Marry for the land.

by LiltingBanshee

A/N: Thanks to Erik'sTrueAngel and Twinkle22 for reviewing chapter 2:)

Raoul lay awake in the dark bedroom. Today had been the one year anniversary of his wedding and still he felt no joy at being married.
He looked at Christine who was sleeping peacefully beside him. Her long dark curls were spread out around her head on the pillow and her lips were slightly parted as she was breathing evenly. He reached a hand out and gently tucked a curl behind her ear without waking her. She was very sweet, a beautiful young woman whom everyone would love to be married to. He did care for her, but he wasn't in love with her. Most of all he felt sorry for her for having beenforced into a marriage that was nothing but a facade. Not only was she living in a loveless marriage, but she had become the laughing stock in the town all because of him and the fact that their marriage had not yet produced an heir for the land. He felt his stomach clench at the thought, she was miserable all because of him. Since their argument a couple of months ago, when she had returned from the town in tears because of the awful name-calling, none of them had mentioned having children. It was true as she had said – they did not even know if the could have any as they hadn't tried. Things were not going better just because they weren't talking about it. Whenever one of them walked the streets of the village they couldn't help but overhear the insults and lies that people told about them. Christine was trying to show a brave face, but it was becoming too much for Raoul.

Trying not to wake Christine he silently slipped from the bed and excited the bedroom. Standing outside their house he looked up at the stars and sighed. He had made up his mind. This was enough! He would no longer be a slave to his brother's demands or a scapegoat for all the problems in the village. He would not be called a failure, a freak of nature or a little man - in any sense of the word. He would go out in the world and do the things he wanted to do. Things that mattered to him. He would make a name for himself. Raoul de Chagny would no longer be someone who just went along with what everyone asked of him. He would want people to respect him! Maybe in a few years he would come back. Then everyone would admire him and the difference he had made. He would no longer just be a name, but a person. A well respected gentleman. When that day came he would consider starting a family, but not because anyone asked him to do so. Only because he wanted it.
With a determined smile he grabbed his bag, took one last look at the house and then started walking away.

As the first rays of sun came through the window Christine groaned and rubbed her eyes. She rolled over to say good morning to her husband, but found the bed empty and the sheets cold.

'He must have gone to the fields early' she thought as she stepped out of the bedroom.

Entering the kitchen her eyes were immediately drawn to the letter lying on the table.
The envelope said 'Christine' and she carefully opened it.

Dearest Christine,

When you read this I will be gone. I am truly sorry for abandoning you like this, but I think that in the end it will be the best for us. I cannot be the husband for you that you wish for at the moment. Ever since I was a child I always wanted to travel around France and see everything. I never had the chance to do so and I know that if I neglect my wishes I will end up as a bitter old man, forever regretting I didn't take the chance.
I know the past year has not been easy for any of us. I know you were excited about the marriage and expected a lot more from it. I wish I had been honest with you from the beginning about what it would be like. If I had you might have found a man who would love you in the way you deserve to be loved.
Please do not think I don't love you, I care a great deal about you, I just don't love you the way a husband should love his wife. Regardless of what you might think or what people might tell you, I am actually doing this out of love.
Maybe I will return home some day, but I cannot tell you when. If you will not wait for me I will respect that and I wish you all the happiness in the world.

Your friend always
Raoul de Chagny

Christine felt tears roll down her cheeks as she read the letter. 'How could he do this to her? How could he just run away from everything leaving her to deal with all the problems on her own?'
This was not what she has dreamed of. Her marriage was supposed to be happy, that was how she had planned it ever since she was a little girl. Yet now here she was, 17 years of age and abandoned by her husband.
What was she going to do now?