He woke, automatically searching the sheets for her. He had grown accustomed to sleeping in the same bed as her. That way, he could keep an eye on her, for fear of having her taken away from him in the night.

"Adellade?" he asked, seeing her sitting up in bed, knees hugged against her chest. "Adellade? What is it?"

"Please don't," she whispered, eyes staring forward. "Please don't."

" 'don't' what?"

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, walking toward the door. He stood and followed her.

"Adellade?" he called out.

She took off running and he followed, keeping close to her. His eyes widened as she ran straight for a balcony without any sign of stopping. He grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him.

"What do you think you're doing?" he demanded, grabbing her by the shoulders. He paused, seeing her vacant expression. "Adellade? Can you hear me?"

She blinked, seeing him there. "Erik? What-where are we?" She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into his chest. "Oh, I had the most awful nightmare!"

"It's over now," he reassured. "It was just a nightmare. It can't hurt you." He glanced at the edge of the balcony, then back to her, seeing the scars along her arms.

They had hurt her again. The Shah. He had hurt her so many times over. Some times it was simply for entertainment, though most were because Erik hadn't done his best-hadn't pleased the Shah enough….

He led her back to their chambers. She had tried to hide it from him…. Had tried to act as if it was nothing…. He had seen through her-each and every time he had seen through her…. He always could see through her.

She got back into bed and curled up next to him, still showing no signs of returning to sleep. The Shah had made her afraid. He could see it. In her eyes, the way she walked, the way she glanced at everyone else…. She was afraid of him-of people hurting her….

He started humming a lullaby to soothe her. She relaxed a tiny bit, though not enough to fall asleep. He was too busy in the daytime doing whatever the Shah demanded of him, working on the palace. It was during a night such as this that he was able to completely watch her-to guard her from any who might wish to do her harm….

She slowly fell asleep and he glanced at her, seeing the way she slept, feeling as he if was watching her as a child all those years ago. In his mind: she was still a child. Still that little girl who had loved him because she believed the story that he had a monster hidden under his mask who would protect them from the storms. Still the little girl who made him a doll because he had none to play with. Still the little girl who had been afraid that he couldn't be her brother and her friend. Still the little girl who thought that he was leaving because she had liked him too much.

Now here she was: afraid of everyone, afraid of being hurt because he had done something wrong. She should be with a guardian, having suitors beginning to court her, attending parties and listening to gossip over trivial things. She should know how to play an instrument, how to charm men with her looks and graces, how to prepare a meal and serve houseguests. She should know all of the things that a lady should know, yet here she was instead: afraid for her own safety.

Music was playing as he led her by the arm into the hall. He caught a glimpse of himself, seeing his face without the mask...perfectly intact with no flaw anywhere. He turned to point it out to her, only to see another woman on his arm instead….

The music stopped as they entered, the two of them being met with much applause and congratulatory cheers. He led her to the floor, dancing to the music and pleasure of the onlookers. He saw them at the edge of the crowd. Madeline was beaming, Charles was nodding in approval, and Adellade was giving him a small, forced smile. Why did she look unhappy?

He finished the dance as the others began their own dances around them. He gave her a small kiss-she was his new wife, how could he have forgotten that?-and made his way over toward her, seeing her standing on the balcony, looking out past the railing.

"I would presume my own sister would be happy on this day," he pointed out. "Is something wrong?"

"No." She quickly shook her head. "I am happy for you, Erik. For both of you."

"Adellade…."

She put a hand on his arm and smiled. "You will both be happy. I know it." She walked past him, back into the festivities.

He watched as she left, seeing her approach a man and give a curtsy as they began talking…. He made to return, only to be stopped by the doors flying open as men ran into the hall, brandishing swords, striking the frightened guests down.

"No!" he ran to her, the others not crossing his mind as he stared at her body, blood marring her features, limbs twisted out of their sockets. "Adellade! No!"

A man approached as he held her in his arms, sobbing over her body.

"A fine entertainment, indeed," the Shah congratulated. "A fine apology for your previous failure."

He woke, seeing the sunlight. He stood and made his way to the sitting room, seeing her setting out the morning's tea. He paused for a moment, taking in the smile, the quiet music she was humming to herself, the way her cheeks had that flush of pink to them. She was alive. His Adellade was still alive.

She saw him and smiled. "You're awake. I didn't want to disturb you, so I made tea instead. You did need the rest, you know."

He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him.

"Erik?"

"Tea, yes," he murmured. "Of course."

"Is everything alright? Did something happen?"

"No. Everything is fine." He sat to work on his music, yet found himself unable to concentrate, the images from the nightmare haunting his thoughts.

He looked over at her, seeing her reading a book as she sipped the tea. He enjoyed watching her read, seeing her fully able to relax as her mind wandered into the pages of stories, flying far away from the horrors the Shah might inflict on her.

"Are you certain you're alright?" she asked.

"Hm?"

"You've been acting strange lately. It's just-I-I'm concerned about you."

"You have nothing to fear." He stood and made for the door. "Sleep, Adellade. I'll return before you wake."

"Erik…." She grabbed at his arm. "Please?"

He sighed and kissed her head. "Sleep, Adellade. I'll return before you wake."

"What are you doing here?" Nadir demanded as the door opened.

Erik stood, facing him. "I was expecting you to be here soon."

"What are you doing here in my chambers?"

"You promised to help her, and the time has arrived."

"Adellade? Why? What's happened? What have you done?"

"The Shah's threats increase on her with each task," he explained. "She is harmed worse, and I fear that soon it may result in the end of her life. Therefore: I require your aid to help me get her away. Once she is far and safe from the Shah, you may do whatever you please with me. Just help me get her away."

"Do you have any idea what you're asking? I might as well be putting my own head on the executioner's block!"

"Nadir…."

"Adellade only, Erik. If this fails and you have to get left behind, then so be it."

"I have had my punishments before, Daroga. And you can be assured that I will do whatever it may take to have her safe."