Disclaimer - I, do not own the rights to the "Sparkling Diamond[s]" of a
movie, "Moulin Rouge" (If I did I would be a genius going by the name of
Baz Luhrmann). I am simply one of the "Children of the Revolution"
(Although one of "Elephant [Melody]" proportions) that writes fanfiction
"Because We Can". "Come What May", but please do not sue me or I will be a
"Sad Hindi Diamond". May this be "Your Song" and may you say "Some Day I'll
Fly Away"! (I do not own the songs used in this story or in the titles of
the chapters either.)
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part XV: Candle In The Wind ~
By: Mariclair
When the door clicked closed Satine dropped into a nearby chair and let the tears she had hid slowly stream down her cheeks. Christian kneeled beside the chair, trying to comfort her and Satine whispered through her sobs, "why Christian? Why me? Why us?"
Christian held out his arms and lovingly held her. "I wish I had an answer for you, darling." It made his heart break to see her cry, he wanted so badly just to make her pain go away.
Satine sniffed and whispered, "I'm so scared Christian. I don't want to sleep with him."
Christian pulled her away from him and looked in her eyes, "but Satine, you're not going to."
Satine looked at him, confused, "I have to."
"No, no, you don't," replied Christian meekly, his heart ripping at the thought of his horrible brother handling her.
"I won't let you lose your relationship with Emily," Satine muttered. "She's your sister, Christian. You can't lose her because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with it. What you two have is special."
Christian held Satine's face in his hands and wiped away her tears. "But what about us? What we have is special, too."
Satine leaned her head against his chest and whispered, "I know," meaning it with all her heart.
Christian, not able to bear this situation anymore said, "Satine, why don't you go up to your room? I'll just tell everyone you weren't feeling well and I'll come and see you before I go to sleep, all right?"
Satine nodded and quietly left the room with Christian and headed to the staircase. She was on her way up when she paused and turned around, "I love you, Christian."
"I love you, too," Christian whispered.
Satine managed a small smile and blew him a kiss and silently made her way up the stairs.
Christian watched her until she was out of sight and sighed heavily. The sound of the party was making his head spin and all he wanted was to lie down with Satine in his arms. He massaged his temples and bravely went back into the crowd, only to be interrogated by the last person he wanted to see.
"Christian!" a high pitched voice called.
"Oh, Mrs. Wilesly", said Christian, with forced politeness.
"Where is Satine? I wanted to let her know about a preparatory school I found that would be quite appropriate for your future children to attend."
She is trying to run my life, wonderful. In a tired voice, Christian replied, "Mrs. Wilesly, Satine isn't feeling well. She retired early for the evening."
A childish pout appeared on Mrs. Wilesly's lips. "Oh, now that is just a shame. She probably caught influenza from you taking her out all the time, Christian. You really must be careful with a proper lady."
Christian wanted to scream. He was in no mood to deal with Mrs. Wilesly's antics. "Yes ma'am, I do believe you're right. Would you excuse me?" he asked abruptly and before she could respond, he had lost himself into the huge group of guests.
Christian breathed a sigh of relief to be away from that screeching, bossy woman. If father ever married Mrs. Wilesly, he might just completely come undone. But he had more important matters on his mind. Matters of his married brother wanting to sleep with his fiancee. The very idea made him feel horribly sick. As a young butler came by with a tray of glasses filled with champagne, Christian reached for a glass and brought it to his lips. He leaned back against the side wall and let the champagne calm his crazed nerves. He was pulled out of his trance when he heard a small voice, "Christian, Christian, what's wrong? Oh no, are you drunk? Please don't be drunk! I have too much to deal with."
Christian opened his eyes to find a very frazzled Emily standing before him. He smiled at his sister who looked very grown up in her new gown. "No, Em. I'm not drunk.
Emily didn't look too convinced and shoved four fingers in his face, "how many fingers am I holding up?" she demanded.
"Seventeen," Christian laughed. "Emily, I promise, I'm not drunk, this is only my second glass of champagne. I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."
