The Greatest Bowman
Chapter 5: Rewrite the Stars
To say that Felicity was excited that she was about to enjoy an evening at the Starling City opera house was an understatement. She was beyond thrilled, if that was even possible. And why not? She was wearing an expensive, elegant evening gown made of the finest silk and lace used in designer couture in the east coast – the finest she'd ever seen, or worn. Best of all, she did not have to spend a dollar on it, or on the tickets for the evening's concert.
A few days ago, an anonymous donor had sent her the dress and the tickets for two to the opera house via courier. The frowning messenger that knocked on the door of the orphanage had denied any knowledge of who had sent her the package, which was neatly tied up in red and gold ribbons with a dainty bow on top. All that the big box had on it was a note addressed to her, which said: "Hoping you'll enjoy a little night of music." The note was unsigned.
Felicity had been inclined to think that Tommy Merlyn had been the kind soul that had sent her the gifts. After all, Tommy was one of P.T. Barnum's associates, and Mr. Barnum was, after all, the producer and promoter of the concert at the opera house. It made sense that Tommy would have access to complimentary tickets, just like the last time. Oh, but the dress! It must have cost him a fortune (which Felicity was sure he had a significant amount of). If Tommy was this generous to his friends, she could only begin to imagine the kinds of gifts he was capable of sending his fiancée, Ms. Lance. Tommy Merlyn was a good man, despite what his father and his father's acquaintances might say, and Felicity had made a mental note to thank him profusely for his kindness and generosity. Who was she not to accept such a gesture of magnanimity? This was all so mind-boggling to Felicity – pleasantly mind-boggling.
Felicity had gone home that day overjoyed. She had waited anxiously for her mother to arrive from Bowen manor that night. She couldn't wait to share the good news.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Felicity had seen the posters of Ms. Jenny Lind in Barnum's theater and learned that the amazing soprano, who had already made her mark in the music scene in Europe, was coming to America for a concert tour, which was made possible by Mr. Barnum's company. Back in England, Donna had already heard of the rising star that the Swedish-born soprano was fast becoming Western Europe. Donna was a fan of classical music, specifically the opera, but had only been to one concert – the one that Felicity's father had taken her to on their first date. It had been the most memorable concert in Donna's life, and Felicity knew that her mother had always longed for something like that to happen again.
Coming home from the orphanage that night, with the big dress box clutched under her arm, Felicity had been anxious to see her mother's reaction to the wonderful news she was bringing. At long last, her mother's dream of dressing up, going to a real theater, and watching a renowned concert artist like Ms. Lind was going to become a reality. Except, the excitement had been doused with cold water.
The date on the tickets fell on that same weekend when the Bowens, her mother's employers, were scheduled to go on a business trip to New York. They had asked Donna to stay at the manor while they were away in order to wait on and watch over their daughter in their absence, and Donna had already committed to it. Of course, Donna had felt utterly disappointed, shedding a tear or two, but she was not the kind of woman that failed to keep her word. So, she had decided to honor her commitment and forego the concert, which was why Felicity had asked her friend Barry to come and watch the concert with her. Barry had politely accepted the invitation, and Dr. Wells had been kind enough to lend him an appropriate ensemble to wear for the occasion.
In the opera house, the usher led Felicity and Barry to a private box, the one nearest the stage on the right side of the auditorium. The bald man with a British accent had briefly conversed with them after finding out that she hailed from the Midlands region, and then he offered them special lenses to use for viewing the performances on stage. Felicity wondered why this was necessary, considering they were seated so close to the stage that they could practically see the musicians in the orchestra pit, but the usher informed her that it was standard practice for them to offer such to "preferred guests" like them. Preferred guests – that made her feel extra special that night. Never had she felt this honored in public. She was definitely going to thank Tommy Merlyn for his generosity.
The concert commenced with a magnificent overture by the orchestra, and then Ms. Jenny Lind walked regally to center stage. When she began to sing an aria from a famous Mozart opera, everyone in the concert hall was enthralled by her crystal-clear, angelic voice. No wonder she had taken Europe by storm. The woman certainly had an enthralling, captivating voice.
Felicity lifted the optical contraption that the usher had given her and peered through it to observe Ms. Lind more closely. The clearer, bigger view through the lenses revealed that the soprano was not only a very good singer but also a very beautiful woman. Moreover, her face expressed the emotion and meaning of the words she sang. It impressed Felicity even more. She thought that her mother would have loved to be sitting beside her and enjoying all this instead of Barry.
