Ok just so you know, you have PoE99 to thank for this LONG post. She informed me that we needed to put two chapters together to make one long one…a whole whopping 21 pages worth… just to please you all! Ha ha. So without further delay, here it is!

.

49

Truly a Lady

.

.

Erik and Christine found Antoinette's room with ease as they neared the servant's quarters. They could hear the raised voices from quite a ways down the hall as Meg and her mother argued about the need for the old woman remaining in bed.

"Must I be forced to personally direct that you stay in bed in order that you mend?" Erik asked upon entering the room, his voice deep and gruff, yet his eyes gleamed with a look of humor.

The room became silent as Meg turned from the woman she had been arguing with and gave a quick curtsey in respect to her master. Antoinette however just gave a huff of frustration and crossed her arms over her chest at his words.

"From what I am told by Anne, you have no business being out of bed any more than I. Yet you defy those who would keep you laying around when there is work to be done," Antoinette challenged.

"Ah, but you forget, Madam, I am the Lord of this castle and no one dares challenge my command." Erik leaned in slightly, his voice growing even deeper. "And that includes you."

Meg looked at her mother, great trepidation showing in her eyes over her fear at what she might say next. Would she dare to defy Sir Erik's instructions? But as Antoinette's face softened into a defeated smile she knew her mother would obey at last.

"Aye, my lord. I will concede to your wishes and remain abed…for a while," she added, her lips curling into a sly grin, one that was matched by the Black Knight. She then reached out her hand and beckoned Christine to come closer, grasping at it gently and guided her to sit beside her on the bed. "Are you truly well, my child? Meg has told me of how you were taken by those brutes. I am well aware of the torment you have suffered at the hand of that vile Philippe de Coleville in the past and I am deeply sorry that you found yourself in his demonic clutches once more, my dear. I hope he died a dishonorable death at the hands of your brave husband."

"That he did," Erik assured her, his face turning dark as he saw the shudder that went through Christine at the mention of the villains name. "For the pain and suffering they have caused I will see to it that the entire de Coleville family makes restoration for their sins. Philippe has given his with his life and soon the rest of the family will as well."

Christine knew that Carlotta was now locked in the tower, but she was unsure as to what the rest of what Erik's statement meant. Yet it was Antoinette who voiced the question for her.

"What plans do you have to see that they pay this debt, my lord?" she asked, her tone not betraying any displeasure for his apparent intent on revenge.

"After stripping the de Coleville's castle of anything of value, I ordered that it be burned to the ground. I was assured by my men at arms that the place is now a pile of ashes without a stone wall left standing." Erik had not shared this information with Christine, not because he had meant to keep it from her, but so much had taken place since he had returned that day, that it had simply not come up. "I then gave the Baron and his wife the choice, either to die then and there at the hands of my men, or make the journey by foot to Winterbourne where I would pass sentence upon them at the word of my wife whom they have wronged. Their lives will thus be left in the hands of the very one whom they so unjustly treated for so many years. I was told they chose the latter, and I do not doubt that they will eventually make their way here. I made it clear that if they were foolish enough to run, no place would be far enough away for them to hide from my wrath."

"You leave their fate in my hands?" Christine asked, her hand covering her mouth at the horror of such a burden.

"I saw it only right, since it was against you that their sins had mounted. I will of course choose their sentence myself if you do not wish to take it upon yourself," Erik offered, more than capable of devising quite dastardly punishments against the villains.

"The choice is yours, my dear," Antoinette told her, squeezing her hand in reassurance. "Yet if it were left up to me, there would not be a strip of flesh left upon the backs of any one of them…especially that cow Lady Maria."

"Mother!" Meg gasped, shocked that she would say such a thing. And yet, she found that she too despised the de Colevilles enough that she would not shed a tear over whatever befell them.

"Well it is true!" Antoinette defended. "While Pierre was as much to blame for the upbringing of those demons of his, it was that witch Maria who truly had the devil in her. It was from her that they both learned their wickedness, and they learned it well. I knew that both Carlotta and Philippe would take after her, I just had no idea how quickly her son would surpass her in his taste for evil." Her eyes suddenly lost all the hate as she looked at Christine, reaching up to cup her cheek in a loving fashion. "I prayed every day that you would remain untouched by his sinful hands, that you would find a good husband who would protect you from the things he was bound to do to you should you remain under his control. I was so relieved when Meg told me of your marriage to Sir Erik. He truly has been the answer to all my prayers."

"Mine as well," Christine whispered softly, shutting her eyes as she leaned into to the old woman's caress. Erik truly had been a godsend. Her knight in dark armor who had come to her rescue just when all hope seemed to be lost. By taking her from the de Colevilles and then saving her from the clutches of Philippe in the cave, she would forever be grateful to her husband, she would go to her grave with praises for him on her lips. Once more the thought of the vile Philippe made her shudder and clasp her arms around her body in revulsion. The action did not go unnoticed by Antoinette…or Erik.

