Disclaimer: The Phantom of the Opera does not belong to me, only my own characters do.

Author's Note:

To xXThAnKs-FoR-tHe-MeMoRiEsXx: I hope a longer chapter makes up for the time it took to post.

To xX-Crayola-Xx: Addicted? Here's your weekly Phantom fix.

To foxgodess07: To make up for the harshness of the last chapter here's some comedy for you. And no, this isn't the last of Raoul.

To phantommistress: I'm basing all my creatures in this on Dungeons and Dragons monsters so the bad things will be pretty nasty. You want romance? You'll just have to keep reading *wink*.

I also want to thank everyone that has signed up for updates and marked it as a favorite; you also keep me writing and don't be afraid to write a review. I don't bite…well…not hard anyway ;-).

I'm still working on the picture, should be done soon.

Thanks to all who have read and reviewed; the more you review, the more I write. Now, for something a bit lighter than last chapter.

Phantom of the Glen

Chapter 11

Healing New and Old Wounds

"I am so tired," Brule groaned sitting in front of the fire in the study.

"I'm hungry," Brandji added.

S'ray rolled her eyes as she sat down and leaned back in her chair. "Then put these away," she said and tossed her gauntlets at him.

"Hey!" he yelled jumping out of the way. "What do you think I am? I'm not your page."

"And I'm not your cook," she snapped setting her helm on the desk.

"Allow me," Erik said picking up the helm and putting it on its stand.

"Thank you Erik," she said with a yawn.

"Here, then you take these," Brandji said trying to force Erik to do his job.

"She asked you to take care of those I believe," he coolly replied unbuckling her mail shirt.

"Now listen here you stupid half-goblin," Brandji began. "You are not in charge, I…"

"Brandji stop it, I'm not in the mood," S'ray snapped again from inside the mail shirt as Erik was helping her out of it.

"Here," Erik said shoving a chair over to the armor form with his foot while carrying the heavy mail shirt in both hands. "Climb on the chair."

Brandji scowled, but carried first one gauntlet and then the other over to the form. Next he climbed onto the chair seat, pulled up each gauntlet and put them in their respective places on the form. Then he went back over to the fire to sit next to Brule and scowl at Erik every few minutes.

"I am so tired," S'ray sighed unbuttoning her arming coat. "I don't remember that armor weighing so much."

"Then you rest and I'll take care of dinner," he said unbuckling the arm pieces.

"Think you can manage?" she asked lifting her other arm for him.

"Absolutely," he nodded putting the pieces away. "I managed to keep myself well fed under the opera house."

"Job's all yours then," she said standing as he came back and knelt beside her. "You're bleeding, what happened?" she asked looking down at him as he unbuckled her armor.

"It's nothing," he shrugged. "It's just from when Raoul tried to hang me."

"That needs to be taken care of."

"It'll be fine, I've had worse."

"I don't doubt that, but I've been in a few more battles than you and seen my fair share of wounds. It still needs to be taken care of so it heals properly."

"Point taken, but I'll be fine," he argued hanging up the last of her armor.

"Fine, then take your coat off and meet me in the kitchen in a few minutes," she said already at the door.

"If you insist," he sighed pulling his coat off and then unbuttoning his vest.

"I do," she said walking to her bedroom.

"Don't argue with her, you will not win," Brandji said sagely.

"Sit down," S'ray said as Erik entered the kitchen.

He sat down at the indicated chair in front of the window. Erik loosened up his collar and gingerly pulled it away from his neck and the clotted blood. S'ray walked up behind him and examined the wounds.

"Hmm, there's a lot of dried blood," she said pulling his shirt farther open. "You'll have to take your shirt off so I can get this cleaned off."

"What?"

"You heard," she replied reaching around to start unbuttoning his shirt for him.

"S'ray, I appreciate the help, but I'm quite capable of taking my own shirt off," Erik protested covering her hands with his own.

"Then hurry up and take it off," she replied dipping a cleaning cloth in a bowl of warm water she'd filled from the kettle on the hearth.

"Take it all off!" Luniana chirped from the window sill.

Erik just glared at the pixie as he unbuttoned and removed his shirt. Once he had it off, he realized just how much of a mess he was. Sweat had caused the blood from his neck to leave long rust colored lines down his pale chest and back. Luniana whistled at him and flew out the open window. Erik could feel the blush creeping over his face and down his neck; no matter how hard he tried, he was still not comfortable with this much attention from women.

"Don't mind her," S'ray smiled laying a wet cloth around his neck. "She's always like that around handsome men."