Emily's face softened, "all right. Well, at least try to relax and enjoy the party. Do you think it's nice? I mean, as nice as mother would have liked it?"
Christian took the last sip of his wine and placed the glass down on a side table. He took his sisters hands in his. "Emily, it's absolutely beautiful. Mother would have loved it."
Emily's face swelled with pride. "Thank you, Christian.," she whispered and hugged her brother. After a few moments, she pulled away. "Wait a minute, where's Satine?" she asked.
"Oh Satine, she's- she's not exactly feeling well."
"That's too bad," Emily said with disappointment. "She'll miss the countdown to midnight, which is in a little less than an hour."
Christian sighed, how badly he had wanted to ring in the new year with Satine. "I know, it's a shame," he replied, matching Emily's disappointment.
After an uncomfortable silence, Emily replied, trying to lighten the mood, "she'll be all right, Christian. And besides, think of all the other wonderful New Year's you have to spend together." She gave Christian one last hug and said, "try to enjoy yourself, Chris. But now I really must be going, I think I heard someone mention that a soufflé started on fire in the kitchen, I better check on that."
Christian smiled as his little sister scurried away with her gown swishing behind her, looking so much like their mother did every New Year's Eve. He continued making his way around the room, making small talk with friends of the family that he hadn't seen in ages. After speaking to about a dozen people that he couldn't even name, his eyes fell on Philip talking to some of his equally as dull and creepy friends. His boney hands were gripped around Madeline's waist, almost as if he had her on a leash.
Madeline stood there, completely bored with her husband's talk of business and politics. A boiling anger consumed Christian. It infuriated him that Philip made two women he loved so much, go through such pain. He was determined to rescue Madeline, so he walked up to her and said, "Philip, I'd like to show Madeline some of the new umm…paintings, that we just received. So, if you wouldn't mind, could you unhand her?"
Philip shot Christian a dirty look and said, "I suppose so." He pulled Madeline even tighter to him and mashed his lips against hers. "Don't be long," he said, with a wicked smile towards Christian.
Madeline politely took Christian's arm and he led her around a corner. Once they were out of Philip's sight, Madeline broke down, "Christian, I can't take it anymore! He won't stop hurting me because I can't seem to get pregnant. I don't know why, he sure tries enough." She paused and realized she had said too much by the look on Christian's face. "I'm sorry, Christian. I just want to be with Alex. I love him. I don't love Philip, I never did! I married young, I didn't even know what love was! Christian, when is this going to stop?" She said, exasperated.
"I don't know Maddy, I really don't," he replied. "But I need to ask you something. Has Philip ever been to Paris?"
"Yes, in fact, we went there for our Honeymoon, why?"
"Oh my God!" Christian said, disgusted. "Did he ever go out? Without you?"
"Yes, several nights, in fact," she replied. "Christian, where are you going with this?"
"I have reason to believe that Philip visited the Moulin Rouge," said Christian, barely audible.
Madeline's eyes widened, "A whorehouse?! Christian, he got a whore on our Honeymoon?"
Christian cringed, that word always put him on edge. But he couldn't blame Madeline, she new nothing about Satine's past. "I'm not sure, Maddy. But Philip is getting to the point where has crossed the line. I'm trying to collect everything on him so that I can foil his schemes." He took her hand and patted it, "just be careful around him, all right?"
Madeline sighed and added bluntly, "Christian, if I wasn't careful around him, I'd probably be dead right now."
*~*
Upstairs in her room, Satine had been crying and her cheeks were stained from her makeup running. She had never been so scared in her entire life. The thought of sleeping with Philip was too much for her to bear. Not just because of the pain it would bring her, but the pain it would bring Christian. She belonged to him and she just couldn't imagine ever giving herself to any man except him. The thoughts were making her heart break so Satine walked over to her windowsill and looked out into the clear night. There wasn't a cloud to be seen and the sky was littered with brilliant, shining stars. She just sat there, alone and with her thoughts, for several moments until she started to sing;
Thought that I could fly away
Leave all that to yesterday
What more could life do to me
When will life be through with me
I lived life from dream to dream
But today's a day when dreaming ends.
