Disclaimer: Yeah? Well maybe I do own them, what you gonna do about it? (Is shown a document entitling a fine of a large amount of money) Oh ok.
It was night when Erik woke again, there was no sunlight peeking through the shutter cracks and a tallow candle filled the room with flickering gold light. He squirmed uncomfortably for a moment, then realised there was nothing for it, he needed the lavatory.
With an effort, the unmasked Phantom pushed back the covers and swung his legs around. As he sat up, his injured heel hit the floor and he bit back a hoarse gasp of pain. Standing unaided was out of the question, but he shrunk from the thought of calling Louise. (Surely he didn't need to go that badly…Ah!). Erik spied a crutch leaning against the wall, and with a bit of careful manoeuvring, he managed to prop himself upright.
Cautiously, he opened the door at his room, looking around. The darkness did not bother him so he left the candle where it burned.
The first door he tried opened what looked like a workroom, wicker baskets and neat bundles of herbs were organised around three mortar and pestle sets and rows of sharp knives sitting complacently on a broad scrubbed table. Hobbling backwards, Erik tried the door on his right. (Ah ha! Success) he thought wryly, revealing the bathroom.
Exiting the bathroom, Erik's crutch snagged on the skirting board and set him off balance, he stumbled, agony shooting up his leg as he fell towards the floor...
Strong, warm, hands caught him, supple arms draped him around pale shoulders as Erik caught a glimpse of a silver cross against a blue shirt. She smelt of rosemary, he remembered later, rosemary and safety.
Louise supported Erik back to his bed and helped him in, tucking his blankets around him in a no nonsense manner.
"I'm not a bloody invalid"! He protested, irritated. Louise gave an unladylike snort, "Could have fooled me" he heard her mutter under her breath, "Why didn't you call me?"
Erik glared up at her sullenly, "I've been in bed for the last ten days, or so you tell me" he pointed out, "Surely I can make a short walk?"
"Ah, but do you remember anything from those ten days?" Louise asked, Erik remained red faced and silent. "Well then," Louise said, as if that settled everything. "Now by tomorrow that cream should have done its work so I should be able to take your stitches out." Gently she pressed him back onto the bed, the sheets of which had been changed, he noted. Louise smoothed his hair back, which was in dire nee of a was and trim, she noticed, she would attend to that soon, and kissed him lightly on the forehead, just beside his stitches, not even flinching when her fingers skimmed over his ravaged face. Erik blinked in surprise, and Louise gave him a faint smile of warmth tinged with something he couldn't identify.
"Now please try not to be so stubborn if you need anything," she told him, Erik grinned up at her in spite of himself.
"I can but try mademoiselle," he relied with vast mock sincerity.
"I hope you wont mind if I don't hold my breath," she retorted with another smile. She leant over and blew out the candle, Erik could almost imagine her lips sending him a soft feathery kiss through the shadows. (Wait! What was he thinking?)
Their eyes met in the sudden darkness as Louise twisted ribbons of smoke from the red ember of the candlewick around her fingers thoughtfully. Without thinking, Erik reached out and took her hand, drawing it to his lips in a gesture of gratitude.
"Thankyou mademoiselle Louise," he purred softly, Louise inclined her head gracefully, not breaking eye contact.
"Just Louise, Monsieur Erik," she replied in her low smooth voice.
"Then I am just Erik," he answered. For a long time, neither of them moved, then Louise gently reclaimed her fingers.
"Goodnight Erik," she said, backing slowly towards the door, Erik nodded as she closed the oaken exit, leaving it a fraction open if he so needed.
"Goodnight Louise," he murmured to the lingering fragrance of rosemary and the warm sweet smell of extinguished candles. The dark was welcoming and slumber beckoned, yet it was a long time before either of them drifted off to sleep.