"Excuse me, could you repeat that please?" he almost ground out.

"I said Luniana always acts like that around a handsome man," she repeated wiping a warm wet towel down his back.

"She thinks I'm handsome?" he asked incredulous.

"Yes and so do I," S'ray replied wiping the blood off his shoulder.

"S'ray," he said grabbing her wrist. "I've already asked you not to toy with me."

"And I've told you several times that I won't lie to you," she answered leaning over his shoulder.

"You are the strangest woman I've ever met," he said shaking his head.

"Thank you, now may I have my hand back?" she asked drumming his shoulder with her fingers.

"Of course," Erik replied releasing her. "The chief said you owed him a payment. What kind of deal did you make with that creature, if I may ask?"

"Well, first they can continue living in the deep swamp, second I'm making him a special set of bracers, and third I'm also making spear heads and butt caps for each of the men he brought with him. All in all, it wasn't a bad deal and you're worth the trouble of dealing with them. However I'm going to be very busy in the forge for the next few weeks, so you'll have to take care of the animals on your own," she explained.

"I can handle that," he replied as she continued to wash the dried blood and sweat from his back.

"You can lean back now," she said rinsing out the cloth.

Erik leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes. He wasn't tired, but it was what S'ray was wearing, or in this case not wearing, that caused him to close his eyes. He found early on that it was easier to not stare when he had his eyes shut. The woman was too fond of not wearing enough clothing in his opinion. She had changed into a pair of knee breeches, but still wore the binding on her chest and had covered that with a shirt which she left wide open. He wasn't completely over Christine yet, but he was still a healthy man and S'ray was an attractive and exotic woman. It was damnably hard for him to be a gentleman around her, especially when she wasn't fully dressed.

The gentle strokes of her hand felt so good, but he had to keep reminding himself that she was forbidden to him. No matter how much she complimented him or how little fear or revulsion she showed at his unmasked countenance, he knew there could never be anything between them. She was an Alve, one of the fair folk, a fairy tale come to life. And him? He was a demon, a half-goblin and a murderer. What would a creature as fair as S'ray want with a thing like him? He gritted his teeth to suppress the sigh of contentment that threatened to escape his lips as her hands all but caressed him like a lover.

"There, all done. Now to see to your neck," she said putting the cloth in the water again. "This will probably be pretty painful."

He opened his eyes and nodded in agreement.

S'ray pulled a stool closer and using a clean, wet cloth began dabbing at the rope wound on his neck. "Well for a rich man, he doesn't buy very good rope," she said and got up and went over to the cupboard. Out came a bottle of whiskey and a glass which she brought back to the table.

"What's that for?" he asked.

"Pain killer," she said pouring a glass. "Drink it up, it won't get rid of the pain, but it'll deaden it some."

Erik took the glass and swallowed the amber liquid. True to form, the strong whiskey burned all the way down to his stomach. He did find that she was right about deadening the pain of his wound being re-opened, it didn't' get rid of the pain, but it had gone down considerably.

"I'll try to get this done as quickly as possible," she said pulling a small fiber from the rope out of his neck.

He nodded and winced slightly.

S'ray worked as quickly as the injury would let her. She carefully, but gently tried to pull the strands from the rope from the wound.

Erik clenched his jaw and tried not to grimace as she pulled another strand of hemp from his neck. He could feel the blood start to flow again from each area that she had already finished.

"It's alright, I know it hurts," she softly whispered from his left shoulder.

He slowly released the breath he'd been holding, but sucked it back in sharply as she pulled out another strand. S'ray gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

"Almost done," she whispered.

"Good," he replied quietly, the fresh blood trickling down his back again.

S'ray smiled; he was very stoic in spite of the intense pain she knew she was causing by re-opening the wound from the rope. Her eyes strayed to his bare chest, Erick wasn't the most muscular man she'd ever seen, but those lean muscles of his hid a formidable strength. She sighed mentally; too bad he was still in love with that silly human girl. Why she chose a foolish boy over a strong and handsome man, S'ray didn't understand. "There, all done," she said putting down the tweezers and picking up a wet cloth to wipe away the fresh blood.

"Thank you," he said releasing the breath he'd been holding again.

"Now just let me get that bandaged and you'll be good as new," she said standing and getting bandages from the counter.

"I don't think I'll ever be that, but I am feeling better," he said following her with his eyes.

"This may sting," she said dipping two fingers into a jar of salve and spreading it onto his neck.

"It does," he ground out, visibly wincing.

"It'll help the wound heal and keep the scarring to a minimum," she explained applying the salve around the rest of his neck.

