Author's note: Hello everyone! I know it has been ages since I have updated anything(or at least it feels that way to me!). Anyways, I must apologize for the lack of updates, but school has been really challenging and I have spent many late nights finishing up school related things, and writing has been really difficult to find time for! I hope you all can be patient with me, and I will try my best to update! I am so late with everything, I have wonderful fan art to post on my profile that I haven't yet, and amazing stories on this site I am trying to read but don't have time for either! Well, as always a huge thank you to my friend and beta N.S.L. Jewelles for all of her hard work, even when she is busy she finds time for me and I appreciate that more than I can say! That was a long author note! Enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think! DonJuanTriumphs
Chapter Thirty-Seven: Trust in Love
"Bring him to me!"
Everyone in the great hall trembled at the sound of Erik's shout of rage. Without question Marc and Raoul dashed from the hall, not glancing behind them for fear of making the Prince even more angry than he was at that moment. Nicolette and Adrian looked down at their dinner, obvious trembles racking their small frames. Christine did not give herself a moment to think about what had just been said. She rushed to her childrens sides, holding them close when they clutched onto her fearfully.
"Guards!" she commanded. Two of Erik's more skilled knights came to her side, bowing low. "Take them somewhere safe, do not let anyone in or out until I come for them! Is that understood?" she demanded. Both men nodded, taking a hold of the now crying children. "Shush, my loves, you will go with them and you will behave until I come for you."
Neither Adrian or Nicolette knew exactly what was going on, but they did know the Prince was angry about something, and there was fear written in their mother's eyes. They both went with the men without a word, both glancing back at her before they disappeared from sight. Christine turned her attention back on Erik, deciding what she should do to calm him, when the doors opened and Roland came in escorted by Marc and Raoul on either side, their swords pointed at him in case he made a move to run. Why had Roland been allowed to guard over Gabrielle again? He had been tempted once before, no one should have allowed him to take watch!
The knight was shoved down onto his knees in front of Erik. Before anyone could so much as blink the Dark Prince's fist connected brutally with the other man's face. There was a sickening crunching sound that echoed throughout the room from the blow, and Roland crumpled to the floor in a limp mess, blood beginning to seep around his head. Erik's eyes were blazing with a fury that scared Christine, and he looked as if he was ready to strike the knight again.
"Erik, no!" she cried. Everyone in the room became quiet when she rushed to her husband's side, her hands grasping firmly around his arm. His chest was heaving, hands clutched tight into fists. She cast a fleeting glance down at Roland, looking away when she realized that Erik had broken his nose. "Violence will not solve anything right now. We need to keep our heads and approach this with a clear mind," she murmured for his ears alone. Gabrielle was an intelligent woman, and nothing ever seemed to stir her calm exterior. She would keep her head with whatever she planned on doing and it was important that they did the same if they wanted to prevent a catastrophe.
"Leave us!" Erik barked. Everyone in the room was quick to do as he said, and within moments the hall was empty except for the two of them and the unmoving Ronald. She could not help but take a step back when her husband whirled around to face her. "You ask me not to lay my hands on a man that has just threatened your life as well as our children with his own foolishness?"
"What will punishing him accomplish? She has already been released! Right now we need to worry about finding her before she can try anything," Christine said, trying to think logically. Right now she was worried about what Gabrielle planned on doing with her newly given freedom. Would she return to the Devereux manor? A part of her knew that this was not going to happen. Gabrielle Devereux had a score to settle with Erik, and until she did nothing would be safe.
Erik did not seem to want to see the logic of her words. Anger was boiling in his veins, and with a mighty roar his foot connected with Roland's side. Without another word he stormed out of the hall, barking commands at his knights as he went. Christine did not understand the true danger of the situation. Gabrielle was loose in his chateau. She had turned into a cruel, heartless witch, and he knew she would stop at nothing to make him pay for past sins. In a way he blamed himself for her escape. He had been unwilling to come up with an outcome for her being there. He had not known what to do with her and foolishly he had believed that as long as she was in the dungeons his family would be safe. Now...now everyone he loved was at risk. If Gabrielle so much as laid a hand on his wife or either of his children, he would forget anything that was holding him back from killing her. No one threatened his family and got away alive.
