Well…I guess this is what happens when you let a cowgirl phan read Louis L'Amour westerns while listening to the Phantom soundtrack. I decided to write a phic, but instead of taking place in Paris, it's in Texas in 1880. Rather than the Opera Populaire, Meg Carlotta, Christine and co. are performers in a cabaret revue…but we'll get more into that later.
1878
It was a gorgeous spring day. Just a gentle breeze, and the sun high in the Texas sky. Meg and Christine had gotten out of rehearsal early-thank goodness for yet another tantrum thrown by Carlotta. That woman sure could yell. The two had decided to take this spare time and go riding. Meg threw a stock saddle over her gelding's back and grinned at Christine. Christine, in return, gaped at her. "Meg! You're not riding astride, are you?"
"And why not?" Meg shrugged and bent to reach under her horse and grab the cinch. "You worry too much, Christine. And besides, what happens if the horses spook? I'd rather have a seat good enough that I could actually stop my horse." Meg cocked an eyebrow at Christine.
"It's just not proper." Christine gently set her sidesaddle on her mare's back, but gave Meg a look. "And why should the horses spook? They're both perfectly broke, and you know it."
Meg grinned at Christine. "Honey, sometimes I wonder if you still think you're in New York. Anything can happen out here. There are snakes…and yes, your horse will spook at a snake. Or maybe…"
Christine moved to bridle her horse. As she slipped the bit into the mare's mouth, she looked at Meg. "You're so dramatic, Meg. I don't know why you keep dancing, instead of trying your hand at some of the acting parts." She grinned at her best friend. "Besides, you lived in New York practically as long as I did. You moved out here when you were what, six? Your mom brought me here when I was seven…" Christine's voice trailed off. She hated to remember the reason that she had been brought to Texas…her father's death. She shook the idea out of her head. Forcing a smile, she said, "Plus, I bet I'm a better rider than you, sidesaddle or no."
"Oh, yeah?" Meg grinned at Christine as she slipped her own horse's bridle on. "I'll take that bet."
Christine mounted her horse and grinned. "You ready to go?"
Meg didn't respond, only removed her skirt-under which were, Christine was embarrassed to notice, men's trousers-leapt upon her horse and tapped his sides with her heels.
It was truly a beautiful day, and the two teenage girls enjoyed themselves as they hadn't in quite some time. It was because of their carefree state that they didn't notice the imminent danger until it was too late. They had been riding along, and Christine was laughing hysterically at Meg's imitation of Carlotta's latest tantrum. She suddenly stopped, however. "Meg, listen." she said.
"Hmm?" Meg stopped her monologue for a moment. "What is it?"
"It sounds like…" Christine looked down at the ground a few feet ahead. "It's a rattlesnake," she said quietly.
Meg sucked in a deep breath. "Okay, Christine. Don't panic…gather your reins-" She didn't get the chance to finish her instruction. Christine's horse snorted, threw a quick buck, and bolted.
"CHRISTINE!" Meg screamed and kicked her horse in pursuit. "CIRCLE HIM!"
Christine had never been more scared in her life. For once, she wished that she was as bold as Meg and had used a regular stock saddle, instead of a side saddle. Then she would be able to at least have both her legs to use. Desperately, Christine tried to turn her horse, but he simply fought the bit and kept running.
She could still hear Meg screaming when she became aware that her saddle was probably not cinched tight enough, because she found herself slipping off to one side…and her horse wasn't slowing. "Oh, my-" Christine whispered.
The saddle continued on its slide as her horse seemingly was picking up speed. But she heard hoof beats. Looking over her shoulder, she saw a man on a black horse ride up alongside her. "Grab hold of me," he said.
"I can't!" Christine cried. "I can't!"
"You have too," he said calmly, but urgently. "You're going to fall."
She knew he was right. He reached an arm out towards her and brought his horse closer to hers, so they were practically matched in stride. She kicked her foot from the stirrup and dislodged her other leg. The man grabbed her and set her in front of him on his horse. She clung desperately to him as he slowed his horse.
"Thank you, thank you," she sobbed into his chest. "You just saved me." She looked up at him to better see her savior. He wore all black, including a black hat and a black mask. A mask? The only men she had ever heard of wearing a mask were outlaws. And this man certainly wasn't an outlaw…if he were, why would he have saved her?
"Think nothing of it, miss," he said. He did not look down at her, but rode over to where her horse had finally stopped and was meekly grazing. He whistled quietly to it, speaking softly. It raised its head and he grabbed the reins. He continued to speak gently to the horse in an almost musical voice, soothing it. "That must have been quite a scare. You're okay now," he said, now using that soft, musical tone on Christine. She could only nod and continue clinging to him.
Meg rode up. "Christine! Christine! Is she okay? Her horse…the snake…"
With one look, the man silenced Meg. "Miss Giry, you should go home and tell your mother what happened, and that your friend is being cared for by Erik."
