Chapter 17: Recovery
Meg awoke to the sound of dishes rattling against each other and the aroma of freshly baked bread and spices. Her mouth watered at the smells, but she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes in the light that suddenly flooded the room. She clenched her eyes tighter in hopes of relieving the terrible headache that seemed to stretch from the top of her head down her neck. Even swallowing against the dryness in her mouth set off a fire down her throat, she didn't even want to try to move her arms because her chest seemed to ache with every breath she took. How long had she been asleep? The last thing she could remember was Erik. She had talked to Erik after almost a month of not seeing him. He was there, waiting for her, watching over her. Despite the pain that she felt all over her body, Meg couldn't help but smile at the memory.
"My angel," Meg heard her mother's hoarse voice before she felt her hand cool and light upon her forehead. "Are you awake?"
Meg nodded, not wanting to agitate the burning sensation in her throat more by talking. She turned her head so that her mother cradled her cheek in her hand. Opening her eyes Meg looked beyond her mother and saw that a small table was laden with food and what looked like tea and a copious amount of honey. Her mouth watered at the sight, and she hoped that a hot soup was accompanying the smell of fresh bread.
Julienne laughed at the sight of Meg, "No care for your mother then? Just food and drink?"
Meg looked sheepishly back at her mother, grinning as she nodded in agreement.
"Come, first medicine, then a mug of warm tea with honey. We'll see what you can eat after all that my angel."
She watched as her mother limped over to the dresser where a few amber bottles sat along with an array of spoons. She winced in apprehension; she could remember the acrid taste of medicine both her mother and Erik had fed to her in the night, but she took the medicine dutifully, knowing there was no point in fighting. She knew that the sooner she took the medicine, the sooner she would be able to talk more without her throat hurting. It seemed the conversation she had with Erik during the night had drained her more than she would have liked. She was impatient for it to continue, she wanted to know everything but most of all, she wanted to reassure him that she would always be his friend.
"Here Marguerite, let me help you sit up so you can have your tea."
Meg pushed herself upright against the pillows and quickly fell into a coughing fit from the physical exertion. "My poor girl," Julienne murmured as she stroked Meg's back, "I should never have let you get this sick. I'm so sorry."
"It's my fault Mama," Meg whispered once she had caught her breath.
Julienne handed Meg the steaming mug of tea and honey, "I think we should both focus on getting you better instead of figuring out who's to blame."
Meg nodded in agreement as she slowly sipped at her tea, relishing in the strong peppermint and honey flavor. It was when Meg was eyeing the plate of food by her bedside that they heard a quiet knock upon the door.
"Who could it be?" Julienne asked curiously, grabbing her cane as she limped to the door to open it.
Meg's heart flew to her throat in excitement and nervousness, perhaps it was Erik, come to make good on his promise of a story. She knew it wasn't going to be a happy story but if it would allow her to become closer to him, she would listen to every word. Her smile fell from her face when Julienne stepped aside from the door and ushered in Christine instead.
Christine stood silent and shy near the doorway, looking back over her shoulder as if she was waiting to be kicked out instead of welcomed in. "Go on." Julienne nodded towards Meg, "Christine knows you won't be able to talk for too long, but she wanted to see you." Julienne watched as the girl walked to Meg's bedside, "I'll let you both have some privacy then." Christine turned and watched the door close shut as Meg took another sip of her tea to fortify herself. She didn't know how to feel seeing Christine so soon after her conversation with Erik. She still didn't agree with lying to Christine, but she would respect Erik's wishes, at least until he finally told her why he wanted to hide his identity from Christine. Meg sighed; would friendship always be this complicated?
She looked up from her mug, and saw Christine staring at her uneasily, "Are you alright?"
Christine jumped, seemingly startled to hear Meg's voice, "I- "she twisted the ends of her hair nervously, "I just had heard that you were terribly sick, and I wanted to see you. I, haven't had the best experience with people being sick."