With the lenses, Felicity scanned the view before her. She was curious to see if the other members of the audience thought and felt the same as she did about this spectacular performance. From the spot on the stage where Ms. Lind stood singing, she slowly panned to the left with her mini binocular until she focused on the people sitting in the private box directly across from theirs. She nearly dropped the binocular when she saw his handsome face.
Oliver Queen. The silent yet sweet, bachelor she had met during the charity gala was right there, staring straight back at her from the other side of the theater. The look in his eyes that she had seen before she put down her binocular was one of recognition. Did the man have vision so clear as to have recognized her from that distance in such a darkened hall? No, she must have been imagining it. For why would he? It wasn't like he would be interested in her at all, especially not after that unfortunate (and humiliating) encounter they had had when his mother, the infamous Moira Queen, had interrupted their moment outside the ballroom. Felicity had really felt like there could be something more between them than just casual acquaintance on that first meeting; it was hurtful and disappointing that he had not deemed her worthy of his mother's respect, not even his mother's acquaintance.
Felicity did not dare use her binocular again until the end of the concert; neither did she glance back in the direction of the private box of the Queens. Barry asked her if she was alright, seeing that she was fidgeting several times in her seat. She assured him that she was fine even though she was not. Until the final song in Ms. Lind's repertoire, she still could not ignore the feeling that the gentleman across from her was stealing furtive glances at her from time to time. It made her feel uncomfortable. No matter how hard she tried to pay attention to the performances, she could not take her mind off one Oliver Queen.
After the concert, all the members of the audience congregated in the main hall for a reception that began with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Apparently, this was part of the social custom of the rich and famous when attending such formal events. Felicity and Barry tried their best to blend in, minding their manners and courteously carrying on friendly conversations with some of the elite music enthusiasts in Starling City. They were in the middle of a jovial chat with a friend of Dr. Wells when Tommy Merlyn approached them.
"Good evening, Ms. Smoak, Mr. Allen, Mr. Dennis," Tommy greeted. "It's wonderful to see you here tonight."
"Hello, Mr. Merlyn, and good evening," Felicity greeted back with a friendly smile.
"How many times do I have to remind you to please call me Tommy? Mr. Merlyn makes me feel like I'm as old as my father," Tommy said to her with quite the unease.
Felicity nodded and said, "Well, if you insist, then I shall call you Tommy then." She turned to Barry and then to the gentleman they were conversing with and said, "If you must know, gentlemen, Tommy Merlyn here is the kind-hearted man who made it possible for us to attend this evening's fine performance." Turning to Tommy, she added, "Thank you so much for your generosity. My mother and I truly appreciate it. Unfortunately, she could not come due to a prior commitment. She sends her regrets. Fortunately, Mr. Allen here was kind enough to accompany me tonight."
Tommy's forehead crinkled in confusion. "I am deeply touched by your expression of gratitude, Felicity. But I am afraid that I do not deserve the appreciation you afford me. I may have sent you the complimentary ticket to Barnum's show previously, but the honor of sending you the tickets for tonight's concert belongs to someone else."
Felicity was stunned. "Oh… In that case, I beg your pardon, sir. I assumed wrongly. Though, I wish I could know who I am supposed to thank for this wonderful opportunity of a lifetime. All this extravagance…" She paused to sigh. "Mr. Allen and I… we rarely get the chance to be part of something so grand."
Tommy smiled at her and said, "Well, there is a way for you to find out, if you really intend to express your gratitude to your sponsor."
"Indeed?" she asked enthusiastically.
"Yes," Tommy answered. "Do you mind if I ask where you were seated?"
"The private box on the right side of the hall," she replied, "the one nearest the stage, atop the orchestra pit."
The expression on Tommy's face transformed from cordial to amused, as his mouth widened to a grin. "Well, well… It seems we have an answer as to your mysterious sponsor then. The private box you speak of belongs to the Deardens."
"The Deardens?" Felicity and Barry ask simultaneously.
"Yes, the Deardens are Oliver's mother's side of the family," Tommy explained briefly, but on a very triumphal note.
Somehow Felicity felt that her new friend was privy to something more than he was telling her. But one thing she figured out for sure was that Oliver Queen must have been the one who had sent her the gorgeous dress that she now wore, as well as the tickets to Ms. Lind's concert. She still, however, could not believe it. Why would he send her those gifts after what had happened during their first meeting? Was he trying to make amends? Why was he attempting to rekindle a friendship when it had been quite clear that he had wanted nothing to do with her as far as his family was concerned? This was all very confusing for her.