"Meg, be a dear and see to it that Christine is prepared a soothing bath," The older woman requested of her daughter. "I think some hot water and a strong bar of soap will go a long way to washing away the memory of that evil boy."

"Aye, mother," Meg agreed, heading for the door. "I will have Robert bring a tub and warm water to Lady Christine's chambers immediately." And with that she disappeared to carry out the order.

"Now go and take your ease, my dear. I would very much like to speak to my lord and master in private for a moment." She then turned her eyes to Erik and added with a slight smile. "That is if he will grant me an audience."

"I too wish to have a few words with you, as well," Erik agreed, as he assisted Christine to stand, still not liking how her eyes were clouded with painful memories of the previous day. "Do as Antoinette says, let the bath water cleanse you of all fears. He will never darken our door again." He then leaned down and placed a gentle kiss upon her forehead and ushered her towards the door, watching her for a few moments as she made her way down the passage before shutting the door.

"I would like to believe that my advice to you was helpful," The older woman said, once Erik had turned his attention back to her.

"As always, I find myself mystified by your intuitive guidance in these matters," Erik told her, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared in wonder at the perplexing woman. There was a part of him that was deeply concerned at having such a puzzling lady such as her in his castle. And yet it worried him even more to imagine her not being there to offer her cryptic advice.

"I am glad that you chose to listen, regardless of how you view my council," she laughed. "I offer my services here at Winterbourne for as long as you have need of me, my lord. When I recover I will see to it that your kitchen and staff become renown for the delicious foods set upon your table, of which even the King himself will become envious. I do not deny my desire to stay in your service stems from the joy I would receive in being close to not only my Meg and her family, but also in watching Christine blossom into the fine Lady you have made her. You have my undying gratitude for the part you played in preserving her virtue and life. For I do not doubt that if Philippe had been allowed to carry out his repulsive plans for her, she would have eventually succumbed to despair and taken her own life."

Erik felt the blood drain from his face and his hands began to shake at the mental picture Antoinette's words brought forth. The image of Philippe kneeling before Christine in the cave with his filthy hands beneath her skirt had sickened him to the core. He knew he would kill anyone who ever treated her in such a dishonorable way again, and yet he also knew that he would never let it come to that. No one…and he meant no one, would ever dare to take what was his by law and marriage again. That he swore.

"Christine will be safe from harm, you need never worry about that further," Erik informed her, his deep reverberating tone leaving no room for doubt. "As for you, you are more than welcome to call Winterbourne your home. For though I once thought you a witch because of your uncanny ability to discern things I deemed impossible, I now know for a fact that you are not some sorceress or enchantress."

"Oh, and what brought you to that conclusion, my Lord?" Antoinette asked, raising an eyebrow.

"If you were truly an all-seeing witch, you would have had the good sense not to get yourself stabbed and now be forced to lie abed until you heal." Erik chuckled, watching the woman's eyes dance with humor at his conclusion.

"I bow to your superior wisdom, my Lord. For truly you are as smart as a sage," she laughed, wincing as the movement caused her pain, yet she could not contain her joy.

.

.

Christine entered her chamber just as Robert was dumping the last bucket of water into the large tub that he had brought up at Meg's request. He gave a smile and a bow to her as he left the room, taking the empty buckets with him.

"Come here and let me help you out of your clothes," Meg directed, having just poured in a lavish amount of bath soaps and dried lavender flowers, filling the room with a pleasant and soothing aroma.

Christine did not argue or protest to her assistance, the events of the past days finally taking their toll on her body and mind. At Antoinette's mention of Philippe she did indeed feel dirty all over as she remembered how he had touched her in ways that had revolted her to the core. She hoped that any memory of him would be thrown out with the bath water, once and for all.

Meg undid the lacings of her dress and helped her slip out of it and her under garments, gasping slightly at the sight of the bruises and red marks that appeared on her body. Christine could guess what it was her friend was seeing, and she had done her best to hide them from Erik's view as she had dressed earlier, not wanting to enrage him further or cause him to worry. Her brave husband had enough on his mind at the moment, he did not need to torment it with thoughts of Philippe touching her as well. She was already plagued with enough memories of that for the both of them.

"Oh Christine, did he…did Philippe…" Meg was unable to finish her sentence as her throat seized up and tears clouded her eyes.

"Nay, he only left marks on my skin, Meg. Erik did not give him the opportunity to do anything more," she assured her friend quickly, praying they faded quickly before her husband could see them.

"Thank God for that!" she said in relief as she helped Christine into the tub. "You are my dearest friend, and I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to you. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you now have such a valiant knight to watch over you and offer you protection from the vile things of this world. It is almost too wonderful to believe."

