My Angel of Music

Birthday

Meg was out with Luke that day.  Erik and I were in the kitchen, enjoying a new pastry that the servants had made.  "It really is delightful."  Erik mused as he shoveled a forkfull gently into my open mouth.  The sweetness flooded my tongue and I smiled closed-mouth.  Once I finished chewing I daintly scooped up another piece of the pastry and planted it into my husband's waiting mouth.  "Christine!"  Erik exclaimed through a mouthful of dessert.  I had accidently dropped part of the sticky food onto his chin.  I laughed loudly as I reached for a napkin.  Erik laughed with a hand over his mouth, in fear his food would spill out of his mouth.  The whole situation was hysterical, and in moments I was laughing so hard, no sound escaped my lips.

Erik laughed along with me, as he held his arms around my shoulders, in case I fell over in laughter.  "Your face is just......too good!"  I choked out between peals of laughter.  Finally, my laughing ceased and Erik could finish his breakfast in peace.  When he was finished, he shot up from his chair, and stood with a finger in the air.  "I know what would make this morning perfect!"  He exclaimed happily.  I smiled, refraining from laughter at his random outburst.  "Wuthering Heights."  He suggested.  I smiled and nodded.  "Yes, go get it!"  I encouraged.  He chuckled and quickly exited the room to retrieve the book.

And in that moment, I felt the worst possible pain.  A pain deep in my back and midsection, tearing at my flesh like claws.  I gasped, and held a hand over my mouth so I would not scream.  The pain lasted another dreadful five secounds, and then it was gone.  I hunched over in my seat and shut my eyes tight, to block out the light.  A dull ache remained and it only reminded me of the pain that was there.  I heard footsteps approach, but I ignored them, too focused on what had just happened.  "Christine?"  A warm hand was on my back, and I groaned in response.  "What is the matter?"  Erik was frantic.  I gulped and slowly sat up, trying to hide the pain on my face.  "I'm fine.  It's nothing."  I replied in a cheery tone.  I smiled up at his worried features, which slowly began to relax.

Erik sat and began to read from our favorite book, his voice numbing any other thoughts that clouded my mind.  But, only a few minutes later, the horrid pain returned, sending a cry from my lips.  This time, I could not hide my discomfort, and Erik knew it.  He jumped up, and placed a hand on my back.  "Christine."  He said sternly.  "What is wrong?"  

I clutched the chair as the ache replaced the pain and finally looked up at him.  "Maybe you should take me upstairs, and call for the doctor."  i said as calmly as I could.  He nodded, his face set in determination.  As gently as he could, he lifted me from my chair and carried me in his arms, like a child.  I knew that Erik absolutley hated to see me in pain, so I tried to hide it as best as I could as he carried me up the stairs, but the ache in my back was not happy with all of the movement.  I groaned and buried my face in his chest.  I heard his heart beat faster as he heard me cry out, but I could not help it.

Finally, we reached the bedroom and he gently laid me on the bed.  I bit my lip to distract myself from the ache, which hardly helped.  Erik rearranged the blankets until I said I was comfortable, then he left to fetch a servant.  I heard him outside the door, talking urgently with a boy servant.  "Tell the doctor my wife has started with the children.  And if you are not back, with the doctor in an hour, I will hang you from the stable beams."  He hissed.  The boy muttered a "Yes sir", and was on his way.

Erik put on a relaxed face and reentered the room.  

***

"Christine, there's not much I can do for another few hours.  You just need to relax."  I heard the doctor order, but I ignored him.  The pain was too much.  i just wanted him to kill me, right here.  But what I really needed was Erik's hand holding mine.  But I had ordered him out hours ago.  Everytime I screamed, he would flinch or look like he needed to scream with me.  So, out of pity, I made him leave.  Of course, once the doctor arrived he would have had to left anyways.