Catherine awaited Erik's return, but how long she had actually been waiting was unclear since there was no way of telling how much time had passed since Carriere had left her or if it was morning or evening. She spent a majority of her time standing by the window looking out onto Erik's home and there was deathly silence all around. That is until, Catherine heard a faint sound in the air that seemed to be growing louder and she soon realised it was flute music being played, the tune was calming and almost hypnotic. She looked all around to try and find the source of the music and it seemed to be coming from down a dim lit hallway, next to the entrance to the room, and she decided to follow it. On her way out she grabbed a candelabra from a pedestal with her right hand then proceeded on her way down the hallway with caution. It wasn't long until she came to a black, wooden door with a brass handle and without knocking she pushed the handle down with her free hand and pushed the door open slowly. The room she enter appeared to be a music room with a grand piano, but there was also a dressing table on the right with an array of different masks hanging above it. Erik was standing on the right side of the room with his back to Catherine and she knew why when she noticed his mask resting on top of the Piano. He was wearing a white shirt, a golden colour waist coat, black trousers, and black boots.
He stopped playing his flute the minute Catherine entered the room, placed it on the music stand in front of him, took a few steps back, grabbed his mask from the Piano and placed it on his face, before turning around to greet Catherine.
"Good Morning, did you sleep well?" he said as he tied the ribbons of his mask behind his head.
Catherine didn't speak but nod her head 'yes' as she stood in the threshold, holding the candelabra in both hands.
"I like that room. Good cosy bed, pleasant water view" Erik commented.
Catherine nod her head 'yes' again and smiled softly.
"Well, what should we do today? Hm?" asked Erik.
Catherine shrugged her shoulders.
"I have an idea, how about a picnic?" asked Erik in an enthusiastic tone.
"A picnic?" asked Catherine in an incredulous tone.
"Yes! Down through the woods there's a quiet little spot I know. We won't be interrupted there and while we stroll, I can show you where I live, my domain" said Erik with enthusiasm as he walked towards the dressing table.
He picked up a straw boater hat with a back ribbon around it.
"Hat, do you think? Formal touch?" he asked as he held it up for a moment then placed it on his head.
Catherine entered the room as he spoke and placed the candelabra on a table. She turned to look at him wearing the hat, tilted her head a little and smiled at him because she thought it suited him very well.
"Hm? Yes, I think so too. And of course, a walking cane" he said as he picked up a walking can from an umbrella stand, next to the dressing table.
He then walks over to the other side of the room.
"And to complete our little outing, viola!" he said, tapping his walking cane onto a premade picnic basket before picking it up with his left hand.
He walks over to Catherine and stands to her left side, holding his arm out to her to take.
"Shall we go?" he asked.
Catherine linked her arm with his and smiled up at him.
Erik leads her towards a set of double door with stain glass windows, to her astonishment the doors opened on their own to reveal a huge cavern, violin music was playing from an unseen source and to the right there was opening that appeared to lead out into a forest, which was impossible since they were five stories underground. Once the doors opened all the way, Erik led her towards the entrance to the underground forest.
"Do you like these woods of mine?" asked Erik.
"Oh, yes very much" said Catherine.
"They stretch on almost forever. Come, there's a path over here. One can get quite hopelessly lost in these woods if one does not know the path or have a guide who does" said Erik in a teasing manner as he turned back to look at Catherine.
He had unlinked arms with her and now was leading her by the hand up the rocks.
Catherine giggled at his behaviour.
Erik turned back around and continued leading her up to the entrance to the forest and kept a hold of her hand as they entered.
"Once upon a time, before I planted all this there were only endless, dreary vaults in this land, gloomy barren corridors, a wilderness of stone, no life at all. No love, no loving kindness" said Erik as he led Catherine further into the forest.
He stopped to turn back and look at her for a moment and they locked eyes.
"Are you warm enough?" he asked her.
"Yes" she said with a smile.
Erik nod his head and turned back around but froze mid-way.
"Sh! Morning Birds!" he whispered, letting go of Catherine's handed and pointed a finger up.
Catherine didn't hear anything but humoured him.
"Pheasant too are here and dear. Squirrels, foxes, rabbits, all playing most harmoniously, like this magic music" said Erik as he walked further ahead.
