A/N: Hello everyone. Hope you guys are having a good weekend. I'm sorry I've been a little slow uploading the stories. Finals are literally next week so I'm focusing my time on finishing up classes and studying, plus I got injured so I was limited on movement and sitting at a desk, typing up a chapter actually hurt so I stayed away from the laptop. Anyway, I got to upload this one and I hope you guys enjoy it. I was unsure how to go with this chapter but here is it. Wildest Dreams will be upload soon.

Enjoy the chapter

Chapter 15: Talk with the Phantom

Any thought of him being the caring man she remembered him as vanished when he woke her up early. The sun wasn't even up, yet all the men were up and ready. Stretching against the trunk of a tree, she could hardly see him. He almost blended into the darkness. Like a phantom…Standing up, she brushed the skirt of her dress and tried to walk without tripping over a branch or stone.

"What are we doing?" She asked a soldier who was checking the girth of the saddle.

"We're riding, lass." He answered.

"This early?" The Scot nodded. "Why?"

"Captain's orders." He answered again.

"We ride early to get a head start, especially when we have the English army on our tails." Erik said as he walked over.

"You have kidnapped the princess and the king's nephew. Of course you have the English army on your tail."

"Watch that mouth, lass. It will land you in trouble one day." She didn't know if that was a warning or a threat.

"Are you threatening the princess of England?" She stood her ground. "You could be hanged for threatening the princess of England."

"You're in Scotland, princess. Your title doesn't scare anyone here, especially me." He was right, she was powerless here. "Now mount up, we're going to a ride." He ordered before walking away. Watching him walk away, she let out a groan and turned to face the soldier.

"Need a leg up?" He asked her, making her nod. Helping her up onto the horse, she fixed her dress before he mounted as well. "Hold on, lass. It may be a wee bumpy."

"How long will we be riding?" She asked him.

"All day, lass. We'll make stops for the horses and us to rest." The soldier answered. All day? That's…that sounds exhausting. It would be exhausting. She has had travelled for days before, but that was in a carriage and not on the back of a horse. Knowing it was useless to argue, she could only hold on to the soldier. Once everyone was mounted and ready, Erik gave the order and they rode off.

The land of Scotland was not what she was used to. She was used to the roads of England, not the woods of Scotland. Sometimes they could be cantering if the land was open with trees. Though there weren't branches to duck their heads, the ground was bumpy. She hung onto the soldier, not wanting to fall off. Whenever they hit the woods, the trees made them slow down to a walk. The soldier would help move the branches out of the way for her. At one point, Erik had them take a break using the safety of the trees. The soldier helped Christine off and let her walk, stretching her legs. Though she was allowed to walk around, she had guards on her to make sure she would try and escape. Erik had her and William separated so they wouldn't try and plan an escape.

"How much longer will be riding?" Christine asked one of the soldiers.

"Until dark." The soldier answered. "Then we'll stop for the night."

"Is there a village nearby to spend the night?" She asked them.

"No, lass. The next village is still a long ride away." Their heads turned as Erik walked up to them. "A moment with the princess." The soldiers nodded and walked away, giving them some privacy but stayed close by. She looked up at him, waiting for him to say whatever he wanted to say. "Never would I imagine that the girl that night in the prison was the princess of England." Slightly blushing, she knew which night he was talking about.

"I didn't know you were Erik Boyd. I thought you maybe another Boyd…that you had a brother."

"I did." She noticed the agony in is voice, knowing it may be a touchy subject she had started.

"What happened to him?" She asked, curious to know. He may be the most dangerous man in England, but she still wanted to learn more about him.

"Your father had him executed." The coldness in his voice was clear as can be. She knew he hated her father and he had good reason if her father had his brother killed. But somehow, she knew there was more than just that.

"I know nothing I say can take back what happened to your brother, but know that I am sorry that he was killed." He stared at her, a bit surprised that she was apologizing for her father killing his brother. He was expecting this. Maybe she's not like her father. "Have I said something wrong?" She asked, noticing his stare and quietness.

"Why?"

"Why what?" She asked, confused on his question.

"Why did you help me?" He asked her. He had wanted to know for 10 years since she helped him that night. Now that he was reunited with her, he could finally get his question answered. "You committed treason by helping me and the others in the prison." She knew that and yet she had risked it. Taking a deep breathe, she looked down at the ground, at his boots.

"My father says I have my mother's kind heart, that no matter who the criminal is, I still feel a need to help in some way." Her eyes travelled back up to meet his. "You didn't deserve any of the punishment my father sentenced. You were protecting them like they were your brothers. I guess you could call it pity on you but it wasn't." His face remained emotionless as he listened, taking in everything she was saying. "I knew that prisoner wouldn't survive the week, he looked like he was barely surviving already. I couldn't see him suffer for something that wasn't his fault."

"You do have a kind heart, even for rebel prisoners." He said, making her cheeks blushed.

"I see you as a rebel." His head tilted slightly.

"Then what do you see me as?" He asked, curious to know.

"A man, fighting for what he believes…fighting for his country." Her answer surprised him and for the first time in years, she saw a hint of a smile. They stood there, staring at each other. Slowly, he lifted his hand up and held it up to her. Smiling slightly, she placed her hand against his. For a moment, she thought their fingers would entwine. But his hand pulled away when his name was called. Turning around, he started to walk away. "Wait!" Stopping, he turned to look at her. "Do you regret that…kiss?"

"No." She tried to ignore the feeling of her hear soaring at his answer. She watched him walk away while she remained where she was. She had feared that once he found out she was English, he would regret that kiss they shared years ago. But he didn't regret and neither did she.

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