Sry for not updating that quickly, it's just that I've been on holiday!

AshleytheStrange: Thx for another review! I wont leave out the scars don't worry.

artificial night: Thx for the review, I will try and make the chapters a bit longer but, as you say, it is just the beginning

o.k. on with the next chappie, Erik's POV!

The days leading up to the summer were way too short in my opinion and even though I was dreading it happening I still felt a little pleased that the day that I would meet Christine again was finally here.

Mother was very excited and forced me to wear my best clothes - ! As the servants fitted me into my stiff white shirt and dinner jacket I began to wonder what Christine would look like – would she be tall and fair or short and ugly? Smart or stupid? Beautiful or plain? I knew that mother had planned that I would get married to her so I didn't want her to be ugly!

When I was finally let go by the servants I met my mother in the hall and walked to the gate. Christine and her father were already making their way up the hill and, to my great surprise, I saw immediately that Christine was shy because she had hidden herself under her fathers coat and refused to uncover herself despite her fathers protests – I had thought that all princesses were very proud and had a high regard of themselves but here was the evidence to disprove that!

When they had rode past the hedge I was immediately curious as to what she looked like, as I had not seen her since her first birthday and she had not revealed her face to me. Her father lifted his coat slowly and talked to her then she emerged from the folds reluctantly to greet us.

My spirits immediately fell.

She was pretty alright but not perfect as I expected and I quickly got very bored and longed only to run to my room and stay there until she had gone.

She had barely touched the ground when mother ran up to her and held her face between her hands. She seemed to flinch under mothers intense scrutiny and I suddenly felt a bit sorry for her – my mother could be a little scary at times. My train of thought was broken by the words I was dreading since last night: "oh hasn't she grown into a lovely little princess!" she exclaimed "Erik why don't you come over here and greet her properly!" I groaned – this is what I had feared would happen; she always embarrassed me in front of guests like this "Mother!" I whispered but was cut off by an angry glare and a whispered "Erik!"

I walked over as slowly as I could and said in my most toneless voice "Good evening princess Christine I am very pleased to meet you" to which she didn't reply at first. Instead she stared at me as though I was an exhibit at a zoo! After a moment she replied in a distant voice "Good evening to you prince Erik". She was still staring. I ran back to my mother only to be given another look and I knew what was expected.

I walked up to Christine and did the last thing I wanted to do in this situation – I kissed her hand very quickly and then dropped it, wiped my mouth and turned my back on her.

I couldn't believe this was happening, I didn't want to get married! But I knew I had to or mother would disown me.

Mother quickly opened the little box that she was holding and I saw that inside was an engagement ring. AN ENGAGENMENT RING! Oh no! That meant... She went over and put the ring on Christine's finger. ... it meant that I was now officially engaged to her.

This couldn't be happening to me!

0:-)

A ring! That meant that I was now legally engaged to Erik! His mother was surveying me proudly but I was still in shock that it had gone this far so quickly – I barely knew him for gods sake!

Father took a velvet lined box out of his coat pocket and opened it – inside was another ring. He put it on Erik's finger and, for the first time, I could see that Erik liked this arrangement just as much as I did. He looked up and I quickly looked away embarrassed.

This had gone too far now for both of us and I knew it was going to get worse before it got any better!

A.N. Like it? Hate it? Do you like my idea of a rose to represent Erik: ( and an angel to represent Christine: 0:-) Plz R&R to tell me!