"I know," Christine agreed, her gloomy look turning to one of love and appreciation. "I still cannot believe that Erik chose me over Carlotta that day. That I am now the wife of the Black Knight and a mother to his children. Children that I love so dearly that it is as if I had given birth to them myself." Christine looked up at the blond girl in amazement. "I am truly happy Meg, more happy than I have ever dreamed possible."

"And you deserve every moment of that joy," she told her, smiling through her happy tears. "Now, let's get you cleaned up and your hair washed." Meg picked up the washing rag and a bar of scented soap as she took her hand in hers and began to rub it down Christine's arm, careful of the sensitive areas and bruises. When she felt that Christine was duly clean and her hair was glistening she allowed the girl to soak while she busied herself in choosing the perfect dress that would not only hide her friends battle wounds, but also make her husband go wild.

Christine sunk down into the water and closed her eyes, enjoying how the bubbles seemed to burst right at her chin with a tickling sensation. Today was the start of a whole new day, nay…a whole new life. No longer the life of Christine the servant girl, but that of Lady von Desslar, mistress of Winterbourne. Philippe was in her past and she intended on keeping him there, dead and forgotten. As the bruises and marks he left behind faded, so would her memory of that terrible day in the cave - as well as every encounter with him she had been forced to endure. Erik was now her future, her hope and her joy. From this day forward, the Black Knight would be the only man she would concern herself with.

"This one is perfect," Meg announced, taking a deep purple dress from her wardrobe and holding it up to her as she presented it for Christine's approval. "This is a gown befitting the title of Lady of Winterbourne."

.

.

Erik spent the rest of the morning at his desk writing a letter to the King. In it he described the events that transpired with Philippe de Coleville masquerading as the Jackal and how the threat the pirates had posed to Valmour and surrounding villages was at last ended. Erik knew that once the Jackal had commanded a veritable fleet of ships, yet it seemed that at his death that had all vanished and Philippe had yet to gain back the power and prestige that had once been his father's. Erik made no mention of Beatrice, knowing it would be an embarrassment on the King and his guards. Thus he chose not to reveal that she had slipped through their fingers and avoided the execution block due to the betrayal of one of his guards who was far too easily swayed by a pretty face and a voluptuous body. She was dead now, so it was best to let the truth die with her. For some reason he also chose to leave out the detail that the Jackal had been Philippe's true father, preferring to keep that bit of information a secret for a while longer. There would always be time to reveal it to those who needed to know, and yet for some reason he found himself reluctant to divulge it.

Erik highly praised the deeds of his men, Bernard especially, and their valiant bravery in defeating the pirate hoard. He told how they had fought the villains both on land and at sea, commandeering the pirate ship as a prize for the King's navy, should he wish to incorporate it into his fleet. Then Erik wrote of Sir Raoul, extolling his heroism in his attempt to protect the inhabitants of Winterbourne, including Erik's wife and children. He beseeched the King to show leniency and exonerate the brave knight of all his past crimes, allowing his name to once more reside in honor among those fallen in battle. He hoped that his petition would be granted, and as the King's most trusted knight he had a measure of faith that he would not be turned down. After all, the king had already granted the request he had made several years earlier concerning Jacob and Charles. To have both his sons recognized, not as the illegitimate offspring of his former mistress and a village prostitute, but as his rightful and true heirs, able to one day inherit his title as Lord of Winterbourne. He had asked for this boon long before he had reconciled with any of his children, but now he was even more grateful that Jacob and Charles were legitimized. He knew that he had indeed loved them back then, he simply did not know how to show it. But now, with Christine's help he did, and they loved him in return. He knew without a doubt that Jacob would one day make a fine lord.

Erik had thought about asking for the same privileges to be bestowed upon Helena and the twins as well, but he did not wish to press his advantage by asking too much. Even the King's favorite knight could only make so many requests before his entreaties would fall upon deaf ears. However, it pleased Erik to know that if his daughters were not counted as noble born, they would be free to marry for love and not be bound by the laws that restricted them to only join with men who were. Although, due to the fact that Sarah and Sabrina's true parents were both noble, and once this truth was revealed to them, that regulation might yet come into play for the twins. Still, this was not something he needed to concern himself with at the moment, for the day he would tell his girls of their true father, Raoul, was far in the future.

Erik signed the letter and sealed it by stamping his signet ring in the hot wax. He then summoned a page and gave the man orders to ride with all haste directly to the King. Once that was done, Erik sat back in his chair and stared out the window as the sun continued to climb into the sky. Now that the business with the Jackal and the threats to his family were behind him, he found that he was very tired of war and battles. He once hungered for the fight, to feel the rush as he allowed the Ghost Maker to claim a victim and vanquish his enemies. Yet now…now Erik only wished to remain close to his castle, watch his children grow up in peace and hold his beautiful wife in his arms every night. Christine had truly changed his life for the better and he looked forward to the many more changes she was sure to inspire.

