Chapter 7: Alliance and Return to Comte
2 months
Meg breathed deep and looked around.
" Erik!" she cried out
Meg got up and placed her robe around her, she lit a candle and walked out her room. She walked down Rousseau's estate and walked out onto the veranda. She breathed deep and felt tears fall from her face.
" Oh, Erik, where ever you are. I miss you so," Meg said
Erik put his plans into motion, he had an alliance and would put up a fight. He wouldn't lose another woman to another man again. Erik stood at his estate; he walked in and heard voices in the dinning room. Erik walked in and saw the servants standing there. They bowed to their master and Erik returned the greeting.
" Welcome back Monsieur," one said
" Thank you," he said
He walked off and tossed his cloak on one of the statues at the end of the staircase. He climbed up the stairs and went straight into his bed room. He locked the door and sat at the end of the large bed and stared at the painting, over the mantle over the fireplace. Erik pulled a black attire, Erik ran his hand over the embroidered gold trim on the black sleeves, the tail to each button on the coat was trimmed with the same design, his vest was black in the front, but gold backing, woven with only real gold thread. His ascot was black, made from the finest silk. He looked at the roses by his bedside and sighed. He took one and tied the black ribbon on it.
" Meg, my rose for your heart," Erik whispered
He walked down and wrote a letter then went off to the de Chagny estate. He addressed both Christine and Raoul. Raoul sealed the letter and Christine dressed her cloak over herself.
" I will return, with Meg," Christine said
" Take these," Raoul said, " For proof."
Christine held the transcripts and went on her way. She was taking a risk going to Rousseau's estate, but it was for the best.
Meg looked out the window of the estate, towards the west away from Paris.
" My dear, Paris is that way," Rousseau said pointing East
" I don't live in Paris Monsieur," she spate
" Right, I forgot, you live with The Comte de Champney," he said, " A false man he is."
Meg looked out and touched the window's pane and leaned her head down.
" Oh, Erik," she thought, " Save me from this nightmare."
" That man is long gone from here, never to return to Paris," Rousseau said getting a drink
" Your lying," Meg said, " Erik wouldn't abandon me."
Rousseau smiled and walked over to her, he draped his arms around her.
" He will not come for you so, you are wasting your time my dear. You might as well realize that. Your child is fatherless, because by now the vultures are picking at his carcass," Rousseau said
" Your lying," Meg said
Meg pushed away from the window and walked off and Rousseau smiled. He looked at Meg and then walked off to do business.
" Meg Giry, you are a woman of high maintenance," Rousseau thought, " That is why I chose you as my bride."
Meg walked into the gardens of the estate and sat down, the gardener looked at the young woman and shook his head.
" Madame, why don't you go beyond the estate walls," the gardener said
" I can't, I'm being watched by Rousseau's men," she said
" They can not force you to stay Madame," he said
Meg sighed and walked around and looked at the red roses in the garden. She knelt down beside them and smelt them.
" Erik, where is your rose," she thought
Meg closed her eyes as she stayed by the roses and dreamt of the past.
Flash back
Erik wrapped his arms around her and placed the red rose in her hair.
" Remember Meg, I am your red rose," Erik whispered, " Where ever there are roses it is I who has planted them."
Meg smiled and leaned her head against his chest.
" Then we should plant hundreds of red roses," Meg said, " So, even when you are far away on business, I will see them and think of you."
" Hundreds, how about everywhere," Erik whispered, " and each bush, there will be just one that stands out from the others."
Meg smiled and kissed him deeply.
" Alright, that will be your red rose Erik, the reddest of them all," Meg said
Flash back end
" Madame," a voice called
Meg opened her eyes and stood up and came to the servant who called her.
" Yes, what is it?" Meg asked
" Madame de Chagny is here to see you," the servant said
Life returned to Meg's eyes upon hearing the servant mentioned the name de Chagny. She nodded and walked off with the servant and entered the foyer.
" Christine," Meg said
Christine turned around, a smile creased her lips as she hugged her dear friend.
" What are you doing here?" Meg asked
" I've come to bring you a message from your beloved," Christine said
Christine handed her a rose and a letter, with the seal of The Vicomte de Chagny.
" But it has Raoul's seal on it," Meg said
" He has an alliance with us, we protect him as long as he takes care of you. Meg, I have news for you too, your marriage to Rousseau is not official. According to this," Christine said
She pulled out some transcripts and handed them to Meg.
" You were forced by an officer of law to marry, your hand was not given in marriage to him," Christine said, " So, come my friend and marry your beloved now. You are protected by the Vicomte de Chagny and the Comte de Champney."
Meg smiled and hugged her friend and she went to pack her things. She returned and they were off to the Vicomte de Chagny's estate. Two of Rousseau's men watched them go off and they went off to report to Rousseau.
Erik breathed deep as he paced around slight. Erik was dressed in the attire he would only wear to the opera. Raoul handed him a drink and Erik downed it.
" Monsieur de Chagny, Madame Giry has arrived," a servant said
" Thank you," Raoul said, " Come Erik and greet your mother-in-law."
Erik walked with Raoul to greet Madame Giry and she looked at Erik. She kissed his cheek and he returned the gesture.
" Rousseau has been keeping an eye out on me and no doubt on my daughter's movements," Madame Giry said, " Erik you must take her away from here. Start a new life somewhere far from these troubles."
" I will," Erik said
They waited for Christine and Meg to get back so, they could make a quick ceremony of marriage.
" What!" Rousseau shouted, " You let her leave with the Vicomte de Chagny's wife!"
" We didn't know it was her," one said
" Get out of my way," Rousseau growled
He got onto his horse and went to his estate and entered with rage.
" Meg!" he shouted
" She's left sir with Madame de Chagny," a servant said
" She's left!" Rousseau shouted, " Then bring her back!"
He looked out the window and narrowed his eyes.
" You will regret the day that you made an enemy of me Vicomte de Chagny," he thought