To my reviewers: Angelofthroperahouse, Chance, smittylovesHPfic, Sister of the Avatar, PhantomAngel, Erik's Music of the Night, elvinscarf, tink8812, GerardJamesButler, Almost-Lost-Hope6, Jen Lennon, BohemianCane04, Mallie, diner123 (NADINE! I LOVE YOU! LOL), and WildPixieChild... I am so sorry for the incredibly long delay. I have been having some very difficult problems with plot. It's gotten a little better but I'm still not totally sure how its gonna go. I just hope you all don't Punjab me... lol. I'm so so so so so so sorry. I love you all! So here you are... Chapter 6.
Chapter 6: A time Forgotten
Madame Giry watched as Christine examined the Orchestra pit with a look of sadness laced across her face. Erik watched as well. She was just the same as the day she left him, only now with a different last name.
"Are you alright Christine?" Madame Giry asked as Christine traced her finger along the keys of the piano.
"Oh yes Madame Giry," she replied with a reassuring yet insincere smile upon her face. "Just… remembering."
"Remembering what?" Madame Giry said inquisitively. "Or should I ask who?"
Christine quickly turned and looked at Madame Giry surprisingly at the thought that she would be thinking about her angel of music, which she was.
"I am a happily married woman Madame Giry." Christine replied. "He has given me everything I could have ever dreamed of."
"Perhaps," Madame Giry responded coolly. "But is it everything you have ever wanted?"
Christine looked at Madame Giry blankly not certain of how to respond to her question. Her face slowly transformed into a slight look of remorse as she gazed back at the piano. Erik watched as Madame Giry was interrogating Christine. The responses were not what he had expected. He thought she would be exceedingly happy in her life with the Vicomte, and yet she seemed unsatisfied. 'Could she really have regretted her choice?' Erik's thoughts were soon interrupted by Christine's voice.
"This girl… Oriel. She was a bit peculiar, was she not?"
"Oriel is a very talented girl," Madame Giry replied taking a few steps back towards the entrance of the Orchestra Pit. "She will help bring much success to the Opera House."
Christine raised a doubtful eyebrow to Madame Giry, "We'll see Madame Giry."
"I believe it is time we find your husband Christine." Madame Giry said gesturing toward to door. Christine gave an agreeing nod and they both left the Orchestra Pit.
Erik still stood there in the shadows pondering the events that just took place. 'So the fop is here as well,' he thought to himself clenching his fists. "And how dare she not think that Oriel is talented… hadn't she just heard her sing?' He then searched the room for Oriel. He had been so focused on Christine that he hadn't even seen her leave. 'Of course she left, they were even speaking of her,' he thought frustratingly. He cursed himself for being too distracted by Christine to notice that Oriel had gone. He had to find her. He quickly fled from the shadows and headed towards the dormitories.
Orrie hadn't seen him in nearly two and a half years and now there he was, holding her by the arms. Their noses were practically touching and Orrie could feel his warm breath on her face as they stared at each other in utter disbelief of one another's presence.
"What are you doing here Raoul," Orrie said as she backed away from him, breaking the gaze they had shared.
"It's good to see you too Orrie," he said sarcastically talking a step closer to her. "I have been asked to be Patron of the Opera House once again."
"I can't believe that they had the nerve to ask you that after everything that's happened." Orrie said with a look of confusion on her face.
"Well… it was a request made by Christine. She has missed the Opera House, and I have been assured the "Phantom" has vacated the premises… that vile creature," he spat as distain arose in his voice.
Raoul had murmured the last part of his statement under his breath but Orrie heard it as clear as day. Without even thinking her face turned red and she raised her hand to meet his cheek, slapping him hard across the face. Orrie quickly stepped back and cupped her hand to her widely open mouth in surprise of her own action. Raoul held that same look of surprise on his face as he turned his head to look at her with his wounded cheek throbbing beneath his hand.
"Where on earth did that come from?" Raoul said as he tried to reason in his mind why Orrie would do such a thing.
Orrie's lower lip quivered as she removed her hand from the surface of her mouth. What was she to say? 'Don't talk about Erik in such a way?' If she said that Raoul would certainly have many more questions to which she would not want to answer.
"It... it..." Orrie's mind began racing in order to find the right words to say. "It just surprised me that you would speak of someone in such a way Raoul," she replied softly. "You were always so kind and… well I just would never imagine you being so cruel to a man who has lived such a difficult life."
"Oh Orrie," Raoul said as he took Orrie's shoulders in his hands. "You know nothing of whom or what this man is…. Well… was." As he spoke these words, he gazed upon Orrie with such sincere concern as well as caring, then again he had always looked at her like that. Some how those light blue eyes had always held a power that she never quite understood, a sense of sincerity, perhaps, that he had always carried with him, a sincerity that she had known since living with her Aunt Gertrude in Rouen.
