Summery: Christine marries the Black Knight, despite her feelings of uneasiness. What sort of husband will Sir Erik be?

Tapestry of Deceit

Unexpected Marriage

This was happening…this was truly happening.

Everyone was staring in shocked wonder as the priest recited the age-old vows before the mismatched couple, thinking the exact same thing. Sir Erik was going through with this; he was determined to marry the servant girl.

Carlotta was furious; she refused to watch and had stalked off to her room, screaming the whole way. Lady Maria had no interest in watching either, but one dark look from Sir Erik and she knew that both she, and her husband, would be forced to attend as witnesses. Pierre de Coleville was still speechless after learning that Sir Erik meant to marry Christine instead of Carlotta, even after learning the truth that the girl had deceived him. And standing far in the back of the chapel, Meg and her husband Robert watched with dread as the priest turned his attention to their friend, and asked her if she would take the Black Knight for her husband.

A strange haze had fallen over Christine ever since Sir Erik had brought her out into the great hall. She was so afraid of what her fate would be, but this had not been something she had even comprehended.

Why on earth had he insisted on marrying her? He was a knight! A man who owned land, who had a great fortune, and she…she was just a servant, with no money, no home, no family…nothing. Surely such marriages were against the law? She had heard stories of how peasants and servants were forbidden to form any sort of attachments with land-owning nobles. Even the priest seemed shocked by Sir Erik's order. But no one dared refuse him whenever he gave that hard, golden glare, one that still caused Christine to shiver, although a part of her still could not deny that she found the man fascinating.

A sudden squeeze on her hand and Christine came back to her senses. The priest had been asking her a question, and it suddenly dawned on her what exactly that question was.

She looked up at Sir Erik, her face still pale with shock and foreboding. Even now, as he stood next to her, reciting marriage vows, he looked menacing. Did he ever blink? Did his expression ever change? He looked at her with that harsh golden glare, his jaw clenched tightly, his lips forming a thin, grim line. She was afraid.

And yet…she was curious too.

Even after learning the truth, he still insisted on marrying her. She remembered his words perfectly, they were still echoing through her head: "I have made my choice." He chose her; her, the plain poor servant…over Pierre's beautiful, noble daughter.

All her life Christine yearned to be wanted by someone…perhaps she had found him?

One quick glance towards her master and mistress, and Christine knew that should she refuse Sir Erik, her fate would be one of great pain and misery. And far in the distance, Christine saw candlelight capture the silver glow of Philippe's blonde head. No one else had noticed his presence; he stood just outside the chapel. But Christine saw his expression, and it was curled into a cruel sneer, filled with horrifying promise. She turned her head and looked back up at the giant dark knight, who held her hand most tightly, but not painfully.

The devil and the deep blue sea. That was her choice.

…And she chose the devil.

"Make ready the horses," Erik growled to Bernard as they exited the chapel. "I want to be rid of this place as soon as possible."

"Aye, my lord," Bernard obeyed, ordering several of Erik's men to fetch their steeds.

Erik looked down at his new bride, whose hand he still held tightly. In truth, he was not comfortable with releasing her due to all the venomous stares she was receiving from de Coleville and his family. While Carlotta had made a show of retreating to her chamber, she had reappeared again, an obnoxious pout forming on her pretty pink lips as she glared back and forth between himself and his bride.

There was another face that Erik had noticed just as he was exciting the chapel; a boy who didn't look to be much older than his bride, but who had the same flaxen hair as Carlotta and her mother, and who was sneering at her as they left the chapel. Erik looked down at Christine and noticed the way she trembled as they past him; he had no idea who the boy was or what he was to his wife, but he did not like it. The boy relinquished his sneer when Erik cast him a frightful glare, before moving his arm in a possessive, yet also protective, motion, around his bride's shoulders.

The sudden gesture shocked Christine on several levels. The Black Knight did indeed look strong and powerful, but in that sudden movement Christine felt how muscular he truly was, despite the armor he wore. There was something else as well–something secure about the way he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, something that felt…right. She glanced up at him, curious to see if he was watching her with those intense eyes, but found that he was staring straight ahead, leading her towards the great hall's entrance.

"The trunks of jewels are yours to keep," Sir Erik growled to Pierre. "I brought them as a gift, both for your…hospitality…" the word really had no meaning for the de Coleville's, Erik concluded. "And as a bride price."

"BUT I AM THAT BRIDE!" Carlotta shouted, stomping her feet most indignantly. "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO MARRY ME! I AM YOUR BETROTHED!"

Erik realized that the best way to respond to Carlotta's shouts was to ignore her. Nothing infuriated the flaxen beauty more. "Baron de Coleville," Sir Erik addressed, looking directly at Pierre. "It may not have been your choice, but you did provide the lady, therefore the gift is still yours."

"But…but she has no dowry!" Lady Maria screeched hysterically. It was easy to see where Carlotta got her bad habits.

Erik cocked his visible brow at the woman's words. "And does your daughter?"

