"Raoul, it's just a scarf," Christine giggled.
"Don't hurt her feelings!" Raoul exclaimed, putting one bare foot onto the icy lake, his shoes and socks discarded on the stones. "Fear not, Francesca, I'm coming!"
"Raoul, seriously, you'll freeze!" Christine shouted. "I can buy a new one, seriously, Raoul-"
"The ice is supporting me, Little Lotte," Raoul replied nonchalantly. "Seriously, Christine, I'm fine!"
At that moment, the ice broke and he fell through. Christine shrieked and ran towards the lake. She immediately took off her shoes and socks and started crawling towards him.
"I'm fine!" Raoul called, paddling so his head would stay above water. "I can still reach it-"
"Don't be ridiculous, Raoul," Christine said, splayed on the ice. "You'll get frostbite if you stay in the water much longer. Please, just grab onto my hand."
Raoul reached for the scarf, his fingertips just barely touching it. "I've – nearly – got – it!" he said, stretching a little farther.
The ice underneath Raoul's arm broke just as he grabbed the scarf, and his head went under. "Raoul!" Christine screamed, army crawling towards the black, gaping hole under which Raoul had submerged. She rolled up her sweater sleeves and braced herself as she plunged her arms into the freezing water. She felt a slippery hand grab hers, and with all her might, she tugged and pulled until she could see Raoul's face above water again. He hoisted himself up and she dragged him out, and together the two of them carefully crawled back to shore.
They collapsed on the stones, heaving for breath and sopping wet. In Raoul's hand was the red scarf. He coughed up water before sitting up and grinning as if he were drunk. "Got it," he said breathlessly.
Christine shook her head and, against her better judgement, started laughing. "Raoul de Chagny, you are the most stupidly gallant boy I've ever met in my life."
"Good," Raoul replied, still grinning. "Here's your scarf, Mademoiselle Daae."
"Oh, don't look so pleased with yourself," Christine laughed, snatching the scarf out of Raoul's hand.
"Just don't lose Francesca, okay?" Raoul told her sternly as he got up and put his socks and shoes back on. "I treasure her dearly."
"Of course I won't," Christine promised. "I'll keep Francesca until the day I die."
Teeth chattering, the pair headed home to a shocked and concerned Mr. Daae, who immediately chastised them for wading into the lake ("What in God's name were you thinking? You could have both died of frostbite!") and sent Raoul home for a warm shower.
