Christine's POV

"Would you like something to eat before we start?" I asked Erik as I prepared myself to help him with his paperwork. The man had not gotten any better over night and I believed that he looked worse now than he ever did before. His flesh was pale and he seemed so exhausted. I knew that food would do him some good, but oh, he was so stubborn at times!

"I…I'm not hungry, thank you," he began. "I just wish to get this work over and done with."

This had been one of the first times Erik had ever thanked me for something. Usually, I was lucky if he even said hi to me.

"Well, you're not going to get better if you don't eat," I said. "I promise I won't make you anything big, but the truth is that you need to get something in your system if you plan on getting well again."

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not hungry?" he growled. "I don't like it when you treat me like a child."

"All right," I said. "Something warm to drink then."

I fooled Erik by heading into the kitchen and prepared him a thick tomato juice that would taste like soup. He would think it to be a drink, when in reality, it was food.

"Here you are," I said, placing the steaming cup on the side table. "Drink up…"

Erik ignored my request to drink at the moment and tossed a book of parchment towards the end of the bed.

"Lunch is over," he growled. "It's time to work."

I took the book and sat down in the chair that was placed beside his bed.

"You are to write down everything I tell you, are we clear?"

I nodded. "Of course."

I watched Erik look over a few sheets of paper in silence… I wasn't sure what was written on the pieces of paper, but he seemed to be taking interest in them.

"What's written on the sheets of paper?" I questioned.

"My earnings," he replied.

"So how do you pay everyone?"

Erik placed the pieces of paper down and looked my way. "Your job is to write when told to do so, not to ask me a hundred meaningless questions."

"You don't have to be so cruel about it," I said. "I don't know what's happened to you…"

I wasn't even finished with my sentence when the man reached forward and grabbed the book out of my hands.

"Forget it, I don't need your help…I can do it myself!"

Oh, he wasn't going to win this! I couldn't let him treat me like a child…No, if I was going to be stern and show him that I loved him, I was going to have to be just as cruel as he was.

"No," I snapped, reaching for the book again. "You're going to cause yourself even more harm by attempting to do things on your own."

The man lunged towards me again, but immediately stopped. His body plopped back against the pillows and his hand reached for his chest. I knew that the stress was causing him to have another attack, and I wasn't about to let that happen. Knowing that I needed to stop it before it started, I rushed to the man's side and propped his pillows up that were supporting his head.

"Erik, take a deep breath…"

I knew I had to do more than coach him with his breathing, therefore, I began to sing to him. As soon as my voice filled the caravan, his attack seemed to stop and he was left staring at me. When my tune was finished, the man closed his eyes and looked away.

"What is it?" I asked.

"You deserve so much more than this camp, Christine. I…I can't help but feel as though you are a caged bird, and I am your capture."

"Then let me sing," I begged. "You promised me that you would let me… You've been teaching me again and I haven't skipped a lesson, and yet, I can't help but feel as though you've lied to me once more. You promised to let me sing, so let me do so…"

There seemed to be something wrong, for Erik didn't answer me at first. He seemed to be pondering about the idea, and I wasn't sure why he would have second thoughts about it.

"I would love more than anything to hear you sing again, Christine…"

I smiled widely, believing that I was finally going to get my way.

"But as of right now I'm afraid you have asked me the only thing within my power that I cannot grant you."

"You are never going to let me sing again," I cried. "You are a horrible liar."

"There are things I want too, Christine, things I want more than anything in the world…"

I knew that Erik wanted a wife, one that he could take out on Sundays… He had told me at least a hundred times before in the past, but at the same time, I knew that the chances of that happening were slim.

"I know that I will never get what I want," Erik continued. "It's impossible."

I was attempting to be smart with Erik, for I was already mad at him.

"It's not impossible," I assured.

Erik's eyes widened. "You…You think so?"

"I know so… There are plenty of brothels around."

"Pardon me?"

"Your wish for a wife," I said. "And pleasure… You can find it at a brothel."

"That wasn't what I wanted," he snapped. "And it's so not like you to say things like that, Christine. It's not becoming of you…"

"But…"

"My wish," he said. "Is to play…Oh, how I've missed my organ. I…I can still remember the way the ivory keys felt beneath my finger tips. I would give anything to play again."

"I…I'm sorry," I said. "I didn't mean…"

"You meant every word, Christine," he growled. "You're mad at me. Why don't you just leave me be…"

I tried to intervene, but he wouldn't hear any of it…No, he forced me to leave.

"Tomorrow is Thanksgiving," Gustave said to me after I reentered my caravan. "I can't wait! It's a day off and there is lots and lots of food!"

