Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to these characters or any settings/places. This is merely a fanmade writing experiment and is in no way profit making.
The Phantom and Moppet
Chapter Twenty One
'Christine, it is time to get up' Erik said, to the softly snoring bundle snuggled under the blankets. The sleeping child mumbled a reply and buried deeper under the covers.
Erik sighed, he had let Christine sleep as long as he could but it was nearing sunrise and he wanted to be on their way as soon as possible.
However he could not help a wry grin at his little friend's reluctance to move - she really wasn't a morning person. 'Christine, get up.' he instructed louder.
The lump in bed, gave a grumble and rolled over but gave no further sign of movement. His temper beginning to flair, Erik gently but firmly shook her awake. 'Wake up, Christine.' he ordered.
Slowly stirring, Christine heard the command in his voice and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eye. 'I am up, Erik,' she said yawning.
Erik grimly chuckled, 'Yes I can see you are up, and ready to leave.' he mocked, trying to reign in his impatience at the delay.
At the reminder of their planned departure, Christine suddenly felt wide awake and excited, 'Oh Erik, are we really going away on holiday today?' she asked.
Erik hid a smile at her enthusiasm, not wanting to encourage her dawdling. 'As soon as you are washed, dressed and fed.' he impressed a little impatiently.
Christine hid her own grin at his tone, 'Yes Erik.' she replied obediently getting up. Her angel did not like to be kept waiting.
Christine, (now dressed in warm travelling clothes) held tightly to Erik's hand as he led her through the maze of their underground home.
Erik had led her down, yet another passage they had never travelled before and she desperately wanted to ask where it led, but her masked friend was already annoyed at her tardy ablutions, and her questions about where they were going this morning, and Christine did not want to further incur his ire.
After walking what seemed a long time to Christine, they came to the end of the tunnel, and Erik quickly revealed a hidden door.
Christine could not help her gasp off surprise as she realised they had passed through into a stable. The lamp gave off little light in the huge barn sized room and Christine was only able to see cobbled stone floor and two rows of stall doors.
Erik closed the secret door, and led Christine to the far corner stall. He hung the lamp on the wall and opened the stall door, and entered it.
Christine followed him, and inside she could see Erik had already gathered their few things ready to go. On the wall next to her hung, a polished black and silver saddle and harness, but it was the huge white stallion that held her attention.
The horse had a gleaming white coat, and had a long shining mane of almost silver coloured hair - he was a beautiful animal.
He was also huge. It seemed to Christine, he was almost three times her height and in the flickering lamp light, looked very imposing and scary. Uncomfortable being so close, she slowly and wearily backed up out of the stall.
'Christine I'd like you to meet Caesar.' Erik proudly introduced his animal companion, saddling the horse now they were at last ready to go.
'Is he your horse, Erik?' Christine asked in a small voice, and distracted by securing the tack, Erik didn't notice her dismay.
'Yes he is mine.' Erik replied proudly. 'Caesar and I go way back, don't we ole boy?' he asked the horse, and received a affectionate head butt in reply.
Amused Erik gave him a fond pat, 'In fact knowing we had planned a long journey today, he was good enough to let me know me yesterday how he needed new shoes, so I had him re shoed to save us any problems on the road today.' Erik said, as fastened the last buckle.
'He is big.' was all Christine squeaked in reply.
At her lack of response, Erik eventually noticed how she'd backed away, and how nervous she looked, and stifled the urge to sigh again. He realised they would be going no where until horse and child had bonded.
He patted Caesar and whispered for the horse alone to hear, 'Be nice old friend.' Somewhat amused by the irony that Christine had never shown fear of him, but was afraid of a horse.
He then knelt to reassure Christine. 'You do not have to be afraid, Christine.' Erik said, and heard Caesar give a huff of objection. Ignoring the horse Erik continued, 'He will not hurt you. All you have to do is gain his trust.'
Christine looked towards the towering Caesar, and back to Erik giving him a dubious look, but it soon turned to a grin of surprise as Erik magically appeared an apple.
'This is the secret to winning Caesar over.' Erik said with a grin. He watched Christine look between himself and the horse again and saw her take a deep breath and stiffen her shoulders as she stepped back into the stall, and Erik felt a swell of pride at her resolve.
Christine knew Erik would never put her in danger so if he said it was safe - it was safe, and she did not want to upset Erik by disbelieving him. Decisively she took the apple from him, 'Please will you lift me up Erik?' she asked holding up her arms.
Erik swiftly picked her up, and slowly moved towards the horse. Caesar, sensing the child's fear, twitched as they stood next to him, 'Easy boy.' Erik said, so only the horse could hear.
