Down Once More
By: Lady Serenity

Chapter Four: Angel of Music

Erik started after Meg and caught up to her in the living room. He grabbed her by the wrist, "Meg,
the Gala Ball? Really."
Meg turned to face him, "Yes, the Gala Ball! I've gone every year and this year won't be an
exception!"
Erik sighed, "But must I join you?"
Meg looked pleadingly at him, "Oh please, Erik? It would mean so much to me."
Erik shook his head, "Absolutly no! I never have, never will be seen at a Gala Ball!"
Meg pouted, "But, it's the New Year's Ball! The biggest one! Oh please Erik!"
Erik shook his head again sternly, "I said no and I MEAN no!"
Meg continued to pout, "Oh please?"
Erik picked Meg up, threw her over his shoulder, and took her to her room, "I said no and that's
final!" He threw her onto her bed.
As Erik started to leave, Meg got off her bed to follow him, "Erik, don't treat me like a child!"
Erik turned viciously on her, "Then don't act like one!" With that, he slammed the door and locked
it.
Meg beat her fist against the door, "ERIK! Erik you let me out of this room this INSTANT!" She
continued beating her fists until they were bloody and she had to stop. She looked sorrowfully down at her
bleeding hands and sighed, "Erik is right, I AM childish. Oh dear..."
Meg walked over to her bathroom and got some gauze bandages. She first wrapped her hands to
stop the bleeding, then took off her ballet slippers to wrap her cracked, blistered feet. Meg realized she
had forgotten the cream for her feet.
When she returned from getting it, Erik was sitting on the setee next to her bed. He looked at her
feet and shook his head sadly, "Poor poor Meg, I never knew what you went through."
Meg smiled half-heartedly, "Oh it's nothing. All dancers in the Corps go through this." She
started applying the cream to her feet.
"Yes, but you shouldn't have to, Meg. Is there anything I could do to help?"
Meg laughed, "Not unless you could invent more comfortable pointe shoes. Until then, I deal
with the blisters!"
Erik chuckled, "You've changed so much, Little Giry."
Meg smiled, amused, "No one's called me that in a long time. Have I changed?"
Erik nodded, "Oh yes, very much so."
Meg looked at him, "Is that a good or a bad thing?"
"Still asking questions, though. Ah, I remember when MM Debienne and Poligny retired. When I
appeared at the dinner table, looking quite horrid I assume, you started screaching like a banchee. Little
Jammes wasn't much better," Erik shook his head. "And here you are now. A grown up young woman. Still
a little childish perhaps," Meg blushed at that, "But much more mature than you used to be."
Meg beamed, "Thank you, Erik."
Erik sighed, "Anyway... How was rehearsal today?"
Meg grinned widely, "Oh it was wonderful Erik! We're doing 'Midsummer Night's Dream'! I'm
on of the fairies. Not Titania, of course. I'm not good enough."
"Don't say that Meg. You're a wonderful dancer!"
Meg got off the bed and did a few steps from what they had rehearsed. When she was done, she
looked at Erik, "Oh, how I wish I could be a fairy Queen!" She sat down on the bed again, "Or an angel like
you, Erik," she added under her breath.
Erik cocked his head to the side, "What was that, Meg?"
"Er, nothing Erik."
But Erik had heard her, "You are one already, Meg."
"What did you say, Erik?"
"Nothing, Meg..."
Meg looked sheepishly at the floor, "Erik, er, why won't you come with me?"
Erik rolled his eyes, "Not this again."
Meg sighed, "No REALLY Erik, I want you to come!"
Erik shrugged, "What's the point? They're boring. I hate them. Why go?"
"Because it would make me happy?" Meg smiled hopefully.
"It would, would it?"
Meg nodded vehemently, "Oh, very much so!"
"Oh very well, I suppose."
Meg ran up and hugged him, "Oh thank you Erik! I've always wanted someone to go with aside
from Maman and Christine. This means ever so much to me, thank you!"
Erik stumbled a little under the impact, but steadied himself. Not knowing what to do, he patted
her on the back.
Suddenly Meg squealed. Erik cringed, "Ah! What is it now?"
Meg clapped her hands, "Oh! I'm so excited! I get to find us costumes! How fun!"
Erik groaned, "If you must... Do you have money?"
Meg bit her bottom lip, "Not much. Dancers only get paid 30 francs a month."
"30 francs? That's preposterous! I'll write to the managers and demand a raise for the Corps. Until
then, I'll lend you some."
"Oh, don't be silly, Erik. I'll save up enough by the Gala. After all it's..." Meg frowned, "Two whole
months away. That's only 60 francs. Bah, that'll buy me a nice pair of shoes and nothing much else."
"I shall give you the money you need to buy the costumes."
Meg hugged him again, "Oh, I will pay you back!"
"No need, no need."
"Really, though. I wouldn't feel right..."
"Your company is worth much more than the price of a costume."
There was a long pause before Erik said, "Meg, do you sing?"
Meg hung her head sadly, "No, I do not. Why do you ask?"
Erik's eyes sparkled, "Would you like to learn?"
Meg glowed, "Would you teach me, Erik?"
Erik took Meg's hand gently, "Of course."
In the music room, Erik sat down at his organ and Meg hovered nervously behind him. "What
would you like to sing?" Erik asked.
"Masquerade!" Meg cried.
Erik grimiced, "Really now, Meg."
Meg's face fell, "I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I just- it's my favorite song. If you don't want
me to sing it, I could-"
Erik held up a hand, silencing her, "It's not that, Meg. I have some unpleasent memories attatched
to that song. You may sing it, if you'd like."
Erik started playing the notes. Meg sang, softly but sweetly, her voice barely above a whisper.
When the song was over, Erik twisted to face Meg, "You have a pretty voice, dear, but you need to project!"
Meg nodded, "I shall try to project next time, Erik."
Erik took her hand, "You have a very sweet voice, Meg. We will work on your volume tomorrow
night. But now, it is late and you are tired. Why don't you go to bed?" The way he said it made it sound like
more of an order than a suggestion.
Meg yawned a little, "I'm not tired, though," she insisted.
Erik wagged his finger, mock scolding Meg, "No lying, I saw that yawn."
Meg smiled wearily, "The mere power of suggestion, that is all. But perhaps I shall go to bed.
What time is it?"
Erik checked the watch in his coat pocket, "Nearly ten thirty, off to bed!" He took her hand and
began to lead her back to her own room.
Meg stumbled along, "Where did you get lovely watch?" She asked when they reached her room.
She got into bed and awaited Erik's answer.
"From my father, it is the only present I've ever gotten. Are you going to sleep in your ballet
costume?"
Meg looked at herself and realized that she was still wearing her white practice outfit, "Silly me,
I'll change. I don't think right at this time of day. Night. Yes. Goodnight Erik."
Erik walked out of the room, "Goodnight, Little Giry," he shut the door behind him.
Meg changed, got back into bed, and turned out her lights. She set her head on the pillow, sighing
happily.