Christine's POV

If there was anything I wasn't ready for, it was my marriage to Erik. The entire day, I stayed beside Esmeralda, dolling myself up for the night's event; one that would stay within my memory forever more. Before the sun went down, however, Esmeralda had to leave me in order to assist her father in preparing the night's meal, the meal Erik and I would indulge in as newly husband and wife. It wasn't that I didn't like Erik, because the truth of it all was that I did adore the man, but I wasn't ready. Yes, I was supposed to stay in Esmeralda's caravan until the ceremony, but I couldn't bear another moment alone. I needed to speak with someone, and sadly, that only person was my future husband. I snuck out of the caravan, and crossed the camp to reach my own caravan. Once there, I opened the door and snuck inside, the privacy drapes of our bedroom closed. It was obvious that Erik was there and most likely preparing himself for marriage as well.

"Erik?" I softly called his name, only to see the drapes pulled back and for my Erik to be standing there. He looked devilishly handsome! He was dressed in a red shirt that was covered by a black vest. The sleeves of the shirt were pulled up to his elbows…He even smelled amazing! I had never seen this side of Erik before… He looked like a gypsy, a handsome and stunning gypsy! His black wig was slicked back like usual, his white mask covering the distorted half of his face.

"Christine, what are you doing here?" he gasped. "Husband and wife are not to see one another before the wedding."

"Erik, I needed to speak with you." I pleaded. "Please."

"This will anger the gypsies if we are caught together."

"Erik, please," I bowed my head in sorrow. Did I not look beautiful enough to him? He hadn't even complimented me on my dress or straightened hair.

"Don't you even like the way I look?" I pouted. "You didn't even say two words about my appearance."

"Christine, Erik thinks you are the most beautiful girl in the world. He apologizes for not telling you firsthand, but the truth is that Erik is just as nervous about this wedding as you are."

"Erik, I can't…" I was crying now, tears streaming down my cheeks as I looked up to face my angel once more. "I can't go through with this."

Erik bowed his head. "Erik understands how much she wishes to run away from the ceremony…Leave Erik at the altar alone."

"Erik, that's not what I mean."

"But it's decided, Christine." Erik said. "We must marry."

"Or else what?"

"Or else, they will throw Erik and Christine out of the camp and possibly turn them into the authorities. When the leader decides upon something, there is no changing it."

Once more, I nodded.

"Christine, you do know that Erik would never force you to do anything that you're not comfortable with? This marriage will be a friendship and nothing more."

"This should be a joyous day." I said, wiping my tears away. "And I want it to be, but, oh, I'm so frightened, Erik."

Erik caressed my cheek with his good hand and smiled.

"To Erik, it is the best day of his entire life."

"I don't feel beautiful enough for you without makeup and my curly hair."

"You, Christine, are the most exquisite creature to ever walk the earth. Makeup is nonessential in Erik's book. Pure beauty is what you are, ange…"

This made me feel better, for he even placed a white flower into my hair.

"There, now Christine is perfect."

"I would never run away from you, Erik." I assured. "After tonight, we will be husband and wife, and I would never run away from that vow. Tonight, when I pledge to be beside you until death do we part, I will mean every word."

"Erik will do the same."

I was about to say something else, when Erik butted in.

"Christine should leave now; the gypsies will be searching for her."

"All right, Erik." I said, wrapping my arms around him. "I will see you in a little while."

"Erik will hold Christine to it."

I was at the door, when I turned around one last time to meet his eyes.

"And Erik?"

He looked up from buttoning his vest. "Yes, Christine?"

I smiled warmly. "You look very handsome tonight."

There was a look of pure astonishment spreading across his face as I left him with that final compliment. Who knew telling him the truth could make him feel so good inside. After leaving the caravan, Esmeralda appeared and led me towards the middle of camp where our ceremony was to be held. There were red and white fabrics used as decorations, a bon fire crackling from behind me, even the smells of delicious foods were making me hungry.

"So what happens now?" I asked Esmeralda.

"When the sun sets, your Erik will arrive at the ceremony. From there, my father will marry you."

My palms were sweating as I stood there waiting for the sun to set. I wished that it never would, for there was only a matter of minutes left before my childhood would be gone for good.

Erik's POV

It was nearly dark now. Erik stood there by the door of his caravan, looking out at the sky, waiting, waiting until the sun was completely gone so that he could join Christine. A wedding; Erik's wedding… Oh, who would have thought! Never…Oh, never did poor Erik ever believe that he would be married. These were dreams, dreams and nothing more. Erik always believed that he would live life alone, and yet, here it was, the evening of his wedding!

When the sun was completely away, Erik nervously trekked to center of camp, where his beautiful angel was standing. Oh, how beautiful she looked. Christine was like an angel! A pure angel that was for Erik's taking! Erik knew the ways of the gypsies, he knew their customs and therefore, he knew how this wedding would progress. He approached his angel, interlacing his hand with her own. Oh, his wedding! Erik's wedding!