As she finished the haunting song, Satine had to swiftly swipe away the tears that were forming in her eyes. She couldn't stand feeling this intimidated. She liked to think she was strong, and she resented anyone who took that feeling of strength away from her. Satine soon became restless from being cooped in her room, doing nothing.
So she went into her bathroom and went ahead and got ready for bed. Slipping off her shoes and stockings as well as taking off her uncomfortable dress and corset, she put on one of her silk nightgowns and shivered as the lightweight fabric glided across her skin.
Satine turned on the tap and splashed some cool water on her face to get rid of the smudges that her tears had left. Finally, she made her way back to her bedroom and to the nightstand, where she got out the book of Christian's poetry. Surely Christian's words would be able to soothe her. She turned down the comforter of her large bed, and made herself comfortable beneath the soft, warm covers and began to read;
Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again-
"Happy New Year!!!" a thunderous roar cried downstairs.
The loud, abrupt noise had made Satine almost jump out of her skin. She was trying to catch her breath when all of a sudden that familiar tightening in her chest began to consume her. Her panting quickly turned into a deep, loud cough, that rattled through her whole body. She reached for the handkerchief beside her bed and tried to suppress her coughing with it. The room was becoming a swirl of dizzying colors as she finally collapsed into the pillows. Satine's hand lay lifelessly beside her, clutching a handkerchief covered in droplets of dark red blood.
*~*
Later that night, Satine awoke from a fitful sleep. Her head pounded and her cheeks and forehead were covered in a cold sweat. She took several, deep breaths and tried to regain her calm, but to no avail. Satine was terribly on edge. She looked at the clock to find that it was three o' clock in the morning, she knew nobody would be up at this hour and for some strange reason, she was scared to death. Every creek made her eyes dart around the room, every flicker of light made her pull the covers around her tighter.
Satine buried her head in her hands, trying to block out the unpleasant thoughts but she knew there was only one way to do so. She quickly got out of bed and tied her robe on and headed down the hallway to Christian's room.
She silently opened and closed the door and smiled at the sight of her sleeping Christian with his sheets tucked up under his chin. Satine slipped her robe off and climbed into bed next to Christian, trying not to make a sound, but unfortunately startled him awake.
"Hmm, what?" he stuttered. Christian pulled himself out of sleep when he realized it was Satine. "I'm sorry I didn't get to see you before you fell asleep, I knocked on your door after the party and when I didn't hear you answer, I assumed you were asleep and didn't want to wake you. Are you all right?"
Satine nodded, biting her lip, refusing to let tears fall again. "I'm fine," she whispered. "Just scared."
Christian held her protectively to him and softly stroked her hair back. "Darling, don't be scared, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
Satine wanted to believe Christian so badly, "but what about your brother?" she asked, snuggling her face into the warmth of his body.
That raging anger boiled up inside Christian again. No one hurt his angel, no one. And all this was because of his atrocious brother! If only he could find a way to show his father what a despicable human being Philip was.
Just then, Christian gasped and sat up slightly.
The gesture had startled Satine, "what, what is it?" she asked.
"I think I just got an idea about how to show Philip's true colors to my father," Christian answered.
"Really? That's wonderful," Satine said in an exhausted voice.
Christian looked at Satine and continued, "but I'll tell you all about it tomorrow, you're exhausted. I can feel you shaking and your beautiful eyes are swollen." Christian gently kissed her eyelids and climbed out of bed. He picked Satine up in his arms and silently carried her back to her own room down the hall. Christian wanted to hold Satine all night but knew she needed to sleep in her own bed so she wouldn't have to sneak out of his room at dawn. Christian tucked Satine under the covers and fluffed her pillows, making sure she was completely comfortable. When she seemed settled, he lightly ran his fingers over her cheek.
"Thank you, Christian," Satine mumbled, just about to drift to sleep.
"You're welcome, darling." He whispered and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. "And we'll get through this, I know it. Come what may."