A thought suddenly struck Erik, and it gave him pause. Would he and Christine have children together? He had once entertained the idea, having had the image of their child suckling at her breast flash cross his mind during a night of immense pleasure. Erik found himself enjoying the idea of Christine carrying his baby. It would fill him with immense pride to watch his delicate wife's stomach swell as his child grew inside her. Yes, this would please him very much.

Erik went to rise and saw the saddle bags laying across a chair by the door where he had laid them upon entering. He would need to speak with her about the subject soon, to find out if there truly was anything to this legend that had both Philippe and Beatrice willing to ransack Winterbourne to discover the truth. But he was distracted by Anne, who entered moments later to announce that lunch would be served in just a few minutes, reminding him of his promise to join his children there. She seemed to have resigned herself to the fact that nothing she said was going to sway her master into taking it easy, so she figured it was best not to try. On his way out the door to find Christine, Erik handed her the saddle bags and instructed her to rehang the tapestry on the wall in their room, knowing she would find someone to do it before the day was over. He then went in search of Christine.

He didn't have to look far, for he soon found her in the main hall, directing some of the servants as to where things should go and which items still needed to be gathered to replace the ones that were broken or destroyed by the pirates. As he stood back and watched her, he suddenly noticed her stance. It was no longer the posture of a servant, but that of a true lady. The woman who stood before him now, speaking with a maid and calling her by name as she directed her, was indeed the mistress of Winterbourne castle…his wife. He felt his chest swell with pride as he watched the servants regard her as such, smiling and nodding with pleasure, not fear, as she instructed them. He also took note of the way she looked, her hair freshly washed and hanging loosely down her back and the deep purple dress she wore hugging her delicate frame in a most alluring fashion. He truly was enraptured by his wife.

Christine soon finished giving directions, sending the maids off with their orders, but when she turned she was startled to see her husband there. He had his arms crossed and was leaning up against one of the pillars, just watching her. She blushed slightly when she saw the look of pure lust blazing in his eyes as his gaze raked over her from head to toe. Meg had apparently been right when she said this dress would display her attributes perfectly. She could feel the heat radiating off of Erik even at a distance and she was fully aware of the longings it stirred in her. She had resolved to rise from her bath with no lingering thoughts of Philippe and the feelings of love she was having for her husband was helping with that determination. How could she possibly think of the vile Philippe when Erik was standing before her looking at her with those passionate eyes?

"You are breathtaking, Madam wife," Erik complimented, stepping forward and taking her hand as he kissed it reverently. "Your beauty will outshine the noonday sun."

"You flatter me, sir knight," Christine replied, her face turning a deep red. "However, if it is noon already, then we are late for lunch with our children, and that will never do."

"Then by all means allow us to join them," Erik chuckled, taking her arm and tucking it in the crook of his elbow. "Though I would greatly appreciate you by my side, for I fear my strength has yet to fully return and your assistance might yet be required." Erik said this with humor in his voice, but he wondered just how confident he was that he would not indeed require her support. Apparently Christine saw his doubt and held him tighter, ready to offer him her strength if needed.

Lunch with the children was filled with laughter and smiles. Even Helena seemed at ease and no longer plagued with thoughts of her nightmare or what took place in the cave. Jacob too avoided the subject and instead began to ask when he could resume his training as a future knight. The three younger children all requested similar lessons, and an argument was soon underway as to whether a girl could become a knight. Sarah and Sabrina maintained that they were already knights since they had battled the dragon, played by their father, on more than one occasion, while Charles irrefutably denied that this was a profession for females. Erik and Christine simply smiled and let the friendly dispute continue.

.

.

Later Erik took both Jacob and Charles for a walk, wishing to discuss, as the boys so firmly deemed it, man stuff with them. Christine distracted the girls by suggesting they pop down to the kitchen and see what had been baked that day and perhaps take some to Karl to wish him a speedy recovery. She hoped that Bernard and Ophelia had since concluded their reunion which Erik had so boldly suggested. The girls, especially Helena, thought it was a marvelous idea and soon they were knocking at the door of Bernard's small home.

Ophelia answered it, and while she appeared a bit disheveled, the glow on her face betrayed the true reason for her slightly unkempt state. A blush came to her cheeks as she saw Christine's knowing smile, averting her eyes as she bid the four Ladies of Winterbourne to enter.

"We have come to see how Karl is doing," Christine announced, attempting ease Ophelia's embarrassment with conversation.

"Yes, and we brought him some sweet bread," Helena piped up, holding up the small basket of baked goods in her hand. "May we see him?"

