Lost and Night is Falling (Phantom)

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian made her way through the woods, her dress snagging on a branch. She tore it from the twig's iron grip and silently cursed the stupid dress when it ripped. But she wasn't the kind of girl to start wailing if her dress was torn, so she just let go of the dress and walked on, nearly tripping over a root. She looked up at the sky through the tree branches. Dark storm clouds covered the setting sun.

Lillian Nile grimaced at the approaching storm and sunset. She didn't have a clue where she was and was rather in a hurry to return to Camelot before dark set it - and the storm for that matter. She stopped and looked around her, all the trees looked the same, as did the twists and turns in between them.

Feeling dreadful, Lillian sank to the ground, flipping off her heels and rubbing her sore feet. She thought, 'High heels are definitely something you want to wear in the woods.' But since she didn't really have anything else she'd had to stick with the shortest heels she could find. With a little desperation in her voice she wondered aloud, "Oh great, the paths all look the same, as do the trees, so where do I go?" When she came to no answer she said in slight agony, "Now I'm lost...Well I guess that's what I get for wandering around in unknown woods."

A crack of a stick brought Lillian to her feet. Her eyes wide, she whipped her head around to scan her surroundings. "Who's there? Show yourself!"

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

In the shadow of the trees, and the lessening day light, Phantom crept through the forest, his feet not making any noise. His eyes darted from side to side, and came to rest on the figure of a teen girl, whose dress was snagged on a branch. He watched as she snatched it back from the stick, and had to smile when she let the ripped part of the dress fall careless from her hand.
Phantom followed her as she walked forward. When she reached a clearing, he saw her gaze go to the sky and her grimace. Phantom gazed up at the sky, seeing the fading sunlight and the storm clouds rolling in. He turned his attention back to the girl when she sank to the ground, taking her high heels off.
An eyebrow raised as he saw the heels fall the the ground. From that he guessed she was a noble and had nothing else. He had to smile though, for she was in no state to be running around in the woods - a beautiful dress and high heels, definitely not something he'd where if he were a lady walking in the woods.
His gaze was on her as she rubbed her feet, as if they were sore. Well they better be, in those shoes. He listened to the desperation in her voice when she said, "Oh great, the paths all look the same, as do the trees, so where do I go?" He thought about going down to her, leading her out of the woods. But thought better off it, his hand running down the mask on his face. He was filled with another instance want to go down to her when she said to the empty air, "Now I'm lost...Well I guess that's what I get for wandering around in unknown woods."
His foot snapped a twig and the noise brought the girl to her feet. Her eyes, wide, darted around, and her head whipped about her. He saw her gaze scan the trees. Now he'd have to come out. He heard her voice again, this time louder and almost demanding, "Who's there? Show yourself!"
He sighed and stepped out the trees, walking toward her. "Do not be afraid I mean you no harm." For one like Phantom, his voice was quite gentle.

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian looked at the man who'd stepped from the trees. Automatically she took a step back, despite his gentle words. She looked around, there was no where for her to run to if she started to get uncomfortable around this man, she didn't know him and for all she knew he could be some angry assassin.

She swallowed her fears and asked, her voice bolder then she felt, "Who are you then? Can you help me back to Camelot, as I seem to have lost my way...?"

Lillian didn't really want to stick around for his answer, but what else could she do? She was in a ripped dress and high heels, it's not like she could get anywhere fast. Despite her want to escape, she stayed where she was, her eyes darted suspiciously around.

The noble from Camelot studied the man, who'd stepped out in front of her. He wore a black cloak that swept around her booted feet. His hair was also black, and he wore a mask on the right side of his face. She couldn't see the color of his eyes from where she stood, but what captivated her was the mask. She wondered what value it had to him, why did he wear it, was her biggest question. She didn't dare ask it though, for the answer could very well be the man's own personal knowing.

Lillian's eyes locked with his, and she stood there, in the forest clearing as the night and the storm approached. She waited for his answer.

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

Phantom looked at her and then around them. He heard both her questions. At this present moment he chose to only answer one. "Yes I can lead you back to Camelot, but you can only come with me if you answer this question. Do you trust me?"
He gazed intently at her, trying to think of what her answer would be. Many would saw no, just because of the way he looked, suspicious. He knew what Ranger and his mother would say, without a thought they'd both blurt, 'no!'. And that sadden Erik Opera. His own family had all but turned against him.
But Phantom didn't try to worry too much about them now, now that he was on his own. He glance back to the girl and instantly wondered what she was called. He opened his mouth and before he could stop himself he asked, "What is your name?"
He silently cursed himself for blurting that out, what had made him do so? His heart was trying to tell him something, but he couldn't hear it. As he gazed at her, waiting for her to reply, he realized that she was rather beautiful, despite the torn dress. He realized then, what he was being told, perhaps he was falling in love...he hope yes, and he hoped not.

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian was taken aback by his question. Did she trust him? She wasn't quite sure. Yeah, he seemed alright, but for all she knew he could be just trying to use her for something. It didn't seem that way. But Lillian was cautious. After a moment of considering his question she answered, "Yes. I do trust you."

She sighed and looked around, "Are you sure you know the way out? It's pretty dense in here..." He didn't look like one who knew his way around the forest, but who was she to talk?

Lillian Nile was surprised at his next question, when he asked her for her name. She looked him in the eyes and said, "Lillian Nile. Now if you please, could you tell me yours?"

