she has been so drawn to him since the very beginning. She watched him stand up and offer his hand to her.

"Come, my Lady. I have something to show you." The flames from the fireplace flickered in his eyes and she could not look away, almost spellbound by his gaze. There was no hesitation on her part as she placed her hand trustingly into his and let him lead her out of the room. His hand was larger than hers and warm upon her touch. She did not know where they were going but she trusted him, feeling safe in his presence despite having known him only for a few days. The castle was quiet which made her realize it was late; being with the Marquis in the music room and listening to him play erased her perception of time. They moved silently through the corridors, coming to a stop in front of a wooden door she had only passed during her exploration of the castle earlier. He dropped her hand to open the door and led her inside.

The light from the torches illuminated several metal cages varying in size, holding various animals, all so beautiful. There were owls, a dove, a fox, a cat, a small cage with a few tiny hedgehogs, and a puppy dog. Upon closer inspections Christine saw that the animals had been injured at some point and some wore bandages. One of the owls had bandaged wing, the fox had a bandage on its tail and the dog and the cat seemed to have injured their paws. She turned wide eyes at the Marquis who was inspecting the baby hedgehogs, nodding to himself and then looking back at her. Was he taking care of all these animals?

"Their mother died." He gestured to the cage with the hedgehogs. "I'm taking care of them for the time being."

"Will you release them back to the wild?"

"Aye, when they are strong enough."

"What about the others?"

"Most humans don't appreciate nature and are being careless about their traps and don't care if other animals hurt themselves trying to escape traps not meant for them. Then even their pets can get hurt, as you can see." His gaze fell on the small puppy and cat who were watching him silently from their cages. The puppy's waggling tail as the Marquis neared him made her smile and the exuberant yips he let out when the man opened the door and picked him up only made her smile widen. The dog's fur was short and silvery, his eyes an unusual blue colour for a dog. The Marquis held the excited wriggling puppy up, allowing him to lick his jaw once. The display of affection warmed her heart. She reached out and gently stroked the animal's head and scratched lightly behind the ears as it calmed down in the Marquis' arms.

"Not only us humans suffer or feel happiness, the animals do too. And all that inspires me, my Lady. And if you wish, I can teach you how to play." Her breath caught at his tone, soft but rich, enveloping her in its warmth. He put the puppy down back into his cage, watching with a soft smile as it circled around a few times then laid down and fell promptly asleep. Christine watched him as he reached for pure white dove, inspecting its bandaged wing. The animal seemed calm in his hold as he showed it to her. She gently caressed the bird's head and neck with her index finger and bit her lower lip, avoiding looking into his eyes.

"You may call me Christine when we are alone, my Lord." There was a moment of complete silence and she dared to raise her eyes to his. He was taken aback by her bold request but gave her a small nod, the corner of his lips quirking upward.

"Then let me allow you the same courtesy. I am Erik." The green of his irises was so intense her heart started to beat quicker in her chest. What was it about this man?

Erik.

She smiled.