He did not like the fact that Christine had to see him act so cruelly to one of his own men, and he prayed it did not make her think less of him. He was the Dark Prince, violence was always bubbling at the surface, waiting to burst forward. He had been so overcome with rage he had allowed it to get the best of him. Never would he have believed that one of his own knights would betray him in such a way. Letting Gabrielle go...what had she done to achieve her freedom? It made him sick to think that the once innocent young woman she had been was now willing to give her body to any man who would give her what she wanted.
"Erik!"
Her voice eased a little of his tension, without him really even being aware of it. He stopped, waiting for Christine to reach his side. When she did so her eyes were looking up at him, full of concern. What he would not give to simply take her into his arms and forget about the world around him! She gave him something to live for, and he feared it could all be taken away if he was not careful.
Her hand grasped his, fingers entwining.
She was giving him strength. One simple gesture told him that she would be there for him in the rough times ahead. No matter what happened she would always love him. His past did not make a difference to her. She was helping him live in the present, and promising him a brighter future than he had ever imagined for himself because of her love.
"I love you," she whispered softly, giving him a small smile. Taking a single moment to forget the chaos that was now surrounding them, Erik took her into his arms and kissed her with everything he had. She moaned against his mouth, kissing him back just as deeply. When he pulled away she was shaking slightly, trying so hard to push her fears away.
"I love you more, little one..." He gave her a smile that told her every word he said was true. Would always be true. "Go to Adrian and Nicolette, my love, keep them safe while I take care of Gabrielle."
Christine wanted to argue, not liking the idea of how much danger he was going to be in because of one woman. She knew, however, that her fears were unfounded. Erik was the Dark Prince! Men trembled at the title, cowered like animals when he stepped onto a battlefield. One woman would truly stand no match against him, she need not worry. Erik's guard was up, and he would not allow himself to be tricked or manipulated in any shape or form. She had trust in his strength and capabilities, and she would show him that by listening to his requests.
"As you wish," she murmured. His smile and his eyes thanked her more than any words could. With one last lingering hug, Christine left her husband to deal with his past. The moment she was out of his sight, Marc came rushing towards him, wanting to know what the Prince wished to be done. The softness he had held in his eyes when he looked at his wife was replaced immediately with cold resolve the moment his knight reached him.
"You are to stand guard at Christine's door. She is with the children, nothing can happen to them."
Normally Marc would have taken it as an insult that he was not being put to use, but he realized that this was a great honor on the Prince's part. He trusted Marc with his family, not something that could be said for anyone else, as far as he knew.
"Nothing will happen to them, my lord, I promise," he said, bowing. Erik grasped his hand and shook it firmly.
"I trust you with their life, my friend..."
With one last bow Marc left Erik alone once more. His men were not incompetent. Dozens were already outside the chateau, scouting the land, making sure she had not attempted to flee. Men raced past him, every nook and cranny being inspected. Briefly his mind flashed back to years before, when he had thought that Isabel had run off. He and his men had been scrambling around just like this in a frantic search. This time, however, he knew that it was he and his family that were in danger. What Gabrielle would stop at he did not know, and unless he found her nothing would be certain.
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Christine hummed softly to the two unmoving figures lying on the bed. The sun had set hours ago, bathing the room in darkness, the only light a solitary candle on the windowsill. The time had seemed to pass slowly, each minute it seemed Christine's thoughts were absorbed with her husband, wondering what was happening beyond the chamber walls. Where was Gabrielle? Would she be found? If she was found, what would Erik decide to do with her? That, of course, would be up to him completely, and no matter what he decided to do she would support him completely. Oh, Erik, you do not deserve all this constant torment, my love.