"I believe he would love a visit," Ophelia assured them, taking the basket from Helena and putting it to her nose and inhaling the tantalizing aroma. "He has been resting all morning and I am sure would enjoy some company. Bernard is in with him now, please go right in." She gestured towards the room to the left as she headed to the kitchen to put the treats they had brought on a platter.

Christine gently pushed the door open as she silently ushered the girls inside the small room. Bernard was indeed sitting on the bed next to Karl, apparently entertaining him with tales of how he and Erik's men slew the pirates and took their ship. When he at last noticed the four girls standing there he quickly stood, giving a bow as his cheeks flushed in embarrassment, worried that they might have heard too much of his version of events, painting himself out to be the hero of the day.

Christine merely chuckled at his discomfort and looked over at Karl in all seriousness.

"Every word your father has said is true," she assured the wide eyed boy. "Sir Erik owes your father a great debt for his bravery and courage during the battle. You should be very proud of him, just as he is proud of you for your act of heroism in trying to save Helena."

Bernard now truly looked uncomfortable after hearing Christine's words of praise, but he did smile proudly at his son when she mentioned his attempt to assist the red haired mistress of Winterbourne. He had long known of his son's regard for the young miss, he had simply not realized the strength of these feelings until now. He prayed that Karl's affections might someday be reciprocated, and if they were, that Sir Erik would not object to his daughter being courted by a boy beneath her station, since he was only the son of a steward, and not a nobleman.

Soon the awkwardness had passed and they all sat down and visited with Karl for quite some time. Bernard, Ophelia and Luc joined in the conversation and they were having such a nice time that they lost track of the hour. When Christine saw Karl's eyelids droop slightly she announced it was time to take their leave. Karl was the first to protest, claiming that he was not tired even though his actions proved otherwise.

"May I come back tomorrow?" Helena suddenly asked, silencing the boy's objections of them leaving. "I could come and read to Karl, keep him company so that you can tend to your chores, Lady Ophelia." The young girl looked hopefully up at Karl's mother, begging for permission.

"I would not mind at all, as long as your mother and father have no objections," Ophelia told her, smiling down at the girl's thoughtfulness.

Helena then turned to Christine with pleading eyes.

"May I mother?" she asked.

"I think it would be a very thoughtful gesture. I must discuss it with your father first and obtain his permission, but I see no reason why he would object." Christine was rewarded for her words by the large smiles that came to both her and Karl's faces. It seemed a date for the following day was set. This knowledge lessened the sting of leaving and soon the four of them were safely back inside the castle walls, talking about what books Helena would like to take to read to Karl.

Dinner was shared as a family once again and as was quickly becoming their night time ritual, Erik and Christine took their time tucking the children into bed, accompanied by several songs at the request of each child. Erik sat in a chair by the door while both Jacob and Charles lounged at the foot of Helena's bed, not wishing to miss out on the fanciful tale being woven through the musical voice of their mother. When her song was finished, both the twins were sound asleep and the rest of the children's eyes were drooping. Sending the boys off to their room with Erik, Christine tucked her eldest daughter in with a kiss on the cheek and a final assurance that she was dearly loved, before joining Erik in the hallway.

As they walked hand in hand towards their room Christine broached the subject of Helena reading to Karl.

"I think your daughter might have formed more than a simple liking for Bernard's son," she told him, a small smile spreading across her face.

"Oh really?" Erik asked, raising an eyebrow skeptically. He had not quite prepared himself for the prospect of his daughter liking a young man. Eight seemed to be rather young for her to be developing feelings for a boy, even if it was the son of his most trusted steward. "And does this boy share these affections?"

"I do not know for sure, but his actions seem to indicate that he does," Christine informed him. "Would you object to this match should it progress beyond childhood infatuation?"

"I do not believe so, as long as Karl takes after his father in actions and personality," Erik mused thoughtfully. "However, I fear that Helena has inherited more of my temperament than would have been advisable. Leaving me to conclude that any man who wishes to court her will not only have to deal with my disagreeable temper, but with hers as well."

"I find your temperament quite to my liking, Sir Erik," Christine assured him, slipping her arm up to grasp his forearm as she cuddled closer to him.

"Then you are truly a misguided and confused woman, Lady von Desslar, and I pity you," Erik laughed, the vibrations in his chest making Christine smile with pleasure.

"That may be, but I do not retract my statement, and will defend your wonderful qualities to the world."

"Will you now?" Erik inquired, looking down to see her eyes shining up at him with admiration. "Yet I do not wish for you to speak such words to the world, my dear. The only declaration I want to hear tonight is that of your desire for me while I am making love to you."

"I believe that can be arranged," she giggled, anticipation for his words to come true building inside of her. She did not have to wait long, since Erik was not known for his patience, she quickly found herself backed against the wall, his mouth all but consuming her in a heated kiss. Christine moaned as her lips parted, offering him access to the area his tongue apparently wished to delve. She could feel her body responding to his advances and she knew it would be only a matter of minutes before she would surrender…if that long.