"What's one more scar?" he asked. "I've already got a lot of those."

"So I've noticed," she said, her eyes lingering on the scars that crisscrossed his back. She finished bandaging his neck and ran a caressing hand down his pale back. He immediately stiffened at the intimate contact. "Sorry," she whispered, "didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Erik nodded and stood up. "I should put a shirt on and clean my sword," he said.

"Right," she said standing as well. "Now if you'd unfasten my binding, I'm going to get ready for a bath."

She turned her back to him and shrugging her shirt off her shoulders, let it fall to her waist. He closed the distance between them in a single step and with a shaky breath, reached out and unfastened the binding on her breasts.

"I'll start dinner as soon as I finish with the sword," he said straightening his mask and smoothing his hair back.

"Very good," she replied pulling her shirt back up and leaving the kitchen.

S'ray sighed contentedly as she leaned back in the steaming water. She closed her eyes and listened to the sounds of the house and glen. It was the calm that always follows every crisis. She heard the flutter of Luniana's wings as the pixie poured honeysuckle oil into the bathwater. A few moments later came Erik's footsteps down the hall and into the kitchen. "Luniana," she said opening her eyes.

"Yes?" the pixie said hovering in the air.

"Would you ask Erik to bring me a glass of wine when he has a chance?" she asked.

"Will do," she squeaked and buzzed into the kitchen.

S'ray closed her eyes again and listened to Erik's footsteps going back and forth in the kitchen, punctuated by cupboards opening and closing. In a short time the tone of his steps changed as he came through the open door of the tub room.

"Your wine m'lady," he said going on one knee next to the tub.

"Thank you," she smiled taking the glass from the tray. "Is there anything you can't find in the kitchen?"

"No, everything is fine. Your kitchen is arranged quite well," he said standing.

"Let me know before its ready so I can be dressed," she said taking a sip of wine.

"Of course," he smiled inclining his head slightly before going back to the kitchen.

She closed her eyes again, listening to the birds singing outside the open window and Erik moving about in the kitchen. Her domain was peaceful again. Then came the patter of Brandji and Brule's footsteps as they came through the tub room and went on into the kitchen. It remained quiet for several minutes again.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing?" came Brandji's question.

"Yes, now leave," Erik replied.

She sank lower in the tub, trying to ignore the conflict she knew was brewing.

"S'ray never did anything like that," Brandji continued. "I don't think you know what you're doing."

She could already picture Erik's amber eyes starting to flare in anger. Silently she hoped that they'd work it out themselves without dragging her into it.

"Get out," Erik growled at the brownie.

"You are not in charge," Brandji said looking up at Erik and puffing out his chest. "When the guardian is not in charge, I am in charge and you will listen to me!"

Luniana snorted from her perch on the window sill.

"You stay out of this, you little coffee addicted pest," he scolded.

Luniana stuck her tongue out at him and then gave him both of her middle fingers. "Up yours mouse fucker!"

Erik chuckled at the look of horror that crossed Brandji's face whenever his indiscretions with rodents were brought up.

"What are you laughing at you ugly half-goblin?" he demanded.

"If I were you, I'd leave before I suddenly develop a craving for raw brownie," Erik threatened, baring his teeth.

"You wouldn't dare," he said narrowing his eyes.

"Don't tempt me. I've lost just enough blood today to crave some fresh, raw meat and you're very convenient right now," he snarled looking Brandji in the eye.

"You are not man enough to mess with me," Brandji declared.

"I've eaten rats that were bigger and meaner than you," Erik growled grabbing a knife from the counter.

Brandji swallowed hard at the sight of Erik pointing the large knife at him. "Go and try it, you no-talent, piano-stealing coward," he dared.

Erik scowled and poked at the little brownie with the knife. Brandji squeaked and jumped back. "Hold still damn`it," he cursed. "I don't feel like chasing down my fresh meat right now."

"Come to think of it, I believe you would eat me," Brandji said trying to keep away from Erik's knife point. He then leapt down from the counter and scurried out of the kitchen.

While all this was happening, Brule was sitting on the bowl of a wooden spoon that was leaning against a pan and laughing uproariously. "Ha, that was the funny, that was the funniest thing I've ever seen," he laughed holding his stomach.

Erik looked down at Brule and smiled when he saw the position the brownie was in. "So you think that was funny?" he asked with a glint in his eye.

"Yes, yes, that was hilarious," he laughed.

"Would you like to see something even more funny that that?" Erik asked leaning against the counter.

"Oh yeah," Brule laughed.

"Now remember, you asked," he smirked and brought his hand down on the handle of spoon, catapulting the brownie into the air.