Just thinking about all that had happened to him in his past was enough to make a few tears fall down her cheeks. She was thankful she had found him, that she was able to show him that love was not out of his grasp, and she would never hurt him like Gabrielle or Isabel had done. In a way she pitied Gabrielle. One lie had destoryed her, a lie told by her own brother. If Edmund had not come to Erik that faithful night and told him that Gabrielle was married, the Prince would have never married Isabel. Christine had very little doubt that her husband would not be her husband because he would indeed still be with the one woman who was now causing their family so much panic.
Her gaze landed once more on her two children. Knowing that they might have never been hers, that Erik might not have ever been the love of her life...well, it made her realize that she could not take the blessing of a family very lightly. They were hers now, and she would do whatever she had to to protect them. She knew Erik was taking every precaution. Earlier she had heard Marc join the guards at the door, and she knew she and the children were well protected. No one would harm them, Erik would die before he saw that happen.
As a few more hours passed, she desperately wanted to stay up and wait for Erik's return, but as time ticked by her body felt heavy and no matter how hard she tried, sleep took over, comforted knowing that her husband was out there protecting his family from harm...
Christine murmured sleepily, feeling a soft caress against the skin of her arm. She smiled, recognizing his touch anywhere. Her eyes drifted open, coming to land on Erik's beloved face. He was smiling down at her, leaning over the bed that contained her and the children.
"Hello..." she said softly, stretching. The window outside was black, the moon covered by a thick blanket of clouds. Hours must have passed, and it had to be well past midnight. Then she remembered the situation. Her eyes snapped back to her husband. "Erik, what-"
"Shh, do not wake the children," he interrupted. Christine glanced at the two unmoving figures, assured that they were sleeping safe and sound. "Come with me, my love," he continued. Once more their eyes met.
"But Erik-"
"I will answer your questions when we leave the room," he whispered. She nodded, not really wanting to leave Nicolette and Adrian, but knowing that Erik would not do anything to put them in danger. His hand grasped hers as they left the room, passing what Christine was astonished to find were a total of ten guards at the childrens door. They were well protected, no one was going in or out of that room, that was for certain, and it put her a little more at ease. They entered their own chambers and Erik removed his tunic, obvious tension lying in his shoulders. Christine did not know what had happened with Gabrielle, if anything, but did not want to push the subject when it was obvious that her husband was so stressed. The Prince made his way to the bed, sitting down and running a hand over his face wearily.
Without a second thought she made her way over to him, climbing up behind him on the large bed. Her slim hands found his shoulders, slowly beginning a massage, hoping to ease a little of his tension. He groaned in gratitude, rolling his head to the side and sighing deeply. Her fingers worked out the knots, a soft melody flowing past her lips. She did not cease her ministrations until she was completely confident that she had helped him as much as she could. The moment her fingers left him Erik turned, pressing her into the softness of the bed, lying his much larger frame atop her.
Christine smiled up at him, feeling secure in his arms.
"What of Gabrielle, my love?" she whispered, needing to ask. Erik sighed and shook his head, causing her heart to sink.
"We searched everywhere and came up with nothing. According to the scouts, it does not appear that she had fled the chateau, but she also seems to not be inside it...I do not know what to do, she has simply disappeared..."
"She cannot stay hidden forever," Christine said, trying to bring a more positive note to the situation. Her husband shrugged.
"Until she is found neither you nor the children can go anywhere unaccompanied," he said. She nodded immediately, willing to do anything he asked to keep their family safe. "Her quarrel is with me, but I do not know how far she will go to spite me."
Christine said nothing. Her children, for the moment, were safe, but she worried about Erik. If anything were to happen to him...
"No, little one, do not let this worry cloud your eyes...everything will be fine," he murmured, a finger caressing her cheek. She swallowed.
"I worry about you," she admitted softly. He smiled.