"Christine…" Erik whispered, his voice low and husky, his lust driving him onward. His hands began to roam her body, starting at her waist and rising up as the velvet dress made his fingers tingle with anticipation. When he reached her breasts he cupped them, one in each hand and through the fabric he could feel them swell at his touch.

Christine gave a sharp gasp, but not from shock or passion, but of discomfort. She had noticed that her breasts seemed a bit tender earlier when she was bathing, but thought nothing of it. After all the rest of her body was sore from the abuse it had taken the day before, so she just figured that being thrown over the one pirates shoulder and carried down the cliff must have bruised her chest as well. Yet now it seemed that even the gentlest pressure Erik was using caused the soreness to radiate through her. Thankfully he did not notice, or perhaps thought her gasp was one of desire, and she was not about to tell him otherwise for fear it might halt his advances out of concern for her. She had been without the touch of her husband for far too long and she needed the feel of him tonight, to finally wipe away the last vestiges of her horrible memories of Philippe. No… despite the tenderness she was feeling, she desperately wanted him to continue.

As Erik let one hand leave her luscious breast to slip down her waist and thigh, he groaned inwardly and took hold of her hem, bringing her dress up on one side until he felt the tantalizing flesh of her leg. Christine was making the most erotic mewing sounds as he let his hands slink upwards, striving for the feel of the heaven that he knew awaited him. Yet all his thoughts came to a halt as he heard the twitter of woman's voices coming around the corner and then suddenly stop. The silence was quickly followed by gasps of shock and then muffled giggles as three scullery maids turned and rushed away, quite surprised to have found their master ravishing his wife in the hallway.

Erik did not know if he should be angry or amused, yet he chose the latter when he heard his wife begin to chuckle at the absurdity of it all. Granted the hallway was not the most secluded area in which to instigate such private activities, but he had rather hoped to have a few minutes to themselves before being discovered. If he were back to his normal strength, he would have gathered Christine up into his arms and carried her to their room in style, but as things were he had to resign himself to simply offering her his hand and leading her to their final destination.

Once inside Erik wasted no time in gathering her to him, kicking the door shut with his foot and claiming her lips once more. Christine gave no objections until his mouth began to slide down her neck towards her chest, and it was then that she gave a startled cry. But this time it had nothing to do with sensitivity of her flesh, but instead by what she saw before her.

"Erik, look!" she said with a gasp, pointing to the tapestry that once more hung on the wall.

Erik raised his head and turned to see what she was looking at, nodding with a smile when he saw what had caught her attention. He knew Anne would not have failed him. He allowed her to disengage from their embrace as she walked over and ran her hands lovingly across the woven cloth, touching each rose of the intricate design as her smile widened.

"When did you have this done?" she asked, knowing it was not there earlier when she took her bath and she had been with Erik every moment since.

"I asked Anne to see that it was rehung immediately, to please you," he told Christine, coming up behind her as he slid his arms around her waist and leaned his head down to kiss her neck softly. "Does it? Please you I mean."

"Very much, my love," she assured him as she leaned back against his chest, her eyes never leaving the tapestry in front of her. "I can't explain it, but whenever I look at it I feel as if my father and mother are with me. Like this piece of our family history connects me to them, even though they are both gone. This tapestry woven by my great-grandmother is all I have left of them. I…I don't even have a grave to visit or mourn over."

Erik suddenly recalled the story Christine had told of how she had not been allowed to leave the de Coleville castle to see to her father's body, never being told what had become of it when he died. Yet Erik knew, for Antoinette had told him, how all the servants of Baron Sebastian de Coleville who died were burned and their ashes scattered over one particular field. She had called it the field of ashes revealing that her own beloved husband, Meg's father, had been laid to rest there as well. Erik gently turned Christine around in his arms until she was looking up at him before he spoke.

"You once said you always wondered what became of your father after his death." As he said this he began to lead her over to sit on the bed with him, never taking his eyes off of her. "I learned from Antoinette that when the servants of the late Baron Sebastian de Coleville died, he had their ashes scattered across a field located between here and your former place of employment." Erik watched as Christine's eyes grew wide and her hand flew to her mouth to stifle a sob of grief.

"He…he was not even properly buried…they burned his body?" she choked out, the idea stabbing at her delicate heart. "And my mother…was she…?"

"I would imagine so. She said it was the Baron's way and that there were hundreds who had their ashes scattered there, including Antoinette's husband." Erik reached up and wiped away the first tear that slid down her cheek. He had not meant to make her cry, but he felt she had a right to know, and he would not keep secrets from her again. "I have vowed to speak to the King on the issue and have the field set aside as hallowed ground. I will request that it be placed under my care, and not used for any ill purpose. If it would please you, my wife, I would see that it was covered in rose bushes and thus produced a crop that brought only joy."