Knock Knock Knock! "Oriel, are you descent?" Aunt Gertrude shouted through the closed door.
"Yes Aunt Gertrude," Orrie said lightly followed by an uncomfortable groan. "Dear God Gabriel do you have to make it so tight? I can barely breathe!" She said placing her hand on her stomach.
"A tighter corset means a more flattering figure Oriel, and a lady always strives to attain a more flattering figure," Aunt Gertrude said as she made her way into the room.
"Yes, of course Aunt Gertrude, how foolish of me." Orrie continued putting on her dress. It was a lovely sky blue dress trimmed in white, with a tastefully low-neck line. It accompanied her hair color well making it look more red than usual, and as she looked at herself in the mirror she could have sworn that she turned from a 13-year-old girl into a woman in mere moments.
"See… now doesn't that look lovely," said Gabriel as she stood behind Orrie. Orrie turned to Gabriel with a bright smile in agreement and both girls giggled.
"Oriel, what have I told you?" Aunt Gertrude said in a stern voice.
Oriel sighed. "A lady does not giggle in a silly manner, but laughs politely."
"Very good," said Aunt Gertrude as she inspected Orrie's appearance. Aunt Gertrude was a stern old woman but quite lovely for her age. Her silver hair accented her blue eyes, and her face was only slightly wrinkled. She had a petite form, but was very strong, something which Orrie had always admired her for. "Your appearance is suitable," Aunt Gertrude said as she made her way out the door of Orrie's room. "Come now Oriel, our guests will be arriving soon."
Orrie followed Aunt Gertrude down into the Parlor where they would be greeting their guests. Everything about Aunt Gertrude's home defined the word elegant with the most pricey chandeliers and most lavish rugs and furniture. It was a little too elegant for Orrie's taste. Upon entering the Parlor, Orrie placed herself gracefully on the burgundy couch as Aunt Gertrude sat upon the large burgundy chair in the center on the room. Orrie had often wondered whether Aunt Gertrude had thought it to be her thrown.
"Aunt Gertrude, you have held many brunches while I am at ballet lessons, why is today so important that I should miss a lesson?"
"Because today, my dear, we are brunching with the Chagny's, and they have a fine young son named Raoul who I think you should meet?"
"And why is it so important that I meet h…"
"Madame," Gabriel interrupted. "Your guests have arrived."
"Escort them in Gabriel." As Gabriel hurried her way to the door Aunt Gertrude turned to Orrie, "Now remember everything I taught you and you'll be just fine."
Aunt Gertrude made her way to the foyer with Orrie following closely behind her.
"Oh Isabelle," Aunt Gertrude squealed as she approached Madame de Chagny. "How nice it is to finally see you again."
Orrie was surprised at Madame de Chagny's beauty. She still looked quite young with golden blonde hair, and light blue eyes. Her dress was a rosy pink that matched her cheeks well. It was a few moments after seeing Madame de Chagny that Orrie noticed the handsome young man standing near her. He obviously took after his mother. He became aware of Orrie's glance and smiled at her sweetly. Orrie immediately blushed; she had never seen such a good-looking young man.
After greeting Isabelle, Gertrude looked around the room curiously. "Where is Claude?"
"He couldn't attend today; he had pressing business matters that needed his attention. He sends his apologies," Isabelle replied sweetly.
"Oh no need," Aunt Gertrude said as she turned toward the young man. "And can this really be Raoul?" Aunt Gertrude looked Raoul over as approval began to show blatantly across her face. "You have grown much since being the boy I knew."
Raoul took Aunt Gertrude's hand with a smile and placed a chaste kiss upon it. "It is a pleasure to see you again Madame."
"And who is this lovely young lady you have Gertrude?" Isabelle said as she placed a hand on Orrie's shoulder.
"Oh this is my niece, Oriel." Gertrude quickly looped her arm with Raoul's and lead him closer to Orrie. Orrie thought that if she got the chance to lock them in a room together that she would so it.
Isabelle took Orrie's chin in her hand in order to get a better look at her. After a quick inspection Isabelle seemed rather pleased with Orrie. "Oriel you look simply angelic."
A wide smile then appeared on Orrie's face. She hadn't heard anyone refer to her as angelic since she had left her teacher. Orrie began to open her mouth to speak but was cut off immediately.
"Well shall we begin our brunch?" Without waiting for a reply Aunt Gertrude began to usher everyone into the dinning room.