"Do not concern yourself with me, my love, I shall be fine," he assured her, though she seemed anything but convinced. For some time neither of them said a word, Erik more than content with his current position, his hands softly stroking his wife's face. Holding her made him forget about all of the chaos..."Christine?"
Almost immediately Christine knew that something important was on Erik's mind. HIs tone was serious, and she wondered if he had just thought of something dreadful that he had yet to tell her. When she met his gaze his was clouded with...caution? She could not quite name the emotion, but he did look unsure.
"What is it?" she murmured.
"I know now is not the best time-"
"It is always the best time, Erik, I told you that no matter what I would be there for you, whenever you need me," she interrupted. He managed to smile.
"Indeed...but what I mean is that I should have done this sooner..."
"Done what?"
He did not answer immediately, choosing to stare down at her and stroke a curl away from her face.
"Erik?"
"Do you know how much it means to me to know that you love me?" he whispered softly. This time it was she who smiled.
"I know..." she replied quietly, and she did. After hearing first hand what had happened in his past she knew that her love meant everything to him.
"I would never do anything to jeopardize that love, or make you think less of me..."
"I could NEVER think less of you, Erik, I LOVE you, with everything I am," she assured him. He gave her a lingering kiss.
"It still scares me to think that you could despise me-"
"Erik-"
"Let me finish, Christine, please," he asked. She nodded. "You know the things Isabel called me, what she thought of me, how she despised my touch-"
"I am NOT her!"
"No, you are not, but you are human, and as such it is understandable to blanche at ugliness, even reject it," Erik said. Christine frowned, not quite knowing what he was talking about, or what all of this meant.
"I do not understand..."
"The mask, Christine, I am sure you know full well that it hides my greatest sin," he said.
"I know you keep it hidden from me because you fear I will turn out to be just like Isabel," she answered. He knew she was hurt by this thought. The idea that he would compare her to Isabel was an insult she had difficulty taking.
"No, I fear your rejection...I would not be able to live without you, Christine, and I mean every word of what I say...to not have your love-"
"Oh, Erik," she whispered, shaking her head with a small smile. He met her gaze again. "I love you so much that I do not think you could ever do anything to make me feel differently, or show me anything to make me turn from you, for that matter. No one is flawless...not even me."
He wanted to scoff at her, for surely she knew that being one of God's angels meant she was indeed, flawless, but he could see by the look in her eyes that she believed all that she said.
"I know you are scared to show me, my love, and I understand...all I ask is that you trust me, trust our love...it will not fail you..."
"This was not the best time to bring this subject up," he murmured. Christine knew he was making excuses, frightened of what would happen if he became vulnerable. "With Gabrielle now on the rampage-"
"You do not have to show me, Erik, it is fine," she whispered, interrupting him. If he was really this against showing her than why had he brought it up? He sighed. Although if she was completely honest with herself it hurt her that he did not seem to trust her, even when he said he did. She trusted him without question.
"Christine...I fear...I fear that Gabrielle might find a way to use my face against me. Make you realize that you are married to a monster-"
"Speak not of yourself in such a matter or I will not have this conversation," Christine said angrily, her eyes flashing. He opened his mouth to retort but his wife was far from being finished. "And whether or not you want to believe it, I would never allow anyone to convince me of anything when it cames to you. You are the man I love, and no one has a right to say anything about you but I, you big fool..." He could see the hint of a smile on her face and could feel his love for her grow with each passing word. "You will never lose my love, and no matter how many times I have to tell you that it will always be true..."
Erik captured her lips in a searing kiss, thanking God for her. He had been extremely lucky to be given love after everything that had happened in the past.
"Your love means so much..." he whispered against her mouth.
"Let me prove to you that I am not Gabrielle or Isabel...that my love for you will never waver," she whispered against his mouth. Erik wanted to do as she said so badly, wanted to let this one last barrier down, prove by this simple act that he did love her, without saying the words. Words could be taken for granted. But this, it would say all he ever wanted her to know.