Lady Maria shrank at Sir Erik's question. While she denied it, she knew, just like her husband, that the only thing that kept the family from becoming true paupers was the fact that their name was of noble birth. But any wealth that went with that name was an illusion; an illusion that Pierre had been hoping to use to fool the knight into marrying his daughter. Sir Erik then turned his gaze onto Pierre, but the baron had already adverted his eyes, knowing that this was the second time his family had try to fool their guest.

"You're quite lucky, Baron de Coleville," Erik hissed. "I've challenged men for crimes far lesser than your lies."

Pierre's eyes went wide at Sir Erik's threat, and both Lady Maria and Carlotta paled at the knight's meaning.

"'Tis rare that I show mercy," Erik murmured, his voice a deep low growl. "I only choose to do so because I received what I came for," he looked down at Christine and felt his breath catch momentarily as her dark blue eyes caught his gaze. He had studied her many times since he had arrived; yet he did not understand why looking at her now was effecting him.

"The horses are ready, my lord!" Bernard announced.

Erik lifted his head and nodded to his steward. He then looked down at his bride, his eyes glazed over once more with their stone, icy hardness. "If you have any possessions worth taking, fetch them now. Do not keep me waiting."

Christine was momentarily stung by the harshness of his words. She did not know him, but she found she deeply missed the feel of his arm around her. Had the moment of tenderness that she swore she had seen in his gaze just then, been a figment of her imagination?

Christine shook her head, knowing she would have plenty of time to contemplate her new husband…

…Husband. She was married!

"Christine!"

Christine woke from her momentary trance and rushed over to her friend who had hissed her name. Meg's eyes were filled with so many emotions; fear, anxiety, worry, sadness, joy–she couldn't speak, she simply wrapped her arms around Christine and hugged her tightly.

"Hear me now, Christine Daae," Robert murmured, also embracing the trembling girl that his wife held. "You are family to us. Should anything…and I mean, anything happen, you will always find sanctuary in our home."

Christine smiled and quickly wiped the tears that stung her eyes, turning to give the man who she had looked to as an older brother for so many years, a fierce hug. However, his words did worry her. It was as if he were contemplating the worst…

"Take good care of yourself," Meg sniffled, trying to smile despite the tears that flowed down her cheeks. Christine nodded her head and gave her friend another tight hug, before letting go and returning to the castle's entrance, where the Black Knight stood by a fearsome looking black stallion.

"Have you no possessions?" he inquired, noticing her empty arms.

Christine shook her head. What possessions did she have? Three tattered dresses and a ragged blanket that barely kept out the winter chill. No, she would leave those things behind; they were not worth retrieving.

Erik however, did notice her quick glance at something in the great hall. He followed her eyes to where a giant tapestry hung over the de Coleville's massive fireplace. It was richly detailed, showing a dark blue ocean, with tall dark mountains towering above the surf. Atop one of the mountains was a castle, and surrounding the castle were fields of roses of every color imaginable. The castle had a single balcony, and there, standing and facing the rising sun, were a knight and his lady, their hands clasped together while they looked out over their tiny kingdom. Erik was surprised he had not noticed the tapestry when he had entered the great hall; he was so busy with meeting his future wife that he had not taken the time to examine the castle's interior.

"Well?"

Christine jumped at the slightly thunderous question of the Black Knight. She quickly shook her head, her cheeks flooding with color as she realized she had been lost eying the tapestry.

Sir Erik glanced once more at the tapestry, before nodding his head, satisfied with his wife's answer. "Then let us be off."

Christine noticed that there was no carriage, and she had never ridden a horse in her life! She wasn't sure exactly how she was going to–

Her questions disappeared when she suddenly felt Sir Erik's powerful hands grip her about the waist and hoist her up onto his stallion.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as she felt his arms, and for the briefest moment, she had been pulled close to his body, feeling the heat of his flesh rise from beneath the armor. The horse was extremely large, and Christine gripped the beast's reigns as she realized how high off the ground she was. However, a feeling of nervousness quickly squashed her fears over the animal as Sir Erik vaulted up behind her, taking the reigns from her trembling hands, and pushing her body against his.

She went stiff as she felt his armored chest touch her back, and she swore her heart stopped beating as she felt one of his powerful arms wrap around her waist.

No words were spoken, no farewell greetings were given; the Black Knight simply gave a mighty shout, before digging his heels into his horse, causing the animal to break into a fast paced gallop, his men-at-arms quickly following.

With the wind whipping against her face, Christine wondered what destiny the horse was carrying her to. She still could not believe that when the day had started she was simply a lowly servant. Now, she was married to a wealthy knight, a fearsome soldier who filled her heart with apprehension, but who also had rescued her from her life with the de Coleville's. What was he thinking? She yearned to know, but did not dare to turn her head to see his face. She simply concentrated on holding tight to the horse's mane, and tried to keep her wits about her, despite the way he pressed her body against his own.

Erik was all too aware of the woman pressed against him. He tried to ignore the scent of sunshine and roses that filled her hair. He tried to ignore how small her figure was…and how perfectly it seemed to fit against his broad chest. And he desperately tried to ignore the ache in his loins as they continued to ride northward, towards his home.