~*~
* "One Day I'll Fly Away" Performed by Nicole Kidman in the movie, Moulin Rouge. (lyrics changed slightly by Mariclaire)
* "Annie's Song" performed by John Denver
*A Bohemian Storm Is Brewing*
Truth * Beauty * Freedom * Love
~Casidy
§=Þ
*~*
"Quoi Qu'il Arrive"
~ Part XV: Candle In The Wind ~
By: Mariclair
When the door clicked closed Satine dropped into a nearby chair and let the tears she had hid slowly stream down her cheeks. Christian kneeled beside the chair, trying to comfort her and Satine whispered through her sobs, "why Christian? Why me? Why us?"
Christian held out his arms and lovingly held her. "I wish I had an answer for you, darling." It made his heart break to see her cry, he wanted so badly just to make her pain go away.
Satine sniffed and whispered, "I'm so scared Christian. I don't want to sleep with him."
Christian pulled her away from him and looked in her eyes, "but Satine, you're not going to."
Satine looked at him, confused, "I have to."
"No, no, you don't," replied Christian meekly, his heart ripping at the thought of his horrible brother handling her.
"I won't let you lose your relationship with Emily," Satine muttered. "She's your sister, Christian. You can't lose her because of me. I wouldn't be able to live with it. What you two have is special."
Christian held Satine's face in his hands and wiped away her tears. "But what about us? What we have is special, too."
Satine leaned her head against his chest and whispered, "I know," meaning it with all her heart.
Christian, not able to bear this situation anymore said, "Satine, why don't you go up to your room? I'll just tell everyone you weren't feeling well and I'll come and see you before I go to sleep, all right?"
Satine nodded and quietly left the room with Christian and headed to the staircase. She was on her way up when she paused and turned around, "I love you, Christian."
"I love you, too," Christian whispered.
Satine managed a small smile and blew him a kiss and silently made her way up the stairs.
Christian watched her until she was out of sight and sighed heavily. The sound of the party was making his head spin and all he wanted was to lie down with Satine in his arms. He massaged his temples and bravely went back into the crowd, only to be interrogated by the last person he wanted to see.
"Christian!" a high pitched voice called.
"Oh, Mrs. Wilesly", said Christian, with forced politeness.
"Where is Satine? I wanted to let her know about a preparatory school I found that would be quite appropriate for your future children to attend."
She is trying to run my life, wonderful. In a tired voice, Christian replied, "Mrs. Wilesly, Satine isn't feeling well. She retired early for the evening."
A childish pout appeared on Mrs. Wilesly's lips. "Oh, now that is just a shame. She probably caught influenza from you taking her out all the time, Christian. You really must be careful with a proper lady."
Christian wanted to scream. He was in no mood to deal with Mrs. Wilesly's antics. "Yes ma'am, I do believe you're right. Would you excuse me?" he asked abruptly and before she could respond, he had lost himself into the huge group of guests.
Christian breathed a sigh of relief to be away from that screeching, bossy woman. If father ever married Mrs. Wilesly, he might just completely come undone. But he had more important matters on his mind. Matters of his married brother wanting to sleep with his fiancee. The very idea made him feel horribly sick. As a young butler came by with a tray of glasses filled with champagne, Christian reached for a glass and brought it to his lips. He leaned back against the side wall and let the champagne calm his crazed nerves. He was pulled out of his trance when he heard a small voice, "Christian, Christian, what's wrong? Oh no, are you drunk? Please don't be drunk! I have too much to deal with."
Christian opened his eyes to find a very frazzled Emily standing before him. He smiled at his sister who looked very grown up in her new gown. "No, Em. I'm not drunk.
Emily didn't look too convinced and shoved four fingers in his face, "how many fingers am I holding up?" she demanded.
"Seventeen," Christian laughed. "Emily, I promise, I'm not drunk, this is only my second glass of champagne. I just have a lot on my mind, that's all."
Emily's face softened, "all right. Well, at least try to relax and enjoy the party. Do you think it's nice? I mean, as nice as mother would have liked it?"
Christian took the last sip of his wine and placed the glass down on a side table. He took his sisters hands in his. "Emily, it's absolutely beautiful. Mother would have loved it."