Christine's POV

My heart was pounding against my chest as Erik and I joined hands. Erik then led me towards the bonfire that was burning in the center of camp. I wasn't sure what was going to happen next, but as music began to play, my angel let go of my hand and began to seductively circle my body. I remembered watching the other gypsies dance around the fire, the men always keeping the women guessing. But I was marrying this man, and therefore, I would seduce him as well. I circled my Erik like I circled my angel the night of Don Juan. Our dance prolonged as our bodies came together and released to continue circling one another. At last, our hands met, at last our hips aligned. Oh, it was wonderful, yet romantic. Yes, Erik and I had slow danced before on our own, but never had we ever danced like this before.

When our hips aligned again, Erik's hand ran seductively up my side, causing me to quiver.

"How am I doing?" I whispered as our dance continued.

Erik looked down at me and smiled.

"Wonderful, Christine. Oh, you're doing perfect."

"Really?"

He nodded. "Erik wouldn't lie."

"So what now?"

"When the music ends," Erik wrapped his arm around my waist. "We will join Jeffro and he will let us say our vows to one another."

"Vows?"

Once more, Erik nodded. "It is not the vows that one would usually say in church. These vows are from the heart…"

Before I could argue, the music stopped and Jeffro stepped forward, joining Erik's hands with my own. We were surrounded by gypsies now, the complete center of attention.

"Marriage is a special bond." Jeffro began. "A bond between gypsies. These two are joining one another tonight and with this vow, they will be united together until death do they part."

I gulped nervously, for I didn't know what to say to Erik. A vow? I had to say something to him in front of all these people? But Erik went first.

"Christine, Erik never thought he would be married, let alone to you. To him, you are his light within darkness, his filled cup that shall never empty. Without breath, there is no life, and without Christine, there is no Erik."

Oh, what a beautiful vow it was. Erik always knew what to say…He always said the most beautiful and heartwarming things. He was finished now, making it my turn to speak. But how could I say something better than what he had just said? Everyone was waiting now, and so, I opened my mouth and hoped to say something just as beautiful as what Erik had just said.

"Erik, I'm not sure what sort of life this is going to turn out to be, but I do hope that this romance and friendship we have with one another progresses into the life I had once envisioned. I know I always imagined my life to be so much more, but that life of so much more is happening right now before my eyes."

As I looked up into Erik's eyes, I noticed that he was teary eyed. Had my sorry excuse for a vow made him so happy that he was crying? I had thought it to be a terrible vow, but Erik seemed to think otherwise. Next thing I knew, Jeffro placed his monstrous hands over ours, sealing our bond forever more.

"…God has sealed this man and woman together."

The gypsies began to chant as music erupted once more. I wasn't sure if we were truly married now, but when Erik turned to me and cupped my cheek with his hand, I knew what was expected of me. This was the moment that made marriage official. I was to kiss Erik; my new husband.

"We are to kiss?" I questioned.

"That is usually expected." Erik murmured.

I nodded, and closed my eyes, moving my lips to my angel's. It wasn't like the passionate kiss we shared just the other night, but it was enough to make our marriage official. Our lips pressed up against one another's and lingered for a few moments before breaking away. How strange it was to be married to this man. And even though it was strange, it still felt right. We celebrated after that, eating a meal filled with strange foods and dancing until what seemed like the early hours of the morning.

"Have you ever been with a man before?" Esmeralda asked as we indulged ourselves into the desert of our feast.

Erik was on the other side of the camp, conversing with Jeffro and a few of his sons.

"No," I nervously said. "Have you?"

"Of course not, Christine. Are you nervous?"

I swallowed. "A little."

"Don't be so worried, Christine." She said, patting me on the back. "Every woman is nervous on her wedding night, especially if it is her first time."

"The truth is, Esmeralda…I don't know if I'm ready for that yet."

"You say that now, but once you're alone you'll be ready."

Soon, the celebration came to an end and Erik and I walked hand in hand back to our caravan. It was extremely late now, and I was exhausted.

"Erik is going to change into his pajamas."

I nodded and began to do the same as soon as the drapes were pulled over our bedroom. I was nervous, still so nervous, and yet, I wondered what was to take place next?

"Damn it!"

I nearly had the night gown over my head when I heard Erik growl from behind the drapes. Concerned, I finished dressing and approached the drapes, calling Erik's name.

"Is something wrong?"

The drapes were pulled back, and I found Erik struggling to get out of his shirt with his injured arm.

"Erik got himself into his shirt before the ceremony without a problem, but now the tables have turned."

"Here," I took his shirt into my grasp. "Let me help you."

When Erik's shirt was released from his body, I stared at his bare chest that was covered in scars.