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

"Yes I do trust you."
Her words took Phantom by surprise. He tried to hide his shock, but it was written all over his face. He replied to her question about him knowing the way out of the woods, "Of course I know how to get back. It's rather easy if you've done it a few times."
"Lillian Nile. Now if you please, could you tell me yours?"
He looked at Lillian, her eyes were on him. She was beautiful, as was her name. He said, "My name is Erik Opera, most call me Phantom though."
Erik looked at her, and held out his black gloved hand, offering her to take it so he could guide her through the dense forest.

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Erik. That what the man told Lillian he was called. She thought that it suited him, the name reminded her of someone handsome, Erik vaguely fit that definition.

She looked down at his gloved hand and gently placed her own in his. She looked up, her eyes catching his look. She smiled shyly and looked away. She was struggling with what words to say, and was quite sure that she was in danger of falling in love with this strange Phantom of the forest.

Instead of saying anything complicated she stuck with, "Lead on." Her eyes traveled to his once more, and this time she gazed into his eyes, seeing beauty there. Then she grinned briefly at him before turning away once more.

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

Erik looked at her, and caught her gaze. She grinned at him briefly before she looked away again. He smiled crookedly. And began to walk through the forest, his feet oddly silent on the blanket of leaves and sticks beneath him.
As he's walking Erik asks, curious, "Do you think there's such a thing as the beauty underneath the ugly?"
After a moment he adds, "I mean I...I um, never mind."

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian Nile looks over at Erik when he asks the question. She's about to answer it when he adds, 'I mean, I...I um, never mind.' But it was too late. Lillian spoke gently, "Of course I do. No one's ugly on the outside, at least that's what I believe. It's not how you look, it's the thoughts and actions that count."
She gazed at him, puzzled at why he'd asked her, but in a way glad that he had. There needed to be some conversation going on. She hoped she'd get to know him a bit better.
To strike further conversation, Lillian said, "Do you live in the woods, or in Camelot's village?"

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

Erik looked at her out of the corner of his eye and had to smile, even the slightest bit.
Her words, "Do you live in the woods, or in Camelot's village?" took him by surprise. He replied, I live in a hut at the forest's edge.
He was about to step out into the open air in a field that they'd have to cross to get to the village when lightning struck and thunder grumbled. Rain began to pelt the ground. Here, come with me so you don't have to walk home in the rain. He said, and the words from his mouth shocked him. He'd never brought anyone to his solitary house. But now was not the time to argue with himself. Not wanting Lillian to get soaked, he gently took her hand again, since he'd let it go when he stepped into the clearing. Being generous, he took off his cloak and put it around Lillian's shoulders, he gave her a gentle smile and began to lead her toward his home.

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian looked at him and was about to walk out toward the open field when lightening struck the ground and thunder grumbled. She jumped a bit, surprised by the sudden change in weather. She let Erik take her hand and smiled at him when he draped his cloak around her shoulders. She asked him as he began to lead her toward his home, "Won't you get cold?"

She pulled the cloak tighter around her even so. She tripped on a tree root, causing her to fall into him. So scrambled to regain footing, when she did she blushed deeply. Lillian looked away from him and said softly, "I'm sorry, I tripped."

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

Erik led her on and looked at her when she asked if he'd be cold. He smiled slightly and said I'll be fine, do not worry.
As they walked on Lillian tripped and she fell into him. He caught her and for a moment she stood there, struggling to regain her footing, his hands rested on her waist to steady her.
After a brief hesitation Lillian stepped back and looked away, her cheeks turning red. He heard her say softly, "I'm sorry, I tripped."
Erik put his hand on her cheek and pushed her head gently so she looked at him. He smiled and said, Do not apologize, I don't mind.
After a moment he stepped back and looked away. He said gruffly, embarrassed, That's go before we both get soaked.
Erik started on again, his hand at his side.

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian felt her cheeks flare up and she avoided his gaze. She was grateful when he started to walk again. She walked a few paces behind him, unsure. At the moment she was unsure of what had really happened. Erik had seemed cold and not very friendly when she had met him, but now he was starting to soften up.

Then it hit her.

She looked at his back and thought, Perhaps he's starting to... she didn't finish her thought. Instead she looked down at her feet again and continued to follow.

She knew that she was starting to fall in love. She, Lillian Ann Nile, was falling in love with the man behind the mask.

[Erik "Phantom" Opera]

Erik looked back at her. He could feel the unsure aura rippling off her. It took him a moment to realize that, that uneasy sense was because of him.
Then like it had hit Lillian, it hit Erik.
He nearly stumbled, as he realized that he was developing feelings for the noble from Camelot.
He, Erik Opera, was falling in love with Lillian Nile.

Erik shook his head and wiped the water from his eyes. He looked back at her and said, "We are here."
In front of them stood a small hut with crooked stairs and a door that was slightly ajar. Erik cursed silently at his stupidity. He'd left the door open, now his cat, Quail was probably inside, riding him of the dinner of rabbit stew he'd so carelessly left on the counter.
He turned to look at her, "It's not much, but it's home. Oh and please excuse the mess," he thought, "and Quail, the cat."

[Lady Lillian Nile]

Lillian walked toward the house. She said, turning to him, "Doesn't it get lonely out here?"
She was soaked, and she shivered from it. At one point she sneezed, drawing the cloak tighter around her. She didn't want to be rude and enter the house before he did, so she just stood there.
Her hair was plastered to her and the blisters on her feet stung. She sniffled and then coughed. She silently cursed, she was getting ill, it was obvious. She'd have to pay Gaius a visit sooner or later, but she didn't worry about that right now.