Emily's face swelled with pride. "Thank you, Christian.," she whispered and hugged her brother. After a few moments, she pulled away. "Wait a minute, where's Satine?" she asked.
"Oh Satine, she's- she's not exactly feeling well."
"That's too bad," Emily said with disappointment. "She'll miss the countdown to midnight, which is in a little less than an hour."
Christian sighed, how badly he had wanted to ring in the new year with Satine. "I know, it's a shame," he replied, matching Emily's disappointment.
After an uncomfortable silence, Emily replied, trying to lighten the mood, "she'll be all right, Christian. And besides, think of all the other wonderful New Year's you have to spend together." She gave Christian one last hug and said, "try to enjoy yourself, Chris. But now I really must be going, I think I heard someone mention that a soufflé started on fire in the kitchen, I better check on that."
Christian smiled as his little sister scurried away with her gown swishing behind her, looking so much like their mother did every New Year's Eve. He continued making his way around the room, making small talk with friends of the family that he hadn't seen in ages. After speaking to about a dozen people that he couldn't even name, his eyes fell on Philip talking to some of his equally as dull and creepy friends. His boney hands were gripped around Madeline's waist, almost as if he had her on a leash.
Madeline stood there, completely bored with her husband's talk of business and politics. A boiling anger consumed Christian. It infuriated him that Philip made two women he loved so much, go through such pain. He was determined to rescue Madeline, so he walked up to her and said, "Philip, I'd like to show Madeline some of the new umm…paintings, that we just received. So, if you wouldn't mind, could you unhand her?"
Philip shot Christian a dirty look and said, "I suppose so." He pulled Madeline even tighter to him and mashed his lips against hers. "Don't be long," he said, with a wicked smile towards Christian.
Madeline politely took Christian's arm and he led her around a corner. Once they were out of Philip's sight, Madeline broke down, "Christian, I can't take it anymore! He won't stop hurting me because I can't seem to get pregnant. I don't know why, he sure tries enough." She paused and realized she had said too much by the look on Christian's face. "I'm sorry, Christian. I just want to be with Alex. I love him. I don't love Philip, I never did! I married young, I didn't even know what love was! Christian, when is this going to stop?" She said, exasperated.
"I don't know Maddy, I really don't," he replied. "But I need to ask you something. Has Philip ever been to Paris?"
"Yes, in fact, we went there for our Honeymoon, why?"
"Oh my God!" Christian said, disgusted. "Did he ever go out? Without you?"
"Yes, several nights, in fact," she replied. "Christian, where are you going with this?"
"I have reason to believe that Philip visited the Moulin Rouge," said Christian, barely audible.
Madeline's eyes widened, "A whorehouse?! Christian, he got a whore on our Honeymoon?"
Christian cringed, that word always put him on edge. But he couldn't blame Madeline, she new nothing about Satine's past. "I'm not sure, Maddy. But Philip is getting to the point where has crossed the line. I'm trying to collect everything on him so that I can foil his schemes." He took her hand and patted it, "just be careful around him, all right?"
Madeline sighed and added bluntly, "Christian, if I wasn't careful around him, I'd probably be dead right now."
*~*
Upstairs in her room, Satine had been crying and her cheeks were stained from her makeup running. She had never been so scared in her entire life. The thought of sleeping with Philip was too much for her to bear. Not just because of the pain it would bring her, but the pain it would bring Christian. She belonged to him and she just couldn't imagine ever giving herself to any man except him. The thoughts were making her heart break so Satine walked over to her windowsill and looked out into the clear night. There wasn't a cloud to be seen and the sky was littered with brilliant, shining stars. She just sat there, alone and with her thoughts, for several moments until she started to sing;
Thought that I could fly away
Leave all that to yesterday
What more could life do to me
When will life be through with me
I lived life from dream to dream
But today's a day when dreaming ends.
As she finished the haunting song, Satine had to swiftly swipe away the tears that were forming in her eyes. She couldn't stand feeling this intimidated. She liked to think she was strong, and she resented anyone who took that feeling of strength away from her. Satine soon became restless from being cooped in her room, doing nothing.