I smiled and took a seat on my bed. "That's nice, Gustave."

Gustave jumped on my bed and began hitting me with his pillow.

"There's something on your mind!" he cried. "You're not playing with me and when you don't play with me that means there is something on your mind."

"There's nothing on my mind."

"It's the master, isn't it?" he questioned. "You're angry with him."

"I'm not angry with him, I'm just wondering…"

"Wondering what?"

"He misses playing the piano," I said. "Out of everything in the world to wish for, he wished to play the piano again."

"Well, if I had a wish, I would wish for lots and lots of toys…"

I giggled. "Really?"

"Well that and for the master to turn into a mouse…"

I ruffled the boy's dark locks and shook my head. "Leave the master alone. I think he's been through enough. Though, there is something you could do for me."

"What?"

"Is there a church close to here?"

Erik's POV

Christine saw me as nothing but a sex starved being. Yes, I was a man with urges just like any other man, but there were more important things in life, the one thing being music. I missed my music more than anything in the world. It had been so long since I last played the piano and I yearned to hear its beautiful sound once more.

"Erik?"

The following day I heard a knock at my door and heard Christine's voice calling my name. I was in bed resting and ignored her.

"Erik, why are you still here?" the woman was standing at the side of my bed now. Oh, I hated the fact that she just let herself in!

"Go away…"

I closed my eyes and snuggled my face into my pillow.

"The camp is getting ready for the feast…" she said. "And you're in here."

"Right," I snapped. "Because I'm ill…"

"It's just dinner…Today is a day to gather with family and friends…To be thankful for what we have."

"And I have nothing to be thankful for. Now go enjoy your feast and be thankful…Just leave me be."

"Erik, I would really like it if you came with me."

"I don't want to go to the feast…" I growled. "I just want to be left alone."

"I'm not going to the feast… I wanted you to come horseback riding with me. Nadir believes that some fresh air would do you some good."

"Oh, does he now? That Persian would say skinny-dipping in the snow covered river would do me good if it got me out of this bed."

"You're going to give yourself bedsores if you continue to lie there day after day."

"I'm not dressed…"

I thought this was going to give Christine a reason to leave, but the woman was already pulling a clean shirt and jacket out of my wardrobe. Oh, this woman clearly wasn't going to leave me alone unless I agreed to go with her. As much as I didn't want to leave my caravan I knew that Cesar needed the exercise. After sitting up and placing on the warm garments, I saddled up my stallion and met Christine and her beautiful horse.

"Isn't the cold air refreshing?"

"Hardly," I replied. "I was enjoying being in the comfort of my own bed."

"The cold air will do you some good…"

Cesar followed Christine's stallion into the woods. I wasn't sure where we were headed, but I tolerated the woman in hopes that she would leave me alone for the rest of the day. I had ignored Christine for a while, only noticing when she seemed to be struggling with the reins. The horse was backing up and being stubborn, and I knew if I didn't say something sooner or later she was going to be thrown off her back.

"You're frightened," I stated. "If you're unsure about your horse, she will be unsure about you."

I reached over to her and wrapped the end of the reins around her hand.

"Keep your hand steady…The horse can sense fear if you're shaking."

"Thank you…"

"Don't thank me…"

"Where did you learn how to ride?"

"I taught myself, Christine… Animals are the most intelligent creatures on Earth… They don't cower in fear over someone's appearance… No, they will love you if you love them. The world should take a lesson from them."

A few seconds later, we came across a small little chapel that was settled back in the woods.

"I should have guessed that you were going to bring me here," I snapped. "If you wanted to go and pray, then you should have left me home. I have no interest in praying to your God."

"I…I didn't bring you here to pray," Christine said. "I…I brought you here for another reason."

The girl hopped down from her horse and waited for me to do the same.

"Christine I am not welcome around people, especially ones who attend church."

Christine held out her hand and I reluctantly took it.

"I…I have a surprise for you, Erik."

I expected the woman to bring me into a packed church, but it was vacant…

"Christine, I don't understand."

Christine pulled me up to the alter where a lonely piano sat. Oh, it was beautiful!

"Well, why don't you take a seat?" she asked. "It's calling for you."

"I…I couldn't."

"Nonsense," she cried. "I asked the pastor yesterday and he didn't see any harm in letting you practice."

Christine had done this for me? No one had ever done something so nice before…I was used to being hated and now, after this, I could only be thankful for Christine…

Hey everyone, sorry for the delay in updating. Been busy and have had a few family issues. Please review! Thanks again everyone!