"You aaaaaaasssssss!" Brule yelled as he sailed out of the kitchen and into the tub room.

Erik turned back to the counter, chuckling to himself. Then he heard the splash of Brule landing in the tub which S'ray still occupied. He stiffened, expecting a cry of outrage from the Alve.

S'ray opened her eyes as she heard something land in the tub with her. Her eyes widened when Brule popped his head out of the suds and said, "Hello baby."

"Brule, get out of here," she said picking up the brownie by the scruff and throwing him out the other door.

"Oh, now I know what it feels like to be a pixie," Brule said climbing out of the pillows on the couch. "I hate flying!"

"I am so sorry about that," Erik said biting his cheek so he could keep himself from laughing. "I didn't think he'd go that far."

She looked up at a clearly mortified Erik and began laughing. "You're sorry?" she laughed. "I'm sorry I only caught the finale instead of the whole show."

Erik couldn't help but chuckle at her choice of words. "You certainly did catch the finale," he laughed standing in the doorway.

"I'm so glad you're not afraid to put them in their places," she smiled.

He shrugged his strong shoulders. The shirt he'd put on was more form fitting than the others so he'd had to leave it open, revealing a well muscled chest. "I'd forfeit my position as Opera Ghost in residence if I let a couple of rats push me around," he smiled.

"Looks like that shirt is a bit small for you," she laughed leaning back again.

"Everything is a bit small for me one way or another," he said crossing his arms over his chest. "However, I don't think it would be wise for me to go to Paris any time soon to get some clothes. I'm not sure if mine survived the fire and mob and it would raise too many questions to get more made."

"We'll work something out with clothes after dinner," she said.

"Which will be ready in about half an hour," he said straightening. "I'll leave you to finish your bath."

"Thank you Erik," she called to his retreating back. She leaned back in the water getting her hair wet.

"Need help?" Luniana asked hovering above her.

"Why not?" she smiled sitting up.

"Shampoo," she chirped pouring a generous amount in the Alve's hair and then quickly lathering it up. "Dunk now."

S'ray leaned back in the water and rinsed out her hair. "I'll have a project for you later this evening," she said squeezing out the soapy water.

"What is it?" she asked excitedly.

"Erik needs clothes that actually fit him properly," she said sitting up again.

"Goody," the pixie giggled. "I get to measure him."

"That should prove entertaining to say the least," S'ray laughed getting ready to stand. "Sheet please."

Erik looked up from the paper he was reading in time to see S'ray stand up in the tub. Involuntarily his eyes roamed down her bare back to her hips and legs. He crimsoned as a particularly carnal thought came unbidden to him. It had been weeks since he'd been able to relieve that particular male ache, the little people never left him alone long enough to properly take care of it. He forced himself to tear his eyes away from her naked form and go back to the paper.

"I wish you would dress like a girl," Luniana said wistfully.

"I do dress like a girl," S'ray said dabbing honeysuckle oil at her pulse points.

"No, I mean pretty like a girl," she said annoyed.

"I dress comfortable like a woman and practical like a warrior," she countered pulling on a blue tunic with embroidery around the neck.

"In case you haven't noticed," the pixie squeaked impatiently, "there is a handsome half-Faye in the kitchen whose heartbeat gets faster every time you get close to each other."

"Erik? He's still in love with that human girl," the Alve replied standing and letting the loose garment flutter down to her hips.

"That's what he has to keep telling himself to keep his hands off you," she countered flying over with a necklace that had a dragon pendant.

"You are imagining things," she sighed putting the necklace on.

"You are ignoring the obvious," Luniana said tapping her foot in the air.

"There," she said turning to face the pixie. "How do I look?"

"Better than usual," she said and flew into the kitchen.

S'ray shook her head and walked into the kitchen.

"Dinner was excellent Erik, but I wish you'd let me help you clean up," S'ray said from her seat at the table.

"Think nothing of it, this is just a small way of saying thank you for everything you've done for me," he replied putting dishes back in the cupboard.

"You're very welcome Erik," she smiled. "Now I have a favor to ask of you."

"What is it?" he asked turning and leaning against the counter.

"There is a festival coming up on May 1st, the Beltane Rites, and as guardian I must attend. Would you terribly mind being my escort for the evening?"

Erik was surprised to say the least, never in all his life had he been asked to escort a woman to what he assumed was a social gathering. He stood and walked over to her, bowed and taking her hand said, "I would be honored to escort you that evening. I'm honored that you would even consider me for such a pleasure."

