Gentle Piece of Mind

After four days of bedrest, Erik soon discovered, for the first time in his life, that he was getting tired of his confinement. Thankfully, his fever had ran its course and he was in no danger of infections. However, his ribs and left arm still felt very sore. Although this wasn't the first time that he encountered danger, age and lack of combat practice made it all the more difficult for him to recover quickly. When he finally could get of out bed, he had to use a walking stick to help him walk around without becoming short of breath.

One early evening, he emerged from the bedroom and found Rahim in the sitting room looking out the winding, while Frans and Marigold were outside riding on Helios. Christine was tending to her herbs in the greenhouse. Rahim turned and was surprised to see Erik standing in the doorway.

"Well, Erik, you appear to have cheated death once again. How many times does this mark where I had to come to your aid after a scrap, Erik? I believe it's the twelfth time, is it not?" asked Rahim, smirking.

"Eleventh, daroga," said Erik, in a matter-of-factly tone. "As I recall, you decided to come of your own accord that night Buquet attacked Christine. In fact, the one and only time I actually requested your help was when the wretched stagehand kidnapped my poor daughter. Besides, you still owe me for saving your neck countless times in Persia."

"Either way, it's high time we call it even. And in any case, you really should thank those two over there. This time, they are the real heroes."

Erik looked over to where Marigold was watching Frans riding Helios in the yard. Walking carefully, he made his way from the house and towards the field. Marigold stood watching Frans ride on Helios with more confidence than ever before. She smiled as she saw how Frans had conquered his fear of riding as he handled Helios with a strong but gentle demeanor. She didn't notice Erik slowly walking behind her until she heard footsteps behind her. .

Marigold slowly turned around as to her great relief, she smiled brightly as she saw her beloved father standing behind her. Despite his need to lean on the walking stick, he looked like the strong man that he once was. He smiled at Marigold and looked over at Frans.

"I see you've finally become a fearless rider, Frans."

"Yes, Monsieur Erik. Marigold helped me to not be afraid anymore. I even rode on Caesar when we came to rescue you."

"Indeed. And I'm glad you were with her to help her. If it wasn't for the both of you, I don't think I would have made it out alive. Thank you," said Erik, sincerely. Frans nodded his head gratefully.

Erik turned his attention back to his daughter. "Shall we take a stroll now? I've a sudden need for fresh air."

Marigold nodded. "Frans, if you wish to ride Helios some more, would you mind taking him to the stables for me later?" she asked. Frans smiled and nodded.

Erik offered his arm to her and they began their walk along the hillside. The sky was painted with deep shades of violet, coral, orange, and amber. The setting sun cast a shining glow across the horizon, bathing the trees, lake and mountains in its light. They walked on together along the hilltops.

"I'm glad to have this time with you. I've been longing to have a moment to talk to you'" said Erik.

"There is something I want to say. I think I understood why you feel a strong need to protect me. When it was you who was in danger, I felt the strong need to find you and save you. It frightened me to think of nearly losing you…after you saved me from being hit by that knife…I couldn't leave you there, Papa…I just couldn't," whispered Marigold.

Finally, she pressed against his sore chest, Erik didn't care as he wrapped his arms gently around her.

Erik closed his eyes and leaned his cheek against her head, giving it a gentle kiss. He let her cling to him for as long as she wanted. It was strange how up until his rescue, he was now seeing his daughter in a completely different light. She showed no fear in the face of danger, displayed a sense of resourcefulness and determination, as well as doing all she could to help him in his time of need. This was a great change from the naïve and innocent daughter he once had. As he held her close, he gave a gentle sigh.

"My beautiful Marigold…" he said softly. "The once shy and carefree little girl now a brave and capable young woman. You've grown up so much. It seems I've rather underestimated you. You showed more courage, determination and aptitude than I could have ever imagined. If it wasn't for you and Frans, I never world have made it out alive on my own." He gently looked down at her and lifted her face up to look at him. "You saved my life. Thank you. But, you know that I still would have given my life to save you. Any good father would have done the same."

As the sun was halfway down in the horizon, they walked on a little longer. They stood at the top of the hill, watching Frans ride on Helios down below. It was then that Erik remembered how she used his trick smoke pouches against the gypsies.

"So, tell me, my girl. I noticed you used special little trick smoke pouches to ward off those gypsies. How did you come to discover those?" asked Erik.

"Well, when I was in your workshop, I found one and wasn't sure what it was until I accidentally dropped one. I thought it would have been useful if we needed to make an escape. But why do you have something like that?"

