Chapter Eleven

Raoul and Christine were laughing as they returned from a walk around the grounds.

"You didn't!" Christine gasped.

"Oh, I did. Philippe was furious, but he couldn't say anything because the whole of the court was there!"

"I can't believe it!"

"You think you can't?" Raoul laughed as they entered the courtyard that led to the front doors of the castle. They both stopped as they saw a carriage.

"That's a Hirlos carriage." Christine said. "Has someone come to see you?"

"Let's go and look." Raoul smiled. He knew very well who it was.

They hurried inside and found Marie waiting inside. She smiled.

"Why don't you go to the living room?"

"Who's arrived?" Christine asked. Marie simply smiled and turned. Christine stared after her and looked at Raoul. "You know, don't you?"

"I might do."

"Who is it? Tell me!" She laughed. Raoul grinned and took her hand.

"Come on!"

He pulled her towards the living room and they went inside, both still laughing. And then Christine stopped in shock as the tall figure of Erik Destler turned to look at them. Christine went cold, then rather hot and then become very conscious of the fact that Raoul's hand was still wrapped around hers and that Erik was looking at their joined hands.

"Erik! How was the journey?" Raoul said happily, going to greet his friend. Christine hung back, her chest constricted.

No… no, he couldn't be here. This wasn't… no…

"Christine?" She blinked and looked up. Raoul was stood before her, looking worried. "Are you alright? You've gone terribly pale…"

"I… I'm fine. Just a little faint." She smiled weakly. Raoul kissed her forehead and she looked at Erik.

"Monsieur Destler… I didn't realise that you would be rejoining us." She said coolly.

"Neither did I, your highness. And I should congratulate you on your engagement." He said in a tone that was just as impersonal.

"Thank you."

"I asked Erik to come back, Christine. He's going to be playing at the wedding." Raoul said, looking delighted with himself. "I thought it would make you happy."

Christine didn't reply. She was still stunned. Raoul frowned, taking her hand.

"Are you happy?"

"Of course I am, Raoul. I… I'm just surprised." She smiled. Raoul smiled and put his arm about her shoulders as he looked to Erik.

"It's such a shame that you missed the engagement ceremony. But at least you'll be here for the most important part. And then we'll all be travelling back to Hirlos for Christine's introduction to the people."

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in." Raoul said and Meg entered. She saw Erik, blinked and then looked quickly at Christine, who was staring at the floor.

"Yes Me?" Raoul asked.

"I… Princess Christine… your father wants you." Meg stammered. Christine nodded and excused herself, following Meg out.

Before her friend could say a word, Christine walked past.

"Don't say a word, Meg. Not one word."

Erik watched her go and unclenched his jaw. It had stiffened from the moment Christine had entered the room, holding hands with Raoul and gotten more so with every passing moment. He had even twitched slightly as he had watched Raoul kiss her.

And she had been so cold. Not that he blamed her in the least. But this was how it was supposed to be. He realised that Raoul was speaking to him.

"How long did it take for you get here?"

"I set off before dawn." Erik replied, pushing all thoughts of the princess out of his head.

Easier said than done.

Dinner was an interesting affair. Erik and Christine were carefully polite but avoided all conversation possible. The most awkward moment was brought up by Charles.

"Now you have returned, Monsieur Destler, will you be continuing Christine's singing lessons?"

"Papa, I will hardly have time. The wedding is in three days and there's still so much to be done." Christine said, not letting Erik answer.

Charles seemed to accept this answer and turned to speak to Raoul. Christine fixed her eyes on her food, aware that Erik was looking at her from further down the table. He had not resumed his seat on her left, which was now filled by Sorelli. She lifted her wine to sip it and then looked away.

She was angry with him. Christine realised that as she lay in bed that night.

She had sorted everything out. She had done what was expected of her, she had done what was right. She was starting to feel less unhappy about the whole thing, beginning to think that perhaps this wouldn't be a complete disaster.

And now Erik was back.

Now everything was in turmoil. Because she had spent these past three weeks forcing herself to not love him. And it had been quite easy. Out of sight, out of mind. That had been the plan. And it had worked, it really had.

At least, it had until she'd seen him standing there. Christine had never seen a tidal wave, but she imagined the sensation would be somewhat similar.

And she blamed him for it. She would not lie here whilst he was somewhere in this castle, smug and pleased with himself for being so noble. It was unfair! After she'd tried so hard…

Christine climbed out of bed, pulling on a dressing gown. Ayesha looked up sleepily from the bed before occupying the warm spot that Christine had been lying in. Christine tied the belt on her white lace dressing gown, pulled on a pair of slippers and pushed open the bedroom door. It was well past midnight but she knew he wouldn't be sleeping yet. She wasn't quite angry enough to go barging into his quarters, but if he was in the music room, she would give him a piece of her mind!

She made her way downstairs and threw open the door to the music room.

Erik was stood with his back to the door, looking out of the window. Christine paused, waiting for him to speak. After a moment he did, without looking at her.

"I thought you'd come sooner."

"What made you think that I would come at all?" Christine said icily. He turned to look at her, his face in darkness.

"Because I know you."

Silence. And then…

"How dare you." She said it quietly. But there was loathing and fury in that quietness.