Catherine followed close behind him.
"You are magic, too, I think" Erik commented as he turned to look at her again.
"No, no, I don't think that" said Catherine being modest, her cheeks colour a little.
"Oh, yes, you are. I know" said Erik insistently.
He raised his right arm and nudged Catherine's hands, which were clasped together in front of her.
"Magic is my friend. Magic cannot hide from me. You belong here" said Erik as he turned back around and walked further on.
Catherine followed.
He had only walked a few steps before stopping again.
"Do you like this music?" he asked.
"Yes, yes, very much!" said Catherine, smiling as she listened to the music.
She walked around in front of Erik and turned to face him.
"Do you know why?" asked Erik.
Catherine shrugged her shoulders; she didn't really know the right words to say.
"Because it gives shape to our dreams. In fact, I call this domain my dreamery. Do you find that apt?" asked Erik.
"Yes!" said Catherine.
"Apt to what?" asked Erik.
"Well, apt to what you wish?" Catherine guessed.
"Exactly so" smiled Erik.
"Come!" he said, walking towards a clearing nearby.
Catherine did not follow, she looked all around at the trees and saw there were stuffed animals spread all around the area, giving the forest a more fairy tale like appearance. She admired the amount of work Erik put into it all.
"We'll set our picnic here" said Erik as he planted his walking cane into the ground.
Catherine walked towards him with her hands clasped behind her back and came around to Erik's right-hand side, whilst he opened up the picnic basket, took out a blanket and spread it out onto the ground.
He looked at Catherine then gestured with his left hand towards the blanket.
"Please, sit down" he said.
The two of them sat down on the blanket across from each other. Erik removed his hat and started unpacking the basket.
"Of all the places in my realm, this is the most enchanted spot, I think. And what have we here? Voila" he said as he opened up a bundle, he just took out of the basket to reveal a few pieces of fruit and some cheese.
He continued unpacking.
"Would you sing for me?" he asked Catherine.
"If you wish" she said with a smile.
"Oh...I do! Very much" he said as he placed a plate in front of Catherine and himself.
Catherine was silent and fidgeted a little with her hands.
Her mind wondered back to her chat with Carriere earlier and her curiosity about what hides beneath Erik's mask grew, but she was a little nervous to ask to see his face.
Erik could see she looked troubled and became concerned.
"I'm sorry, is there something?" he asked.
Catherine took a deep breath before speaking.
"If I sing for you, will you grant me a favour?" she asked, nervously.
"No" Erik answered abruptly before carrying on, unpacking the basket.
Catherine was a little disheartened by his answer but pressed on.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because you must sing for love and joy, not for gain. I will grant you a favor regardless of what you do. Tell me what it is you wish" he said, encouraging her to ask what she wanted as he continued unpacking the basket.
Catherine took another deep breath to calm her nerves.
"Let me see your face" she said.
Erik froze as he placed the items he was holding down onto the blanket. He raised his eyes to look at Catherine and sat up a little.
Silence came over both of them for a moment until Erik broke it.
"You have asked I'm afraid the only thing in my power that I cannot grant. Please, don't ask it again" he said, wishing to move on to a different subject.
"I have seen your eyes and I know your heart. Why not let me know your face as well?" asked Catherine, trying to show Erik she wished to know the true him even more.
"Because...because I have not face. I have only resemblance of a face and...no one should ever have to look at it" said Erik, feeling reluctant to talk about his face and couldn't look Catherine in the eye.
"Oh, but I could look at it" said Catherine, trying to reassure him she was not afraid.
"No stop!" said Erik, begging her to drop the subject.
"No, I could!" said Catherine, trying to make him listen.
"I ask you please to...stop" said Erik, trying to stay calm.
Silence fell upon them for a moment again, this time Catherine broke it.
"Only if you say you do not love me will I stop" she said, giving Erik an ultimatum if he wouldn't listen to her.
Erik was at a loss for words and attempted to change the subject.
"I feel a chill descending. I think we ought to go. It feels like rain" he said as he attempted to pack things away.
"Maestro, Please! You have given me so much" she said, begging as she gently grabbed his wrist with both hands.
Her touch made Erik stop what he was doing and look at her with a wide-eyed expression
"You don't know what you're asking" he said, nervously.
