All I Ask of You

Paris 1921

Freya was taken back to her carriage as the auction was now over, but before the carriage took off; she caught Morgause's face and mouthed the words, "thank you," to the old woman. Madame Le Fey just nodded with a small smile on her face.

When the carriage took off, Freya caught the sight of a young pair of lovers looking over a set of jewels in a shop window and her heart ached both sadness and bittersweet joy as she thought back to those days so long ago when she'd been a younger girl in love…

Paris 1869

The fine weather was in sheer contrast to Arthur's mood as he walked into the Opera de Camelot that morning. He'd had a spectacular evening which included a spectacular party in the company of the most divine of ladies he'd ever known, Mademoiselle Guinevere, and had gone to bed feeling elated and happy, only to have his good mood spoilt when he received a letter from the opera house.

Not even the number of customers buying tickets for the evening's performance could please him. Not that money really did, but if it pleased his father, then who was he to argue or say differently? But the current state of affairs left him in a sour mood indeed.

He looked over the note again and began muttering to himself as he walked up the marble stairs and down the hall.

'Mystery after gala night,' it says, 'mystery of soprano's flight,'
'Mystified,' all the papers say, 'We are mystified. We suspect foul play!'
Bad news on soprano scene
First Agravain and now Merlin!

Merlin had gone missing in the middle of the night and no one knew where he was. Arthur was concerned because not only was Merlin their only star at the moment, but because first and foremost, Merlin was his best friend and brother. If anything happened to him, he didn't know what he would do.

Arthur sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. His father was going to have a complete fit when he found out. Not because he cared about the boy, but because he cared about the business. At least their financial state along with all of the publicity would keep him from having a heart attack.

Still at least the seats get sold,
Gossip's worth its weight in gold.
What a way to run a business
Spare me these unending trials!
Half your cast disappears
But the crowd still cheers
Opera!
The devil with Gluck and Handel
Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!

Right on cue, Uther appeared looking furious and frustrated. He looked as though he might kill something or worse. Arthur had hoped to break the news of the letter to him gently, but that plan had apparently gone out of the window.

"Outrageous! Will they all walk out? This outrageous!" he roared.

Quickly, Arthur tried to calm him down. "Father, please don't shout," he said. If the customers or anyone else heard, it would mean trouble they couldn't afford. "It's publicity and the take is vast. Free publicity!"

"What's the point of free publicity if we have no cast?" demanded Uther, angrily.

"Father, please calm down. We'll find Merlin and all will be well. At the very least, take a look at the queue!" said Arthur. He then frowned when he saw a familiar looking letter in his father's hands. "Ah, I see you've got one too."

Uther held up the letter and read out:

"Dear Uther what a charming gala,
Merlin was in a word sublime
We were hardly bereft when Agravain left
On that note: that man's a complete disaster,
Must you cast him when he's seasons past his prime?"

Arthur didn't even have to ask who'd sent it as he pulled out a letter of his own that was from the exact same person who'd sent his father's letter.

"Dear Arthur, just a brief reminder;
My salary has not been paid
Send it care of the ghost
By return of post
P.T.O No one likes a debtor so it's better if my orders are obeyed!"

They both thought it completely ridiculous. They were willing to pay for operas, but twenty thousand francs was just far too much and for this lunatic to send them orders when she was clearly not the owner of the opera house. They were. They'd paid the fee and signed the contract. They were the owners.

Both men were thoroughly agitated as they said to one another,

Who would have the gall to send this?
Someone with a puerile brain!
These are both signed O.G

Arthur
Who the devil is she?

Uther & Arthur
Opera Ghost!

Arthur
It is nothing short of shocking

Uther
She is mocking our position!

Arthur
In addition she wants money

Uther
What a funny apparition

Arthur & Uther:
To expect a large retainer
Nothing plainer
She is clearly quite insane!

"Where is he?" demanded a voice.

Arthur and Uther looked down to see Freya, looking quite frantic as she walked up the stairs to them.