The color drained from Meg's cheeks as she realized what Christine meant by that, losing first her mother and then her father both from sickness. "Oh Christine!" Meg patted the empty space of bed beside her, "Sit please, I didn't even realize. I hadn't even thought. No, no I'm perfectly well." Meg winced as her sudden influx of talking set off another coughing fit as Christine took a seat on the edge of the bed nervously. Sipping at her tea again Meg cleared her throat. "Sorry," she smiled weakly at Christine, "I never meant to worry you."
"It's just that you just were so distant before all of this and then when I heard you were sick," A tear slipped down Christine's cheek and she quickly wiped it away, "I thought I might lose my only friend here."
Meg felt her cheeks flush as she remembered how she had avoided Christine for a week and how she had taken her anger at Erik out on her instead. Shame enveloped Meg as she realized she hadn't been a very good or supportive friend to Christine who was still adjusting to life without her father and the strange new world that was the opera house. "Christine, I'm so sorry."
Christine looked up, fresh tears rolling down her cheeks as she met Meg's gaze, "Why?"
"I wasn't a very good friend to you. I'm sorry. I treated you unfairly, and I'm sorry that I worried you. I promise that I will get better."
"You'll have to." Christine smiled weakly, "I need your help more than ever practicing my positions. I seem to forget them overnight."
Meg laughed, "I promise that will be my top priority."
"No, your top priority is to get better." Christine chided, "I don't think I'll be able to stomach Collette's boasting for long."
"Don't let her or the girls bother you, you're a natural Christine."
She shrugged; her gaze focused on the floor as her hands twisted the edges of the quilt she sat on. "I think I'll be better at singing. The Angel says that I have great promise, and that when I'm older I'll beat even Carlotta for all the best parts."
Meg brought the mug up to her lips to disguise any discomfort she had at Christine's mention of Erik. She didn't know what to say in response to Christine and hummed what she hoped was agreement as she tipped the last of the peppermint tea into her mouth.
Christine smoothed the edge of the quilt that she had twisted and nodded decisively, "With the Angel's help I'll make my father proud. It's what he always wanted for me. Do you think it's possible Meg?"
Letting the mug drop to her lap, Meg shrugged, "Through God all things are possible Christine." Guilt twisted in her stomach, and she made a promise to herself that she would make Erik tell her everything as soon as she saw him.
Smiling Christine patted Meg's hand, "And since my Angel was sent to me from my father in heaven, it must be God's will."
"Yes," Meg smiled uncomfortably, "God's will."
Just then, as the last word slipped from Meg's mouth the door opened from the sitting room into the bedroom. Julienne stood in the doorway, her hand still on the doorknob a quizzical look on her face. "What is God's will Marguerite?"
Meg paled as she tried to think of what to tell her Mama, to protect both Christine and Erik, but before she could form even one idea Christine jumped off the bed and smiled radiantly. "Can you keep a secret Madame Giry?"
Julienne glanced at Meg before she turned her gaze fully to the other girl. "Oui, Christine, I can."
"My Papa, before he died, would tell me stories about an Angel of Music and how he would send the Angel to me to protect and teach me."
Meg watched as her Mama's knuckles turned white where she held the head of her cane, her smile firmly planted in place as she nodded to Christine's chatters. "And you've been dreaming of this Angel?"
"No! Madame Giry, the Angel has come to me! He first came to me in the chapel as I prayed to my Papa. Now he comes to me at night and teaches me to sing, he says I will be an even better singer than Carlotta!"
"Oh, he does?" Julienne's grip tightened on her cane; she didn't know what game Erik was playing at, but she was going to get to the bottom of it.
"Yes!" Christine smiled brightly, her whole-body radiating happiness. "And now that I know Meg is okay, I can finally be truly happy again!"
Meg watched as Julienne relaxed at Christine's words, her face softening into gentle understanding. A cough escaped from deep in her chest and she sighed closing her eyes for a moment relieved that at least her Mama knew the whole truth now and perhaps she would have advice on how to handle Erik and Christine. Everything would work out Meg told herself as her eyelids grew heavier, Mama would know what to do.