"I love you..."
Those three words were the permission Christine needed. Her husband closed his eyes as her tiny fingers removed the mask that had been such a part of him for so many years. She was given her first glimpse of the 'monster' Isabel had claimed she was married to. Puckered, withered, stretched tight over bone...it was a deformity unlike any she had ever seen before, so unlike the rest of his face. She had never noticed that he had no lashes on this eye, and an eyebrow was nonexistent. The flesh was pink and irritated, chafed from so long underneath the stiffling material. Christine could only imagine how uncomfortable it must truly be for him, and she found herself worrying more about his comfort than the actual sight before her.
Erik heard his wife's soft intake of breath as his face was bathed with cool air. He kept his eyes tightly shut, wishing to prolong the moment before he saw her look of disgust. Love had never been on his side before, and he had lost both Isabel and Gabrielle...could his already broken heart stand the loss of Christine? No, it couldn't. He would have to show her that he was the same man, that the only difference was that he looked so horrible when the mask was off. He could leave the mask on for the rest of his life if it would make her stay with him...he was willing to do that just so he could have her at his side. But now that she had seen the true Erik, would it be to late to convince her to stay? The thought made him nautious, and without any real confidence, he opened his eyes and looked down at his wife.
Christine was gazing up at him, her eyes roaming over the deformed side of his face. Erik had the urge to cover himself in shame, try to make her forget the sight in front of her...but he knew the damage had been done. He could never-
"'Tis not nearly as horrible as you made it sound, Erik," Christine said, interrupting his hopeless thoughts. He looked back to his wife, seeing that she was still studying him intently, but if he was not mistaken it did not look like a look of disgust. Her hand went up and softly caressed his flesh. Erik would have been happy to die right there, just the feel of her hand on him was a heaven he had never thought he would experience. There was no disgust or hesitancy in her touch, her hand was sure and tender. What was she thinking now that she knew what her husband looked like? She had just said it was not horrible, was she really taking that good of a look? He had never seen anything more horrible in his life!
"Please do not say such a thing just to spare my feelings."
"I am not sparing your feelings, my love! After everything we have been through, do you really think that something like this would make me turn away from you?"
Her voice was completely normal as it spoke to him, the same tone she had used with him since they were married. It was as if he was not baring his deformity to her at all, it was like the sight of him was not bothering her in the slightest!
"You need not worry about Gabrielle, Erik," Christine murmured, her hand still moving softly over his face. He let out a breath he did not know he was holding.
"What? Why?"
"She could never use this against you," she said. She continued when her husband made a confused face. "Just because I have seen this does not mean that I do not love you, in fact-"
"You still love me?" he interrupted in disbelief. Christine chuckled softly.
"What did you expect, Erik? Me running from the room screaming?" she asked. When he said nothing she shook her head. "This does not make you less of a man to me, and it pains me to think that Isabel once called you such hurtful names-"
"She saw my face and simply said what I already knew."
"No," Christine said, shaking her head even more vigerously. "She simply proved that she was not the woman for you, nor would she ever be worthy of you. You were her husband, as you are now mine, and I cannot think of one person who I love more, face or not. If Isabel could not see how lucky she was for having you at her side, then she deserved any and all of the torment she caused herself."
"You speak so highly of my love," he whispered, swallowing. "It is nothing to be revered or admired-"
"Erik, whether you realize it or not, your love should be known through the ages. After being hurt so many times by those you cared about, you still managed to find it in yourself to love me, and I do not take that lightly. I can honestly say nothing but that your face does not make me disgusted, and it does not make me shudder or love you any less. You are my husband, and whether you like it or not, you are stuck with me for the rest of your life, my Prince," Christine said.
"You are absolutely amazing," he breathed. She smiled up at him.
"I was just thinking that about you."
In the passion that ensued, neither were aware of the door slowly opening, or of the lithe figure slipping into the room, malicious intent its only purpose.
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