"Yes, I do! If you love me, please let me love you too" said Catherine, insistently.
Erik did not speak and tried carry on repacking, but Catherine kept holding on to his arm, preventing him from doing so.
"No, don't do that! I know your face can be looked at by someone who loves you. Please, let me show you that's true" she said, begging him to give her a chance to prove that she loves him.
"Oh Catherine, this time with you...is the...is the nearest I have ever been to bliss. I'm satisfied with that" said Erik, in contentment.
"Oh, but there is more!" said Catherine, trying to reassure him.
"I'm sure, but not for me" said Erik.
Catherine gave him a soft smile.
"I ask nothing that has not already been done. Your mother saw your face and smiled. If love could let her gaze at you and smile, could it not do the same for me?" she said, reassuring him he had nothing to fear.
At the mention of his mother, Erik's eyes opened wider than they were before, for he did not know how she knew this but didn't question her about it. He thought about what she said and looking into her eyes, he could tell she was being genuine and reluctantly he decided to grant her favour, at last.
He placed the items he was holding down onto the blanket.
Catherine gave him a beaming smile, let go of his arm and leaned away from him a little so he could remove his mask on his own.
He raised his left hand towards the back of his head to untie the ribbons that held his mask in place, his right he placed over his mask so it wouldn't fall off suddenly.
Catherine watched his every move and her heart raced with anticipation.
Erik untied the ribbons, he then swapped hands around so he could untangle the ribbon from the right side of his head and then swapped them back around again, this time he put his left arm down at his side. He slowly pulled his mask away and revealed his true face.
His face, with the exception of his mouth and chin, had the appearance it was badly burned, the colour of his skin was red raw, he also had dark circles around his eyes that made them looked sunken in and his skin looked so tight his cheeks were quite pronounced.
Hi appearance did surprise Catherine but didn't repulse her at all because this was Erik. Her teacher, friend, protector, and the man she loved very much. His face did not change how she felt about him at all and to show this to him she raised her hands and held his face. Her soft touch made him gasp with shock, he clenched up his body a little and looked at Catherine with wide eyes. She, however, looked at him with a loving smile, leaned forward a little more and her lips touched his forehead for a kiss. Erik gasped as he felt her soft lips touched his head and he felt tears in his eyes.
Catherine pulled away from kissing him and looked at him with a beaming smile.
"How?" he whispered as tears fell from his eyes.
"Because your face does not define who you are, what matters is what is in here" said Catherine as she lowered her left hand and rested where Erik's heart would be.
"From the day we've met you've been everything to me. My teacher, my protector and in all the time we've spent together I have grown to love you. I love you with all my heart, Erik" she said, declaring passionately.
Erik was taken aback when he heard his name pass her lips.
Catherine immediately realized her slip up. Her cheeks colour but her smile didn't drop. She raised her right hand to touch his cheek again.
"Monsieur Carriere came and spoke to me. He told me your name and your story and tried to persuade me to return with him, but I refused. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you because of how much I love you" she said, nervously.
Erik was in disbelief, part of him felt angry towards Carriere for trying to ruin his plans and another part of him felt ecstatic to hear that the woman he loved, loved in him return.
Catherine began to sing.
(Catherine)
In a perfect world
One we've never known
We would never need
To face the world alone
They can have the world
We'll create our own
I may not be brave or strong or smart
But somewhere in my secret heart
I know love will find a way
Anywhere I go, I'm home
If you are there beside me
Like dark, turning into day
Somehow we'll come through
Now that I've found you
Love will find a way
(Erik)
I was so afraid, now I realize
Love is never wrong
And so it never dies
There's a perfect world
Shining in your eyes
(Erik and Catherine)
And if only they could feel it too
The happiness I feel with you
They'd know love will find a way
Anywhere we go, we're home
If we are there together
Like dark, turning into day
Somehow we'll come through
Now that I've found you
Love will find a way
I know love will find a way
They looked at each other lovingly, they leaned towards each other slowly and their lips connected in a passionate kiss, which Erik gladly accepted. As they kissed Catherine threw her arms around Erik's neck whilst he snaked his around her waist and soon the two were caressing each other, which then led to undressing and concluded with them joining together in a lover's embrace.