"Who? Agravain?" asked Uther.

"No, I mean Monsieur Merlin Emrys. Where is he?" asked Freya, looking worried. "I heard he was missing. Has he been found? Which one of you sent me this note?" She held up a piece of paper inscribed with elegant handwriting.

"What note?" demanded Uther.

"Father, please, be calm!" said Arthur.

"Sirs, please don't argue," said Freya, pleadingly. "Can either of you tell me who sent me that note? Surely one of you wrote me this note?"

"And just what is it that we're meant to have wrote to you?" asked Uther.

Arthur took the letter from Freya's hands and read the following message: "'Do not fear for Monsieur Merlin Emrys. The Angel of Music has him under her wing. Make no attempt to see him again until I return him to you.' We didn't send this, my lady. We've no idea where Merlin even is."

Freya looked even more worried. "If that's true, then who sent me the note and where is Merlin?"

Just then, Agravain and his wife stormed into the opera house, looking outraged. Katrina's outrage was more likely on her husband's behalf. Agravain looked as though someone had cheated him out of a great fortune.

"WHERE IS SHE?" he yelled.

"Agravain, you will calm yourself and not shout in the presence of a lady!" said Uther, sharply. "Particularly, while in the presence of the Countess du Lac! Now, what is it you're in such a rage about?"

"My apologies, Your Grace," said Agravain, stiffly, after he calmed down. "But I have your letter, a letter that I rather resent."

"What are you talking about?" demanded Freya, looking confused. "I never sent you any letter, Monsieur."

"You mean to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?" said Agravain, holding up a letter.

"And what is it that she's meant to have sent?" asked Arthur. He took the note and read the following message. "'Your days at the Opera de Camelot are numbered. Merlin Emrys will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune should you attempt to take his place.'"

Agravain looked angry and seemed to have forgotten that he'd quit in a huff less than twenty-four hours ago and seemed to be under the impression that he was still their star and they were trying to dispose of him.

Uther, unwilling to be bossed around by a ghost or even a woman decided to tackle the situation by doing something exceedingly foolish—going against the Phantom's wishes. "Far too many notes for my taste," he said. "And most of them about Merlin. All I've heard since I came is that servant's name!"

Just then, Gaius and Morgause appeared at the bottom of the steps.

"Pardon my interruption, but I thought you'd like to know, my nephew has returned," said Gaius, happily.

"I hope no worse for wear as far as I'm concerned. Where precisely is he now?" asked Uther.

"We thought it best he was alone. He needed rest," said Morgause.

Freya looked quite relieved. "May I please see him?"

"No, mademoiselle, he's resting and shall see no one," said Gaius, gently.

"Will he sing?" demanded Katrina.

"Here, I have a note," said Morgause.

Before Arthur could react, Uther took the note and read the following message: "'Gentleman, I have now sent you several names of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is to be run. You have ignored my orders. I shall give you one last chance. Merlin Emrys has returned you and I'm quite anxious that his career should progress. In the new production of tonight's opera, you will therefore cast Agravain as the pageboy and place Merlin in the role of the Count. The role that Merlin plays calls for charm and appeal and the role of the pageboy is silent which makes my casting in a word—ideal. I shall watch the performance from my usual place in Box Five, which will of course, be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur. I remain your faithful servant, O.G.'"

While everyone else would've preferred that Merlin sang instead of Agravain, Uther did not take kindly to being ordered around and nor did Agravain take kindly to the Phantom's thinly veiled insults in her letter.

"Merlin! That filthy lowly servant beneath my shoes! Merlin! It's all a ploy to help that little halfwit! I know who sent this! The Countess, his lover!" hissed Agravain.

He stormed off to his dressing room and had his servants furiously pack his things while he acted like a spoilt child who'd been denied his sweets.

"Monsieur du Bois, please, don't go!" said Uther. "You are our star and always will be! Monsieur du Bois!"

But Agravain was not listening. "You're only saying this to please me! You're only saying to appease me!"

