Marry for the land.
By LiltingBanshee
A/N: This is sort of a retelling of the old French story about Martin Guerre with the Phantom characters put in.
Summary: In the 16th century France the Protestants are challenging the Catholic Church. In a small French village young Christine Daáe is forced to marry Raoul de Chagny to protect their land from being taken over by Protestants. He does not wish to be in an arranged marriage so he leaves her. Many years later he comes back to their village, but is he really the same man who left so many years ago?
(This will end up as an EC pairing).
Disclaimer: Most inspiration is taken from the musical Martin Guerre by Boublil & Schönberg. I own nothing, characters, storyline – nothing:)
Ok, here we go…
France 16th Century
"Phillipe, I do not want to do this! I am not ready yet!" Raoul de Chagny cried to convince his older brother that this whole thing would be a mistake.
"Raoul stop acting like a child, this is not about what you want, it's about what needs to be done to save our land!" Phillipe was tired of arguing over this matter.
"Can't you find someone else to do this? There a so many things I wish to do, I can't be tied down by a marriage, I´m too young!" Raoul tried.
"You are 24 years old Raoul, you are not too young! It's about time you take some responsibility for our family. We cannot risk loosing this land to a Protestant family! Catholics have owned this land through lifetimes; it has been passed on from Catholic fathers to Catholic sons for centuries. Our family has slowly been loosing our once great status over the years; if we loose this land the de Chagnys will just be a common family. Don't you understand that little brother?" Phillipe asked angrily.
"Why can't you marry her? You are the oldest one!" Raoul attempted.
"You know very well that I cannot produce children. It is your responsibility to secure us an heir" Phillipe scolded. Raoul hung his head; he knew that Phillipe was right.
"The Daáe family was once as important as our family, but Elena and Gustave died leaving their daughter as the only heir for the land. The land cannot be passed on to a girl; she must marry and produce an heir soon! The next in line is her cousin and he has turned a Protestant, if he gets the land it will be over for our line! If we can have this land we will once again be a great family. Come on Raoul, be a man! Take you responsibility and marry Christine Daaé!" Phillipe said sternly.
"Sweet aunt, is it really true that Raoul de Chagny has asked for my hand in marriage?" Christine Daáe asked nervously.
"Aye that is true my child" Madame Burdon said.
"But why would he choose me? There are so many girls in the village?" the young girl asked confused.
"Of course he would choose you my dear! You are sweet and beautiful and will make the perfect wife" Madame Burdon smiled. "And why wouldn't he marry you when he can get your land for free and take the responsibility for your marriage off my shoulders" she said, making sure Christine could not hear her last sentence.
"Monsieur de Chagny, please com in" Madame Burdon moved aside to let the two men into her house.
"Thank you Madame, it's always a pleasure to see you" Phillipe smiled and made the woman blush, then she turned her attention to the younger man who followed Phillip.
"Oh Raoul, you have certainly grown these past years, you are a fine young man now. Please come inside, Christine is waiting with the tea in the living room" she said overjoyed.
Raoul smiled politely, though he most of all wished to flee the scene.
The young girl polite kneeled when she greeted the de Chagnys. "Monsiuer Phillipe, Raoul. It's a pleasure to meet you" she said.
"Likewise Mademoiselle Daáe" Phillipe said happily, Raoul just continued smiling, knowing that if he said something it wouldn't be pleasant.
"I am very honored by your proposal Raoul" Christine said with a sweet smile.
"Well, at least someone is happy" Raoul muttered.
Phillipe elbowed him hard in the ribs. "My brother is a little shy, but I assure you Mademoiselle Daáe he is thrilled at the thought of becoming your husband, he has talked a lot about you for some time now."
Christine blushed and Raoul felt a sting of pity for the young girl who was being tricked into this marriage.
At least Phillipe tried to be a little honest. "We are very grateful that you have accepted Raoul´s proposal. Not only will you make the perfect wife for him, but your marriage will also mean that you will be the greatest landowners in the village. The de Chagny name as well as the Daáe name has always been highly respected and we will ensure that the useless Protestants will not get their hands on good Catholic land" he said with great enthusiasm.
Christine smiled. "Oh, I never understood the rules for the land. All I know is that my beloved parents, may they rest in peace, left it all to me and that it shall one day be passed on to my son. If Raoul can be in charge of the land I wouldn't mind" she said.
Delighted to hear that Madame Burdon turned to Phillipe and Raoul. "Do we have a deal then?" she smiled.
Raoul opened his mouth to speak, but Phillipe cut him off. "He agrees; we have a deal. We shall begin the preparations for their wedding at once" he said with determination.
The entire village was gathering to witness the wedding ceremony between Raoul de Chagny and Christine Daáe. A marriage that would ensure the good Catholic reign in their beloved village.
"Do you Christine Elena Daáe take Raoul Phillipe de Chagny to be your husband?" Father Pierre asked.
"I do" Christine said sweetly.
"And do you Raoul Phillipe de Chagny take Christine Elena Daáe to be your wife?" Father Pierre asked the young man.
A lot of worried looks were caused by the silence that followed the Priest's question.
"Raoul!" a strict voice came from the crowd.
"I…I do…" Raoul said and a relieved sigh escaped the villagers.
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife" Father Pierre said happily. "You may kiss your bride."
Raoul turned to Christine and gave her a little peck on the lips and Christine tried to hide her disappointment as Raoul let her through the cheering crowd.
Later that night they were alone in their house. It was the house where Christine had been born and had lived with her parents until they died. When they had passed away she had been sent to live with her aunt, but the house had been kept for her to move into with her husband the day she married.
Now that day had come and she was happy to be back in her childhood home. She was walking around the bedroom lighting a few candles. She was very aware of a wife's duties on her wedding night, and though she was a little nervous she was determined to make it a good night.
Raoul came into the bedroom just as she sat down on the bed wearing only a chaste white nightgown. He smiled at her and settled under the covers next to her. When he made no attempt to touch her she leaned up and kissed him sweetly on the lips.
"Thank you for a beautiful day Raoul, I fully enjoyed it" she whispered gratefully and looked him in the eyes.
"I'm happy you had a good time. Good night Christine, sweet dreams" he said and laid down turning his back to her.
Christine was slightly surprised, but figured he might be as nervous as her. Carefully she slipped an arm around his waist and kissed his neck. "Raoul we are married, there is no reason to be nervous" she whispered.
Raoul turned around to say something to her, but found he could not get a word past his lips as Christine's soft mouth pressed against them. Being a man he could not help but respond to her kiss and he gently cupped her cheek as he returned the kiss. She moaned and moved closer to him, but then felt him push her away.
"Christine…I'm sorry. I…I can't do this" he rambled as he quickly rolled away from her and got out of the bed.
"Raoul, I don't understand…did I do something wrong?" Christine asked.
"No Christine, you did nothing wrong, it's just…I'm sorry…I'm going out for a walk" with that he left the room and a confused Christine in their marriage bed. Warm tears began rolling down her cheeks as she got up to blow out the candles; this was not what she had expected from her wedding night. Was this a sign for how their marriage was going to be? She got back in the bed and drew the covers up to her chin. With hopes for a better tomorrow she cried herself to sleep.
Ok, that's it for the first chapter. This will not be RC, you will see soon. Please please tell me what you think of it:)
