Chapter Seventeen
Christine kneaded the dough steadily. There was a trick to this that she had managed to pick up. You just kept at it, you didn't stop for anything. Just keep pushing and rolling the dough until it was ready to leave so the yeast could rise. And remembering to take it out of the oven in time usually helped as well.
Something caught her attention from the kitchen window and she smiled out at the sunny garden, where Erik was walking slowly around the edge as though searching for something. He paused by a large bush and then moved on. Christine watched closely, her hands still kneading the dough.
Erik stopped, looking down into a bush. And then something burst out of the bush. His hands caught it and swung it around, placing it on the ground. Christine laughed as their daughter screeched with delight. Erik lifted her, carrying her towards the house. Christine put the dough into a bowl, covered it with cloth and left it on the mantelpiece to rise as the pair entered the house.
"Did you have fun?" She asked. Erik looked at the girl in his arms.
"I think we did, didn't we, Serenity?"
"We played hiding!" Serenity giggled. Christine smiled.
"Now it's time to play washing for dinner. Go and scrub your hands."
"Yes Mama!"
She scampered off, her black hair flying everywhere. Erik kissed Christine, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Should I scrub my hands too?"
"You certainly should. Go and help her or she'll get covered in water again." He kissed her again and then went to the sink to help Serenity. Christine ladled chicken stew into bowls, putting them on the kitchen table.
Erik and Serenity sat down and Christine joined them. As they ate, Serenity chatted noisily about how fun the game had been.
"And I thought that Papa wouldn't find me in that bush, but he did!"
"That's because your Papa is a very clever man." Christine smiled and Serenity nodded, slurping her stew noisily. Erik looked at Christine.
"Do we need to go to town tomorrow?"
"I think we can leave it another day. But Serenity's going to need new clothes soon, she's growing so quickly!"
"That's because I'm four now and then soon I will be five and then six and then I'll nearly be a grown up." Serenity said wisely. Christine smiled and Erik said,
"We can take her next time we go to the town and get her measured."
"Like on the wall?" Serenity asked, looking across the kitchen at the wall that had several notches in it, showing her growth. Christine nodded.
"But they won't measure you on a wall, darling."
"Perhaps they should. Then they can see how much I've grown!"
Christine laughed and swallowed some stew.
"After dinner can we play hiding again?" Serenity asked Erik. He shook his head.
"After dinner you're going to get ready for bed. And then Mama and I will read you some more of your story."
Serenity considered this and deemed it a suitable substitute for hiding. She drank some of her milk and concentrated on her stew whilst Erik and Christine discussed what they needed from the town.
"More paper certainly." Erik said.
"You use it up so quickly!"
"I feel very inspired to compose." He smirked and Christine smiled, sipping her drink.
"But why did they kill the dragon?" Serenity demanded as Ayesha clawed a nest out of the blankets beside her.
"Because it kidnapped the princess." Erik said and Christine rolled her eyes.
"Maybe she wanted to be kidnapped."
"She didn't."
"Couldn't they just ask the dragon to give the princess back?"
"They could have but they didn't."
"But-"
"I think that's enough story time for tonight." Christine interrupted. "Time for you to go to sleep, little Serenity."
Serenity shuffled down under her blankets, reaching for her rag doll. Erik kissed her forehead and stood so Christine could embrace her, stroking Ayesha, who purred. Blowing out the candle, they left the room and went to their own chamber.
Erik pulled Christine into a kiss and she smiled.
"You look extraordinarily beautiful tonight." Erik said. Christine lifted an eyebrow.
"Do I?"
"Yes. Although you always look beautiful."
"You're such a charmer."
"So you've said before." Erik smirked. Christine pulled out of his arms, still smiling as she pulled the pins from her hair. Erik pulled his shirt off, placing the clothes on an empty chair.
Five years. Five long, happy years. They had been so fortunate in those years. Never had they gone hungry, never had they suffered. And now they had their daughter, truly the most beautiful child that existed. Of course every parent thinks that of their children. But Serenity was an extremely lovely girl, with jet black hair and green eyes. She was the spitting image of her father. Apart from the ravishment of his right side.
Christine sat in bed whilst Erik washed his face. She closed the book she had been glancing through as her husband climbed into their bed and she said,
"I really don't think we should read her those stories anymore. I don't want her believing all those ridiculous things about princesses."
"She's four years old, Christine." Erik reminded her. "I don't think she's particularly worried about politically correct views on royalty."
"I suppose so." Christine admitted, shuffling down to lie under the blankets. Erik ran a hand through her soft hair.
"Besides… she doesn't know that she almost was a princess. Think how much it would confuse her."
"You're right, as usual. Don't you ever tire of being right all the time?"
"No." Erik said, closing his eyes.
They fell asleep quickly, their dreams filled with each other. They didn't and couldn't know that miles away someone lay broken and bleeding on a stone floor. They didn't know that actions had been set in motion in the country of Rymansia that were destined to tear them apart once more.
