A/N: Hello everyone. So three chapters in one day, I am spoiling you guys though I'm sure you don't mind. I was going to post one very very long chapter, but decided to split it since it was too long. I hope you guys enjoy it and I'll see if I can make it four chapters in one day (fingers crossed)

Chapter 37: A Talk with Chief

"I can't believe she did that!" Meg exclaimed. "Oh wait until I get my hands on her and teach her a lesson about messing with my best friend!" Christine shook her head, not wanting Meg to get involved.

"Meg, don't. She is not worth it and besides, it's too late now." Christine said. It had been a few days since that conversation with Rhona. Since then, Christine has mainly stayed hidden in the tent until the redness from the slap was gone and she felt like showing her face again. "Just please don't tell anyone, not even your husband."

"Christine, you have to tell Tor."

"What? Why?" She asked, not having intention of telling anyone, especially Tor.

"Christine, it's only right to. Tor doesn't approve of violence in the camp."

"He is very strict, isn't he?" Christine asked.

"Yes he is, but his rules are for very good reason. He is an excellent Chief and very well respected." Meg answered. "Please Christine, tell him. He should know about it." Sighing, she knew she should tell Tor.

"Alright, I will tell him." Standing up, she straightened the skirt of her dress. "Do you know where Tor is?" She asked Meg.

"Hall." Meg answered. Nodding, she left the tent to go in search of Tor. As she walked through the camp, she thought of how to explain to the Chief about what happened. She hoped he wouldn't be too angry.

Entering the Hall, she spotted Tor at one of the tables, finishing a meal. She was glad no one was with him. Walking over to him, she stood in front of him. Taking a deep breath, she knew there was no turning back now.

"T-Tor?" Hearing her voice, he looked up from his plate to see her standing there. Finishing up, he pushed the plate away and wiped his mouth. "Are you busy?" She asked him.

"No." He answered. "Is there something you need?" He asked her.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you." Seeing the look on her face, he knew it was something serious.

"Of course." Raising from his seat, Christine had to look up at him. Why do these men have to be so tall? "Come with me…" Motioning her to follow him, they walked out of the Hall. Following him through the camp, she hoped Rhona wouldn't see her walking with Tor. Approaching his tent, she started to get a little nervous. Entering his tent, he closed the flaps to give them privacy. "Now, what is it you want to talk about?" He asked her, sitting down in a chair.

"Um well…Meg informed you that you don't tolerate violence an-"

"Was someone violent with you?" He asked her, suddenly getting very serious.

"It was just a slap…" She answered.

"Who was it?" He asked, almost demanding.

"Um…um…." She couldn't find the courage to reveal the name.

"Christine, I need to know who." He told her. "Meg is right, I do not tolerate violence, not matter how small it may be." She nodded.

"I understand, sir." Paused, she sighed. "I can't, I'm sorry. I know I should tell you…but, I can't." Tor sighed.

"I understand. However, Erik left me in charge of watching over you and he would not approve of this."

"I know."

"If you won't tell me who, then promise me, you will tell him." Tor said.

"I promise." He nodded.

"Good." Leaning back, Christine knew that meant she was dismissed. "Christine?" She turned back around to look at him. "Is there a certain reason why you won't tell me?" He asked her.

"I am not the person could can easily put blame on another person, even if it was their fault. I don't like seeing people punished. My father says I got that from my mother, she was the same way. I get a lot of things from her."

"We all inherit things from our parents, sometimes good or bad. Unfortunately, I got my father's bad temper." Christine smiled slightly. "She must have been a lovely woman."

"She was…" Christine took a deep breath. "My father never got over her death, nor have I. He truly loved her."

"The pain never fully goes away. I couldn't bear the thought of losing my wife. It's when you know you truly love someone; that the thought of losing them will be unbearable."

"I fear I know that feeling well now." Christine commented, making Tor's eyes narrow. Standing up, he walked over to the woman. "It's foolish though, that I'm feeling this." Tears started forming in her eyes. "I shouldn't be feeling this for him, but I…can't help it."

"Erik?" She nodded as a tear ran down her cheek, the one Rhona slapped. The sting had gone away after several hours but the memory was still there. Though he was used to comforting his wife whenever she cried; other women, not so much.

"It doesn't matter anyway. Soon all of this will be a memory." She knew the moment she would be back in England that she would never see Erik again, or any of them. Taking a deep breath to try and settle her emotions, Christine glanced up at the Chief. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start crying."

"It's alright, Christine. I don't mind at all. It's hard loving someone who you don't know loves you back. My wife went through what you're going through now." He told her.

"Really? You put your wife through this?" She asked.

"It was a…not the way you would think. It was a rough start to our marriage and I admit, I was very distance to her. I had my reasons which of course are the same as Erik's. But overtime, we learned to trust each other and grew to love each other." She could see the smile in his eyes whenever he talked about his wife. "I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but it doesn't."

"That's better advice than what my father gave." Tor chuckled. "I don't think I'll tell him that though."

"It'll be our secret." She chuckled.

"Thank you, Tor…for this."

"You're welcome. I'm always here if you need anything." She nodded as she headed towards the flaps. Just as she was about to open them, they opened before she could touch them.

"Chief, I-" A man stopped when he saw Christine standing there. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"It's alright, I was just leaving." Christine said to the man.

"What is it?" Tor asked the man.

"Boyd is on his way back; said he should be arriving later today." Erik is returning?

"That is good news."

"Shall I arrange a celebration for their return?" The man asked Tor as Christine thought.

"I don't think so." Tor answered.

"Tor, I mean Chief…" Christine looked at him. "…might I suggest something else maybe?" She asked Tor who glanced at the man and then back at her.

"What do you have in mind?"

"A performance."

Looks like Christine made an ally of Tor and now she had something planned for Erik's return.

Reviews are welcome