I'm on a roll guys :) Another chapter :) You know the drill by now but I don't own anything from Phantom but I do own my own characters :) Thank you for all of the reviews, favourites and follows especially from Angelofmusic46 who has reviewed every chapter :) On with the show guys :D


The Rose of Self

Chapter Six: And Music, Your Music, it Teases at my Ear...

Erik's POV

~December 20th 1906~

It has been a little under two months since I last saw Caroline at the Halloween event and I have found myself unable to stop thinking about her. But why am I feeling like this about her when I do not like her? However I can't believe it was five days until Christmas; the holiday was always a big event when mother was alive but when she died we seemed to not hold such large events and just spent time with family. However I would find out today that Christmas would be different this year. It was a morning like any other as I found myself once again composing when there was a knock on the door; however instead of finding a maid on the other side there standing in front of me was my father.

"Good morning father. What a surprise to see you this fine morning. What can I do for you?" I asked pleasantly.

"I have some news for you. Princess Caroline Bellerose will be spending Christmas with us this year; I thought it would be a good idea for you to spend some time together and get to know each other better since you appear to have so much in common."

"Do we really have that much in common apart from our love for music?" I asked as I continued to look at the sheet music I was composing before my father came in and interrupted my moment of composing.

"You wouldn't know until you meet her would you; please just give her a chance. I have been friends with the Bellerose family for many years and I think you shouldn't judge her before you have met her properly." He replied seriously and after sighing a little I replied reluctantly.

"Ok I will give her a chance; but it doesn't necessarily mean I like the situation."

"I knew you'd understand my son." He said happily and with that he left the room.

"So when is she coming?" I asked before he could leave the room.

"This afternoon; so I need to get the castle ready for her arrival so she can feel right at home. I know she likes things neat and tidy." And so he left the room whilst I continued to compose my latest song 'Til I Hear You Sing'; but who was I writing this for? As I finished writing the final word in my lyrics I started playing it again just to make sure everything flowed nicely; however I was so engrossed in playing I didn't notice someone come into the room until they said sincerely.

"That was beautiful. What is it called?" And I turned around to see Caroline standing beside me with a penetrating look on her face.

"Ah Mademoiselle how nice to see you again." I said civilly whilst skipping around the question; I then took her hand gently before bestowing a gentle kiss onto it causing a light pink blush to grace her cheeks.

"You didn't answer my question Erik." She said sheepishly as she looked down at her feet awkwardly after taking her hand from my grasp.

"Oh yes, the piece is called 'Til I Hear you Sing'. Would you like to hear the lyrics?" I asked as I primed my fingers for playing the song again.

"I would like that very much." And so after beckoning her to take a seat next to the piano I started playing the opening chords before opening my mouth to sing. As I played and sang I saw out of the corner of my eye Caroline swaying to the music with her eyes closed in rapture and a small smile on her face. Once it was finished she just sat there for a moment before clapping enthusiastically.

"That was beautiful Erik; you really do have a great talent for music. We should do a duet sometime; I'd like that a lot." Why would she want to duet with a monster like me? I mean was it maybe pity she was showing or was it something more than that? For a moment there was an awkward silence and the tension could be cut with a knife; I wasn't really sure what to do since I don't really interact with many people and now I was being forced into a situation where I didn't know what to do with myself. I then watched as Caroline fiddled with her hair and looked around the room nervously; she shouldn't be nervous about anything so why was she behaving like this?

"So what would you like to do?" I asked curiously.

"I'm not sure; although the weather is nice at the moment. Could I see the gardens?" She replied quietly.

"Of course Mademoiselle; allow me to escort you so you don't get lost. It is very easy to lose yourself in the gardens sometimes; especially when you are not familiar with them like I am."

"I'd like that very much Erik." She replied and so I got up from the piano bench before taking her hand gently and led her out of the door. As we walked around the gardens I watched as she went up to each flower and sniffed it gently causing a small smile to grace her lips.

"I take it the garden pleases you princess?" I asked gently as I came up behind her and touched her lightly on the shoulder.

"It does indeed Monsieur. I like the roses the most; I've never seen this one before...did you grow it yourself?" She replied as she sniffed an unusual black rose.

"I did indeed grow that one myself; took a lot of time breeding it but it was well worth the wait. I call it Ange Noir; Black Angel." I replied with pride as I liked the fact she appreciated Horticulture like I do. However suddenly she looked up to the sky worryingly causing my brows to furrow a little in confusion.

"Are you ok? You look worried." I asked gently.

"I'm fine; just thought I heard something for a moment there." She replied as the clouds darkened in the sky; however I thought nothing of it as they didn't look like rain clouds to me. Suddenly there was a rumble of thunder and I saw Caroline drop to the ground with her hands over her ears.

"Caroline are you ok?" I asked gently as I knelt down beside her.

"I'm fine." She replied quietly as another rumble of thunder resounded around the garden and it started to rain heavily.

"Come we need to get inside before you catch a cold." I said gently but she just lay there with whimper escaping her lips. I then unfurled my cape and wrapped it securely around her before picking her up in my arms. As she buried her head into my chest I started to sing the first song that came to mind which happened to be 'Dark Waltz' hoping it would distract her from the thunder as I carried her back towards the castle. Once we got inside I could feel her shivering and so I placed her in front of the fire before proceeding to light it. However before I could get up I felt her hand grip mine tightly.

"It's ok Caroline I'm not going far; I just need to light a fire. You're cold and you could catch a cold or hypothermia or something." I said reassuringly and with that I got up and lit the fire. Once it was lit I grabbed some throws from nearby and put them over her still shivering body. However for some reason I couldn't get her to stop shivering no matter how many throws I put over her. I then decided that my body heat would help warm her up so I asked gently.