"Monsiuer, please! Merlin will be playing the pageboy, the silent role," said Uther, much to everyone's horror. Before Arthur could protest, he said, "You shall be playing the lead!"

Agravain again wasn't listening and began storming out of the opera house, seemingly for good, much to everyone else's pleasure except for Uther's. Morgause was rather calm about the situation and only said, "Who scorn her word, beware to those. The angel sees, the angel knows."

"You have rebuked me! You have replaced me!" yelled Agravain.

"Monsieur, pardon me," pleaded Uther. "What new surprises lie in store?"

Upon opening the door, a crowd of great size containing many fans and adorers threatened to overwhelm them. For a moment, they were believed to be Agravain's fans, except one of the ladies in the crowd asked that a flower she held be given to Merlin, but fortunately the door swiftly closed.

"Your public needs you, Monsieur," said Uther, while forcing Arthur to keep quiet. "We need you as well."

Agravain gritted his teeth. "Would you rather not have your precious stagehand?"

"Monsieur, no," said Uther, sickeningly sweetly. "The world wants you."

And with those six little words, their fate was sealed and Agravain found himself looking exceedingly smug as he was pampered with expensive, costumes, drink, cologne and so much more. It was far more than he deserved, but no one dared argued with Uther once he made up his mind, for his infamous temper was legend. Though everyone looked ill as they obeyed Uther's wishes and fed Agravain a pack of lies, no one disobeyed his commands.

Agravain was to be the star again and Merlin was once again cast to the shadows, hidden in plain sight.

Uther and Arthur
Prima Donna, great gentleman of the stage
Your devotees are on their knees to implore you

Arthur
Can you bow out when they're shouting your name?

Uther
Think of how they all adore you

Arthur & Uther
Prima donna enchant us once again

Uther
Think of your muse
And all your queues 'round the theatre!

Arthur & Uther
Can you deny us the triumph in store?

Andre, Firmin & Piangi
Sing Prima Donna once more

Freya didn't quite know what to think all this. "Merlin spoke of an angel," she sang to herself.

While she had known Merlin had had a great teacher, she could only wonder if he was indeed an angel. Was he right? Was all this the work of Merlin's angel he and his mother had spoken of? Could she be his tutor and the one behind all the notes and Merlin's disappearance? She didn't know what to do.

She wanted Merlin's career to progress, but although she the patroness, but she couldn't really stop Uther from doing as he pleased. Not to mention they all thought she was the one behind all of this, so no doubt they wouldn't listen to her, unless she threatened to withdraw their funding.

Agravain
Prima Donna your song shall live again

Uther & Arthur
Think of your public

Agravain
You took a snub but there's a public who needs you

Madame Le Fey
She has heard the voice of the Angel of Music

Uther & Arthur
Those who hear you liken you to an angel

Agravain
Think of the cry of undying support

Arthur
We get our opera

That was something at least. Arthur despised the whole situation. He didn't want Agravain singing as the man's voice was just plain terrible. Silently, Arthur prayed a disaster would occur so that they'd have good reason to bring Merlin back onstage in Agravain's place.

Uther
He gets his limelight

Agravain
Follow where the lime light leads you

Uther & Arthur
Leading stars are a trial

Agravain
Prima Donna your song shall never die
You'll sing again and to unending ovation

Freya
Orders, warnings, demands made by an unknown soul!

Uther
This misacting will invite condemnation
Lunatic demands are regular occurrences

Uther refused to be ordered around or believe in a ghost or the threats. He was doing what he thought was best, unaware that his actions would cost him most dearly soon enough during the performance that evening.

He smiled as Agravain was carried out of the dressing room and taken to the stage for the final pieces of his ridiculous costume. Agravain seemed like the cat that had swallowed the canary.

Agravain
Think how you'll sing in that final encore

Uther & Arthur
Sing Prima Donna once more

Freya
I must see these demands are met and accepted

Freya's mind was made up. The payment of twenty thousand francs would be decided upon soon enough, but tomorrow, unless there was reason to say otherwise, Merlin would resume his place on the stage and tonight Box Five would be left empty. It was her Box to give away in any case. She would sit with her managers that evening to watch the performance.

