Erik's not been having much luck has he? Well his luck is about to get worse. Or better. You decide... If you're enjoying this story, click that follow/fav button please. And please review.

Chapter Three

Christine woke up in a strange room. She pushed up onto her elbows, completely unprepared to see her husband sitting at his desk in front of the bed without a shirt on. He was facing away from her as he wrote something on the paper in front of him. She held her breath, taking in his broad shoulders and strong back. Battle scars criss-crossed the muscles on his back. She guessed they were scars from training his knights.

Christine accidentally let out a squeak and Erik's head snapped up. "Good morning." He said, but didn't turn around.

Christine's face heated, "Good morning."

Erik stood from his desk, pulling a shirt from the wardrobe. "Did you sleep well?"

"I did." She moved the blankets out of her way and walked to the door adjoining their rooms."I'll see you downstairs."

"Christine wait." Erik caught her hand, his shirt hanging open at the neck. It showed off the top part of his chest and a trail of dark hair. "What did you mean in your note yesterday?"

"I meant exactly what I said. That I think we should sleep in separate rooms."

"Why?"

"Because I'm not comfortable around you." Christine pulled her hand out of Erik's grip and disappeared through the door.

Erik turned away from the door, his eyes falling on the wedding dress she had worn. Half hidden by the screen. Walking over, he bent to pick it up. The scent of honeysuckle assaulted his senses, and he held the dress to his nose before letting it slip through his fingers back to the floor.

He turned and looked around the room with a sigh. Christine wasn't comfortable around him. What could he do about that? He decided to skip breakfast and go to the training yard instead. Before he left his room he looked out the window that faced the yard. Four of the knights were engaged in combat with their long-swords while the fifth stood watching as though waiting for a partner. Eagerly, he strapped his own sword belt around his waist and slipped on his chain-mail vest.

He needed the exertion to get his mind off of Christine for a few hours. He looked at the letter he had been reading from Christine's parents and the list, they lay on the smooth wooden surface, mocking him. Erik quickly glanced at the door to her room then stuffed the letter in the drawer. Then he left his room and followed the stairs to the yard.

"Who's feeling brave enough to cross swords with me?" He asked as he approached the group of knights.

Galvin, the knight who had been waiting for a partner, stepped forward. "I am Your Majesty."

"Very well then Galvin." Erik unsheathed his sword, "Shall we?"

Galvin pulled his own sword from it's sheath and the two circled around each other. With a shout, Galvin rushed him, and the battle began.

Meanwhile, in the great hall, Christine sat in the center of the high table. She tried her best to look as regal as possible. She was the queen now after all.

She must have looked stressed, because Alice put her hand on hers. "Are you alright, my dear?"

Christine's head snapped up, "I –. I'm just not sure. Yesterday I was a princess, and today I'm the ruler of a country, what if I can't meet the demands of the kingdom? And I'm not sure how I feel about Erik."

Alice patted her hand, "My dear, if you wouldn't object to a stroll through the gardens, I'd be happy to assist you with your problem."

"Certainly." Christine stood and followed her mother-in-law from the room to the gardens.

They followed the path through the rows of hibernating trees and bushes. Alice stopped at a marble bench in front of a rose bush. She sat on the bench and patted the spot next to her. "Please, sit." She looked at the bush, sighing. "First of all, I understand that you're scared of running the kingdom. I was nervous when I married Cedric and became queen." She turned slightly to face Christine. "But you have me to assist you on this matter. I'll teach you how to rule. But you have promise me that you'll take what I teach to heart."

"I will." Christine smiled at her mother-in-law, "And what of Erik? What does he hide beneath that mask?"

"Dear, It's not my place to tell you about that. He'll tell you when he's ready." Alice sighed, "But I'll tell you one thing. He's never looked at a woman the way he looks at you. At all the parties his father and I hosted, he'd always stay against the wall by himself. He never danced with a woman. Even though I taught him to dance myself." Alice studied the younger woman's face. "But then again, no woman gave him more than a passing glance."

"I noticed the scars on his back when I woke up this morning. What are they from?" Christine shuddered when she thought of the marks."

Alice sighed. "That was the fault of Cedric and myself. When Erik was about fifteen, we sent him off to a school for royal boys in Denmark. The school was highly recommended by friends of ours. But we never took the time to actually go to the school before we sent him there." She shuddered. "Apparently one of the teachers preferred to use a whip as punishment whenever a student acted out in even the smallest way, even if it was false. One day, a boy falsely told the teacher that Erik had attacked him. Just because Erik stood up for a younger boy who was being bullied." Tears pooled in her eyes. "The boy who accused Erik made all of his friends back up his story, and had one of his friends beat him up to make it look like Erik had attacked him. The teacher believed the story and whipped Erik in front of the whole class." She whipped away the tears. "Erik went straight to the headmaster that night and told him everything, showing him the fresh marks. And the headmaster allowed Erik to come back home. Last I heard, the teacher was sent to prison for life."

Christine sat in shock. "How awful. To whip a twelve year old. And a prince no less. That crime is worthy of death."

"Cedric and I did petition for the teacher's death. And the court system is still contemplating it. Erik was also fairly shy because of all that he has gone through. Until he met you." Alice stopped to allow these words to sink in. "When he met you, something changed. He spends less time on his own now. He also spends a lot of time in the practice yard with his knights."

"Does he ever talk to you about me?" Christine couldn't keep the question from popping out of her mouth. She immediately wanted to take it back. She didn't know Erik, just as he didn't know her.

"He does. He's mentioned that he enjoys your company. But he worries that you do not enjoy spending time with him." Alice looked at her daughter-in-law. "He talked to Cedric and myself before the ceremony yesterday. He was nervous about going through with the wedding after reading the note you'd sent to him."

