Christine's POV
There were many times when Erik questioned me. Sometimes, he questioned me because he was certain I couldn't bear the thought of looking at his face. Other times, he questioned me about why I was beside him. Though, I didn't have answers to any of these questions, and therefore, I decided not to answer him. That night, he and I spent endless hours in silence staring into the flames of his fireplace. Every once in a while he questioned me about something…I don't even remember what he did ask me, but whatever it was, it wasn't important. Erik was simple…He didn't ask questions that made me think. No, his questions were of my own opinions. He asked me why I thought the sky was blue. He asked me why I thought the birds chirped before a storm. Strange, yet heartfelt questions. And in return, I asked him a few questions as well. Our conversation lingered, only ending when we both fell into a dreamless slumber. The following morning, the sun began to peek in through Erik's bedroom window and his fire was just smoldering ashes now. I stretched and rose from his side, noticing that Erik was still fast asleep. It was strange, for Erik never slept this late. I could only smile and head downstairs, adjusting my shirt as I did so. Nadir must have been waiting for me, for he caught me off guard with the most awkward question.
"Ah, did you sleep well?"
I looked up and headed into the kitchen to start a kettle of water.
"I slept well, thank you, Nadir."
Nadir entered the kitchen behind me, his hands resting behind his back. He was acting strange and I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.
"I woke last night and noticed that your spot was empty. Though, as soon as I heard you talking upstairs, I knew where you were. I take it that you and Erik have been bonding well?"
"Yes," I said, placing the rusty kettle on the burner. "We have. He's a very interesting person once you get to know him."
"I take it that you slept with him then…For why else would a woman sleep in the same bed as a man?"
Oh, this offended me greatly, for I spun around and splashed some water in his face. How dare he insinuate something such as that? Sleep with him? Did the man think I was a whore?
"Madame, no need to get hasty."
"Then why is it that you're talking to me in this way? Erik and I had a conversation and fell asleep beside one another. There was nothing inappropriate done."
"It's what he's wanted for the past ten years… There wasn't a moment that went by that he didn't want to make you his own, Christine. And yet, there you are last night, sleeping in his bed and you mean to tell me that nothing happened?"
"No…Erik is a gentleman, Nadir. He would never touch me without my consent. You're a monster for thinking otherwise."
With that being said, I poured Erik a cup of tea and headed upstairs. I was angry at Nadir now…Oh, so angry. When I was back in Erik's room, I found his bed empty and small noises coming from the bathroom. I placed his cup of tea down on the nightstand and turned to the bathroom door.
"Erik, are you in there?" I asked, lightly tapping upon its surface with my knuckles.
"One second…" came his agitated voice.
When Erik emerged, I held the door open for him and let him stumble by with his staff. His face was filled with a look of pure agony, his other hand grasping his side.
"Nadir says that we're going to be leaving within a few days time. I don't know how he could possibly expect you to ride on a horse for endless hours without getting sick."
"Erik will manage," he groaned, taking a seat at the side of his bed. "Erik has always managed."
"Have you cleaned your wounds lately? Nadir said that you have to keep them clean or else you'll get an infection. We don't need that with being so far from a doctor."
"Erik cleans his wounds when he washes his flesh. Last night was the last time Erik bathed."
I handed Erik the steaming cup of tea and smiled. "I made you this…Just the way you like it."
"Thank you, Christine."
"Erik?"
"Yes?"
"Will you promise me something?"
"Erik would promise Christine anything. What is it that Christine wishes for Erik to promise her?"
"Promise me that no matter what happens on our journey, you won't ever send me back to Paris."
"Why would Christine believe that Erik wishes to send her back to Paris?"
I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't know. I've just had a lot on my mind lately, and of those things, I've been thinking a lot about the future. I don't ever want to return to Paris or Raoul. I want to be able to live my own life the way I want to live it. Does that make any sense?"
"Erik believes that makes perfect sense. Erik does not have control over what Christine wishes to do in life, and if she doesn't want to return to Paris then who is Erik to say otherwise?"
And with that, I threw my arms around Erik once again, embracing his body once more. Life couldn't have been sweeter.
Erik's POV
I didn't want to leave the mansion, but Nadir was right, we couldn't possibly continue staying. This was just a stop on our journey, a stop and nothing more. If there was anything more painful than getting out of bed, it was attempting to get back upon Cesar's back. Nadir was sure that the snow was finished falling by taking one look at the sky. Though, I wanted to call the man a fool when we were only five hours away from the mansion and it began snowing again.
"Done snowing, right, Nadir?" I growled as the first few flakes landed upon my broad shoulders.