"Would you mind if I held you? I know it's deemed improper but my body heat will help warm you up."

"Not at all." She replied with chattering teeth and so I embraced her gently as the fire roared in the fireplace; every so often a whimper would escape her lips as the thunder continued to rumble. I was so engrossed in what I was doing I didn't notice the footsteps approach us from behind.

"What is going on here?" And I turned around to see my father looking down at our embrace with a stern look on his face.

"We were out in the garden when it started to rain and she was shivering. It's not what it looks like." I replied matter of factly as she continued to shiver a little but not as badly as before.

"So if you could kindly retrieve some hot chocolate unless you want her to fall ill before Christmas." I continued and with that he walked quickly out of the room whilst yelling for a maid in the process. He then came back five minutes later with a steaming cup in his hand; I took hold of it and gently passed it to Caroline after blowing on it a little first.

"Here you go, this should warm you up." And so she drank from it a little. Before long the shivering began to subside and I gently let her out of my embrace as the sun came peeking through the windows.

"Feeling better?" I asked gently.

"I am thank you Erik; what do you want to do now?" She replied quietly with a smile.

"I think the first port of call is dinner; then we can do the day with as we please."

"But I'm not hungry." She replied quietly until a loud growl resounded around the room.

"I think your stomach says differently." I replied teasingly and so I led her towards the dining room where the maids were setting out the dishes for tonight's dinner.

"Ah Erik just in time for dinner. I see Caroline is feeling a lot better; I'm sorry I judged you before son. I hope you can forgive me."

"What happened Erik?" Caroline whispered curiously.

"He thought something scandalous was going on." Erik explained quietly.

"Scandalous?" She asked quietly with confusion lacing her tone.

"I'll explain later." I said as we sat down for dinner and I smiled when she nodded in agreement. But why did she seem so innocent and naive about this sort of thing? I thought she would have learnt some etiquette concerning this sort of thing so why does she seem to not know much about it? Didn't her mother talk to her about this sort of thing either? As we ate I watched discreetly as she slowly ate each dish placed in front of her; I guess she was taught the fine etiquette of eating as well. Once we finished our meal we both excused ourselves from the table before we got up from our seats and left the room.

"What would you like to do next?" I asked curiously.

"Do you have a library here? I would like to sit and read quietly a while before I go to bed." She asked curiously.

"We do indeed; here let me show you where it is. I enjoy reading in the evenings too; it's so relaxing." I explained as I led her in the direction of the library. Once we arrived at the library I watched as she slowly perused the books before she finally picked one out.

"What are you reading Caroline?" I asked curiously as I sat down in my favourite chair in front of the fire with a copy of Dracula in my hands.

"I'm going to read all about biology; I found an interesting book all about plants and how they work." She replied as she sat down in a chair opposite and opened her book to start reading. I was surprised at what she picked to read though; I thought she would have picked one of the classic novels I own. However, after I started reading I noticed out of the corner of my eye Caroline not really reading the book she chose.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked curiously as I put my book down.

"What did your father suspect we were doing earlier?" She asked quietly with a blush.

"Ah yes I promised you I would explain after dinner didn't I? My father basically thought we were in a rather compromising position; he thought something was going on that should only happen once you are married."

"But nothing happened of the sort did it?" She asked quietly as she closed her book as well and I shook my head a little with a smile on my face; with that matter settled Caroline went back to reading her book.

"Have you always had an interest in science?" I asked curiously.

"Ever since I was a small girl I've had an interest in how the world works; however my father didn't like me reading but my mother didn't mind so much. It wasn't until Antoinette and Nadir became my guardians that reading was encouraged and I was educated in the ways of science as well as etiquette. I guess there is still a lot for me to learn in terms of etiquette." She replied quietly as she stared out of the window in quiet contemplation. I wonder why Antoinette and Nadir are her guardians. At least now she is allowed to be educated; I think it is sad her father didn't want her reading or be educated in the ways of how the world works. I guess there was more to her than it appeared and I liked this mysterious side of her; I just wish I could find out more about her. But what can I ask without being too personal?

"I can hear you thinking Erik...would you like to tell me what's on your mind?" A kindly voice asked and I looked up to see Caroline looking at me intently.

"You're one mysterious woman; I would like to find out more about you but I am afraid of offending you somehow." I replied as I looked out of the window at the setting sun.

"Fire away monsieur; what would you like to find out about me first?"

"I know you are 17 since you celebrated your birthday three months ago. How come I didn't see your parents at the event?"

"You wouldn't have seen mother and father at the event because they were killed when I was 16 by the De Chagny's. I've been looked after by Antoinette and Nadir who were advisers to my parents until the age of 18 when I will ascend the throne."

"I'm sorry for your loss. Is that why I saw you afraid of that man I saw on the night of your 17th birthday?"

"Yes it was; he is Philippe's father I know that much. I don't know his name though." She replied quietly.

"How come you know about Philippe?" I asked curiously.

"My father knew the De Chagny's; especially their oldest son Philippe. It is sad to think that the relationship between them ended in their death though." She replied sadly and I placed a comforting arm around her shoulder. I was about to ask more questions when I saw her try to suppress a yawn.

"The hour is late; we will talk more tomorrow. But for now you should sleep; you've had a very eventful day."

"But I'm not tired." She replied with a yawn and so after placing the book down for her I led her out of the library towards her room hoping she would have a peaceful night full of wonderful dreams and wonders...