Three-
For Love and For Fear
Quick notes- I have regained SOME meager faith in myself but I do not plan to write as much. My teaching is stressful. I try, but my students refuse to get, 'The Holly and the Ivy' correct for the Christmas Concert, and my patience is thin. Look forward to seeing me at least for a little while longer.
Christine stared blankly at her ring, it was cold and heavy now, a constant reminder that the man who had bestowed it upon her was raving mad. She sighed, shifting in her bed and then growing stiff. Were there not two eyes looking down upon her?
She began to tremble violently as the shape emerged from the darkness, clearly Erik's famous silhouette. He gazed upon her, his eyes not mad, nor angry. He opened his mouth to speak but clearly words were lost for him.
"Please don't hurt me!" She gasped out, tears spilling across her face. "I'm sorry for what you saw Erik, it meant nothing but please... Just let me go..."
He clearly seemed shocked. "Hurt you? I mean not to hurt you! I could never, why would you think such things?"
"The roof... Terrible things would happen." She shivered, burying her face absentmindedly in the pillow to hold back her tears.
He sat down and she shot up. "Christine, I wouldn't hurt you. I didn't mean that, I meant maybe drop the curtain on you while performing, something to embarrass you, but I would never cause you physical harm, I love you."
Her heart pounded still but she visibly relaxed. "Sly minx, don't you dare ring the curtain down!" She purred playfully.
He smiled in the dark, reaching out and tracing his finger around her cheekbone. "So, is this still going to be a fight, or are you willingly going to send me to the Marshall's office?"
She froze, her eyes falling from his. Guilt pulsed through her like blood, Raoul had been so excited, she would hate to bum him out. She inhaled deeply, "Perhaps for sport, we should keep it a fight."
He was, to say the least, shocked. "Sport?"
She nodded. "Raoul seems to enjoy thins, he's in a better mood than I've seen him in months! Perhaps, dear, just so he can have fun, we should make it a fight still."
He withdrew his hand. "Is that what this all is to you, Christine? A game!!!" He stood.
"Erik," She moaned. "Raoul swore for my hand when we were children! I can't very well just rip it from him!"
"I can't believe this!" He paced for a moment. "Do you love him?"
Her eyes grew wide. "What?"
"You heard me, I said do you love him?"
Her eyes flashed and she jumped from the bed and met his gaze. "Yes! I do, and your goddamn threats can't stop me!"
He didn't seem upset violently. "So all of this, everything has been a lie, Christine? The sweet words, the kisses, the embraces, all of it has been one crushing lie?"
She flinched at the look he gave her, the pitiful heartbroken animal look filled to the core with anger. "I... I was confused Erik, I do love you, just... Not that way."
He inhaled these words, seemingly. "Or perhaps you still are confused."
She looked up sharply. "Pardon?"
He chuckled. "Oh it's very simply, my naive one, you think you love him because deep down you still fear me, and you feel safer at the present." He drew her closer with hardly any effort, for she was rigid with the shock of his words. He lifted a hand, smoothing it over the exposed skin of her neck, ignoring how revealing her nightgown was. "But that night, Christine, when you kissed me, you felt even safer. You were not afraid then, you let me hold you, touch you, kiss you." His lips savored the soft skin his hand had just indulged in, drawing a low gasp from her throat.
"The thing about all of this is, you cannot resist me, not when I touch you, not when I sing to you." He hummed and then moved his lips to her cheek. "Are you afraid of me now?"
She opened her mouth to speak but he swallowed her answer in his kiss. Drawing her firmly to him. She brought her own arms up, draping them around his neck carelessly. The kiss lasted for some time, but he finally drew away, looking into her dazed eyes. "It could always be like this, Christine. You have only to wait and trust me, for Raoul could never keep you that safe."
He paused at her balcony, which he was about to take his leave on. "Especially from me and my love for you." And he was gone.
Christine wrung her hands as her mother(maneuvering in a creky wheelchair) brought the post into the sitting room. Today she should receive a letter from the Marshall, as would Raoul and Erik.
Though he had left her in a nearly drunken state she still greatly feared Erik, and was hoping the Marshall would allow her and Raoul to wed, for if she had to marry erik, she was not sure if things would be all right. She was extremely fearful that the slightest argument would drive him to madness and send him to do something terrible. She believed that he would not harm her, but wasn't sure about others.
Her mother handed her the letter, which Christine stared blankly at, afraid to open it.
"Well?" Mama Valerius inquired. "Let's take a gander."
Christine snapped out of her thoughts and slowly opened the envelope. She unfolded the paper with a deep breath and then began to read.
'Mlle,
I am pleased to inform you that someone has come forward to claim your hand. Although Raoul De Chagny, the vicomte also came forward, we were unable to give you to him. You shall wed M. Erik (last name needed but not given). We hope this is not too much of an inconvenience.
Since your father is deceased you will be given away by myself, which means I will have to be notified as to when the blessed event shall occur, and if it interfere's with my own schedule, I will be forced to change it.
Thank you
M. Claude Bautois, Chief Marital Marshall
Christine sighed, setting the letter down. She looked at her eager mother. "Erik and I are to be wed." She informed her.
Her mother clapped her hands together in glee. "Oh my Christine! I am so happy for you!" She beckoned her to come to her chair and Christine did obediently. They embraced and Mama gave her a nudge. "You go and be with him, I will be ok."
Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh but Mummy, I promised to never leave you again!"
Mama shook her head. "Go, Christine. Be young, go leave me, for I am old, go."
Erik opened the letter from the Marshall, his sigh content and his heart a flutter.
M.,
I am pleased to inform you that after a fair election it was chosen that Mlle. Christine Daae` become your wife. We have sent her a letter also, and wish the most sincere luck and happiness.
As we have informed your fiancée, you are to notify us of the impending wedding's date so that we may attend. Please feel free to address us with any concerns of yours,
With fond wishes
M. Claude Bautois, Chief Marital Marshall
He sighed, setting it down and smiling. His bride, Christine was his bride now. He had told the foolish boy this would happen, and now he would surely receive a letter of apology from the council of Marshall's.
He looked at the door, knowing one of the two would come to him today. Chuckling he thought, Best to make them welcome.
Moving to the other room he straightened things up, whether there be a fight or whatever, he musn't look like a slob.
The sound of his alarm greeted his ears and he went out to see Raoul across the lake, cursing and waving his letter in the air like a madman. Erik sent the boat across for him and waited until he got across.
"You! You will have this withdrawn! I won't stand here and have you marry her!"
Erik laughed at him. "No, you will stand in your own home, and have me marry her!"
Raoul glared at him. "I am not a fool! I see what you want, you do not love her! You want only her body! You want to deprive her of the youth and innocence you were denied!"
Erik watched him as he spoke with great interest. "I'll have you know, Monsieur le Vicomte, that I could live without ever knowing Christine's physical love. I love her, dammit when will you see that I am not mad but only love her?"
Raoul was flustered now and he thanked God when the splashing behind him caused him to turn and look at the shape emerging from the water. "Christine! What were you thinking! You could catch your death!"
Erik grinned, removing his cloak and moving to her, wrapping it about her shoulders. "Why my dear siren, we were just talking about you!"
Again, thanks to all who reviewed previously, especially Phantom Aria, I love you all.