A/N: I know I usually do this at the end, but I just wanted to comment on something that seemed to be confusing people.

Raoul is NOT King. He is a steward and only has as much power as Christine can give him, which is even less than she has herself, as a princess. If she were queen she would have complete power, but obviously she isn't. So Raoul is basically in charge but can't do anything to change Christine's position because he isn't ruler. He's just taking care of the country. I really didn't explain this clearly. Anyway, I just wanted to sort that out before the chapter starts.

Chapter Nineteen

It was two days later when Christine finally worked up the nerve to talk to Raoul again. She entered the bedroom and found him sat up in bed, reading. He closed the book as she came in.

"How do you feel?" She asked, standing at the foot of the bed.

"Better than I did before. But still not wonderful." He said, putting the book to one side.

Christine nodded and Raoul asked,

"Have you been…?"

"Cleaning up the mess? Yes, I have." She said coolly. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that."

"Oh?"

"… I don't want to put you back in charge of my country."

Raoul stared at her, a slight frown setting across his brow. Christine took a breath.

"I left my country in your hands and there has been a rebellion. The city could have been destroyed, the subjects were put in serious danger and you were kidnapped. I am sorry but I have lost faith in your capability." She said in a quiet, calm voice that did not reveal her true emotions.

"Christine, I… you know that I didn't mean for this to happen." He spluttered.

Christine looked at him frankly.

"Of course you didn't. But that doesn't take away the fact that it did."

"It was Hawkins that-"

"I know what Hawkins did, Raoul! But you knew the sort of person he was and if you had been paying attention you would surely have noticed that he was contacting criminals!" Christine snapped. Raoul stared at her.

"You are blaming me for this whole affair?"

"No, just for most of it!"

They glared at each other and Raoul spat,

"I can hardly believe I'm hearing this! For almost five years I've been taking care of Rymansia and because of one mistake-"

"One mistake that could have destroyed everything!" Christine cried, clenching her fists. "For God's sake, Raoul! I trusted you completely! All I wanted was to be happy and I thought that by leaving someone I trusted to take care of Rymansia, I could be! That, clearly, was my mistake!"

Raoul swung his legs off the bed and stood shakily, holding onto the bedpost as he took the weight off his broken leg.

"Don't blame me for this, Christine. You could have ensured that none of this had ever happened if you had just done what you were supposed to do!"

"What? Leave Erik and take the throne? How dare you tell me-"

"Not that!" Raoul bellowed. "If you had just gone through with the arrangement everything would have been fine! But you had to run off with him and destroy everything that Philippe and Charles had worked for!"

Stunned silence. Christine stared at him, appalled. Raoul gritted his teeth, the pain shooting viciously up his leg.

"I won't take the blame for this, Christine. I almost died a few days ago and the whole time, all I could think was that I had failed you. And now I find myself wondering why I was so concerned." He said angrily.

Christine breathed hard, her fingernails digging into her palms.

But she knew he was right. Knew that she was being unreasonable to blame him for everything. But that did not subtract from the fact that she could not, would not hand Rymansia back to him. Irrepressible guilt flooded her and she bowed her head.

Several long moments passed before she lifted her head, tears threatening but her pride holding them back.

"You are right, Raoul. You are not entirely to blame for this. But I will not give you back Rymansia."

And with that declaration she turned and left the room.

Erik looked through the study door. It had been well over an hour since Christine had emerged from Raoul's room and she had gone straight to the study, working silently on fixing the country. He did not speak but watched as she noted something down and reached for a second piece of paper.

The pen fell from her hand onto the desk and her head fell onto her arms. Fro a surprised moment, Erik thought that she had fallen asleep. But the slight tremble of her shoulders told him that it was not so. Erik moved silently into the room and closed the door behind him. Christine must have heard the door shut for she quickly straightened and brushed at her face before looking around.

"Oh, Erik…"

"What happened with Raoul?"

"I… I told him that I didn't want him to rule Rymansia any longer." She admitted. Erik put a hand on her shoulder and she pressed her face to it. "He was so angry… he said things… and they were true, that's the worst of it! Erik, I don't know what to do anymore. I can't leave Rymansia but I won't leave you and Serenity. I could never… what do I do?"

She knew perfectly well that there was nothing that she could do. Erik knew it as well. He pulled Christine to her feet and put his arms about her.

"Christine, we will find a way to solve this."

"But I don't know how, Erik. There is no way out of this. I can't have both. But I can't choose either."

They stood in silence, clinging desperately to each other. Until a knock at the door caused them to reluctantly move apart. Christine called for the person to enter. A servant came and said nervously,

"Your highness, Prince Raoul is asking for you."

"I will be there shortly." Christine said quietly. The servant nodded and closed the door behind him. Christine looked at Erik and said,

"I should go and see him."

"Yes."

"Where is Serenity?"

"With Little Giry, in the library. Reading up on their dragon-slaying techniques." Erik said, a hint of humour in his voice. Christine couldn't help smiling at that.

She slowly climbed the stairs, dreading the confrontation that would arrive when she reached the top. Christine shuffled along the corridor until she reached Raoul's room. After knocking he called for her to enter. She pushed open the door and looked in. Raoul was sat at the small writing table, his leg sticking awkwardly in front of him.

"You asked for me?" She said quietly. Raoul nodded.

"Close the door."

She did so and turned to look at him.

"Raoul, I want to apologise." He held up a hand to stop her.

"Christine, you were right. I'm not capable of running the country and I'll be honest with you – I don't want to anymore."

Christine stared at him.

"What?" She said disbelievingly.

"I don't want you to put my back in a position of power."

"But… but why were you so insistent before?" She demanded.

