Erik: I wanted to see what was beyond the regular path that most people took. I knew Meg would enjoy the adventure, and from my map I could see we weren't going to get lost.
We followed the foilage that grew along the thick forest floor. The trees were large and obviously old, and birds sang from them.
There were also irritating flying insects and mosquitos. All around us was the simplicity of nature. Meg pointed out a large bush with yellow flowers, and I showed her some ivy that had grown along two trees to form an arch. Along the path we heard a large animal, but when we looked it was already gone.
An elk or perhaps a bear. We enjoyed our trip immensely, until we came out at an intersection.
We had reached the main campsite, where other people had tents and fires going in the dusky evening. Meg and I had spent all day with nothing to eat, and now we set about creating our own camp.
Unlike the other people, who had large tents and pillows to sleep with; Meg and I were content to spread two blankets under a tree and that was enough. We had already endured pelting rain, damp fog, and irritating bugs in Slovenia; and survived.
Of course if Ann had been with us she would have insisted on a tent, and pillows, and maybe even tea. Meg had started building a fire, and tried to light it with matches.
I pulled from my pocket two small flint stones, and struck them together over the wood. The fire started immediately, and Meg laughed. I got out of our pack some hot dogs, and Meg took a small pan and poured a can of black beans into it.
She told me, "This is so amazing. I never thought I would be doing anything like this!" I smiled and replied, "It is rather exciting. I've never been this far before." Meg held the pan over the fire as I cooked the hot dogs.
When we were finished I fixed both of our plates and Meg came to sit beside me. "Tomorrow we'll reach the lodge. How long do you think it may take?" She asked
I looked out at the crowd in the campsite and replied, "We may have to wait in line. I know that the brochure said there were one hundred rooms available, but they may be over booked."
Meg shrugged and said, "Well, then we can camp out a few more days." I chuckled and told her, "Ann will be waiting for us on Sunday." Meg agreed, and we talked a bit more. She asked me about my magic skills, and I showed her a few tricks. It was actually rather nice to have her as a companion.
She was energetic and fun, full of vitality. I had never realized how truly fun a friend could have been. So long ago, I had the same fun with Ann, racing about in the Opera.
Yet I had pushed her away, frightening her, and now it seemed as if I had lost that special connection we once had. Christine had never truly filled that void; she had been my consuming passion; but because I had never seen her in person we didn't have the bond that might have kept her with me.
Instead I had just shown up one day, in the middle of her life, and told her that I had deceived her for so many years. Now, with Meg, I had a chance to correct my failings with both Ann and Christine.
Rather than intimidate and scald her, I simply relaxed and let myself be who I was with Meg. I didn't have to lie or deceive her, she accepted me as I was. I wondered if this would have been the same with Christine, together in a campground, performing magic and laughing.
I wondered if Raoul amused her, or if she was utterly bored. I knew I was not bored, certainly not with Meg, and smiled as she attempted to vanish her scarf.
I took the fabric and waved it in the air, causing it to vanish utterly; up my sleeve. "Erik, silly, bring it back." Meg was laughing and I had to laugh too. I pulled the scarf from her ear, and she giggled.
She looked at me and asked quietly, "Can you tell me a story?" I asked back, "What type?" She shrugged and replied, "A nice one, with a good ending." She pulled up her legs and rested her chin on her knees, and I began to tell a story.
I told her about a prince, who wanted to rescue a young princess, but the prince was snobbish and rude, and the princess fell in love with a kind, gentle man who happened to be an ogre. I told her about the princess's curse, that only true love could break, and Meg sighed when I finished.
"She made the right descion." She said. I asked quietly, "Who would you choose?" Meg looked at me and replied, "The Prince was handsome, and rich, but the Ogre was nicer, and more caring. I think I'd choose the Ogre."
I asked her timidly, thinking of my own self, "Even if the Ogre were so ugly, and so frightening, no one would accept him?" Meg gently leaned forward and whispered, "I would accept him." I smiled as I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Meg placed her legs on the ground and came closer to me, and I turned immediately, poking the fire with the stick to keep it going. I felt Meg's presence close to me, and then I felt her arm around my shoulder.
My heart was racing as fast as a greyhound, and I awkwardly poked the stick in the fire. Meg did not say a word, and we sat together, watching the fire, with her arm gently reaching against my back.
Finally I looked at her, and smiled. She smiled back, and I told her, "We must rest, for tomorrow." Meg nodded, and moved to get her blanket. I don't know why I pushed her away like that, I was frightened really.
I wondered if having feelings for Meg was a betrayal of my love for Christine.
Meg: I knew Erik was not an affectionate man. I'm surprised he didn't choke me the minute I place my arm on his shoulder. He had entertained me with magic and stories, and I knew that perhaps I had gone too far.
Really, I had wanted to kiss him, as we sat beside the fire. Yet I was not going to make that move, for fear of upsetting him. We had known each other for over ten months, and spent half that time alone.
I could wait another ten months if I had to.
I curled up under my blanket and rolled over. Erik was laying on his side a few feet away, and I watched the curve of his back as he breathed. I wondered what he had been thinking, as we sat together.
Most likely about Christine. He loved her, honestly and openly, and I felt sad to know that he would spend his life in misery over a woman who hadn't deserved that love.
Of course it was mean to think such things about my friend, but I had known how she loved Raoul, and only took her Angel for granted. Raoul had done nothing for her career, and he had never shown her the love and affection that Erik had.
Yet, somewhere, in my heart, I was glad she chose Raoul, because if she hadn't, I wouldn't be where I was now. I continued to watch Erik until I fell asleep.
The next morning I awoke to find a line of people moving towards the base of the mountain. I hurriedly packed my blanket and pan, and realized that my dress was rather muddy.
Erik was behind me, and he startled me when he said, "Brown is a good color for you. It makes your hair shine like gold." I shook my head at his joke and mounted Brise. He followed me, but pointed towards the woods. "I looked at the map. Just follow me and don't make any noise."
Two people behind us shouted, "Don't leave the path, you'll get lost!" Once again, however, we left the path.
I followed Erik quietly, until I realized that we were actually skipping line. "Erik, that's wrong." I told him. Erik said nothing, and I began to get cold.
I reached behind me to pull at the pack that held my jacket, and when I got it I pulled it on. I wished I had gotten a hat as well, for my ears were cold.
Erik looked behind to me and asked, "Are you comfortable?" I nodded yes and we continued. We were now climbing a large, steep cliff, and I wondered how our horses could survive.
I cursed Erik, because it would have been easier to follow the worn path than to carve our own. After what seemed nearly an eternity the trees became sparse, and the ground was wet. Suddenly I realized it was snowing, and Erik stopped.
He reached around and pulled out his own jacket, then reached up and removed his mask, placing the black ski mask on instead. When he looked at me he was rather menacing and sinister.
I followed him as we continued, the air getting colder and the snow thicker. I patted Brise to make sure she wasn't shivering. The snow was blanketing the ground and I had to admit it was beautiful.
Suddenly I saw the path of people and horses that we had left, and I laughed. We had saved over four hours of waiting by simply going in a different direction.
Erik motioned for me to ride beside him, and I came to him. We rode until we saw a large building, and I gaped at the ski lodge.