But as far as Uther was concerned, the notes meant little and were a clear sign of Freya and Merlin's relationship.

Uther
Who'd believe a diva happy to relieve
A mere stagehand whose gone and fallen in love with his patroness?
Merlin and the Countess entwined in love's duet!
Although she may demur, she must have been with him!
You'd never get away with all this in a play,
but if it's loudly sung and in a foreign tongue
It's just the sort of story audiences adore, in fact a perfect opera!

Though Gwen was outraged and tried to get Merlin to put up a protest about Uther's decision, Merlin refused. He was disappointed, but not surprised about what had occurred. He had expected something like this to happen, but he somehow he just knew that Morgana would be furious and her wrath would be wreaked about the opera house that night.

Gwen & Merlin
For if her curse is on this opera, trouble shall soon follow…

All
Prima Donna the world is at your feet
A nation waits, and how it hates to be cheated!
Still, the driest throat will reach the highest note
Sing Prima Donna
Once more!

XXX

That evening, there was another full house for the evening's performance of the romantic comedy opera. Agravain was playing the role of a count who was having an affair with his manservant which was actually a young lady in disguise, which meant that poor Merlin was wearing two costumes and had the misfortune of playing a girl as well as a silent boy.

The curtain rose as the three other singers took their place on the stage and began to sing.

They say that this youth has set my Lord's heart aflame!
Her Ladyship sure, would die of shock
Her Ladyship is a laughing-stock!
Should she suspect him, heaven protect her!
Shame! Shame! Shame!
This faithless gentleman's bound for perdition!
Shame! Shame! Shame!

Now, Agravain required a special liquid be sprayed into his mouth in order for him to sing and his manservant made the unfortunate mistake of leaving it where Morgana could find it. She was severely displeased by the night's events. While she was pleased to get her Box, she wanted Merlin onstage and she wanted her money.

After deciding that the best way to make herself clear was through Agravain, Morgana had in her possession, a spray bottle of her own she'd magically made that would produce quite interesting results. Quietly, she switched the bottles when she thought no one was looking, but Janos saw a black gloved hand make the switch from his post up above and decided to investigate.

The second curtain then rose, revealing Agravain and Merlin in costume having an affair. Agravain wore an ugly green suit and his face was that like a clown's and Merlin was dressed in two costumes, a manservant's and a girl's attire.

"Serafina, your disguise is perfect!" said Agravain. There was "knock" on the "door." "Why who can this be?"

Katrina came onstage, dressed in an atrocious pink dress. "Beloved husband, admit your adoring young wife!" she sang. "My love, I'm called to England to conceal my sister's scandal and must leave you with your new manservant!" As the crowd laughed, she said to them, "Though, I would happy take the manservant with me."

"Now, that's exactly what the public loves!" the public's reactions pleased Uther, but Arthur and Freya barely cracked a smile.

"The old twit is leaving," said Agravain, to the crowd. "Sarafina, away with this pretense!" Merlin tossed off his manservant's costume, making everyone gasp. "You cannot speak, but kiss me in my wife's absence!"

Merlin then pretended to kiss Agravain behind a curtain on the bed on the stage.

For several more minutes, Agravain's terrible voice rang out across the theater and was mixed with that of the other performers.

Poor fool, she makes me laugh!
Ha-ha, ha-ha,
Time I tried to get a better, better half!
Poor fool, she doesn't know!
Ho-ho, ho-ho,
If she knew the truth, she'd never, ever go!

At that moment, Morgana decided to make her presence known. She'd just been sitting cloaked in her Box when she could contain her anger no longer.

Suddenly, thunder roared, lightning flashed and storm clouds magically appeared inside the opera house and then she appeared on the stage in a whirl of blue fire that vanished quickly with one great swirl of her enormous black cloak

The audience screamed at her appearance and everyone else looked frightened of her except for Merlin and Morgause. Morgana was looking as dangerous as the storm and fire she'd magically conjured.