"You would do that for me?" Christine asked, her eyes full of admiration for her husband.

"I would do this and so much more, if only to see you smile," he assured her, reaching out with his finger and tipping up her chin so that he could kiss her gently on the lips. "From this day forward, your happiness is my chief concern. You have but to ask and I will see that it is given you. Tell me what you desire, Christine, tell me and it will be yours."

"I only desire your love and that of our children," she told him quickly, reaching up to encircle his neck with her arms, placing their faces only inches apart. "For it is that love alone that makes me feel safe, warm and cherished."

"Aye, and that you are." He then turned her around once more as he drew her close, the both of them looking up at the colorful tapestry. "Tell me about your father, Christine. What kind of man was he?" Even from behind, Erik could feel that she was now smiling, lost in her memories of her father.

"He was a gentle man, never a cross word or raised voice," she began, wrapping her own arms around Erik's that held her tightly. "He would sing me songs and play music when he was not too tired from working, and he would tuck me in every night with a kiss on the cheek and a whisper of I love you." Christine turned her head slightly so that she could look up at him. "He wanted only what was best for me, and unfortunately at the time the best he could do was send me to work for Pierre de Coleville. I know that sounds odd, knowing now what kind of family they were, but from what I remember, Sebastian de Colville was worse. I remember one time when the foreman came around collecting the percentage of the crops that the Barron demanded and my poor overworked father had not yet had time to gather it. I overheard the foreman telling him that if the payment was not made by the next day when they return, and he would beat not only him, but all those in his house as well, be it women or children. It was only him and I at that time and I was very afraid of the large man on the horse who had made this threat. Yet my father told me not to worry, that he would see to it that no harm came to me. I heard him leave our cottage late that night, heading for the fields where he worked till sun up to make sure he had the goods to appease the Baron the next day. That is the kind of man my father was. Hard working, selfless and kind to a fault. The few times he was able to come visit me, I never let on that I was not happy working at the de Coleville castle, it would have broken his heart to know this. There was nothing that could be done about it and I wished to spare him the pain, preferring him to believe that he had indeed bettered my life, that he had spared me the pain that I was destined should I have remained under his current employer. Little did he know I had only traded one hell for another, and that I was now residing under the same roof as the devil himself."

Christine bit her lip, berating herself for mentioning Philippe once again. She had told herself that she was done dwelling on him, and she knew it did nothing for her husband's temper to bring him up as well. Quickly, before he could gather more anger, Christine turned around and put her hands on either side of his face, looking up at him with intensity.

"But that is all over with now," she insisted. "You came and saved me, you rescued me just like a knight from a fairy tale and I am living out my happily ever after with you now." She was glad to see that her words did indeed quench the hate that had suddenly sprung to his eyes at the mention of what she had suffered. "And I know that if he had lived…my father would have loved you as well."

Erik stared down at the small woman before him and felt his heart cry out with love for her.

"I will be forever grateful to both your parents for creating such an angelic child who grew into such a beautiful woman," Erik told her, leaning in once more for a deep and lingering kiss. When he pulled back his eyes burned with the lust that never seemed to fade for her, his lips curling into a wicked grin. "However, I do not think your father would like me very much at this moment."

"Why would you say that?" Christine asked, pulling back slightly in puzzlement.

"I am most certain he would not approve of the thoughts running through my mind at this moment. Especially the ones concerning the things I now wish to do to the body of his beloved daughter," Erik said, watching her eyes grow large with surprise just before he leaned in to claim her lips as his own.

Erik was in the process of leaning her back across the bed, his fingers already reaching behind her to unlace the dress that was keeping her creamy flesh from his ravenous eyes, when there came a small knock on the door to their chambers. Both Erik and Christine froze at the sound, and he remained hovering over her desperately hoping they had only imagined the gentle tapping sound. Yet when it came a second time, followed by the pleading voice of Helena, Erik knew it had not been in his mind.

"Hell and damnation!" he growled quietly, so that his young daughter would not hear him from where she waited. Quickly Erik slipped off of Christine and went to the door, yanking it open in a fit of frustration. Yet when he saw the tear filled eyes of Helena, his heart melted and his anger faded away. Erik gave a low grunt and clenched his teeth in pain as she launched herself at him, hugging him around the leg, the very one that had received the gash from Philippe's sword.

"Oh Papa!" Helena cried, her voice muffled from the fact her face was burring in his tunic. "It was awful."

Erik reached down and took hold of her and pulled her up to rest in his arms, careful not to support her on the side of his other wound.

"What was awful?" he asked, walking over to set her on the bed between him and Christine.

"My dream. It was so frightening. I kept crying out for help but no one would come." Helena continued to sob, her little hands covering her face.