It had been quite a long time since he had been with a woman. But Erik knew what it was like to have willpower made of iron…and despite the ache he felt, he knew that he could will it away if he concentrated hard enough.

It was a three-day journey to his castle, and Erik knew they would have to stop to rest. While he had driven his men without little rest, he now had to think about…others…in his party.

Others…like his wife. His wife. He was married…

Erik had never thought about marriage until he found it became absolutely necessary. And even then, he was most reluctant. A wife meant many things, many obnoxious things from what he had observed at the de Coleville's. And yet, he found his arm tightening around his bride, a great feeling of possessiveness and pride filling his chest.

He could only imagine what his men were thinking when he announced his choice for a wife. They simply didn't understand, but Erik knew that when he chose the servant girl over the beautiful and voluptuous Carlotta, he had made the right decision.

He found himself contemplating his new bride then. Despite the way Carlotta and her mother spat at Christine's appearance, Erik did not find her off-putting. Her features weren't as striking as Carlotta's, but then she was a servant, and did not waste her day away pampering her skin and pluming her hair the way many young women of nobility did. A woman who was not overly obsessed with her looks was a woman who saw value in other things beyond her own vanity.

Yes…the more he thought about it, the more pleased Erik became. He had made the right decision.

But a cloud fell across his eyes as he remembered the boy who had been sneering at her when they had left the chapel. Pierre never mentioned having a son, and yet Erik could not think who else the boy could be; he was dressed finely, and he did resemble Carlotta, what other conclusion was there? And like his sister, the boy seemed to have an air about him, as if he were already master of the castle and could do whatever he wished.

Erik felt a growl rise up in his throat as he wondered how much the boy had gotten away with. The way he had looked at Christine, and the way she trembled when they passed; had the boy already sampled Christine's sweet flesh?

His arm tightened even more around her at the thought.

Christine stiffened at the sudden feel of him pulling her closer. His arm was like a vice! She was grateful for its strength, her fear of falling from the horse had lessoned, and his body did provide a sheltering warmth against the night's cold wind. Yet there was something about the way that he held her to him that caused Christine to tremble with apprehension…both towards the man, as well as towards the strange feelings churning inside her.

Erik had taken notice of how stiff she had become in his arms; it was quite the opposite of how she felt earlier, when he had caught her from fainting in Pierre's great hall. She felt so limp, lifeless almost, and Erik frowned as he saw the color drain from her cheeks. He barked for one of the servants to help him, and a large man with a sandy-brown beard, crying out her name in worry, came towards him, prepared to take the girl, but Erik refused. Instead, he ordered the servant to lead him to her chamber, despite the protests being shouted all around him. The servant nodded his head, although he eyed Erik warily, before leading him to Christine's tiny chamber.

One look at the room and Erik knew he could not allow Christine to spend one more night there. The place was cramped, the bed was made of straw and looked to be infested with some kind of insect, the blanket was tattered, there were large cracks in the walls and ceiling, and he spotted several rats scurrying out of sight.

He felt his fists clench with fury at the disgusting way the de Coleville's looked after their servants. Much to his reluctance, he placed Christine down upon the bed, and slowly backed out of the room, while the servant who had led him there fled the place, only to later return with a short pregnant woman. He stood outside the chamber, cloaked in the shadows, and listened to the two servants whisper over the girl. At least she had some friends in this wretched place.

The second he heard Christine speak, he felt his breathing resume to normal. He did not understand it, but for some reason, Erik felt a deep urge to protect her. But he listened to the conversation between the pregnant woman and the servant girl, and his fists tightened once more as he heard the whole plan that had she had concocted with Pierre's daughter. Carlotta may have been the instigator, but Christine was not innocent either.

It was a rash decision, but Erik was determined. He took the newly revived servant girl into the great hall, and made his intentions known once more. No one looked as shocked by his decision than Christine herself. A proper punishment, he thought, forcing her to marry a monster, which was exactly what his enemies called him. It was also, the best insult to de Coleville and his sniveling daughter for their deceit.

They continued riding northward until Bernard's horse sped up to join that of his master's. "My lord!" he shouted. "I know you prefer to give the order of when we stop…but perhaps…?"

Erik glared at his steward, but the sudden feeling of Christine's head rolling back onto his shoulder caused Erik to pull on the reigns and slow his horse to a trot. He looked down to find his new bride had fallen asleep, despite the thunderous way they had been riding.

"Aye," Erik murmured. "There is a village nearby. Let us go forth and find lodging."

Bernard let out a sigh of relief and turned to Erik's men-at-arms, ordering several men to run up ahead and find an inn.

Erik gazed down at the sleeping woman in his arms, and gently brushed several strands of brown hair from her face. Amazing; this girl who had been trembling with fear only a few moments ago had now fallen asleep in the arms of a monster.

He gritted his teeth and summoned all his willpower as he urged his horse forward. He was a knight famous for his battle plans and surprise attacks. He was not going to back down on this plan, no matter what the temptation. And he was not going to allow the maiden to ambush a surprise attack on himself, either.