Thanks for the reviews!

They rode off at dawn, after sharing half a loaf of bread that had been shoved in a saddlebag when Christine wasn't looking. She was once again plunged intp an uneasy silence, which made the ride even more unbearable. She started to wonder if she should have come at all - for it seemed that the man riding with her considered her hardly more than a nuisence! Hurt welled in her as these unwelcomed thoughts dwelled in her mind, making her shift uneasily in his grip.
After what was surely a good many hours of riding, Erik looked up at the sky, as if drifting out of a deep daydream. "It must be near noon time, judging by the sun. we'll stop and eat right up here."
Soon he slowed the horse down and jumped off, then helped her. Grabbing hold of the reins again, he lead the horse to a wide river in this open valley that he had chosen. Shedding the reins and saddle, Erik let the horse drink, than came to sit beside Christine, seemingly taking great care as to not sit too close. He retrieved the rest of their bread supply and split in it half, and handed her portion to her. But she was fuming inside as she watched him eat. His silence, his eyes staring at the outstretching land before them, not even trying to sneak a glance at her, only added fuel to the fire that was already burning deep down. Finally, she couldn't stand her silence anymore.
"What's wrong with me?" She cried out, desperate for him to notice her. Notice her he did - startled too. He looked at her with wide eyes, his head slightly cocked to the side.
"Excuse me?" He asked, almost in a whisper.
"Well surely you must see something wrong with me! You act as if I'm not here - or you wish I wasn't. How is that supposed to make me feel? And then the memory of your words - that you really didn't want me here at all...was that for more than just my safety, Erik? Did you really not want me to come? Was that night that you told me you loved me false? Were you only caught in the moment, because I was the first woman who has ever admitted to loving you? Do you really not love me in turn? Was it just infatuation? Having fun solely because of the great competition? Was I just another thing you could win just to prove that you could beat whomever you wish? Do I really mean nothing to you? And I really that unwanted?" The words flooded out of her mouth. She had kept to her silence too long; too many thoughts had bore into her mind, twisting her original thoughts, making her doubt the man she thought she loved so truly.
Erik was obviously taken aback. Even though he had acted so strange to her, it was clear that he did not understand why she would say such things. Were his acts unintentional? Why would they be?
"Christine...please, never again think that you are unwanted. Never, ever could you be that. What I said that night...Christine, I do not say things lightly. I mean what I say. I admit, I haven't been acting the way you must expect me to. For that, I am sorry. I would never intentionally hurt you, you must know that. I suppose...I suppose my more...nonromantical side...tends to get the better of me. Perhaps you could say...my logical side? But please promise me that you will never think you are unwanted when you are in my presence again. No matter how long we are together, that thought of yours will never be true on my part." He said with such feeling that it brought tears to Christine's eyes and sent them coursing down her cheeks. He gave her one more meaningful glance as she wordlessly nodded, then he walked away to go ready the horse.
But that glance was all she needed. She understood. He was distancing himself from her. Not incase he'd have to send her back, but in case she would leave him, like so many had done to him in the past she knew too little about. He was afraid of being hurt by her - and that would mean the destruction of him unless he lessened his need for her. That's why he never called her 'my dear' anymore. That's why he didn't meet her eyes; because that plan of his was failing quickly.
Christine shrugged as she stood up and wiped the crumbs from her skirt. She'd just have to prove her loyalty to him - she'd have to assure him that she'd never leave, no matter what would happen to her. No matter how great the risks. No matter what...he was with her, and she with him - and that's how it would stay from now on.

Erik's hands reached down to help her onto the horse. She wrapped her hands around this upper arms as he lifted her and got her settled before him in the saddle. She stared into his eyes as he looked straight ahead, putting the horse in a gentle trot to warm him up. His eyes were simular to what they had been before, but now there was a little light shining in them. She had broken a small piece of armor from his heart; started making him believe that she was in this for the long run - and that she wouldn't run away...at least run away from him.
But there was still that same defense up. It was a long rode she had in front of her, but she was more than eager to travel it, for she could already glimpse and see what rewards she would be able to reap once that trial was over.
Erik's sudden gruff voice startled her. "We'll be reaching a small town by nightfall. We'll stay at a little boarding house there. We'll have to stock up on food as well. And you'll have a warm bed to sleep in."
Christine smiled up at him, laying her head gently, slowly, lightly on his chest. A warm feeling flooded her heart. He had answered all her questions with those few sentences. He cared for her, he was looking out for her. He was loving her. In his own inexperienced way, he was loving her.

They were cloaked in a peaceful twilight as they entered the small, sleepy town. It's cobble streets made the horse's hoofs clop beautifully. In Christine's sleepy haze, it seemed the perfect little place. A nice place to live...shame they had to move on.
At a two story building, with wide double wood doors, Erik stopped his horse. A young boy that had watched their ascent to the boarding house now walked towards them. Erik huddled close to Christine, trying to keep at least half of his face hidden from view.
"Shall I take your horse to the stables, Monsieur; Madame?" The sandy-blonde haired boy asked.
"Yes, thank you." Erik said to him in a hoarse voice. Christine felt something cold in her hand. She opened it to find two coins. "Give it to the boy." Erik whispered in her ear.
Christine, with a sweet smile, handed the boy the coins. A grateful smile spread over his lips as he thanked them profusely, then took the horse's reins and led him around the building.
"Christine...get that cane. See it? By the door? That will help with the act." Erik whispered again. With his arm around her waist, she walked over to the door and grabbed the cane, which he held in his hand but did not use. Then they went inside.
It was a rustic looking room, with roughly two dozen people in it; eating, dancing, relaxing by the open fire. But the pair instead made their way to the desk.
"Now, we need two rooms and a meal. You'll pay with this." Erik said and put a leather pouch in her hand, filled with coins. "If it isnt enough, I have more."
Christine tried to hide her surprised look, as well as not think about where he had obtained that money.
"Two rooms for the night, please." She said to the lady at the desk, handing over the money. The woman eagerly counted it, then nodded.
"You both are in great luck. We have just two rooms left. They aren't very close together, but you'll see that they'll fit your accommodations quite well, I believe." and with that, the woman took two keys off little hooks on the wooden wall, and led them up tp the stairs. Erik's grasp on Christine was fiercely tight, so much that she could hardly breath. Did men like Erik get nervous? Christine had to wonder that. Apparently so, or at least that's what her abdomen was telling her.