Meg nodded dumbly and turned, not even stopping to wonder how this masked man knew who she was. She merely rode off.
"Sir, I…" Christine's voice trailed off. The stress and reality of the situation welled up in her, and she fainted against the man's-Erik's- chest. He held her to him and rode home.
It was a few hours later that she awoke. She was lying on a bed in a house she did not recognize, and she began to get up. Dizziness soon, however, dictated that she lay back down. As she lay there, she pondered what had happened. She remembered she and Meg had been riding, when her horse spooked…and a man had rescued her. What had he said his name was? Erik? As she continued to think, she heard a piano somewhere in the house. It was playing a familiar tune, though she couldn't remember where she had heard it. She sang along softly.
The music had stopped, and she didn't notice until she saw the man leaning against the doorframe. "So you're awake," he said.
She stopped singing and looked at him. She was slightly embarrassed that he had heard her sing. "Yes, I wanted to thank you…for saving me," she said quietly.
"It was nothing," he said with a slight smile touching his lips.
She smiled shyly back at him. "Well, still…"
He walked across the room to her. "You sang beautifully," he said.
Christine blushed at the compliment. "Thank you, sir. I sing in the cabaret-"
Erik snorted scornfully. "You are better than that."
Turning her head away from him, she blushed again. The only other person who had ever praised her singing so highly had been her father… "My mother sang opera," she said softly. "About these lessons...I don't know-"
"I can teach you," he said. "Singing lessons. I am a musician, as I believe you just heard. I can help you, Miss…" He looked at her, as though asking her to finish her name.
She looked into his eyes. "Daae. Christine Daae. And…" she shyly looked at him. "Would you really teach me? I have no money to pay you with."
He raised his hand as if to silence her. "Do not worry about money. We will worry about that later. Now, you should rest. I am certain you are still worn out."
"Thank you. You are an…angel," she said, and blushed. She couldn't believe she had just told this man she hardly knew that.
He raised an eyebrow, but smiled. "Thank you, Christine."
1880
"Christine! Are you ready to go on? You're on in just a few minutes!"
Torn from her thoughts, Christine called out to Meg, "Yes, hold on!" It hadn't seemed like it had been two years since Erik saved her life and then, in a moment that had forever changed her life, offered to teach her to sing. Now, for the first time in her life, the 18 year old girl was to sing a solo for the very first time in a revue.
Christine drew a deep breath as she walked onstage. The laughter and chatter of the audience dwindled. She smiled and drew a deep breath. Looking out across the crowd, she began her song. It wasn't by any means a traditional cabaret song, but one that Erik had written. It required only a simple part played on the piano.
"Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said goodbye…"
Christine sang her song with all her heart, knowing that this could well be her only shot. As she finished, the audience sat in absolute silence. Then, they erupted into applause and whistles. Christine beamed and curtsied for them. "Thank you," she mouthed. Looking off to the edge of the stage, she smiled widely at Meg.
As she came offstage, Christine was mobbed by the other performers. "Thank you, thank you," she said, as she walked back to the dressing room. Meg followed her in. "Christine, you were amazing!" the blond girl exclaimed. "That was incredible!"
"Thank you," Christine said.
"Oh my goodness…look, Christine!" Meg picked up a red rose and handed it to Christine. "Whoever could that be from? Do you have an admirer?"
Meg's mother, Mrs. Giry, walked in. She had grown up back east in New York, and trained as a ballerina. She had always dreamt of starting a ballet school. When she came west with her family, however, it was clear that out here Texas wasn't the place for ballet. When her husband was killed, she was offered a job working at the cabaret revue, and accepted. In her own way, she tried to make it a more acceptable place for young women, which was the only reason she allowed her daughter and Christine to perform. Even so, she schooled her daughter and Christine in the art of ballet, with hopes that someday Meg would make it back east or even to California as a prima ballerina.
"Mother, look! Someone left Christine a rose! She has an admirer!" Meg said excitedly.
"Meg, dear, would you please let me speak with Christine about her performance?"
Meg rolled her eyes behind her mother's back and flounced out of the room, her dress swishing as she walked.
"You did very well. He is pleased with you," Mrs. Giry said.
Christine looked at Mrs. Giry with a questioning look, then realized that Mrs. Giry knew Erik. He was the only one she could figure that she would be speaking of. "Thank you, ma'am," she said.
Mrs. Giry left the room, leaving Christine there, looking at her rose.
So there you have it, my first chapter…Believe me, there will be drama, and Christine will learn that there's more to Erik that she knows…
A/N- A lot horses will bolt at the sight of a snake. I have a friend who used to have a mustang mare that she rode on a trail ride once, and there was a snake…her horse didn't bolt, it killed the snake!