"DID I NOT MAKEMYSELF CLEAR WHEN I REQUESTED MY PAYMENT AND THAT MERLIN PLAY THE ROLE OF THE COUNT TONIGHT?" yelled Morgana. Her blue eyes were like two narrow slits of blue fire as she focused her intense gaze upon the box where the managers and countess sat. The three of them were looking slightly frightened.

Morgana turned to Agravain as sparks danced in between her gloved fingers. He backed away slightly in fear. "You, who dared to return despite my feelings towards you being clear, or five years, I've let you think you have control here, but no more I say! Upon this night, I curse you, Agravain du Bois. I curse you to sing no more after tonight and just when you believe you are at your greatest triumph, you shall lose that whom you love most dearly!" she hissed. "When you die, you shall die old, alone and unloved!" Her eyes then flashed gold before she vanished in a gust of wind as she swirled her cloak around her.

The audience looked terrified, but Uther quickly calmed them with the help of Gaius and then all was silent.

"Oh, good heavens, I can't believe she did that," whispered Merlin.

"Your part is silent, little toad!" snapped Agravain, who seemed to have regained his composure. He quickly smiled to the audience and tried act like a professional before he went backstage to use his spray for his throat.

They then tried to restore the mood, but somehow no one believed that would be accomplished after what Morgana had just done.

As the music picked up again, Agravain sang, "Serafina, away with this pretense! You cannot speak, but kiss me in my—" he was cut off when he suddenly lost his voice, much to his fellow performers' horror and the audience's amusement, who thought it was all a joke. In fact, Agravain sounded like a donkey braying.

Merlin's eyes widened and though he disliked Agravain and was finding it hard not to laugh, he would've helped had he known what spell or potion Morgana had used or if the effects were even reversible.

Agravain just smiled in embarrassment before trying again. "Poor fool, she makes me laugh! Ha—" But the results were even worse to the point where after sounding like a donkey again, no sound emitted from his throat at all and the curtain quickly fell as he cried out, "Mother!"

Fortunately, Uther and Arthur quickly took control of the situation as the thick red and gold curtain concealed the fiasco.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize," said Arthur. "The performance will continue in ten minutes time. By which time the role of the Count shall be played by Monsieur Merlin Emrys!" Many an applause went up at that for Merlin had many a female admirer.

"Meanwhile, we'd like to give you the ballet from Act Three of tonight's opera. Monsieur Gaius, the ballet now, please!" said Uther, quickly.

Upon hearing this, Merlin quickly muttered a spell to make the scene change from that of the bedroom's to that of the ballet's before running to his dressing room to change costume. If he got through this night, it'd be one devil of a miracle.

As the ballet went on, Janos made the terrible mistake of trying to find Morgana, for he'd seen her lurking around the theater and decided to expose her. But Morgana was one step ahead of him and if there was one thing she didn't like, it was being followed, especially by that little worm, Janos.

Within a few moments, the air around Janos turned very cold and he began to feel scared. It was just as well he did, for right after he turned around, he found himself face-to-face with Morgana, who didn't look pleased in the slightest.

"Looking for me, were you?" she said, coldly. "Well, you found me. Now run, for the chase is on and you are the prey for this huntress."

Janos immediately began to run for his life, but he had failed to consider what Morgana was capable for. She just flicked her wrist and then poor Janos took an accidental fall off the rafters and onto the stage. He would no longer be a problem to anyone. Morgana just smirked as the audience screamed and her idiotic managers tried to keep everyone calm before she vanished back to her lair.

Merlin arrived right after this. While the Pendragons tried to believe Janos's death was just an accident, Merlin knew better and he was sickened and horrified by it all. He knew Morgana was capable of much, but he hadn't though murder was one of them.

Oh, heavens, Freya! Gwen, Gaius and Morgause would be safe, but Freya wouldn't. He had to find her. He had to protect her!