Christine took the little girl in her arms and began to rock her back and forth as she whispered soothing words, waiting patiently until she had calmed down. When her sobs had turned into a sniffle and an occasional hiccup, Erik gently pulled her back, willing Helena to look at him. Christine noticed that her husband too looked on the verge of tears, the pain he was seeing in his child's eyes tearing him apart.

"It kills me to know that what that evil woman said to you is causing you such distress," he began, running his hand over her head and down through her unruly curls in a comforting manner. "Yet I want you to know that…."

"Nay, Papa," Helena broke in, wiping her hand across her eyes. "I do not care what she said for she is nothing to me. Just as you said, she is not my mother, Christine is." She then looked up at the woman who had just been holding her and her eyes turned weepy once more. "In my dreams I see that man…the one with the red scarf and he is trying to hurt you. I cry out and try to stop him but he keeps taking you away. He pulls you from me, out of my sight and I cannot find you, Mother. That is when I wake up and I am so scared that it is true, that you are gone and have to come to your room to see if it is true."

Both Erik and Christine shared a look of horror. Hearing the truth behind the nightmares that Helena was plagued with caused Erik to give a deep groan as if in pain. He then gathered Helena onto his lap and wiped her fresh tears away with his thumb.

"I know what you saw was frightening, I admit that I was frightened as well," Erik began.

"You?" Helena's eyes grew wide in disbelief. "You are not afraid of anything."

"I am always afraid of losing the ones I love," Erik continued, looking up at Christine. He knew that she could see the truth in his eyes, that this indeed was his greatest fear. "I too have nightmares about you, your brothers and your sisters being in danger. And yes, I worry about your mother as well. But as a knight of the realm, as your father and a husband, it is my duty to protect you all. I would give my life for each and every one of you." He then stopped and took a deep breath, willing his voice to sound confident, knowing that this was what Helena…and Christine needed to hear at that moment. "Know this, I will always come when you call for aid, I will never stop until you are safe once more, I will never allow harm to come to those I love as long as I am alive to prevent it. Never!"

Christine's throat had all but closed up and she too was now shedding tears as she watched Erik cradling his child and reassuring them both of his love and protection. She reached over and squeezed his hand, letting him know that she had faith in all he had just said.

"Can you believe my words, Helena?" Erik asked, pulling his gaze from Christine and back to his daughter. "Will my promise keep the nightmares at bay from here on out?"

"Yes Papa," she smiled, reaching up to encircle his neck as she gave him a hug and a kiss on his exposed cheek. "As long as you and mother are here, I will not be afraid of anything," she then got a thoughtful look on her face and added, "except maybe spiders. I still do not like spiders."

This revelation made Erik begin to laugh and soon both girls were laughing with him, the somberness of the moment lighted by their mirth. Yet when the laughter died down, Helena still looked at both her parents with anxious eyes.

"I know I said I would not be scared any more, but may I still sleep with you?" she asked hopefully. "Just one last time...please?"

Erik was about to protest, thinking that even though his desire had abated the instant Helena had arrived, but he was certain that if she returned to her room and he was once again alone with Christine, it would most assuredly come back. Yet one look from both the pleading eyes of his child and wife, he instantly changed his mind.

"Yes, you may stay here with us," he said with a nod, picking her up and placing her in the middle of the bed and then easing himself down to lay beside her. Christine did the same, tucking Helena in as she and Erik both remained on top of the blankets. "Now close your eyes and get some sleep, your mother and I will both be here to protect you."

Helena gave a tired smile and a large yawn, before shutting her eyes and once more curling onto her side as she drifted off to sleep. Erik and Christine lay there for a long time listening to her gentle breathing before one at a time, they rose and dressed for bed, slipping back in under the covers when they returned. Erik caught Christine's eye as they lay down facing each other, and with one of his most heated looks, he mouthed the words 'soon, Madam wife…soon'.

.

.

OH NO, sex blocked AGAIN! Poor, poor Erik. But he did a good thing and he knows it is his job as a excellent father. Good boy.

We would like to send our thanks to Butterflybird for mentioning this ending story in her current chapter of Nebula. (a thrilling and heart-wrenching tale about Erik and Christine and how she saved him from the gypsies! – be sure to check it out) You are awesome!

So please let us know what you thought – should we start planning the wedding for Karl and Helena now or wait and see how it all goes? Ha ha. And how long do you think Erik can hold out? He might still be wounded, but that does not seem to be a concern for him any longer. The Rogue!

And KittyPimms has said we can take a page from her play book and offer "sneak previews for reviews". Meaning everyone who sends us a review gets a few paragraphs as a sneak preview of the next chapter. (please remember you must sign in under an account to recieve a reply from us - we cannot contact you if you sign in as a Guest - even if we would really, really love to...we just don't know how) So... Would anyone like to see what is coming next?