"I'm glad because I really don't want one of my brothers acting as escort again this year," she smiled.

"I will need to make a trip into the village to get suitable clothing for the occasion," he said standing again.

"Since Luniana is making my clothes for the festival, she'd be happy to make yours too," S'ray said. "Come on in Luniana, he said yes."

"Wheee!" the pixie squealed flying into the kitchen. She hovered directly in front of Erik's face and said," You need to be measured. Hold still."

Erik looked to S'ray with a raised eyebrow.

"Best you do what she says," she smiled. "It'll be over quicker that way."

"Stand up straight," Luniana ordered snapping a tape measure in her tiny hands.

"As you wish Mademoiselle," he said standing straight and tall.

The pixie flew behind him and measured his height. Gathering up her tape, she flew up and measured his shoulders next. "Arms out," she squeaked poking his left bicep.

Erik obediently lifted his arms for her. Luniana measured his arms, and then flew around him to measure his chest on an inhale and exhale. Next she flew down to measure his slim waist.

A mischievous gleam entered her eyes and she squealed, "Inseam!"

"What?" Erik asked his eyes going wide.

"Don't move," Luniana grinned wickedly flying up to his eye level and poking at his nose.

Erik nervously looked to S'ray whom he could tell was trying very hard not to laugh at his current predicament. He could hear the pixie flying about at his waist level, but didn't dare look down to see what she was up to. "Hey!" he exclaimed as she got too close to his nether regions.

"Hold still," she admonished and poked him with a pin that was stuck in her dress.

"Ouch that hurt," Erik cried out in pain, trying not to move.

"Then don't move big boy," she trilled.

Erik's face reddened at her implied comment. S'ray couldn't take it anymore, she burst out laughing. "Just wait till she measures you next," he said trying to maintain some semblance of dignity.

"Don't have to measure S'ray, already know," Luniana squeaked. "Spread 'em."

"Excuse me?"

"I need to measure your thigh, so spread 'em," she explained.

"What on earth for?" he demanded.

"You should see what I see," S'ray laughed. "The Opera Ghost arguing with a pixie."

"Because I need to know," she persisted.

"You have my inseam and waist, isn't that enough for a pair of pants?" he demanded.

"Depends on how tight you want them," Luniana replied. "I'd like to see you in tight pants."

"Is that all you think about?"

"No."

"Then what else do you think about?"

"You naked and shrunk down to my size," she smiled batting her eyelashes at him.

The phantom was struck dumb and immediately turned a deep shade of crimson.

"Luniana!" S'ray scolded.

"Well, he asked," she replied and turning back to Erik. "So can I get my measurement now?"

Erik couldn't answer; he was still too shocked by what Luniana had told him.

"You'd better let her," S'ray advised. "She used to making clothes for Alve and our legs are slimmer than yours."

Erik nodded in understanding and spread his legs so the pixie could measure his thigh. The worst part of the whole situation was her obviously delighted humming.

"One more left," she squeaked flying back up to his eye level.

"Now what?" he groaned.

"Just your neck, I promise to be gentle," she said and flew around him. "All done. What colors?"

"Be specific," S'ray cautioned.

"Black," he replied.

"Not just black. Colors?" she pressed.

"Dark blue."

"And?"

"Dark green."

"And?"

"Dark red."

"Anything lighter?"

"No, I'd look silly."

"Are you sure?" she asked sweetly.

"For now, yes," he answered.

"OK," she giggled and flew off.

Erik looked up from his book to confirm his suspicions; S'ray was fast asleep on the couch. She'd been dozing off and on all evening, but now she was truly sleeping. He looked over to the fireplace, both brownies were also asleep and he could see Luniana sleeping on the mantle.

He marked his place in the book and set it on the table. Then he stood up, stretched and walked to where S'ray was sleeping on the couch. Erik slowly slid his arms under her and picked her up, she was surprisingly light. She stirred in her sleep and turned her head to rest it on his shoulder. He carried her up the stairs and through the open door of the master bedroom.

He walked across the darkened room and gently laid her on the bed.

"Erik?" she murmured, her eyelids fluttering.

"Shh," he breathed in her ear, still bent over her. "I just brought you to your room."

"Thank you," she smiled sleepily and raised a hand to his bare cheek.

"You're welcome," he smiled in return breathing in her heady perfume. "Now go back to sleep."

"Good night," she sighed as he covered her with a quilt.

"Good night," he whispered as he turned to go back downstairs to his bed by the fireplace.

Author's End Note: Get ready for some new characters in the next chapter.

Coming up in Chapter 12 – Ale, how much is too much?