The gentleman who had previously been quiet during their dialogue spoke up. "I know the Deardens personally, if I may say so. They are a well-respected family. The great grandparents of Moira Dearden Queen were immigrants from England and among the pioneers of Starling City, and so were the great, great grandparents of Robert, who is also a very good friend of mine." The old gentleman smiled as he excused himself from their company.
Sensing her lingering skepticism, Tommy mentioned, "If you prefer to corroborate the information I have just shared, you could go and inquire from the box office as to who had purchased the tickets and reserved the seats for you." His eyebrows were raised as he held back a mild chuckle.
"Would you like me to come with you?" Barry asked her.
"No, no, it's fine," Felicity answered. "If you, gentlemen, don't mind, I'm just going to step outside for a while and get some air."
"Be our guest," Tommy said, bowing mildly in an attempt to break the awkward tension in the air.
Felicity took leave and retreated to the spacious mezzanine of the opera house. All the guests were still mingling in the reception area, so she had the place all to herself. She leaned forward against the marble top of the balcony overlooking the grand lobby of the Graeco-Roman-styled building down below. She was deep in thought, wondering what Oliver's intentions were for the kind gesture he had shown, even more so, whether or not she should give him the benefit of the doubt that those intentions were sincere. He could not blame her for doubting him, could he? After all, he had been the one who had pulled away that night, and all because his stern-looking mother had caught him holding hands with a young woman who didn't quite measure up to high society's expectations.
"Best be careful there. It's a long way down," a pleasantly toned male voice suddenly ripped through the silence of her solitude.
Startled, she turned too quickly and lost her footing, wobbling backwards over the hip-high marble top. She would have toppled over to her own demise if the gentleman that had just warned her from danger had not been swift enough to reach her in time.
"Oliver…" she gasped, as he held both her arms to steady her.
He smiled down at her. "Easy," he said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."
He was looking at her like she were the moon and the stars, and she could hardly keep her composure under his intense gaze. Something in his eyes told her that he wanted to tell her so much more than just how sorry he was for scaring her that way. He had not let go of her yet either, but she did not mind, for she was still much too unnerved. His hands were warm, and his touch on her bare skin soothed her.
After a while, when her heartbeat was more stable and the blush on her face began to fade, she politely accepted his apology and thanked him for his gesture. She then held his gaze this time, and asked, "Is that all you wanted to say, Oliver?"
He looked down forlornly and swallowed hard, and then when he met her eyes once more, he said, "Felicity, I must also beg your forgiveness for what happened last time."
"Which was?"
"Which was me letting go of your hands when my mother found us. You must think… You see when she found us in the patio… She actually interrupted what was supposed to be an attempt on my part to… to ask you to come to dinner with me."
Felicity gasped at the revelation. He had wanted to see her again but did not get to tell her.
Oliver continued, "I do not want you to get the wrong impression. I was not ashamed to have been seen with you, by my mother no less. It's just… That night when we had our walk, I really enjoyed our conversation. I felt free… like I hadn't felt in a very long time. I truly adored your company. You made feel like I could be myself, without any pretense. That was… That was the very first time I opened up myself to anyone since I came back from the island. I did not let go because I was ashamed of you. I let go because my mother's sudden presence suddenly reminded me that I was being vulnerable. It's… it's something I'm not used to… that of being caught with my guard down."
"Like now?" she asked softly, a hint of a smile blossoming on her lips. The answers to the questions she had been grappling with for several weeks were simple. Now she knew. She had misjudged him all along.
He smiled shyly, not letting his pearly whites show. Nodding, he replied, "Yes, a lot like now."
"Apology accepted," Felicity told him with a small smile. "Thank you for being honest."
"Felicity, I hope that you will give me another chance to prove that my intentions for you are sincere. Please know that I would never consciously hurt you by making you feel the same way I did before. Perhaps, we could start all over again and rewrite the story of how we met?"
"Oliver, is that your way of asking me to dinner?" she asked him, pleasantly amused.
"I guess it is," he replied, chuckling as well. "Though, I would like to formally meet your mother and ask permission to pursue a courtship, if that is acceptable to you."
Felicity grinned, and her eyes sparkled with joy. With a mischievous look, she replied, "I believe I reserve the right to consider it…" A frown began to form on Oliver's face. It was a good thing she quickly added, "…if you will admit that you were the one who sent me this gorgeous dress and the tickets to tonight's concert."
"Guilty as charged," Oliver said, his hand clutched to his chest.