"Oh. That." Christine watched a bird fly overhead. "I told him that I wasn't comfortable around him." She sighed. "I think I hurt his feelings."

"He's a strong man. He may be shy, but he's willing to fight for the people he cares about. And he cares about you."

Christine was unable to answer as a man in silver chain-mail came running down the path towards them. "My Queen. Come quickly." He stopped in front of Christine. "The king's been injured."

Christine and Alice glanced at each other. "I'll call for a doctor." Alice stood, "You have to go to your husband."

"I can take care of him. I know medicine." Christine said then raced after the knight. "Where is he?"

"In the training yard. He was cut on his arm. A very large injury." He led her to the yard and pushed through the knights who had gathered around their king. "Everyone make some room." He yelled to the group.

Christine took one look at her husband and rushed to his side. His eyes were closed. She sat back on her knees and lifted his head into her lap, being careful not to jar his left arm. "Erik. Erik. Can you hear me?"

Erik's eyelids fluttered open, "Christine." He choked out before he lost consciousness.

Christine called upon the lessons on medicine she had been taught back in France. "Someone get a board so he may be brought to his chambers. We'll need some clean cloths and water." She inspected the gash on his right arm, it ran from his shoulder to his elbow. "And bring a needle and thread to our chambers as well. And a bottle of whiskey."

The knights quickly dispersed to find the items. A few minutes later two came back with a long board and Erik was moved onto it. Christine followed the men as they brought Erik to his chambers. Once they had him on the bed, Christine set to work removing his shirt as gently as she could. Two maids entered with a basin of warm water, cloths, and a needle and thread. The knight who had told Christine about Erik's injury brought in a bottle of whiskey.

Christine thanked the servants and the knight then shooed them from the room. She dipped one of the cloths in the basin of water, gently wiping the blood from his arm. Rinsing the rag she noticed sweat forming on Erik's forehead. Christine placed her hand on his forehead, then his cheek not covered by his mask. He was burning up with fever. She quickly went to the bell pull and a maid appeared. Christine picked up the basin of water and handed it to the girl. "I need this filled with very cold water."

The maid curtsied then raced off to do as Christine bid. Christine returned to Erik's side and threaded the needle. She poured some of the whiskey over the cut then forced the rest down Erik's throat. She needed him to be drunk so he would not feel the needle. Taking a deep breath she began the stitches. She went as quickly as she could while being as gentle as possible. Erik remained unconscious while she worked. He didn't even flinch when she stuck the needle in and out of his skin.

She was tying a piece of cloth around the stitches to keep them dry when the maid arrived with the ice water. Christine thanked the girl then dipped a rag in the water, putting it on Erik's forehead and running it down his chest and arms. He would make it through this. He had to.

Two days passed, and Christine sat vigil by Erik's side, keeping her eyes open and not succumbing to sleep. All through the night she sat, keeping cold rags on his forehead and forcing water down his throat. She left the room both mornings change her dress. On the third morning, after changing her dress, she found herself becoming tired. She slipped under the blankets and fell into a light sleep, waking an hour later to Erik thrashing around next to her.

"Stay away from her." He said. His brow was once again coated with sweat. "Leave her alone."

Christine jumped up and went to the basin, taking it to his side of the bed. She placed her hand on his shoulder, "Shh. Erik it's okay. Wake up. It's okay." She felt fear and tenderness creep into her heart, but quickly tamped it down.

Erik's eyes snapped open, and he gazed at her. "Am I dead?"

"No. You're very much alive." Christine placed her hand on his forehead, his fever had broken. Thank God.

"What happened?" He sat up.

"You were injured while in the practice yard three days ago."

Erik's eyes sparked as he remembered the incident. Then they hardened. "Why are you here?" He scowled. "You made your feelings about me very clear. Twice."

"I'm the only one in the castle with knowledge on medicine. And we didn't have time to send for the doctor you would be dead. It would have been two day's journey for him, and you were burning up with fever."

Erik's face was unreadable. Then his eyes flashed fire, "Get out." He growled, and Christine flinched, her face draining of all color.

"Erik, I'm here to help you." She protested.

"Oh really?" He replied with anger in his voice. "You're only here out of a sense of duty. What more do you want? You never cared about me." He almost yelled. "I'll tell you one more time." He pointed to the door. "Get out!" This time he did yell.

Christine turned and fled the room, but Erik clearly saw the tears forming in her eyes. Before the door even swung shut he regretted his words. What have I done? He asked himself. She didn't do anything to me. With his good arm, he pushed himself into a sitting position against the wall, then inspected his arm. It was in a cloth sling against his chest. She was a wonderful nurse. And he had yelled at her.

He thought about how he should apologize. One thought came to his mind. Roses. Erik pushed himself off the bed and walked over to the bell pull. His valet knocked on the door a few minutes . "Go cut a rose from the bush in the greenhouse and bring it to me."

When the man left, Erik sat at his desk, took a piece of paper from the drawer and picked up his quill. He quickly scratched a message on the paper.

Christine – I'm terribly sorry for yelling at you. I was still upset from what you had said to me. I hope you will forgive me. – Erik

He waited for the ink to dry then folded the paper. His valet walked in with a red rose in his hand, the thorns had already been cut off. "Thank you." Erik took the rose and tied the note to the stem with a black ribbon. "Take this to the queen's chambers please." He handed the flower back to the man, who bowed and left the room to the hallway. Becoming drowsy Erik lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He didn't have to wait long before he fell asleep. He just hoped Christine would forgive him.