"Mother nature is unpredictable," Nadir scoffed as he rode in front of Christine and I. I rolled my eyes and clutched my aching side. Hours…I had been upon this stallion's back for endless hours now. Night was quickly approaching and I knew that we needed to set up camp, otherwise, there would be no light left to gather firewood and other needed supplies for the night.
"We should stop for the night," I said. "The sky will be black soon, and Nadir needs to set up camp."
"I believe it would be best to spend the night trotting along. To stop now, would be taking up precious time."
"Precious time?" I scoffed. "Nadir has all the time in the world to travel. No, Erik needs to stop. His side is bothering him and he needs to lie down."
"Erik is right, Nadir," Christine interrupted. "Erik does need to rest. He's been at it for hours."
By the time we decided to stop, the ground was once again covered in a fresh coat of snow. Christine hopped down off of Cesar's back and helped me painfully dismount myself from the saddle.
"Erik, it's snowing really hard now," Christine said, approaching my side and taking my bag in her grasp. "Do you think it would be all right if you and I shared a tent tonight? For warmth?"
I nodded. "Christine is right…"
"I'm going to set up the tents," Christine said.
"And Erik and I will collect firewood."
Christine gave me a look of concern at first, but I eased her worry by nodding. I wouldn't be able to carry much, but I did want to take part in the work. I wasn't sure why the both of us needed to go into the woods, but as the time stretched, Nadir's voice interrupted the silence.
"I may have upset Christine a few days ago. She hasn't said much to me since…"
"What does Nadir mean?"
"A few nights ago when Christine spent the night in your room, I mentioned it to her the following morning. She put it off as a night spent with conversation and I took it the wrong way and suggested that she and you slept with one another. She got offended…"
I grabbed the man by his shirt and pulled him closer to me. Oh, how dare he suggest such a thing?
"Perhaps Nadir's mind thinks about sex every minute of every day, but Erik is different. Just having her in Erik's bed is enough to make Erik happy. He doesn't have to be taking control of her body…He doesn't have to take and touch what isn't his property."
"I apologized to her…She hasn't said a word to me since."
"Erik does not blame Christine for shunning Nadir. He deserves it…"
I picked up my firewood and carried it back to our camp, finding Christine sitting inside my tent and setting up our beds for the night.
"Erik thinks that he is going to turn in for the evening."
"Erik, don't be like this…I said I was sorry."
Nadir tried to grab my arm, but I jerked away. He had angered Christine and therefore he had angered me. Nadir usually angered me at least three minutes out of every day, which was why I always tried to ignore him and avoid contact at all cost.
"Erik, I was thinking about making dinner."
"Erik and Christine will not be eating dinner tonight. They are going to be sleeping…Goodnight, Nadir."
That was the last thing I said to the man that night. With that, I entered the tent and took a seat on one of the beds Christine had made up out of pillows and blankets.
"Would you like me to take your coat?" Christine nervously questioned.
"No," I said. "It's going to be getting cold tonight. Erik and Christine should keep all of their clothes on. Once the wind begins to howl, there is no telling how deathly cold it will become."
Christine pulled her coat closer to her and began to shiver. Oh, the poor girl didn't have any meat on her bones. How was she supposed to keep herself warm on a night like this? Yes, she could have gone outside and sat around the fire with Nadir, but even then, that wouldn't protect her from the winter wind.
"Christine is cold…"
"No," she shivered. "I'm all right."
Without another word, I took off my jacket and placed it over her shoulders, her shivering ceasing the moment I did so.
"But Erik, what about you?"
"Erik will be fine beneath the blankets."
"Are you sure?"
"Certain. Erik is exhausted, Christine," I said. "We should try to sleep before the morning sun threatens us once again. Nadir will most likely be wanting to leave as soon as the sky clears."
"I hope we arrive at our destination soon," Christine moaned. "I don't like traveling every day. I want a home and a yard…"
"Soon, Christine…All in good time."
I lay down beneath my blankets and sighed. My injury hurt me, but at least I wasn't sitting upon that saddle anymore. Soon, the wind began to howl, causing Christine to gasp in fright. I wasn't sure why, but next thing I knew, her pillow and blankets were placed beside my own. She didn't ask, nor did she bring up the reason why she was scooting so close to me, but either way, it was wonderful. And as she lay down beside me, her curls landed up against my cheek…Oh, to think that God would allow something so wonderful to happen to me. I inhaled their rosy scent and sighed in happiness. Nothing ever felt so good against my cheek, nothing. They were soft and warm, and as the winter wind continued to threaten our tent, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep, knowing that I had an angel watching over me.
AWWWW... I know I usually upload once a week, but this chapter is a gift, since I have been getting lots or reviews! Keep em up! Thanks again Everyone!
