Candle 4: Return to Château de Colville

1 week

Erik helped Meg up onto the white stallion and she held onto him. Erik used his heal to get the horse moving. Erik wore the half faced mask that Meg has kept, since that day the Opera Populaire met its fate. Erik took the same dusty path that he took before and by the late afternoon Erik lit the lantern ready to enter the forest. Meg laid in Erik's hold as they rode to Château de Colville and he kept his eye out.

" It's a lot thicker than before," Erik thought

Meg stirred and looked at the dark forest, she glanced up at Erik, he was concerned about something. She touched his hand and Erik looked down at her and kissed her head. They rode on and rode carefully, but quickly through the forest as they found the light of the lantern casting shadows in the trees.

" It seems even light has it's own shadow," Meg whispered

Erik nodded with a smile then stopped and looked around, the heavy forest seemed to become darker suddenly. Erik's lantern blew out and both looked down at it, Erik used his heal to get the horse going. They raced down the path and Erik turned around to see lanterns in the distance.

" Erik," she whispered

Erik continued to hit the horse with his heal as the lanterns got closer.

" Hold on, I won't let anything happen," Erik whispered

His breaths matched that of his horse as he raced with the horse. Meg held onto the reigns and then as they turned on the path they saw the opening. Erik glanced back and saw the lanterns stop and he looked forward feeling at eased.

" Erik look," Meg said, " The opening."

Erik nodded and they slowed down to a trot. Erik relit the lantern as he let Meg take the reigns.

" I don't understand why our lantern went out," Meg said

" I don't understand either," Erik replied, " Perhaps it was the speed we were going."

As they came to the opening silence grabbed Erik's attention. He stopped the horse and thought about the lanterns, they had stopped at a certain point.

Suddenly a twig snapped and Erik looked around and hit the horse with his heals. They took off, but suddenly lassos were thrown and Erik knocked them with his hand. Meg raised her hand at the level of her eyes, but what ever they did, did not work. Erik was pulled to the ground and so was Meg.

" Erik," she cried

Erik fooled with the lasso around his hands and came to Meg. He was pulled to the ground, two figures walked out. A hilt of a sword hit Erik in the head and Meg cried out. She was gagged and tied and then both were tossed over the shoulders of a behemoth of a man.

Erik opened his eyes and moaned a little then a pitcher was placed to his lips. Water fell between his opened lips and Erik gulped the water as though he had never drank such a refreshing drink. He coughed it up and a silk cloth wiped his mouth and pulled the pitcher away. Erik looked up and saw a young woman dressed in an array of colors. She wore a silk cloth that tied back her wavy black hair, her earrings dangled like chimes and her complexion was darker than the average young French citizen. Erik leaned back, his head throbbing and mind whirling.

" Where is Meg? Where's my horse?" Erik moaned

" Your quite the wealthy one," the girl said

Erik looked at her and she fed him something warm, then reached over for the mask.

" Where is my companion?" he questioned

" You ask to many questions," she said

Erik turned his head from her hand and she grabbed his chin, then ripped the mask off. Slightly surprised to see the disfigurement and laughed a little.

" You hide these lines, you are a coward," she said

Erik gave her a look and then turned his face a little and she grabbed him by his shirt.

" Your companion is very much alive, lucky she is a woman," the young woman said, " So, servant, where were you heading."

" None of your business," he growled

She pulled him by his shirt and she drew a dagger from behind her.

" Château de Colville," Erik said, " If you must know."

" Madame Colville's little servant and her maid," she said, " She's been notified."

" Where is my companion?" Erik asked

The flap of the tent opened and Meg walked in dressed in pretty much the same clothing they wore. Erik looked at her and she knelt down beside him. Her garments matched the chorus girl's outfit from the production of Hannibal

" Erik," she said, " your alright."

She hugged him and Erik kissed her cheek and Meg looked at the young woman. She rose and sheathed her blade.

" Keep him quiet you hear me servant girl?" the young woman sneered

Meg stood and looked at the other woman.

" Untie him now," Meg ordered

" No need," Erik said

He tossed the ropes and stood up and looked at the young woman.

" You need to know the ropes before you tie someone up," Erik remarked

Meg looked at the young woman and the young woman gave Erik a look.

" Keep him quiet and you two might just make it through the night," the young woman said

Erik watched her storm out and Meg wrapped her arms around him, Erik winced a little and she looked at him.

" Erik are you alright?" she asked

" I'm fine," Erik replied, " It's only a scratch."

Meg looked at him and removed his shirt to see how bad it was. She saw scratches all over his back.

" Perhaps there is some medicine," Meg said, " Your back is cut up."

Erik sighed as he grabbed Meg's hands and kissed them.

" Mademoiselle, you are to kind to this fool," Erik said, " Are you well?"

" I'm fine, just a cut on my arm, but its alright," Meg answer

She knelt down then stood up, she looked at him and placed his white mask on his face. She kissed his cheek then grabbed his hand, they walked out and looked at the bandits.

" They're all women," Erik whispered

" No, there are a couple of men," Meg replied, " but mostly women."

Erik looked at them and three of the girls walked to him.

" Your beat up Monsieur shall we tend to your wounds," they said

Meg looked at Erik as he gave shrug and she shook her head. Meg followed them and two of men walk in front of her.

" Mademoiselle," they said

" He's my companion," she said, " I go where he goes."

" A servant girl that serves a disfigured monster," the young woman piped up

" He's no monster, the only monster here is you," Meg said

She pushed past the men and entered a second tent, Erik looked at her. She looked at him and blushed a little, then walked out. The head of the bandits looked at her and laughed.

" You look as if you've seen a ghost," the young woman laughed, " Or perhaps the bare body of a man."

" You are such a soured woman from the ghettos," Meg hissed

The young woman threw her dagger at Meg and Meg ducked. Meg looked at her and the young woman walked over to her.

" A civil girl talks as though she is better than I, the leader of this clan. You are calling the wrong woman trash," the woman hissed

" You deserve no respect, you dress us like dolls and spit on us to show that you are better, but you are not," Meg said, " You maybe a leader, but being a leader means showing respect to even the smallest person."

Erik walked out and looked at both Meg and the young woman.

" Forgive me, I must have missed something," Erik said

" You've missed nothing sir," the young woman said

Meg turned her back and walked to Erik and the young woman looked at her. Meg looked at Erik and reached up then kissed him. The young woman hissed as her clan clapped.

" Such a whore this one is," the young woman said

" Better a whore than a dog begging for food," Meg replied

The young woman only found her desire to rid these two lovers from her camp.

" Be off with you, civil and beast, for I have nothing with you. But beware you civil gal and beastly man, I shall capture you again," she said

Erik whistled for the horse and the horse came and both saddled the horse. Erik and Meg headed down the path and broke free from bandits' territory. They looked back and Meg looked at Erik as he guided the horse. She blushed a little and leaned back into his arms.

" There," Erik said, " Château de Colville…we're finally here."