Erik sighed. Merely because of the reminder it gave him of when he watched the gypsies use them in their performances at traveling sideshows. How they would disappear before an audience in a quick flash of smoke. Eventually, he learned quite enough to ward off any enemies he encountered.

"Well, when I was sold to the gypsies as a child, I learned a great deal from their tricks enough to either ward off enemies. They would use those trick smoke pouches in their sideshows. I learned a lot of other things too. Ventriloquism, pyrotechnics, illusions. When I was living in the opera house, I used many of these tricks to keep from being found. Hence why people began to call me 'opera ghost'."

Marigold looked down nervously. "I hope you aren't angry, Papa, that I went through your workshop and used them."

"Well, I think I can overlook that for now. In truth, that was quick thinking on your part. Using their own tricks against them. Like father, like daughter, I suppose. And I'm glad to hear you calling me Papa again. "

Erik smiled as he led his daughter back along the hillside as they were closer to the house. He looked down and saw Christine in the garden, who looked up and waved at them. Suddenly filled with a longing to hold his wife, Erik beckoned for her to join him on the hilltop. As she made her way to the top of the hill, Erik noticed Marigold was watching Frans walk Helios back to the barn.

"Why don't you go help Frans? I want to talk with your mother for a moment," Erik told Marigold.

Marigold nodded and ran down the hill to meet Frans. Christine gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before she made her way up the hill to meet Erik. She walked up the hill and closer to him, gently placing her hands on his arms as he tenderly wrapped her.

"Oh, Christine," he sighed, looking relieved to see her. "I was hoping to find you out here."

"I'm glad to see that you're looking much better, Erik."

"Still a bit sore but I needed some fresh air," said Erik. "Rather ironic, considering I have been far too accustomed to the dark underground. I also wanted a walk with Marigold, but now I would like a moment with you." He turned her face up to look into his eyes. "I think this whole ordeal have been especially hard for you, hasn't it?

Sadly, Christine had turned her face slightly away from him, not wanting him to see her tears. "I can't…even think about that," shuddered Christine. She choked back a sob as tears welled up. "Forgive me, but I couldn't hold my tears any longer."

Erik's heart ached as he saw how tired and sad his wife looked. He didn't realize the magnitude of stress and sadness she had been through the past few nights. She turned around and looked at him sadly, as he reached out to her. She went over and let him hold her. "Oh, sweetheart …" he whispered.

Relishing a quiet moment with her husband, she sighed as she nuzzled up to him. She missed how warm his embrace was, despite the fact that he was careful not to open his wound and did not hold her tightly. He smiled and had her gently rest her head against his chest as she gave a somewhat fatigued sigh. She held onto him for as long as she was able to. It made her heart ache to think of losing her beloved husband. It was a strange to think how at her first meeting of Erik, she was terrified of him. Yet now, after learning to love him, she couldn't imagine her life without him. A tear fell down her cheek, but not unnoticed by Erik. He held her face with one hand and looked at her with kind, loving eyes.

Christine closed her eyes as more tears fell, which Erik wiped away again. Then, she buried her face into the front of his shirt and cried softly. He held her close, much in the same way as he did with Marigold earlier. He smiled softly and kissed her lips. How good it is to be loved, he thought. Contentedly, she sighed as he kissed her tenderly. She looked up at him with tearful eyes. "Oh, Erik. I was so afraid I'd lost you. You don't know how much you mean to me. When I arrived home with Rahim and saw Marigold's note, I thought I was going to lose both of you."

"Shh, I'm still here, my love. I'm still here," he cooed. "You haven't lost me." He smiled lovingly. "Sometimes it still seems strange for me to truly understand how much you have grown to love me. How when we first met, you were so frightened of me and afraid to let me touch you. Now, you look so content being in my arms."

"I'm sorry for being so frightened then. I don't think I truly understood at the time. But you were right in the end. I did learn to love you."

He chuckled warmly. "And you don't know how much your love means to me…how much you mean to me."

"I did worry greatly for you as a wife, but I think I worried even more as a mother at the thought of our daughter going headfirst into danger. It was a miracle that all three of you managed to escape alive. I was too tired and relieved to even give her and Frans a lecture."

Erik smiled sadly at her. "I don't think we should scold her this time, Christine. If it wasn't for her and Frans, I wouldn't be here right now…She saved my life… As hard as it is for us to believe, our daughter is growing up quickly. She showed a great deal of resourcefulness and bravery for her age."

"Well, she must get that from her father," said Christine, beaming as she nuzzled against him.

"On the contrary, I think she gets a great deal of it from her mother." Erik said as he caressed her cheek and touched her nose affectionately.