"For your generosity and thoughtfulness, I thank you, from the bottom of my heart," she said. "And thank you for telling the truth. Allow me to express my gratitude by accepting your dinner invitation." Oliver grinned widely at that. She could tell from the look on his face that he was ecstatic about it.
Felicity did appreciate his truthfulness. She was not too keen on dishonesty, much less keeping secrets (except her own – the one about being a feature writer for the Herald under a man's pen name). Truth be told, if Oliver had denied it, she would have had no qualms denying his request for courtship. In all fairness, the man had really gone out of his way to apologize for his unkind behavior at the charity gala. As far as Felicity was concerned, all was forgiven.
They sauntered back to the reception, her arm linked with his on a leisurely gait. They conversed to their hearts' content, even engaging in some playful banter.
"So, are you going to tell me why you came with Barry tonight?" Oliver asked.
"No," Felicity answered. "Why do you want to know? Are you jealous, Mr. Queen?"
"Should I be?"
"You have absolutely no right to be jealous!" she protested, tapping him lightly on his upper arm. "We, sir, are not a couple."
"Not yet…" He winked at her, and she laughed a little, shaking her head in amusement.
Then she asked, "I have a couple of questions, though. How did you know that my mother and I would be interested in coming to the opera house? I do not recall us discussing my mother and our musical preferences that night at the gala."
"Those, my dear Felicity, are questions for another day," he answered, shrewdly evading her inquiry. "Right now-"
Once again, they were rudely interrupted by Moira Queen as they entered the reception hall. "Right now, your father and I need you to join us at the banquet, Oliver," said the Queen matriarch, glancing at Felicity with a pretentious, forced smile.
"Mother!" Oliver greeted Moira with a gleam in his eyes. "I would like you to meet my good friend, Felicity Smoak. She is a teacher at the orphanage, and she too loves the music of the masters."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Smoak," said Moira, feigning pleasantness.
"The pleasure is all mine, madam," Felicity responded courteously, not letting go of Oliver's arm.
"We shall be joining you shortly, Mother. In the meantime, I shall request the head server to add two table settings at our table. I believe there is room since Thea and Laurel were unable to come. I would very much like for Ms. Smoak and her companion, Mr. Allen, to join us for the banquet."
"Very well, do not take too long," Moira replied and walked away.
The rest of the evening proceeded cordially. Conversations at their table had been fairly interesting, especially when Robert Queen had broached the subject of P.T. Barnum's controversial shows. Felicity simply listened to the men's opinions, including Barry's. What amazed her was hearing Oliver's own views on the matter, even mentioning how much he appreciated the scientific facts and insights of Noah Kuttler, whose reviews published in the Herald for the past few Sundays had been casting a completely positive light on Barnum's enterprise in the midst of the skepticism of many critics. Felicity's heart soared upon hearing Oliver's sentiments about her writing. If only she could tell him that she was actually the woman behind the man he praised.
Oliver entrusted Felicity in Barry's care as they parted ways, but not without first making sure that their plans for dinner in the very near future were clearly laid out.
The smashing success of Jenny Lind's concert was all over the front page of the Herald the next day. P.T. Barnum and his associates, including Tommy Merlyn, were raving about their city-wide triumph. Felicity herself could not stop telling her mother over breakfast about how fantastic Ms. Lind was, and of course, how she found out about who had given her the dress and the concert tickets.
Oliver, on the other hand could not stop telling his best friend over breakfast about how he and Felicity had mended their budding relationship. He made Tommy promise never to tell Felicity how, in particular, he had gotten the idea of sending her tickets to the concert as a peace offering. Tommy was well aware that he had discovered about her mother's love of music during his nighttime talks with her as the Green Arrow. Tommy warned him that Felicity might not like the fact that he kept secrets from her, especially since he was now inclined to pursue a serious relationship with her; hence, Oliver, in turn, promised his friend that he would tell her the truth when the right time came along.
That evening, after another of Barnum's shows, the Green Arrow climbed the fire escape once more and listened to Felicity's stories of the opera house, of Oliver Queen's special gifts and intentions of courtship.
Felicity wondered why her hooded friend did not show any signs of unease or jealousy, for she had thought that if circumstances were different, and he did not have to keep his identity a secret even from her, she might have fallen in love with him first.
A/N: I think "Rewrite the Stars" still worked for the story in this chapter even without the acrobatics while singing a romantic duet. What did you think of this one? The next chapter will be a reprise of "A Million Dreams," short but sweet.