"Is she," Christine whispered, and Julienne simply nodded in return a finger pressed to her lips. She quickly escorted Christine out of the bedroom and onto the couch in the sitting room.
"Christine," Julienne sighed as she watched the girl sit on the edge of the couch, her hands clutched in her lap. "This Angel of Music, who else knows about him?
"Only Meg at first, and now you of course Madame."
Julienne nodded. "You must keep it a secret from now on Christine, no one else can know about this," she paused, "gift. Especially since your Papa sent you an angel from heaven."
Christine nodded fervently, "Oh yes Madame, he told me to keep it a secret. And I haven't told anyone else it's just Meg is more like a sister than a friend Madame and, well, it wouldn't feel right to keep it from you."
"You made a good decision Christine, tell me what else has the Angel told you?"
She shrugged, "He only teaches me to sing Madame. He tells me how to hold myself in the correct posture if I sing on or off key. Other techniques."
"He only teaches you to sing, that is all?"
"Yes Madame, the only other thing he has told me is that if I keep practicing and I listen to him then I could surpass Carlotta for lead once I am older."
Julienne huffed, "A goat could surpass Carlotta for lead."
"Madame?"
She sook her head, "Nothing, I am glad you confided in me Christine. It is truly a blessing that your father has sent you an Angel."
Christine nodded stoically, "I will do my best to make my Papa proud."
"Yes," Julienne sighed and glanced at the clock that sat ticking on her mantle. "Speaking of doing your best, it is time for your first lesson of the day. If you hurry, you won't be late."
"Oh!" Christine jumped from her spot on the couch, "Madame will you not be teaching us today?"
"No," Julienne's gaze rested on her closed bedroom door, "one of the older girl's will be running through your positions with you. I'm taking a few days to take care of Marguerite. But I will be back to classes soon, so you tell the rest of your classmates no slacking off, I expect improvement if not perfection and nothing less."
Christine nodded, "I understand and Madame?"
"Oui?"
"May I come see Meg after class today?"
"Oh," Julienne stared at the closed door once more, her gaze drifting only to the shadows when she saw a hint of movement, a misplaced shadow. "I think Marguerite will need her rest today, why don't you check back tomorrow, Christine?"
"Yes Madame," Christine gave her a short curtsy and scurried out of the room. The door had not even closed before Julienne turned to the shadowed corner and pointed her cane at it.
"Do not hide now Erik. We have much to talk about."
Sighing Erik stepped from the shadows, his hands held in front of his chest in a form of surrender. "Don't murder me yet Madame, I do bear gifts for Meg."
"Sit." Julienne commanded, pointing at the couch as she limped to the mantle to lay another log upon the fire.
"Madame, I could have done that for you."
"You," Julienne hissed as she pointed her cane at him, "will stay seated and tell me what you have been up to these past few weeks. An Angel Erik? Really? Being an extorting ghost wasn't enough? You had to become a blasphemer too?"
"Have you forgotten Madame, that I was once the Devil's Child?"
"Foolishness," Julienne snapped, "that was a false title forced upon you. We both know that."
"Perhaps you know that Madame," Erik growled, "but for me, I look upon the Devil's face every day."
"Erik," Julienne whispered, "please tell me you don't think that's true. "
"Think!" Erik laughed bitterly, "Think Madame! I know it is true. I make no lie of what and who I am. Don't you remember Madame, Lucifer was once an Angel himself, so I see no lie."
"Erik?" They both looked over suddenly to see the door to the bedroom opened, Meg leaning against it for support. She was paler than she had been, and they could both hear how labored her breathing was as she tried to stand upright.
"Meg," Erik whispered the color draining from his face as he tried to surmise how much of their conversation she had overheard. He was ready to tell her his story but not like this.
Julienne started limping towards Meg, "You shouldn't be out of bed."
"I heard," Meg drew in a shaky breath struggling not to cough, "Erik yelling."
