"Men are so strange here." Christine looked up from her book to see Arabella standing in the doorway to the library. "I bet it is even worse for you."

"People are different." She watched as the woman gracefully entered the room. "No matter where you go."

"But you are from a strong line of women." A small smile lit her face. "Surely you must know that no woman even set foot inside the House of Nobles. A fact you should take pride in since you were the first woman to go in the House."

"Indeed." Her brow lifted.

"They are scared of you princess." Arabella leaned towards Christine and touched her face gently. "Those men do not like change. And you are a change, a very big change." Christine did not move while Arabella continued to invade her personal space. She toyed with the princess's hair. "You should watch yourself princess. Any body could lie to you."

The women stood up strait then another slow sensuous smile came to her lips. "But I am sure His Majesty would send you back to your small country it trouble ever arises."

"The king will marry Princess Christine." Madame Giry appeared at the door. Her eyes were narrowed at the sight of the woman. "The stable boy called you, Mistress Arabella."

"Which one?" The woman smiled.

"It could have been Ralph." Her eyes focused harshly on her. "Or Lord Benedict."

"My father is a great man." Arabella's smile faded. "You do him injustice to speak ill of him!"

"He already has done himself enough injustice." Madame Giry said coolly. "And you…"

"Madame," A maid walked in. "The king needs you in Princess Cecile's room."

"Well you wouldn't want to keep the king wanting, Madame." Arabella sneered.

"Your Highness may come with me." Madame Giry gave Christine a brief look.

"Of course." Christine nodded and started to follow behind her when Arabella caught her arm.

"Be careful Princess." She hissed and let her go.

"If I were you Mistress Arabella." Her eyes looked over the beauty. "I would not concern myself with politics. Instead I would try to preserve my beauty for it fades quicker than fake jewels."

Quickly Christine went to catch up with Madame Giry. She seemed worried and uncertain. But it did not feel right to ask questions as they turned down a corridor that Christine found very familiar. She noticed that this was her hallway or what she thought was her hallway. When they stopped at a door that was opposite her own Madame Giry turned to her.

"Your Highness." Her voice was solemn. "You must understand that the princess is sick. That she is never in good health. The king is constantly worried for her."

She nodded and they went in. The room's windows were open and on the ledge of a window seat was the king and his daughter. He was leaning against a wall with Cecile sleeping against his chest.

"You called, Your Majesty?" Madame Giry curtsied.

"Cecile needs a warm bowel of soup and tea." His voice was much gentler then what Christine remembered.

"Right away, Majesty." She curtsied again and left the room leaving Christine and Erik without words. Boldly Christine silently went over to the window and looked out keeping a distance between herself and the king.

"I should be leaving soon I have affairs to attend to." Erik said while his eyes watched the sun setting.

"I'm sure Arabella can leave her duty alone for one night." Christine stated.

"She has been dismissed." He didn't look at her. "There are some affairs that are best kept at night."

"What if your daughter calls for you?" She questioned.

"Madame Giry will stay with her."

"I could." Her eyes met his for the briefest second. "Unless you do not want me to."

"I suppose." He shrugged. No one spoke for a while; they just watched the sun set.

"I am not as horrible as everyone think I am." Christine broke the silence. "You must understand I come from a war, poverty and chaos. I am forced to make opinions about everything and not give it a second thought. You are lucky. Borswan will never have to rebuild like Liren."

"Which is why you insisted on this marriage." His eyes met hers.

"Yes." The air flowed out of her lungs as they stared into each others eyes. Her heart began to quicken. She only hoped that he felt the same.

"I brought her soup, Majesty." Madame Giry looked between the two as they quickly looked away from each other. She set the tray next to the bed.

"Good." Erik nodded. "You may rest, Madame."

"Your Majesty?" She looked puzzled.

"Her Highness." He indicated Christine. "Will keep watch until I return."

"Yes sire." The woman curtsied and left. The king carefully got up and carried his daughter to the bed. She stirred a little when he let her down and put her under the covers. He turned to his perplexed bride.

"Wake her to feed her." He said. "And be sure she is comfortable."

"I will." She nodded. He started to leave. "When will you come back?"

"When time permits." And he left.

Slowly she went to the girls' side. Her breathing was steady but very congested. Gently she shook the girl awake. Cecile's eyes opened and when she saw Christine she smiled.

"How are you feeling?" Christine asked.

"Good." The girl went into a coughing fit and Christine rubbed her back to sooth her.

"Madame Giry brought soup." If forced the child might throw a fit so Christine gave her an option.

"May I have some please?" She smiled.

"Of course." Her eyes went to the bowel and back to the girl. Should she feed her? Or should she give her the bowel to eat?

"If you feed me we can talk." Cecile answered her unasked question.

"How old are you Cecile?" She put the first spoonful in the girl's mouth.

"Six."

"You are very smart for your age."

"Thank you." Another bit. "Did you know your mother?"

"A little." Christine was a little caught off guard by this question. "She died when I was seven."

"How old are you now?"

"Twenty five." She smiled.

"You are a lot younger than my father." Cecile's eyes widened.

"Your father is not old." Christine truly wanted to laugh. If only she could have seen the men the court back in Liren wanted her to marry.

"Yes he is!" The stubborn girl insisted. "He is thirty two!"

"That's old!" She contained herself.

"I know!" Cecile's look thoughtfully at her. "You are marrying father right?"

"Yes I am."

"Do you love him?"

"I barely know him." That question always seemed innocent but in all honestly it could break one person and give hope to the next.

"He is not as bad as he seems." Cecile informed her. "Sometimes he likes to scare people because people are mean but he really isn't scary at all."

"I never thought of him as scary." Christine sighed back. "We never speak to each other." She did not want to tell the child the truth that she was only marrying her father for political reasons and destroy her fantasy of princes and white knights.

"You should talk to him more."

"I will try." She thought for a second. "Why do people think he is scary Cecile?"

"Because of his mask." The girl shrugged. "I think he shouldn't wear it. I told him that but he said that people would not take him seriously."

"Why?"

"Because he has a big hurt under it." Cecile looked her in the eyes. "But it is not that bad."

"I see." Christine nodded. She wanted to know what was under it for the first few seconds that she had met the king, but then it was just a part of the stubborn man. The girl emitted a yawn. "You should sleep."

"But I'm not tried!" Even the girl's fingers faltered. "Let me ask you one more question before I got to sleep!"

"Yes?"

"If you do not love him then why marry him?" It hung in the air like the rain clouds on her first day here.

"Time to sleep Cecile." Christine changed the subject.

"But you didn't answer!" She protested.

"I said you could ask but I never said I would answer." She tucked her and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Just one more!" The girl frantically sighed.

"Fine."

"Can I call you mother?" She asked almost pathetically. "I never had one."

"You have to ask your father that." Christine smiled gently. "Now sleep he comes back."

She closed her eyes and was asleep in a matter of minutes. Christine looked at her peaceful form with envy. To be young again and sleep without a thought, a care, a nightmare.

Christine found herself drifting steadily off to sleep and laid her head down on the soft comforter. It was a while later when she felt a hand on her should shake her awake. Groggily she picked her head up and rubbed her eyes. When she looked up she gasped and stood up very quickly. A little too quickly and it made the room spin. The same hand steadied her.

"You stood up too quickly." The king eased her down on the edge of the bed.

"I suppose I should thank you for that." She looked him. He did not smile but she could tell he wanted to.

"You should sleep." He offered his hand to her.

"I was just about to." Christine pushed herself off the bed and walked to the door. She turned back to him. "Good night, Your Majesty."

He just nodded and she left the room.