While the opera house was in an uproar, Merlin went looking for her and ran into her while she was looking for him.

"Merlin, thank heavens, you're alright!" said Freya, relieved.

"Freya, we're not safe here. We must talk elsewhere. Follow me!" said Merlin. He took her hand and led up a winding staircase and down many halls.

"Merlin, why have you brought me here?" asked Freya, as she followed him.

"We can't go back there!" said Merlin.

"Merlin, we're safer if we're together and you have magic. We must return!" insisted Freya. She'd always known of Merlin's powers as she'd been the first one he'd told, and she'd always had the utmost faith in them. She trusted him to keep her safe if she needed it.

"She'll kill you! Her eyes will find us there, those eyes that burn!" cried Merlin. If Morgana's still there, she might go after Freya next. I couldn't bear it if that happened. The rooftop was the only safe place. Morgana would never go there. She'd never know.

"Merlin, please don't say that! Don't even think that!" begged Freya. It was frightening her to hear him say that.

"If she has to kill a thousand souls, the Phantom of the Opera will kill and kill again!" said Merlin, firmly. "My word, who is this woman, who hunts to kill? I can't escape from her and I never will!" Morgana had had her eyes on him from the moment he'd first come here, and for so long, he'd thought she might've been someone incredibly special, but now he didn't know what to think.

"Who is this woman who wears this mask of death? Whose is the voice you hear with every breath?" asked Freya.

Both:
And in this labyrinth,
where night is blind
the Phantom of the Opera is here/there
inside my/your mind...

At last they reached the top of the Opera de Camelot and were safe upon the rooftop where they wouldn't be found any time soon. Merlin sighed in relief after closing the door behind him. He had no way knowing that Morgana had followed him and Freya up to the roof and was concealed behind a statue as she listened to them.

"Merlin, what is going on? Who is the Phantom of the Opera? I thought she was your angel of music," said Freya, confused and worried.

Merlin swallowed painfully. "I don't know anymore," he admitted. "I thought she might've been, but now…I don't know. Janos's death was no accident, Freya. I could feel it. Oh, heavens, Freya, I've been there, to her world of unending night, to a world where the daylight dissolves into darkness, darkness."

It had been wonderful to see Morgana's home, but for some reason something had just felt wrong. He thought back to those times when Mr. Kilgarrah had spoken to him and warned him that one day he'd find himself caught between an angel and a lost soul. The lost soul would be like him in many ways and yet she would also be "the darkness to his light and the hatred to his love." Could the time he'd spoken of be now? He didn't know.

"Freya, I've seen her without her mask. I shall never forget that sight," said Merlin. He closed his eyes as he thought back to those few moments when he'd seen Morgana's unmasked face. "I shall never escape from that face that was so distorted, deformed, it was hardly a face in the darkness." He shook himself as he walked around the rooftop and then closed his eyes as he recalled the beauty of that night he'd been with Morgana.

"But her voice filled my spirit
with a strange, sweet sound...
In that night there was music in my mind…
And through music my soul began to soar!
And I heard as I'd never heard before…
" he sang, feeling his heart lift slightly at these words.

Though no one could see her, his words also brought joy to Morgana's heart and soul. It made her think she still had a chance to win fair Merlin's heart. But Merlin was not quite finished.

"Yet in her eyes
all the sadness of the world
Those pleading eyes,
that both threaten and adore…
" he sang.

Freya walked up to him from behind. "Merlin," she murmured.

"Merlin," whispered Morgana. Her softly whispered voice brought goose bumps emerge on Merlin's skin. "Merlin…"

Merlin felt a twinge of fear but then that fear went away when Freya placed her hand on his shoulder and then gently placed her hand on his cheek. For the first time in so long, she began to sing to him.