Erik beat Julienne to Meg's side and looped his arm around her shoulders, bending low to place his other arm under her legs he carried her back into the bedroom and laid her gently on the bed. Not daring to breathe the entire time in case he caused her pain. "I'm so sorry, Meg, I didn't mean to wake you or alarm you."
Meg coughed weakly from where she was ensconced in her pile of pillows and Erik frowned looking towards Julienne as she walked into the room. "She needs more tea. Do you have tea, is there, I can buy more. I can buy you a whole shipload Meg, just say the word."
"The tea is there," Julienne pointed at the table that held the tea service and food. She allowed Erik to bypass her to the table and made her way to sit in the armchair, her leg was not being kind to her today.
Erik filled the bottom of the empty mug with honey and splashed the now lukewarm peppermint tea into the cup, his hands shaking as he knelt at Meg's bedside to present it to her. "Drink Meg, it will make you feel better."
Meg did as she was told, watching both her Mama and Erik from behind narrowed eyes, they both looked harrowed and nervous. She had only heard a few bits of their conversation and mainly only Erik's part. She gulped down as much tea as she could, praying the honey would coat her throat so she could ask the questions she wished to be answered.
"You were fighting." It was a statement and not a question. Meg glanced between both Julienne and Erik. She took another shaky breath and drained the rest of the tea; Erik did not hesitate and grabbed the mug from her hand to fill it once more. "What were you fighting about?"
Erik looked up from where he was stirring honey into Meg's tea and Julienne met his gaze, he didn't like the look she was giving him.
Meg looked back and forth between them exasperated, "Will no one tell me?" When she was once again met with silence, she crossed her arms and glared at them both.
"We were having a discussion Marguerite, about Christine and Erik's role as her teacher."
Erik huffed out a laugh as he handed Meg her new mug of tea, "I wouldn't call it a discussion."
"I was trying to have a discussion." Julienne sighed.
"I don't see why you should have a say in the matter Madame."
"She is my student Erik, I'm responsible for her."
Meg watched as Erik rolled his eyes at the statement, but his hands were shaking again when he handed her the mug of tea he had prepared. She accepted it with a nod of gratitude and sipped at it slowly trying to guess who would be the next to break the silence.
In the end it was Erik, "I haven't done any harm Madame, I am simply a teacher. Your own daughter knows me better than the girl, would you forbid me from seeing Meg again?"
"Mama," Meg whispered, afraid of what she would say.
Julienne looked up and shook her head at Meg, "No, you know I wouldn't Erik, but Meg knows who you are. You haven't claimed to be an Angel sent from heaven."
"You think that the girl would accept me as I am Madame? It has been a long time but surely you remember what I look like."
Meg bit down on the inside of her cheek to keep herself from gasping and ultimately coughing again, she didn't want to interrupt the two, this was the first time she had ever heard that her mother had seen Erik without his mask on. She also didn't want to scare Erik off from having the conversation he promised he would have with her. Better to remain silent and ask questions later Meg decided.
"It did not scare me then, and it does not bother me now Erik. I," Julienne shook her head in disbelief, "I can't believe that I am going to say this but, perhaps, it is wise to keep your true identity a secret from Christine for now and for you to continue being her mentor."
Erik looked up in shock, "Truly Madame?"
"Christine is a sweet girl, but she does not have the best perception of secrecy. If it was found out that the opera ghost was a mere child." Julienne shook her head, "I will not entertain the idea of what would happen to you Erik. I will also not entertain what would happen to Christine if word got out that she believed her father sent her an angel of music. With that being said, you must promise me that you will never show yourself to Christine."
"Never?" Meg cried out from her bed, forgetting her determination to go unnoticed. "Mama that is unfair! Doesn't Erik deserve to have more than one friend? Christine, Erik, and I we could all be friends. I'm sure she could keep the secret Mama."
Julienne smiled at Meg, but Erik could see the discomfort in her gaze. Meg didn't understand, couldn't understand the great risk Erik lived with already. If he was found out, he shook his head, he couldn't think about what would happen to him, couldn't imagine being imprisoned again. Erik swallowed hard, realizing this was why Julienne had been so angry with him. He had risked everything when he let his obsession with music overtake his better judgement. And what of Christine? How would she react to the knowledge of who and what Erik was. He had been so blinded by what he could have, a shining moment in the spotlight, to realize what he truly risked.
