He was sitting on his throne, next to the Papillion monkey, quietly
singing along with its song. I gently slid the gold band off my finger. I
had forgotten all about the ring Erik had given to me during Don Juan
Triumphant, and had begged Raoul to row me back so I could return it. Erik
may not have loved me enough to let me stay with him, but I felt I should
return it. Raoul would have made me get rid of it when I became the
Vicomtesse de Chagny anyway.
The rustle of my skirts made him look up. There was a look of shock
on his face. I held back, but with a deep breath continued. In five
strides I was by his side, and I held out my hand, the hand that contained
the ring. Erik gently took it from me, taking great care not to touch me.
I turned quickly so he would not see the tears welling up in my eyes. I
started walking, so I could escape from this place, this man, the man I had
wanted to spend the rest of my life with, but who had sent me away. Erik's
voice startled me out of my thoughts.
"Christine, I love you," he said simply and in almost a whisper. I
turned slowly to face him. I could not stop myself from crying.
"Then.then why did you send me away?" I asked. It barely came out ,
but Erik heard me. He stood up. I couldn't stop myself. I ran to him,
and embraced him. His body tightened in shock, but soon he relaxed and
embraced me back. I leaned up and kissed him. The feelings I was
experiencing were like nothing I had ever known. I could not ever remember
this happening with Raoul. Raoul! I drew back.
"Christine, what is it? What's wrong?" he asked, concerned.
"Raoul," I said. "He's waiting for me. Oh, but Erik, I want to stay
here with you!"
"Conceal yourself behind that rock. Don't let him see you," he
warned. "Or my plan will not work." I stood stupidly in one place. He
gently pushed me behind a nearby rock. Before neatly proceeding, he
smoothed an unruly piece of hair back in place, and straightened his
lapels. He walked up to the shore of the lake. From my hiding place I
could hear what was going on above me.
"Greetings Monsieur," Erik shouted. "I thought I had told you to
leave."
"I have every intention of doing so," Raoul said coolly. "As soon as
Christine comes back. You didn't happen to see her on your way up here did
you? I believe she was returning something you had given to her earlier."
"No, I haven't seen her since I bade you leave. She knows these passages like the back of her hand, though. Are you sure she didn't make an excuse just to get away from you?" "Oh, it was no excuse Monsieur, I saw your ring myself," Raoul exclaimed smugly. "Oh, it is a ring you speak of? I did not give her a ring." "But she said." Raoul sputtered, obviously confused. I decided I could not let Erik lie to Raoul any longer. I decided to go speak to Raoul myself. Raoul spotted me first because Erik's back was to me. "Christine!" Raoul said with a hint of triumph in his voice. "Christine?" Erik said with a mixture of shock and surprise. "Well my dear," Raoul said. "It seems you could not find our elusive friend because he has been up here telling lies. I'm sure you can inform this monster that that ring on your finger was given to you by him." "Yes Raoul, that is true," I said. "Ha!" Raoul said with satisfaction. I looked over at Erik, who looked at me with confusion. "But, I feel I must point out something very important. I cannot possibly go with you now Raoul. When I was first down here with Erik I took off his mask. He told me at that point I could never return to the surface. I begged and pleaded with him to let me return so I could continue singing. Now I have done all the singing I wish to, and I must serve my sentence." "But Christine! He had released you! You can come with me now and be happy!" In a younger, less dignified person I would've said he was whining. "No, Raoul. I gave my word, and you've always encouraged me to keep my word." "All right Christine, obviously you have no regrets. Don't worry, I won't come back for you, but when you finally realize what you really want, you know where I'll be." Raoul gently shoved off, and rowed away. I can't say I was too upset. Erik was all I needed now.
* * * * *
"No, I haven't seen her since I bade you leave. She knows these passages like the back of her hand, though. Are you sure she didn't make an excuse just to get away from you?" "Oh, it was no excuse Monsieur, I saw your ring myself," Raoul exclaimed smugly. "Oh, it is a ring you speak of? I did not give her a ring." "But she said." Raoul sputtered, obviously confused. I decided I could not let Erik lie to Raoul any longer. I decided to go speak to Raoul myself. Raoul spotted me first because Erik's back was to me. "Christine!" Raoul said with a hint of triumph in his voice. "Christine?" Erik said with a mixture of shock and surprise. "Well my dear," Raoul said. "It seems you could not find our elusive friend because he has been up here telling lies. I'm sure you can inform this monster that that ring on your finger was given to you by him." "Yes Raoul, that is true," I said. "Ha!" Raoul said with satisfaction. I looked over at Erik, who looked at me with confusion. "But, I feel I must point out something very important. I cannot possibly go with you now Raoul. When I was first down here with Erik I took off his mask. He told me at that point I could never return to the surface. I begged and pleaded with him to let me return so I could continue singing. Now I have done all the singing I wish to, and I must serve my sentence." "But Christine! He had released you! You can come with me now and be happy!" In a younger, less dignified person I would've said he was whining. "No, Raoul. I gave my word, and you've always encouraged me to keep my word." "All right Christine, obviously you have no regrets. Don't worry, I won't come back for you, but when you finally realize what you really want, you know where I'll be." Raoul gently shoved off, and rowed away. I can't say I was too upset. Erik was all I needed now.
* * * * *