Erik stood on the other side of the room not facing her. He had been down this lonely road before. A wedding, for him meant alliances nothing more and he could never let it mean anything more.

"About it?" Christine felt her heart quicken.

"We are to marry next week and your coronation will follow on the same day." His back sill faced her. "Madame Giry will help you with the arrangements for your dress." She let herself take it all in before she spoke.

"I suppose we should get to know each other better, then."

"Indeed?" He faced her with a lifted brow. "But we both know why this wedding is taking place."

"All the more reason." She took a seat at the long table and indicated that he do the same. He stared at the seat then back at her before taking it. They stared at each other.

"This is ridiculous!" Her eyes rolled.

"I agree."

"Then I will ask you a question and then you will ask me one." She suggested.

"And lead into another argument?" He sighed and stood. "I think we should…"

"No!" Christine stood up. "I mean ask questions pertaining to ourselves. No politics involved."

"Very well." The king sat back down. "Ladies first."

"When is your birth date?" Oh Lord! At this rate they were probably better debating what kind of plates to have at the wedding even though that was most likely not up to her to decide.

"November twenty-first." He answered.

"That is mine also." She sat in her seat. "Your turn."

"What is your favorite book?"

"That is almost asking me to pick my favorite song." A small smile came to her face.

"You enjoy music?" His reaction was not clear but he was surprised.

"You didn't follow the rules." She pointed out. "You asked me two questions."

"To be fair," He lifted a brow. "You did not give me a definite answer."

"Music is my favorite thing in the world." Her eyes became distant. "It does not argue. It sooths and calms my person. If I did not have music I do not think I could…"

"Survive." He finished quietly for her.

"Yes." She nodded. "Do you play an instrument?"

"Yes."

"Which one?" Christine felt excitement rise in her.

"I believe it is my turn to ask a question." He smirked. "What instrument do you play?"

"The violin and just a small amount of piano." She shrugged. "Which…"

"Many." Erik answered before she could even start. "But I favor the piano."

"The piano is my favorite also." Her eyes looked with uncertainty into his. "My mother taught me to play before she died."

"How old were you?"

"Seven." She sighed. "My father thought music was still important so he taught me the violin and to sing."

"You sing?"

"Not very well." A small laugh emitted from her. "I'm quite horrible actually. But my father thought I was good. He died when I was eighteen." A pause. "What about your parents?"

"What about them?" He asked defensively.

"What were they like?"

"I never really knew them." His answer left no room for discussion. She let it go.

"Why did you agree to this marriage?" She questioned. "There are much richer countries than Liren to make stronger alliances. Why Liren? It has…."

"Would you like to see our music room?" He swiftly stood and went over to her.

"You didn't answer my question."

"The rules clearly state that you may ask questions but not answer them." Erik held out his hand to her. "Come."

She took it without hesitation. He led her through an unknown doorway in the room and through a passageway. They began a tedious journey through the extensive walls in the castle. After a while she had to guess they were at least on the other side.

"If you expect me to remember this…"

"I do not expect you to." He didn't turn, just kept going. Finally he opened a door a room. Christine gasped.

The room was beautiful. One large window filled the pure white room with light. Gold accents made the room glow in an unearthly way. The room was heaven for her when she saw various instruments neatly arranged and shown off. A large black piano sat in the center of the room. When she looked up her mouth slightly opened.

The ceiling contradicted the pureness of the room. The room no longer had the innocence she once thought possible. Images of Hell filled that space. Fire consumed the wicked. Satan laughed as he torched them. Then there was a child. Once side was perfect like an angel carved it and he seemed out of place. The other side was ragged and sores ran though it. Christine stared in amazing sadness.

"Who did this?" She asked.

"I did." Erik nodded.

"It's beautiful, Your Majesty…"

"Erik." He said quietly. "You may call me Erik."

"Erik." Her lips savored the word for a while. "Tell me who the child is? Why did you put him there?"