Christine twisted to face Caesar and looked the horse in the eye. He was even more frightening up close but determined not to let Erik down she said, 'Hello Caesar, I'm Christine.' sounding far more brave than she actually felt.
Erik could feel Christine's unease, and see Caesar's hackles rise. 'Why don't you give him his apple?' he suggested. 'Just remember to keep your hand out flat.' he warned.
Gulping down another breath Christine said , 'Here Caesar, this is for you.' and nervously held out the apple.
Erik was pleased Caesar was on his best behaviour, as the horse, smelling his favourite treat, gave a dignified sniff then gently ate the apple from Christine's hand.
'Look Erik, he's eating it.' amazed, Christine wondered that something so big was so gentle. She giggled at the feel of his rough tongue on her hand, and Christine grinned when she realised she was no longer afraid.
Erik could see her genuine delight at feeding the horse and knew the battle with her fear was won.
Caesar it seemed was as taken with his new friend as she was him, as he proceeded to lick Christine's hand well after the apple was gone, making the little scamp in his arms laugh.
'Would be ok if I stroked him, Erik?' Christine asked.
'Hold out your hand, and let him smell it again. Then gently, carefully stroke down his head.' Erik explained.
Christine did as he said, and Caesar neighed and rubbed against her hand. Christine laughed, 'He likes it, Erik.' she said already enchanted with her new friend.
Erik rolled his eyes, he knew Caesar was just lapping up all the fuss, and allowed the two a few minutes more of fun, but as the horse unashamedly preened for Christine, Erik felt his temper bubbling.
'Enough.' he snapped, to see both animal and child give him twin, hurt innocent looks, and Erik groaned - now he had the two of them to keep mollified.
Softening his tone (more than enough of an apology in Erik's mind) he said, 'We have a long journey ahead of us and we best be on our way.' So saying he carried Christine round, and lifted her onto Caesar's back.
'It is high up here.' Christine said in awe as she gazed down at him, and Erik laughed.
'I suppose for some one so small it would be.' he grinned, as he loaded the last few things they were taking, into Caesars' saddle bags, extinguished the lamp, and then led Caesar out of his stall, and out of he stable locking both doors afterwards.
Relief washed over him, as he finally swung himself up behind Christine, and they set off, (at a speedy trot), on their journey at last.
Erik found himself lost in the freedom of riding once more, and Christine sat up, her heading looking from left to right trying to make out the scenery as they rode through dark, deserted streets of Paris.
They rode in companionable silence but Erik knew it would not last, and it was not long before Christine asked, 'Erik, how is it Caesar can live in the Opera stables?' she asked.
'Well unlike his master, Caesar is beautiful and does not have to hide in the shadows. So when the Opera started to rent out the stalls to outside owners, I brought Caesar home to the Opera House.' Erik explained.
He could not help a grin as he told her, 'They believe a rich eccentric gentleman owns Caesar, who thinks it a lark to disappear and reappear Caesar at will. I pay them double to keep quiet and take great care of him.'.
Christine bristled at his words - would he never see how wonderful he was? 'A rich eccentric gentleman DOES own Caesar. And he DOES think its amusing to disappear and reappear Caesar at will. You DON'T have to hide Erik, you are a BEAUTIFUL, GOOD man,' Christine said defensively, no one was allowed to insult her dear Angel - not even Erik himself.
Erik chuckled, 'Is that today's instalment of how good I am?' he asked but not unkindly, feeling his spirits lift as they got further out of the city.
'A part of it yes.' Christine said huffily, 'but until you apologise for being mean about my friend - and by that I mean you! - I'm going to ignore you.' she said with a disdainful unladylike huff.
Erik had to bite back his laughter, and could not resist enjoying a few moments of silence as he knew as soon as he did apologise, Christine would be buzzing with questions again.
And apologise he would, as he neither wanted, or meant to upset Christine, but also because although he knew otherwise he desperately wanted to believe all she said was true.
He had to admit for a man who had spent his whole life revelling in silence, (so he alone could fill it with music), it was scary to admit how much he now relied upon her oft times incessant chatter.
They traversed a few more streets, when Erik caved. 'I am sorry Christine. I neither meant to mock or offend you.' he said carefully wording his apology so as not to lie to her.
Christine did not answer him, and at first his insecurities ate at him and he thought he had truly hurt her feelings, but then he noticed how she was slumped up against him, which was quickly followed by a quiet snore.
She was asleep! Once more Erik had swallow a laugh, this time so not to wake her. He slowed Caesar's pace so he could rearrange her, so she was more comfortable and her head was supported against him.
Unable to resist he gave his sleeping little moppet a brief hug before he once more increased Caesar's pace. As they reached the outskirts of the Paris, the first fingers of light announced the arrival of dawn.