A/N: I decided to spoil you guys and give you two chapters in one day. Warning, the next chapter will get a little graphic (war graphic). This story is rated M and there is war graphic, as well sexual content. Of course I'll always let you know if a chapter gets M rated in case you want to skip because of reasons, but reminding everyone this is a M rated. (I only do M rated stories apparently)

Anyway, enough from me. Enjoy the chapter

Chapter 17: Harshness of War

"You want to ride with Malcolm?" He repeated her request, a bit surprised at it.

"Is that his name?" Christine asked, never knowing the name of the soldier she rode with at first until Erik took over for whatever reason he had. "But yes I do."

"Why?" He asked. Don't break, don't be weak.

"Because he actually talks to me unlike you." He raised an eyebrow, the only eyebrow she could see for his other was covered by the mask. "It helps the time pass when you have something to talk to and responds back." She added. He thought for a moment about her request.

"Alright fine, you can ride with Malcolm." His answer surprised her. He agreed and didn't seem to be suspicion. She hoped she didn't offend him, but if she wanted her plan to work, she had to put his feelings aside.

"Thank you."

"Malcolm!" He shouted, making her jump. Did he have to do that? The soldier ran over at the sound of his name being called. "Tha ia 'marcachd còmhla ribh an-diugh. Cumaibh air falbh bhon bhalach. (She is riding with you. Keep her away from the boy.)"

"Seadh, a Mhaighstir. (Yes, sir)" Only nodding, Erik walked away as Malcolm looked at Christine. Holding out his arm, she smiled and accepted. He led her to his horse and helped her up onto the animal. Looking ahead, she saw Erik mount his horse. Her view was blocked by Malcolm's head. Soon, they off and she went through with her plan. Having already ripped the ribbon into pieces, she only needed to place them carefully and without drawing attention from Malcolm.

By mid-day, they had ridden for miles and Erik knew a village would soon be approaching. This meant possible supplies for his men and a resting place as well. It also meant he would have to decide on whether or not to let her go here or take her with him back to camp. He had pushed back the decision since the moment he said he would think about it, having not want to make the decision. He was torn between letting her go in payment of helping him years ago or keeping her to help bring Gustave to a truce. Why is this so hard to decide? She's just an English princess and you could have Gustave on his knees. No, she wasn't just an English princess. She was the girl who helped years ago. The girl who's lips he couldn't forget and whose memory haunted his dreams for the past 10 years. God, Erik, why are you wanting to keep the lass? Yes, he did know why, for the sake of Bruce's truce with Gustave. There's another reason though. You want to learn more about the lass…learn more about your angel. He shook his head slightly. No, he wasn't her angel anymore. Yes, she is. Arguing with himself, he was aware of something in the distance. His men seemed to notice and tried to get his attention. Malcolm and Christine saw see a cloud of black above the tree line. Motioning his horse into a trot, he rode up to the captain.

"Sir?" A voice brought him out of his thoughts and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw Malcolm, then Christine and the look on her face make him wonder. "Sir, look." Malcolm pointed up to the cloud and Erik followed his direction to see it.

"What is that?" Christine asked. Erik halted, making the others halt as well as Erik looked at the cloud.

"Fire…" He answered. Checking his surroundings, he noticed things that indicated that the village was close. Motioning his horse into a canter, he rode to the clearing which gave a view of the village. His men followed behind. Stopping, his eyes found the source.

"Oh god…" Turning his head, he could see Christine's horror as she looked upon the burning village. "H-How…?"

"Your father." He answered. Christine looked at him with shock.

"No he couldn't have. My father would never do this, especially to innocent people." She refused to think her father was responsible for this.

"And how would you know what your father has done?" He turned his horse around to face her. Malcolm and his men stayed quiet, knowing better to keep their mouths shut. Even William quickly learned to keep his mouth shut. She just looked at him, unsure how to answer his answer and whether answering his question was a good idea. "You don't know everything that's happened. You sit comfortably in your castle without a worry of someone attacking while we get our homes burned. Our women get raped by your soldiers, our supplies taken. Everything we've built over the centuries gets destroyed by the order of your father." The men looked down, some have gone through the experience of their homes destroyed by the English. Christine looked shocked by his claims, as well as ashamed. She always thought of her father as an honorable man, but hearing what Erik was saying make her think. He couldn't have known of these things…could he?

"H-He wouldn't though…" She tried not to believe it. "He never spoke…" He scoffed.

"Why would he tell you? He wouldn't want his precious princess to be ashamed of her father. After all, the English are so honorable that they were capable of doing such cruel things. But we Scots are, because of your father, we are." Christine was silent, taking in every word he said. She still couldn't believe it; she didn't want to believe it. But looking down at the burning village was proof. All those lives, those innocent Scottish lives. He was right, she knew nothing about the war. All the stories were nothing compared to what she was seeing right now. God, are we really to blame for this war? But she knew there was more to the story than burning homes and killing innocent lives. She sensed a personal reason for Erik and probably everyone had a personal reason to hate the English. But Erik's was the one she wanted to know about and maybe, hopefully, convince him that not all English are bad. After all, she is his angel even if she is English.

Looks like Christine's going to see the Scots side of the war and maybe, learn more about Erik's history with the English. Find out soon...

Reviews are welcome