"Erik," I looked down at the shirt that was in my grasp. "What now?"

From the wardrobe, Erik reached for his nightshirt and slipped it over his shoulders, allowing it to hang open at his waist.

"Now, Erik and Christine go to bed."

Erik passed me and began to open the blankets of our bed, fluffing up the pillows as he did so.

"We are married, aren't we?"

"Yes,"

"Then isn't there supposed to be more?"

"Christine," Erik's voice was filled with a strict warning. "Not tonight. This marriage is new to the both of us. There is no need to feel obligated to let Erik take you like that. He forbids it."

"You've never had a woman for yourself, and yet, here I am, your wife and you still refuse to want me in such a way."

"Christine, you are talking foolishly."

"I am speaking the truth!"

"Erik will never touch Christine like that! He refuses to ruin her…"

"You are my husband."

"Don't…" Erik grabbed my hand violently, causing me to yelp. "Don't stand here and tell Erik what he is! This marriage was for safety and safety only! Erik knows how Christine really feels for Erik, and it's not intimate!"

"Erik, couldn't we at least try this?"

"Try what?"

"Try everything. Everything a marriage entails. Why not?"

"Christine, Erik knows how you feel. He knows you want to try this, but he knows Christine is not quite there yet. They should wait…This is the best choice."

I placed my head down and threw his shirt aside.

"You haven't even kissed me once after our wedding kiss."

"Christine…" Erik groaned and crawled into bed. "Please, not tonight. Erik is extremely happy that Christine is his wife."

"Then prove it!" I cried. "Prove it, Erik…"

"Christine…we need to talk."

He patted the bed and I approached him, crawling in beside him. I pressed my knees to my chest, looking at Erik as he removed his mask and placed it on the bedside table.

"Christine," Erik interlaced his hand with my own. "Erik wants to love his wife. He already loves her with all his heart, but intimacy can wait until she trusts him."

"I do, Erik." I pleaded. "I truly do…"

"Christine, talk to your Erik, talk to him and tell him how you're feeling."

"About what?"

"Well, Erik finds it strange that Christine is now anxious to be intimate with her husband when a few hours ago, she was nervous."

I sighed. "Oh, Erik, I'm so anxious to get it over with."

"Over with?"

"I'm so afraid to leave my childhood behind, Erik. I don't want to keep waiting…keep worrying."

"Christine, there is no need to want to rush. Erik forbids it! Forbids them to touch in such a way."

"But, Erik…"

"But nothing! There is no need to worry about intimacy like that, because there will be none."

And with that, Erik rolled over and closed his eyes. I was still sitting there with my knees pulled into my chest, still upset over how the entire night had gone. This was my husband, and yet, he didn't want to be, for he wasn't even acting like he was. It was one thing to refuse to have a wedding night, and I understood how he felt, but to not even kiss me goodnight? I choked on a sob, gathering to my feet and grabbing my cloak.

"Christine?"

Erik was calling my name, but I wasn't listening. I stormed out of the caravan and trekked my way through the snow, not really sure in which direction I was headed in.

"Christine!" Erik was calling my name, but I wasn't listening. I continued running, the cold snow soaking my shoes and legs. I was shivering, but I was angry. It was dark, so dark that I couldn't even see in which direction I was headed. I didn't care! I kept running, as Erik's voice yelled for me. He was so close now, so close that I feared of being found. I picked up my pace, running until the ground beneath my feet gave way and my body landed in burning cold water. The river! The water was so cold that it burned my flesh… I screamed! Oh, how I screamed and flapped my arms about in order to make my way towards the shore…But where was shore?

"Christine!"

My angel was close, but I fought the current, fought to get my shivering body to shore.

"Christine."

I looked up to see Erik standing at the edge of the shore with his black walking stick. He held the end of it out to me as I reached for it with all my might. The current was too rough, and my arms were getting tired.

"Swim!" he ordered. "Swim, Christine!"

"I can't, Erik…"

Erik placed his cane aside and got down to his knees, reaching out his good hand to me.

"Come on, Christine…Grab my hand!"

I never fought so hard to get to my angel, and once I was close enough, he grabbed hold of my icy hand and pulled me to shore. My body was convulsing now, but my angel worked quickly at stripping himself of his clothes and wrapping them around my own.

"What was Christine thinking!" he cried. "She could have died!"

But I couldn't answer him, for I was shivering.

"Come on," he pulled me to my feet. "We must get back to the caravan to warm you before Christine dies of hypothermia."

I knew if Erik had the use of both his hands he would have carried me, but since he only had the use of one, he couldn't. I had wanted this night to be special, I had wanted this night to be happy… I had wanted it to be a night I would cherish for the remainder of my life, but now… now I just wanted to forget it all together.

Please review everyone, and if you haven't checked out my newest story "Help Me Through This Sadness," check it out...