"Your mother is right Meg. I know now that I made a mistake in even talking to Christine Daae." Meg looked like she was going to protest but Erik held a hand up, stopping her, "This will all make sense when we talk Meg, I promise, and we will talk soon."
"So, do you promise Erik? You must know as I do that you can not disappear from Christine's life. It would ruin her and would be sent away to the nearest asylum if she ever mentioned an angel of music sent to her by her dead father. Unfortunately, I see no other choice to be made now. Perhaps in the future this can be revisited. Perhaps when all of you are older, and grown, we can decide where we'll draw the line for truth and honesty. But for now, you must promise me Erik."
"I promise Madame, and we both know that Christine will be a far better singer than a ballerina."
Julienne sighed, placing the tips of her fingertips on her temple massaging the oncoming headache and nodded, "I can not disagree with you Erik. She will have a far better life as a singer living in this opera house." She looked up when she heard Meg's startled gasp, "Oh my angel, I know it is hard to hear but it is the truth, Christine has the makings of a singer, not a dancer. Also, Marguerite, you must promise me something too."
Meg nodded, "Anything Mama."
"Just as I once asked you, I will ask you again, to keep Erik's presence a secret. Just between the three of us. For his protection." She raised an eyebrow as she heard Erik huff in annoyance, "You need to be protected Erik, even if you don't think so you are still a child."
"I promise Mama. I promise you too Erik. I am sorry that Christine can't know about you yet. Hopefully, one day that will change." Erik looked over at Meg, a strange expression like wonder on his face, would the girl ever cease to surprise him. It gave him hope for what he was going to do next.
"Madame, with your permission I would speak to Meg alone now."
Julienne raised her eyebrows in a silent question, and Erik nodded back in his own silent response, "Very well. I will get you fresh tea and food Marguerite, you must be starving my love."
Meg nodded enthusiastically as Julienne checked her forehead for fever, "I'll be back in an hours' time Erik."
"Very well Madame."
He waited until the door was closed before he picked up the armchair and settled it next to Meg's bedside, sitting down in it he reached into his breast pocket for a small paper bag. "Until she comes back, I hope this will do."
"Oh!" Meg gasped in surprise, "Candy!" Excitedly she tipped the bag, so a few pieces tumbled out into her hand. The bright colors of Pates de Fruits shone back at her, and she held out her hand to Erik, "Would you like one?"
Smiling Erik shook his head, "They are solely for you to enjoy Meg." He pointed at the sugar encrusted jelly, "I did hear that lemon can be good for the throat."
Nodding Meg picked up the yellow treat and happily ate it, her eyes gleaming in delight as the taste of lemon and sugar burst upon her tongue. "Thank you, Erik."
He shrugged, "You deserve to be taken care of, and I did hope that the candy would help ease your suffering just a bit."
Meg hummed in agreement as she popped another sugary confection in her mouth, the sweetness making her forget momentarily about her aching head and throat.
"I can also come back at another time Meg; I don't want to keep you up and you do need your rest."
She frowned, "I've waited long enough Erik."
Scowling Erik looked at the ground, the previous courage he once felt was quickly leaving him. He didn't know what to say or how to start.
Sensing his reluctance Meg reached her hand out, "You can hold my hand if you're scared."
Erik let out a bitter laugh, "Thank you, Meg." He simply stared at her outstretched hand, not daring to believe that Meg would want to touch him after what he was going to tell her and possibly show her. "I'm sorry, I don't know where to start."
"At the beginning is usually the best place to start." Meg whispered, smiling when Erik met her gaze.
"At the beginning." Erik repeated, taking in a deep breath, he would start at the beginning. He would start with the night that Julienne saved him, the night that he became Erik.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed! As always reviews are appreciated and treasured.