So she went into her bathroom and went ahead and got ready for bed. Slipping off her shoes and stockings as well as taking off her uncomfortable dress and corset, she put on one of her silk nightgowns and shivered as the lightweight fabric glided across her skin.
Satine turned on the tap and splashed some cool water on her face to get rid of the smudges that her tears had left. Finally, she made her way back to her bedroom and to the nightstand, where she got out the book of Christian's poetry. Surely Christian's words would be able to soothe her. She turned down the comforter of her large bed, and made herself comfortable beneath the soft, warm covers and began to read;
Come let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come let me love you
Come love me again-
"Happy New Year!!!" a thunderous roar cried downstairs.
The loud, abrupt noise had made Satine almost jump out of her skin. She was trying to catch her breath when all of a sudden that familiar tightening in her chest began to consume her. Her panting quickly turned into a deep, loud cough, that rattled through her whole body. She reached for the handkerchief beside her bed and tried to suppress her coughing with it. The room was becoming a swirl of dizzying colors as she finally collapsed into the pillows. Satine's hand lay lifelessly beside her, clutching a handkerchief covered in droplets of dark red blood.
*~*
Later that night, Satine awoke from a fitful sleep. Her head pounded and her cheeks and forehead were covered in a cold sweat. She took several, deep breaths and tried to regain her calm, but to no avail. Satine was terribly on edge. She looked at the clock to find that it was three o' clock in the morning, she knew nobody would be up at this hour and for some strange reason, she was scared to death. Every creek made her eyes dart around the room, every flicker of light made her pull the covers around her tighter.
Satine buried her head in her hands, trying to block out the unpleasant thoughts but she knew there was only one way to do so. She quickly got out of bed and tied her robe on and headed down the hallway to Christian's room.
She silently opened and closed the door and smiled at the sight of her sleeping Christian with his sheets tucked up under his chin. Satine slipped her robe off and climbed into bed next to Christian, trying not to make a sound, but unfortunately startled him awake.
"Hmm, what?" he stuttered. Christian pulled himself out of sleep when he realized it was Satine. "I'm sorry I didn't get to see you before you fell asleep, I knocked on your door after the party and when I didn't hear you answer, I assumed you were asleep and didn't want to wake you. Are you all right?"
Satine nodded, biting her lip, refusing to let tears fall again. "I'm fine," she whispered. "Just scared."
Christian held her protectively to him and softly stroked her hair back. "Darling, don't be scared, I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
Satine wanted to believe Christian so badly, "but what about your brother?" she asked, snuggling her face into the warmth of his body.
That raging anger boiled up inside Christian again. No one hurt his angel, no one. And all this was because of his atrocious brother! If only he could find a way to show his father what a despicable human being Philip was.
Just then, Christian gasped and sat up slightly.
The gesture had startled Satine, "what, what is it?" she asked.
"I think I just got an idea about how to show Philip's true colors to my father," Christian answered.
"Really? That's wonderful," Satine said in an exhausted voice.
Christian looked at Satine and continued, "but I'll tell you all about it tomorrow, you're exhausted. I can feel you shaking and your beautiful eyes are swollen." Christian gently kissed her eyelids and climbed out of bed. He picked Satine up in his arms and silently carried her back to her own room down the hall. Christian wanted to hold Satine all night but knew she needed to sleep in her own bed so she wouldn't have to sneak out of his room at dawn. Christian tucked Satine under the covers and fluffed her pillows, making sure she was completely comfortable. When she seemed settled, he lightly ran his fingers over her cheek.
"Thank you, Christian," Satine mumbled, just about to drift to sleep.
"You're welcome, darling." He whispered and placed a loving kiss on her forehead. "And we'll get through this, I know it. Come what may."
~*~
* "One Day I'll Fly Away" Performed by Nicole Kidman in the movie, Moulin Rouge. (lyrics changed slightly by Mariclaire)
* "Annie's Song" performed by John Denver