Erik, Christine and Serenity were returning from the town next day. It was a warm summery day and Serenity was chattering cheerfully about their visit to town and what they had done. As the carriage pulled around the side of the house, Christine felt her heart leap into her mouth.
A Rymansian carriage was in the courtyard. Erik stopped the carriage as Serenity looked curiously at the strange vehicle. Christine climbed down and then gasped as Lord Callin stumbled out from the carriage. His face was coated with dried blood and one arm hung uselessly at his side. When he caught sight of her however, he dropped to one knee.
"Your highness!"
"Lord Callin!" Christine cried, going to help. "Erik, help me get him inside."
Erik lifted the weak man and half-carried him into the house. Christine followed, Serenity scampering ahead to take a closer look at this strange man. Christine took a bowl of water and a cloth, wiping away the blood whilst Erik examined the arm.
"Broken."
"Can you do something?" Christine asked.
"I can put it into a splint." Erik said, starting to prepare one. Serenity hovered in the doorway and Lord Callin's eye fell on her. He smiled weakly.
"You have a child, your highness?"
Christine smiled, rinsing the cloth. She held out her hand to Serenity, who approached cautiously.
"This is Lord Callin. He is an old friend of mine. This is our daughter, Serenity." Serenity smiled at Callin.
"Hello!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Serenity." Callin smiled. "How old are you?"
"Four years old. But soon I will be five." Serenity said proudly. Callin smiled and then grunted as Erik moved his arm.
"Your highness, I must speak with you."
"Callin, what happened to you?" Christine asked. Callin met her eye and she saw fear there.
"Rymansia, princess… You must return."
"What has happened?" Erik asked.
"Rebellion. A large band of criminals has risen up from the outlands of Rymansia, with Lord Hawkins leading them. It's chaos, your highness."
"What of Raoul de Chagny?" Christine asked quickly. Callin shook his head.
"Missing. Many presume that he is dead."
"No!" Christine gasped.
Lord Callin grasped her hand tightly.
"You must return. He has the court kept under guard at the courthouse. But if you go back he cannot take the throne."
"Don't be a fool. She can't go back! Hawkins will kill her!" Erik snapped.
"No. He can't. He can only take the throne properly if he has the true heir. If she goes back and tells him that you are dead, she can take the throne. The royal guard have abandoned the castle; they are hiding in the town. If we can find them, the princess will be able to take back the throne."
Christine stared at him. He met her eyes and whispered hoarsely,
"You are the only one who can save Rymansia from him now." Christine looked away from him, her eyes coming to a rest on Serenity and Erik, who were watching her. Serenity with a puzzled expression and Erik with a guarded one.
"…I'll go back."
"Christine!" Erik said angrily. Christine stood and looked at him.
"I have to, Erik! It's my country! I have to go back and protect it from him!"
"You can't take the throne!"
"If they believe that you are dead, they will have no choice. It's only a lie, Erik. It's not true!" Christine said. She misunderstood the cause for his anger.
"Don't you have any idea of the danger you will be in?" Erik snapped.
"Of course I do!"
"Then don't go! Contact Philippe, he can send soldiers!"
"People will die, Erik! And that will be my fault!" Christine said angrily. "I don't have a choice!"
"You always have a choice, Christine!"
Serenity burst into tears. She'd never heard her parents shout before. As one Erik and Christine went to embrace her. Callin watched as the three of them huddled together. Christine kissed Serenity's hair and then looked at her husband.
"Erik…"
"I know. You have to go." He said quietly. "But I'm coming with you."
"You can't. I'll be powerless if you come. Besides… you have to look after Serenity and Callin. And send word to Philippe. Ask him to send reinforcements. If I leave now I can be there by dawn tomorrow."
She clasped his hand.
"It won't be for long, Erik."
"It'll always be too long." He said quietly. Serenity sniffled and Christine hugged her impulsively.
"Don't be upset, sweetheart."
"Are you going away?"
"Just for a little while."
"I want to go."
"No, Serenity. You're going to stay here with Papa and Lord Callin."
Christine looked at her husband. He took Serenity into his arms and she kissed them both before looking at Callin.
"Where can I find Piangi?"
"I believe he was hiding at an inn called The Heron's Nest. He may have moved on but you might be able to find someone to help you there. Princess Christine, Hawkins is dangerous. But without his men, he is nothing."
Christine nodded and turned to leave.
His eyes cracked open. At least, one of them did. The other was so swollen he couldn't see through it at all. His throat was parched and every inch of him felt as thought it had been beaten to within an inch of his life.
He almost wanted that final inch to come, for the eternal darkness to swallow him.
And only one thought ran through his mind – He had failed Christine and Erik.
The barman at The Heron's Nest had only been open for a couple of hours before the room was half full. Very few of the people were drinking. It was simply that in times like these nobody wanted to be alone. Strength in numbers, that sort of thing. He did not allow any of Hawkins' men in. Not that any of them WOULD come here. They went to higher class places. The Heron's Nest held no interest for them.
