Chapter Sixteen

The silence in the courtroom was deafening. Christine smiled serenely at them.

"I'm glad you're all taking this so well."

Lord Charlton spluttered.

"Your highness, I must protest!"

"Must you? I fear that you will say nothing to change my mind." Christine said calmly. Lord Charlton went a rather unattractive shade of mauve and Lord Hawkins got to his feet, looking simply furious.

"Your highness, this is ridiculous. You are abandoning your country and leaving a foreigner in charge?"

"No. I am leaving my county in the hands of a man who will rule well and fairly."

"But YOU are the princess!" Lord Hawkins half-shouted, his usually composed face seething with anger.

Christine looked at him.

"Yes. Which means that this decision is mine and mine alone. Raoul de Chagny is a good man; he will make a great ruler."

"But he is not Rymansian!" Lord Hawkins spat.

"Making him steward will unite Hirlos and Rymansia as my father wanted it to be. And I want it too. I know that the court is unhappy with my marriage to Erik Destler, but I refuse to discuss that matter."

"And what of us? With a Hirlosian in charge, what need is there for a Rymansian court?" Lord Callin asked. Christine smiled.

"My father handpicked you as his court. He trusted you and I shall as well. You are all free to voice your opinions and each of you holds a great deal of value to Rymansia. I shall ensure that Prince Raoul is aware of that. I don't believe that I need to, though. He would not dream of doing anything without consulting you first."

Several of them were muttering and the noise level grew as they argued among themselves. Christine sighed and sat patiently. She did appreciate them, but good heaven's these people could talk. Eventually Lord Charlton stood again, looking thoroughly disgruntled.

"As you know, your highness, we cannot go against your rule but I implore you to reconsider this decision! There is so much to be gained from your taking the throne!"

"And there is too much to lose."

Christine sighed softly and stood.

"A great deal of you here are married. Many of you, I believe, love your husbands and wives as dearly as you did the day you wed." She said quietly. Several people shifted uncomfortably. "I would not ask any of you to give up your loved ones, although it is well within my power to do so. All I ask in return is that you do not ask me to give up the one I love."

She looked around at them and then closed her eyes briefly before opening them again.

"One cannot have everything out of life. I am well aware of that. So I choose to have what will make my life a better one. Rymansia will be safe. I would not dream of leaving unless I knew that was a fact. As such, I feel confident in leaving. I will explain my actions to my people, of course. And that, I'm afraid, is all that I have to say on the matter."

She sat down and waited for the flood of shouts and arguments. She did not have to wait for long.

Erik looked across the chessboard at his young opponent. Raoul contemplated the board carefully before moving his knight.

"She should be back by now." Raoul said quietly. Erik had been thinking the same thing. He looked at the chessboard without replying. After a few moments he took one of Raoul's bishops and said,

"I imagine that they are not entirely happy about the decision."

"I wouldn't be surprised." Raoul admitted. "It's a very unusual decision to make."

He paused.

"It is the right one, though." Erik looked at him briefly. His face was set determinedly as he contemplated his next move. "I only hope that I can live up to the portrait she is no doubt painting for the court."

"I am sure that she will do you justice. Perhaps she will understate you, so you may impress them in your own time." Erik said. Raoul gave a short laugh.

"Oh, I hope so. It's a lot of responsibility. I find it hard to believe that she would entrust something so precious to me."

"I don't. You gave us both something far more valuable, all those months ago." Erik said quietly. Raoul looked up at him. Erik met his gaze and took one of his pawns from the chequered surface. Raoul smiled slightly.

"I did what had to be done."

"Although you could have made things very much harder for us both."

"No. I couldn't have. It was obvious, once I thought about it. You two were supposed to be together. I don't think that anything could have stood in the way of that. Not me."

He rolled one of the pawns in his hand, thoughtfully. Erik watched him for a moment and then shifted his knight.

"Checkmate."

It was another hour before Christine returned to the castle. She joined Erik and Raoul in the living room and rang for a maid.

"Bring some tea please. I feel a strong need for it." She said. The maid disappeared and Christine collapsed into a chair. Erik looked at her in concern.

"What happened?"

"Well… the good news is that the court have finally accepted the fact that Raoul will be steward."

"And what is the bad news?" Raoul asked. Christine groaned.

