Chapter Nine
Meg (the lucky little poo) Meets Erik
"Hurry up Meg!" Christine called gaily as the pair ran through the labyrinthine passages beneath the opera.
"You're going to fall and kill yourself!" Meg yelled back trying not to trip over her own feet in the darkness.
"No I'm not, no I'm not!" Christine retorted childishly, "We're here! Oomph!" Meg ran straight into her and they both tottered precariously for a minute before catching themselves. Christine fixed Meg with a glare, a smile tugging at her lips, "We are near the lake Meg."
"Sorry."
"Harumph! Now where's that boat?" pottering up and down the shore bent over like a hunchback she finally gave a cry of 'Eureka!' and presented the boat proudly. Meg eyed it,
"Who's going to paddle?"
"I'll pole it, we don't have oars; they make too much noise."
"Not as much as the two of you."
"Hello Nadir." He bowed, brushing the back of her gloved hand against his lips,
"Bon Soir Madame." Christine smiled then turned Nadir to face Meg, motioning for the latter to step forward as she did so.
"Nadir, this is my best friend Meg Giry. Meg, this is Nadir; a very old friend of Erik's." Nadir bowed again and Meg curtsied, glancing sideways at Christine.
"I would like to tell you Mademoiselle that your friend greatly exaggerates, I am not that old." Christine elbowed him,
"Are you here to see Erik then?" she asked seriously,
"No, I've lost something down here and I'd rather like to find it again before your husband does." His tone made her raise an eyebrow inquisitively.
"Why?"
"That Madame, is my little secret." She shook her head at him and gestured for Meg to get into the boat.
"Until tomorrow Nadir."
"Goodbye Christine." Settling herself Christine began to pole the boat away from the shore. Meg peered into the blackness but could see nothing; she could however sense the water's moistness in the air and hear it lapping at the boat as they glided through it.
"Is he expecting us?" she asked nervously,
"I told him we'd come sometime today and he mumbled about how I could never maintain a punctual schedule." She giggled quietly at the memory.
"You never told me about Nadir… "
"Yes I did."
"I mean that you still saw him! I nearly jumped into the lake out of fear when he spoke, I thought he might be a cellar worker or something!" Christine shook her head, grinning at her friend,
"The cellar workers never come this far, they have no reason to." A few still moments passed the silence only broken by the 'dip' of the water when Christine lowered the pole into it.
"What's your favorite song Christine?" Meg trailed her fingers in the cold water absently waiting for a response, Christine, surprised by the abrupt question stopped to consider it for a minute before answering.
"It's difficult to select a favorite when you live with a genius composer who writes something newly fantastic every day…But I would have to say 'Something's Here'."
"I don't know it." Meg observed sitting up with interest,
"No, you wouldn't." Christine laughed, "No one has ever heard it…"
"What do you mean, obviously you have." Meg saw the sparkling of Christine's eyes in the gloom, glittering like stars in a stormy sky,
"Well, no one besides… The morning after my wedding I woke up alone in my marriage bed, I threw on a robe; it wasn't even mine if I remember clearly, for the sake of warmth. When I wandered out I heard Erik playing the piano softly…The tune was so beautiful, it was like…Like that feeling I get whenever I see him, that bursting euphoric happiness, that in gentle sound." She paused for a moment, her thoughts far away, "But that was nothing, oh Meg, when he sang to it I thought my heart would burst."
"Tell me, what did he sing?" Meg asked, intrigued and worried she would not go on.
"He sang, so sweetly, so lovingly;
Something's here
Something sweet and dear and unrefined!
Something you will always find is there, a part of you and I
Right here, deeply in my heart; right there, a piece of my soul…
You see I love you.
You know I always will.
That something I always feared,
Do you feel me?
Do you see me tremble?
I've wanted this though it frightens me.
I never dared to hope you see,
Never dreamed of you and me.
Now you're here and loving true,
Just as much as I love you.
Is it apparent on my face?
I've never looked on you without that telltale message in my eye.
I wonder if you always knew what it said…
I wonder how soon my love was read…
I walked up behind him as he sang this, and leaning over him to look at the music I saw it was a duet, sight-reading it I took my cue;
I never knew,
I never guessed,
That you may return what I'd repressed.
I never thought,
I never hoped,
That you may love me too.
She didn't know!
How could she not have seen!
Then we sang in counter point, our voices entwining more beautifully then ever before…I think I know why…
How could I have seen when I was blinded by follow?
How could I let my defenses fall!
I was too afraid!
So afraid?
I hardly imagine!
So afraid!
I surprise you!
Our voices met in a line,
How could you not see my passion!
How could I let loose my passion!
I feared!
You were endeared!
Reaching a soaring crescendo of emotion so perfectly transcribed in sound,
Know I love you!
Know what I never said!
I know I love you!
I know what was left unsaid!
Say what you will of us world!
And finally together,
We know what love is,
I know I love you!
Then in no more then whispers of song,
Always love me…
As I love you."
Silence reigned on the lake for a passing moment until Meg was jostled by the boat hitting the opposite shore,
"Here we are!" Christine exclaimed cheerfully. She produced a key (of sorts) and worked the complicated mechanism of the hidden door of the house that Erik had painstakingly taught her how to operate.