Oriel found the brunch to be rather tedious, just sitting and listening to the constant banter of Aunt Gertrude and Isabelle as they talked about high society gossip. Orrie could tell that Raoul was dying of boredom as well by the way he poked at the food he intended not to eat. Every once in a while she would catch him looking at her, and as soon as her eyes met his, his lips would curl up into a slight smile. Unfortunately for Orrie that slight smile always had the tendency to turn her cheeks bright red. After what felt like hours the brunch was finally over with. Aunt Gertrude and Isabelle both rose to go sit in the parlor and gossip a bit more, but Aunt Gertrude had other plans for Orrie and Raoul.
"Oriel why don't you show Raoul the garden," she said with a mischievous look laced across her face.
"Of course Aunt Gertrude," Orrie said raising a slightly questioning eyebrow to her and then addressing Raoul. "If you would follow me."
Orrie lead Raoul into the garden which was filled mostly with all different colors of roses and several types of daisies, per Orrie's request. It was a lovely spring day and the breeze smelled rather sweet with the fragrance of the flowers. Orrie had always loved the sent of the garden. After wandering awkwardly for a few moments Raoul began to break the silence.
"Your Aunt Gertrude is quite a woman," he said taking a seat at the nearby bench.
"Oh yes… quite," Orrie replied sitting next to him. She let out a sigh. "I'll never be the "lady" she wants me to be." Orrie stood up quickly and cleared her throat. "Ladies never disregard their figure Oriel," she said in a voice which uncannily sounded like her Aunt. "Ladies do not giggle Oriel. Ladies never sing unless necessary. Spending the entire afternoon in front of a piano is not something we ladies do Oriel."
Her impersonation was perfect, her posture and gestures were just like her Aunt's right down to the point of her index finger. Raoul had found this extremely amusing for he was practically rolling with laughter as was Orrie. Once their laughs calmed, Orrie sat back down next to Raoul and let out a slight sigh.
"Sometimes I think I don't want to be a lady… just a woman who can follow her passion." She then looked at Raoul who was looking at her intently and then quickly looked back down to the ground. "I'm sorry… I let my mouth run away with me far too much."
"No not at all… your voice is very pleasant to listen to." Orrie than looked up to him sweetly, with a modest but sincere smile across her face. It was Raoul's turn to blush now, and he cleared his throat in order to compose himself. He then changed the subject.
"Well you will not be under your Aunt's roof forever, and I can tell that you have an independent spirit. I'm sure you will have no problem following your passions."
"I hope so," she replied as she twisted her little gold ring around her finger. She then noticed that Raoul adjusted himself so that he was completely facing her. When she looked to his face, she realized that his eyes were fixated on her. She turned away blushing once again, which was something she was beginning to grow tired of. 'These darn cheeks,' she cursed to herself. After a few moments of silence Orrie couldn't take it anymore. "What are you doing?"
Raoul smiled brightly at her. "Just looking at you"
Orrie looked at him curiously. "Am I that much of a sight?"
A look of slight seduction then crossed Raoul's face. "Well it's not everyday you meet the most beautiful girl in all of France." He then reached for her hand and pressed his lips deeply into her knuckles with his eyes never leaving hers. Orrie did not blush this time but still felt the heat fill the flesh of her cheeks as her heart began to beat faster. "Come Oriel…" he as he stood still holding her hand in his." I'm sure your Aunt is awaiting our return."
"Oriel… Oriel, are you listening to me," Raoul asked shaking Orrie's shoulder's only slightly.
"Yes…yes… of course I am," Orrie said breaking herself from her thoughts. Lately, her memories had often taken her mind away from reality.
"I'm sorry to be so stern with you Orrie, but I've seen the power that he has held over others and I'd hate to see even the rumors of him clouding your judgment. Do you understand?" Raoul's face no longer held concern, but fear.
"Yes Raoul… I understand," Orrie said reassuringly.
Raoul then released Orrie's shoulders and stood before her. He looked as if he had been hurt somehow, but Orrie couldn't tell.
"I have missed you Orrie." Raoul said with a look in his eye that Orrie hadn't seen in two years… a look of love.
"I have missed you as well Raoul." He then stepped close her and took her in his arms. He held her tight as if it were to be the last time he would see her and she returned his embrace. He still felt the same to her, warm and gentle… as he had always been.
They soon heard the sound of a throat being cleared and both quickly turned toward the sound in order to find the source.
"So this is why it took so long to find you."
Both of their eyes widened as they recognized the owner of the voice. It wasn't until a moment later that they noticed they were still holding one anther and quickly let each other go. Christine stood further down the hall holding her hands at her hips as a vile look danced across on her face. The sarcasm was obvious I her voice.
"I'm sorry dear, how rude of me it was to interrupt."
Ok I know it had a lot of Raoul fluff and I'm sorry... but there will be more Erik soon I promise. If you have any suggestions or just want to talk you can e mail me... or my AOL sn is Maggie62412. Review... that's all I ask of you! I love you guys!