"They're not happy about it. Not happy at all. I mean, they appreciate that you will rule well, Raoul. But they want a Rymansian in charge. They kept trying to convince me to put one of them in charge instead. Lord Hawkins was being particularly obnoxious."

She rubbed at her eyes.

"It's no matter. The funeral is tomorrow and the day after that I will announce to the people of the city that you will be taking charge, Raoul. I'm sure that they will accept it well. Everyone understands that this will unite Hirlos and Rymansian. It is a strong alliance, everyone will benefit."

"Christine, do you think that this will work?" Raoul asked anxiously. "It's an unusual situation."

"We will make it work." Christine said firmly. "I just… I wish Papa had changed the law. He knew what would happen, that's why he told me to do what would make me happy. But…"

"He fell ill very quickly. It was a matter of days. Even if he'd had time to pass the law, the court wouldn't have allowed it. They wouldn't be able to tell if he was in his right mind, not if he was ill." Raoul explained.

The tea arrived and Christine poured it for the three of them. Erik had remained silent for much of the conversation and she looked at him.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Now say it with even less certainty." She smiled. Erik sighed lightly.

"I… I feel uncomfortable here. Just a few months ago I was considered the man who kidnapped the beloved princess of Rymansia."

"Erik, those rumours died long ago." Raoul assured him. "Charles saw to that."

"I look forward to our departure." Erik said quietly. "I am not suited to a castle."

"You belong in a stone house in a valley." Christine said firmly. "We both do. And in a few days that is where we shall be. I just hope to make it through tomorrow."

The funeral.

The funeral. Christine pinned her hair into a sombre bun and smoothed her black skirt. Erik stood behind her and she looked at his reflection in the mirror, meeting his eyes.

"I don't want to do this, Erik."

"I know." He said quietly. She stood and held out her arms.

"Am I presentable?"

"Of course."

She nodded, looked around nervously and then nodded again. She was tense. And no wonder, really. Erik touched his mask, making sure it was in place. He had replaced his white one with a black piece. Christine looked at the clock.

"I suppose… we should go."

"Yes." He took her hand and kissed it softly. She pressed her lips to his cheek and he whispered, "I will be there beside you. The whole time."

"I know." She murmured, closing her eyes as she hugged him tightly. "I know."

The crowds gathered outside the cathedral all spoke in whispers. The weather was grey, befitting the mood of the day. The sea of black stood as the members of court entered the cathedral. The royal carriage approached and they all fell silent as it came to a stop. The door opened and Erik Destler emerged. Everyone watched curiously, eying the man they had heard so much about. And then Princess Christine stepped from the carriage. Erik Destler offered his arm and she took it. They walked slowly to the cathedral doors. The princess' face was set blankly, but intense sorrow emanated from her eyes.

Christine and Erik sat at the front of the church during the funeral. Raoul was sat on the opposite pew, with Philippe and Sorelli. Christine hadn't had a chance to greet them, they had only just arrived.

Christine's eyes were fixed on the grand coffin, laden with beautiful flowers. She almost didn't notice when the priest stepped down, her signal to go up to the front and do her part. She stood in front of them all and had to lick her dry lips before beginning.

"God the Father, we commit to you the spirit of Charles Daae. To the almighty King, we send the soul of our human King. Keep him…" Her voice wavered but she pushed on. "Keep him safe and protected until we may join you in Heaven. Amen."

The last word echoed around the church as they all repeated it. Christine swallowed hard as music began, the chords of the Requiem filling her head. Softly she began to sing, her voice growing clearer as the song went on.

Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu,
Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu,
Qui tollis peccata mundi;
Dona eis requiem,
Dona eis requiem.

Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei,
Agnus Dei, Agnus Dei,
Qui tollis peccata mundi;
Dona eis requiem,
Dona eis requiem.
Sempiternam, sempiternam requiem.

Several members of the court looked at each other in amazement. They had never heard their princess sing before! What a voice… the tones of an angel, surely.

Erik watched her proudly. Her sweet voice sounded clearly through his mind and he knew that everyone was impressed. The final notes of the song died away and she moved forward. She bent to kiss the lid of the coffin before returning to her seat, tears running silently down her cheeks.

Slowly the court moved to walk past the coffin and pay their last respects. Erik and Christine stood to one side. Christine couldn't bear to watch anymore. She pressed her face against Erik's chest and sobbed quietly. Erik put his arms about her, watching the crowds pass. Some cast the pair curious or pitying glances.