"I was only hurt by the fact that you didn't trust me." Raoul explained. "It wasn't that I wanted power, it was losing your trust that hurt me."

Raoul smiled slightly at the gaping expression on Christine's face. He picked up a piece of paper from the desk and looked at her again.

"You should rule your own country, Christine."

"Raoul, I won't leave Erik and Serenity."

"Of course not. I wouldn't expect you to. But I've been… investigating, shall we say?" He said, looking thoroughly self-satisfied. Christine narrowed her eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

"Your library has extensive books on the laws of Rymansia. I've been reading through them and… well, there may be a loophole."

"A loophole?" Christine breathed, hardly daring to believe what she was hearing.

Raoul handed her the paper.

"If in the event that there is no ruling monarch to change a law that would benefit the country, the court may choose whether or not to make changes to said law, if more than half of the members of the court are in favour of the changes." Christine read aloud. She blinked, reread the sentence that could affect her whole life, and then looked at Raoul, mouth open. He grinned.

"Well? What do you think?"

"I… Raoul, this could fix everything! Except for the completely obvious fact that the court finds Erik totally unacceptable and our marriage perfectly unreasonable." Christine pointed out. Raoul just smiled slightly.

"But you will never know unless you make an appeal to the court."

"But why didn't anybody know about this?"

"Because, according to the historical records, that law hasn't been applicable for over three hundred years. There had always been a member of royalty, so there's never been a need for the court to make a decision like this."

Christine looked from him, to the paper and then back again. And she smiled.

"Raoul, I don't know how to thank you. If there's anything I can do, anything at all-"

"Let me stay." He interrupted. She blinked.

"Well, I'd have thought that was a given. Of course you can stay. But wouldn't you rather go back to Hirlos?"

"No… Christine, I've… I've made friends with someone."

"Raoul, you've been here for five years, I'm glad you made at least one friend." Christine joked, but stopped at the serious look on his face. He cleared his throat nervously and said,

"Christine… I wish to ask Miss Giry if she would… court me."

As if the day hadn't already had enough drama. Christine smiled.

"Meg? Really?"

"Yes. I don't… I don't think that she is… aware of my feelings towards her but we have become good friends and I hope that she will find me acceptable."

"Raoul, you are far more than acceptable!" Christine said earnestly. Raoul smiled.

"She's just… wonderful."

"And so are you. You are quite well suited!"

"You're only saying that because I found that law." Raoul grinned. Christine smiled and nodded.

"Well, I'm going to go and think up a convincing argument with which to fight for my country."

"And I'm going to try and work up the nerve to inform Meg Giry that I adore her."

"Good luck." Christine said and he nodded.

"The same to you."

They parted, both readying themselves.

"Mama! Meg and me read this book!" Serenity giggled, holding up the heavy volume. Christine smiled.

"Meg and I, darling. Meg, have you seen Erik? I need to talk with him."

"He was helping Lord Callin."

"Oh, Callin has arrived?" Christine said in surprise. Apparently Erik had paid for him to stay in the local inn whilst he was recovering. She had not expected him to travel back so soon in such a condition.

"Yes, Erik took him to Firmin. He should be back any minute." Meg said brightly. "How is Raoul?"

"He's well. We had a rather nasty argument earlier today but we've made up now." Christine smiled knowingly. Meg looked relieved.

"Thank goodness. I can't bear people fighting."

Serenity looked up curiously.

"Is Raoul the man who's not very well?"

"Yes, Serenity."

"Is he better now?"

"It will take a little while for him to get completely better. You can go up and say hello later on." Christine promised. Serenity looked rather pleased and tugged Meg's hand.

"Meg? Can Mama see the book?"

Christine glanced at the cover of the book and groaned.

"Oh, Meg, you didn't!" It was Sleeping Beauty. "I've been trying to convince her that princesses don't just fall asleep and wait around for knights in shining armour!"

"But she enjoyed it so much!"

"I like it, Mama! Are you going to sleep because you're a princess?" Serenity asked curiously. Christine buried her face in her hands.

"Did I make Mama sad, Meg?" Serenity asked anxiously.

"Why is Mama sad?"

Erik entered the library and looked at the three females. Serenity grinned and dashed to him. He swung her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Papa's back!"

"How's Callin?" Christine asked.

"Well enough. He and Raoul will be able to compare casts." Erik said wryly. "Did you talk to Raoul?"

"I did. And he gave me some rather interesting news." Christine said meaningfully. She looked at Meg.

"Why don't you take Serenity up to meet Raoul?"

"Of course."

Once they were gone, Christine signalled for Erik to sit down. He did so and she handed him the piece of paper. He scanned it and his eyes widened slightly.

"What…?"

"Raoul found it. Erik, do you know what this means?"

"You could take the throne." He said quietly. "You could be queen."

"It's the answer to the problem, if the court agrees." She said excitedly. He didn't reply. Christine frowned. "Erik?"

"It's perfect." He said instantly, smiling. "If you can get the court to agree."

"I hope they will. I've got to make a strong case, Raoul could properly help me and I'm sure Lord Callin would support me for one." Christine said, thinking furiously.

"Go and start preparing. I'll be in the music room." Erik told her. She smiled and kissed him.

"I love you, Erik."

"I love you too. Now go."

She left and the forced smile disappeared from his face. He closed his eyes in despair and ran a hand through his dark hair, his heart sinking like a rock in water.

A/N: I know, horribly short chapter, horribly long wait for it. But this is very much just setting up for the final chapter. Please bear with me on the wait, because school is a nightmare at the moment. But the good news is… two of my universities have accepted me! Woo! I'm still waiting to hear from three others and one has requested a writing sample, which I'll be sending to them soon. Squee!

Lotsa luv

Katie