"I beg your pardon?"

"How dare you! You have no idea how hard it has been to do what I have done!" Christine spat at him. "You just left! You broke your promise to me; leave me nothing more than a note and leave! How dare you claim that you know me, Erik Destler? How dare you simply come back when it pleases you, with no concern for the feelings of anyone else?"

He didn't reply, watching her. She fumed at his silence.

"Do you have no idea how hard it has been?" She demanded. "You have no idea of how terrible I've been feeling. And just when I'm starting to feel a little better about doing this, you show up here. Well, you have no right to. You had no right to do what you did."

"And what did I do?" He asked coldly.

"You broke my heart!"

She stopped sharply, realising what she had said. Erik felt the blood drain from his face.

"No…"

"Now do you understand? You think I just go about kissing any man in my path? I was in love with you, Erik!"

"No!" Erik crossed to her and put his hands on her shoulders, digging his fingers in as he hissed, "Take that back."

"If I could, I would!" She spat.

"He is in love with you, you foolish girl!" Erik said in a desperate, angry voice. "He loves you!"

"And you don't?"

She said it so quietly you could have missed it. Erik didn't, of course. He released her and took a step back. Christine watched him closely, her face set in a slight frown, her dark eyes fixed on his.

"Well?"

"Go to bed." He said, turning away but Christine caught his arm and pulled him back around.

"Tell me that you don't love me!"

"Go-"

"Say it, Erik! Say that you don't love me!"

"I can't!"

The declaration was so angry and painful that Christine's hand dropped from his sleeve. But he did not turn away. He looked almost sad as he said,

"Does that please you, princess? Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Don't think for one moment that you are hurt more by this. In three days I have to marry Raoul and there's nothing I can do about it. And that makes me a worse person than I can bear to be, Erik. Because I care for Raoul. But I don't love him." She whispered.

Tears were filling her eyes. Erik could see them in the faint moonlight. She sniffed and looked away.

"I wish things were different, Erik. I wish that you could be the one that I'm going to marry. I wish…" She couldn't say anything more. She bit her trembling lip and then turned to run, letting out a gasping sob.

But Erik pulled her back, wrapped his arms around her and was kissing her before she knew what to think. Then his lips moved from her mouth to her forehead and he was crushing her to him as if he would never let go.

She didn't want him to.

For some time, neither of them knew how long, they stood in silence, clinging to each other like sailors lost at sea. And then Erik sighed.

"Oh Christine…"

"Erik, what can we do?" Christine asked in quiet desperation. "I can't marry Raoul. I can't. It's not fair to him or to us.

Erik didn't know. He held Christine tightly, trying to think. What could they do? He'd spent his whole life serving, doing the correct thing. But in this moment, holding this girl in his arms, he wanted to do what he wanted.

"We can run." He breathed. She looked up at him.

"What?"

He released her, clasping her hands tightly in his.

"I own a house in the Southlands. We can go there. No one knows about it. We could live there."

"Erik-"

"We can't say here. Not if we want to be together. They won't let us. This is the only way." He said, half-excited, half-terrified and half-calm and that overload of emotions came to the amount of three half and made just as much sense.

"But… but Papa…" Christine faltered. She turned from him, torn. Erik watched her tensely. After a moment she looked back at him, resolved.

"…We must go now. Before anyone finds us."

"Yes." Erik smiled. Christine smiled too.

"I need to get some things. I'll just be a moment."

"I'll fetch a carriage and I'll meet you in the stables." He said, thinking furiously of their plan. Christine's smile widened and she kissed his cheek before rushing out.

She took only a few things. A miniature of her father, one of her mother, a couple of books, some jewellery and sentimentally precious things. She wondered briefly of leaving a note, but had no idea what to write.

Christine took out a black cloak. It was one she used only for formal occasions but now it would provide her with some camouflage. She pulled it on, drew the hood over her head and slipped from her room.

Erik reined the horses into the carriage. It was a small one, probably used by servants and only required two horses as to the four horse carriages used by the royalty.

The two black horses shuffled anxiously. Did they know that something was happening? Probably. Erik knew that horses were considerably more adept at realising things than most humans.

They would try and find them. Erik was not fool enough to think that that wouldn't happen. Christine was the sole heir to the throne of Rymansia. Of course they would search for her. But they would overcome that obstacle when they came to it, he decided firmly, pushing it to the back of his mind.

"Erik?" Her light voice floated through the darkness. Erik turned and saw her stood in the doorway, wearing a black cloak and clutching a bag.

"Quickly." He said, taking the bag. "Do you want to sit inside?"

"No, I'll sit with you." She said and he helped her up before taking the driver's seat. He looked down at her.

"If you wish to turn back, now is the time to do it, Christine."

"No. No returning." She whispered, putting her head on his shoulder. Erik smiled to himself as he cracked the whip and the horses moved swiftly from the stables.

A/N: Well, I hope that this chapter makes up for the past R/C fluff! But things aren't going to be that easy, oh my no. So leave a review and keep the threats to a minimum! After the last chapter, I'm lucky to be alive, lol! Especially the on from A.D Chandler. You're one viscious woman, Andra!

Lotsa luv

Katie