Christine couldn't think. She could hardly breathe. Her Papa was in that box, the coffin that was being carried out of the doors to the Castle, where it would be buried with all the past rulers of Rymansia. Her dear, darling Papa who was so kind and sweet and gentle, who used to play the violin for her, who had surprised her on her fifth birthday with her first piano.

And now he was gone.

The congregation began to file out, all talking in whispers, dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs. Christine sat on the front pew, nodding silently as people murmured their sympathies. The cathedral emptied and still Christine sat with her hands clasped tightly. Erik touched her shoulder.

"Christine…"

She looked up at him and he said quietly,

"We should return to the castle."

"Yes. Yes, I'm coming." She whispered weakly. Slowly she got to her feet and looked up at him. A lock of hair had loosened from her bun, falling over her face. Erik pushed it back and she closed her eyes, leaning against him.

"I want to go home, Erik."

"Soon. We can, so soon."

"But not yet. Not yet. I have to… Rymansia must be looked after first."

She looked at him determinedly.

"Rymansia first."

Philippe and Sorelli were talking quietly with Raoul when they got back to the castle. Philippe embraced Christine.

"My sympathies, Christine."

"Thank you, Philippe. And I hear that I should offer you both congratulations." She said, glancing at Sorelli who flushed and smiled.

Philippe looked at Erik. After a moment of hesitation they shook hands.

"Will you be staying the night?" Christine asked.

"No, we must return to Hirlos soon. Raoul has explained everything to us." Philippe said.

"I'm making my announcement tomorrow. And then Erik and I will be returning to the Southlands." Christine explained.

"So soon?" Sorelli said.

"I can't stay here. It is… it is too hard. I want to go home." Christine said. "To me, the Southlands are my home."

The announcement was made in the city centre. A small dais had been set up and at midday, the crowds parted excitedly as the carriage arrived. No one knew what this was announcement was about and all were curious.

Princess Christine stepped onto the dais and signalled for silence. After a moment she started to talk in a loud, clear voice.

"Thank you for coming here today. I have an announcement to make that will greatly affect the future of Rymansia and felt that it was my duty to tell you this myself."

She paused.

"After my father's death, I discovered that there is a law in Rymansia that forbids the monarch to be married to anyone other than a person of noble blood. As you all know, five months ago I was secretly married to Erik Destler, a man who is not royal or of noble heritage."

The crowds muttered amongst themselves. Christine swallowed hard.

"I was told that I had to decide between taking the throne of Rymansia or my marriage to Erik Destler. I have chosen my husband."

Utter uproar. Shouts and gasps. Christine waited for silence before continuing.

"The court has tried to convince me otherwise but this is my choice. Before my father died he told me that I must do what made me happy. And I am going to honour his wishes. But I will not leave my country in the lurch."

They watched her expectantly. Christine looked down, took a breath and then looked up again.

"I love Rymansia. Please do not think for even one moment that I do not. This country is so dear to my heart. I have had to choose someone to rule over Rymansia and I have chosen someone who will make this country great, who will rule fairly and with a good hand. I have chosen Raoul de Chagny to be steward of Rymansia."

In the stunned silence, Christine hurried to keep talking.

"This decision ensures the unity of Rymansia and Hirlos, the way my father wanted it to be. Prince Raoul is a fine man and will do a lot of good for this country. I hope… I hope that you can forgive me for my selfishness. I pray that some of you know what it is like to love someone too much to give them up for any price."

She paused and then smiled at the crowd of her people.

"Thank you for understanding how hard a decision this has been for me to make."

The silence broke as someone applauded slowly. More people joined in until the whole crowd was clapping. Christine smiled and signalled to the carriage. She would return to the castle, where Erik was waiting with their things.

And then they would go home.

A/N: This was an unbelievably hard chapter to finish and I'm not really satisfied. It seems to repetitive and blah. But I just couldn't do anything more to it, it was horrible. Hopefully the next chapter will be better.

Here's the translation to the requiem.

Lord, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy,
You who take away the sins of the world;
Grant them peace,
Grant them peace.

Lamb of God, Lamb of God,
Lamb of God, Lamb of God,
You who take away the sins of the world;
Grant them peace,
Grant them peace.
Peace everlasting, everlasting.

Lotsa luv 'n' huggles

Katie