Freya
No more talk of darkness,
Forget these wide-eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
my words will warm and calm you
Let me be your freedom,
let daylight dry your tears.
I'm here with you, beside you,
to hold you and to love you…

Merlin's heart leapt at these words. Ever since he'd first laid eyes on her, Merlin had deeply loved Freya, but he'd never once spoken of his feelings, lest she didn't return his love. They'd bonded over flowers, their love of books, strawberries, knowing what it was like to be different and without a father, and so much more. Now it seemed she'd been in love with him all along. The mere thought of it brought joy to Merlin's heart such as he'd never known before.

Merlin
Say you love me every waking moment,
turn my head with talk of summertime…
Say you need me with you now and always...
Promise me that all you say is true
that's all I ask of you

Freya smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck and then held him close. She'd loved him for so long. She was his sunlight in the storms and he was her moonlight in the endless nights. They belonged together. As long as they were together, nothing could ever stop their love and nothing would tear them apart.

Freya
Let me be your shelter
let me be your light
We're safe, no one shall find us
Your fears are far behind you…

Merlin pulled away for a moment and walked a little away from her as he expressed his feelings. He knew what he wanted in his life. He loved to sing, but he didn't care for fame or fortune or glory. All he wanted was love, Freya's love. She brought to him such hope and happiness such as he'd always longed for but never believed he could obtain.

Merlin
All I want is freedom,
a world with no more night
and you, always beside me, as I hold you and I love you…

Freya looked as though she might weep happy tears as she ran over to him and took his hands into hers. She was smiling her beautiful and stunning smile, which brought joy to Merlin's heart. She'd longed to hear these words from Merlin and now she was. It felt like a dream come true for her.

She didn't care that he was a commoner or a poor stagehand. She loved him because he was all she'd ever wanted and so much more. He was the sweetest, most caring and handsome man she'd ever known in all her life. How many would give a stranger a rose just to make them happy?

Freya
Then say you'll share with me
one love, one lifetime
let me lead you from your solitude
Say you need me with you here, beside you…
anywhere you go, let me go too
Merlin, that's all I ask of you...

Merlin
Say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime…
say the word and I will follow you…

BOTH:
Share each day with me,
each night, each morning…

Merlin
Say you love me…

Freya
You know I do…

Both:
Love me - that's all I ask of you

Merlin cupped Freya's face and then kissed her with great passion and tenderness. Freya returned the kiss as it fully expressed their love. When they broke apart, there was nothing but pure, true love in their eyes and happiness on their faces.

Anywhere you go let me go too
Love me - that's all I ask of you…

Merlin then spun Freya in his arms before kissing her again. They broke apart with great smiles on their faces.

"We must go. They'll wonder where we are," said Freya. She took his hand and tightly intertwined their fingers. "Come with me, Merlin."

"Freya, I love you," said Merlin, softly. Heaven, it felt so wonderful to say those words.

"I love you too, Merlin," said Freya. "Come, we must go. I'll order my carriage with my horses and we'll leave this place for a little while."

"Then we'll be together forever," said Merlin, smiling.

Together they returned to the inside of the theatre, with great plans for their life together and they had little a care in the world, for they were in love.

But unknown to them, Morgana had been there listening to every word and she was heartbroken in every sense of the word. Her heartbreak grew when she saw the iris on the snowy rooftop. Merlin had dropped it and forgotten it for a rose, just as he'd discarded and forgotten her for a countess. Sadly, she sang to herself alone in the darkness.

I gave you my music
made your song take wing
and now how you've repaid me
denied me and betrayed me!
She was bound to love you
when she heard you sing
Merlin…

From the moment he'd first set foot in the opera house, Morgana had been deeply in love with Merlin. She'd given him her heart and soul, taught him so much, sacrificed so much for his success, provided him with a friend and confidante, and yet he hadn't loved her. His heart had never been hers. It belonged to that Countess!

Sobs entered her throat and tears slid down her cheeks as she grieved over her broken heart before anger began to outweigh her pain. She crushed the flower in her hands as a plan formulated in her mind..

"You will curse the day you did not do
all that the Phantom asked of you!
" she cried out.

One way or another, Merlin would be hers. He belonged to her and only her. Not even a Countess could take that away from her