"Perhaps another time." He sighed.

"Well then Erik." She nodded towards the piano. "Play something for me."

"What would you like to hear?" His lean body sat down at the large, black piano.

"Sonata in F minor." A petite smile came to her lips. "By…"

"Beethoven." He nodded. And his fingers began to play the quick and lit tune. She smiled and closed her eyes. Her mother had taught her this one. She told her it was a good song to take out your frustrations. Truth be told, it was an excellent song to do that with. Erik played it as such. He played it with something else besides frustration.

"Perfect!" She applauded and laughed after her was done. "Play another!"

For the rest of the afternoon he played for her and she relished in the fact that he could play with perfection. Who knew a king could have so much talent? After he finished they spoke with another.

"Liren use to have a music festival every year before my father died." Christine smiled. "The newest musicians would come and show the court their new works. I remember people would come from everywhere."

"I remember the festivals." Erik nodded. "I never went to one."

"Why not?"

"My parents did not allow me to leave the castle." He sighed. "They did not want me to ruin my chances to marry a great alliance."

"Where was your last wife from?" She asked. She did not need to why or how he would ruin his chances. His mask she guessed but she did not see it as a huge threat; in fact it made him even more mysterious and stand out. He was the only man that intrigued her so.

"She was from Nigia." His eyes met hers.

"Isn't that a providence of Borswan?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Now it is." He nodded. "Her father had wasted all his country's money on gambling and lavish parties. He had forgotten his resources and put his matter only on his view of the pleasurable life."

"At least the people enjoyed themselves while their country suffered." She sighed. "Liren's wealthy do not even have enough food to eat."

"I never really understood Liren's downfall." He looked thoughtfully at her. "It seemed very out of place."

"It was a long time in the making." Christine leaned against the piano. "The downfall began when I was eighteen when my father passed away. The two men he put in charge began to squander our money supply. They decided that Liren should grow. So they called up our troops and drafted our men and women in to the troops. Leaving the mines, forest, waters, and other workplaces mostly empty."

"You have women in your troops?" Erik had a look of surprise on his face.

"I told you everything is evenly split in Liren." She shrugged. "But the two men also took women out of the Delegates, our House of Nobles, and sent them off to fight. I could only stand and watch as our money disappeared and the palace turned into a hospital for returning soldiers.

"When I finally became of age at twenty I took our troops away from the battlefield and put back to work. But some of the mines had collapsed and most of our forests had fallen. I exiled the two men that were responsible. For they were alone in making the decision. I made them pay for their brutality to my country."

"How?" His voice was quiet.

"Torture." Christine couldn't look at him. "I wanted them to pay for what they did to my country. But I can hear their screams in my sleep and I can smell their blood."

"What were their names?"

"There was one that died two years later named Redford. And the other we cannot find is named Borgia." She let out a sigh.

"You returned the women to the Delegates?" he could not believe this woman would ever physically hurt another. She did not seem strong enough nor did she seem capable.

"Yes." She nodded. "Some had died in battle but I replaced them." Looking towards the window she said. "The moon is up."

"We should get back." His eyes looked her over. Yes she was beautiful especially right now when she was weary and calm.

"Before the maid begin to gossip." Christine looked around. "We're not going back the way we came are we?"

"No." He smirked and stood. "This way."

Opening a door they ended up in a lavish bedroom. The walls were a deep wood and the bed was a four poster with burgundy canopy and bedding. He crossed the room and opened another door.

"Your room, Your Highness." He bowed as she walked through to her room. Turning back to him she said.

"You may call me Christine."


So how was everyone's V-day? Yea mine was great, I ate a box of turtles and watched Phantom and Sex and the City. Yes it was a good day.

On to other things...I'm happy you guys like it but when only three people tell me what they think of last chapter its not majority. And I really like to get different opinions. But thank you all for reivewing and taking the time to read this.

E.V. Oleander