A group of women sat at one end of the bar, children playing nearby. The men were all talking quietly about the rebellion and what could be done. Their answer was 'not a lot'. The barman was putting clean glasses under the counter when the door opened again and a hooded figure entered. Everyone watched as the figure approached the bar and gestured for the barman. He went to him or her and said guardedly,
"Yes? May I help you?"
"I'm looking for Ubaldo Piangi." The figure said quietly. Female.
"And why might that be?" The barman asked icily.
The hood lowered and the barman found himself staring straight into the face of Christine Daae.
"Because I require his services." She said calmly. The bar went completely silent. Christine looked around and said so they could all hear, "I assume that you know who I am. I have come here to claim my throne back from Lord Hawkins and I must find Raoul de Chagny. But I can't do this alone. I need Captain Piangi and the royal guard. If anyone can help me find them…"
All at once everyone began to talk. Christine stepped back at the sudden noise and the barman said quickly,
"He's hiding in the cellar, with most of the guards. Hawkins is looking out for him so he's been hiding here. I'll take you down to him."
The door burst open and young man fell in, panting.
"Rebels! They're coming! They're searching for troublemakers!"
"Quick! You must hide!" The barman said. Christine ducked under the bar and he pulled opened a trapdoor. "Down here."
Christine slipped down the steps, pulling her hood over her head. The door slammed shut and she trembled, listening as the bar fell silent and the door opened again. She heard footsteps and mumbling voices. She tried to listen but she couldn't hear anything other than muffled talking. She could recognise the barman's voice, his gravelly tones rumbling through the floor. Christine twisted her hands in her lap and waited tensely, sat at the top of the steps.
After what seemed like hours but couldn't have been more than a few minutes the door closed and the trapdoor lifted. Christine blinked in the brightness and then took the barman's offered hand. He pulled her up into the bar, where all the customers were watching her excitedly. She looked around and then turned to the barman.
"I need you to tell me everything that you know."
"Yes, but… but what can you do? You said that you couldn't take the throne if you were married to Destler." One of the men said. Christine sighed.
"I need to make Hawkins believe that Erik is dead. I'll be free to take the throne that way and once he's overthrown I'll sort something out. But I have to know what happened."
Ubaldo Piangi sat in the cellar, reading by the light of a candle stub. The fifty or so men he had with him were either sleeping or playing cards.
Piangi knew that he could beat Hawkins, if he found the rest of his men. But to attack now would mean that they would never find Raoul de Chagny and the fight would also cost him the lives of too many men. Piangi sighed and closed his book, rubbing his eyes. He didn't know what to do. Was it worth fighting? What was he even fighting for now? For Carlotta? Why fight for the dead? They would not appreciate it. His deceased wife and unborn child would not know that he was fighting.
"Someone's coming!" The lookout hissed. The candles went out, snuffed by fingers as they waited tensely. The door opened and the barman looked down at them. Piangi stood.
"Is something wrong?"
"Got a visitor for you." The barman grinned. He moved aside and Piangi's jaw dropped as he saw Christine. She hadn't changed much in the last five years. Her face was a little more mature but still as sweet as it had ever been. Only now it was filled with a determination he had never seen in the young princess.
"Princess Christine!"
"Piangi!" She rushed forward, smiling. "Thank heavens you're safe!"
"What on earth are you doing here?" He said.
"Rymansia is still my country. With Raoul missing, I am the one responsible for it. And I will not allow that despicable excuse for a man to destroy it."
"You wish to fight?" Piangi asked. Christine nodded.
"If you are able."
"I will be. I will need some time to gather my men."
"Do so as soon as possible. I need to get into the court building, all the power is there. With the court with me, we'll have a strong position with which to take on Hawkins.
Piangi blinked. This manner was so… unexpected. Christine continued.
"Do you know where the troops are?"
"Some are in other inns. But I can't account for every soldier."
"Have they joined…?"
"No." He was confident in that at least. "None of them would have joined Hawkins."
"He's at the castle?" Christine asked. Piangi nodded. She rubbed her forehead, thinking quickly.
"We have to… lure him out. Get him to the court."
"If the royal guard goes storming in, you can guarantee that Hawkins and his men will come running." Piangi said.
"Good, I'll come too."
"No!" Piangi objected.
"I have to. Hawkins is mine; he'll know where Raoul de Chagny is." Christine said firmly. She looked around at the attentive soldiers and nodded. "You take care of the rebels. Hawkins is mine."
Atherton Hawkins was extremely satisfied. Why shouldn't he be? He had power over one of the most powerful countries in existence. He sipped at some extremely pleasant wine and settled back comfortably in his chair.
There were a few things that troubled him. The disappearance of Marie Giry and her daughter, for one. They had not been in the castle when he had arrived and that troubled him. The Giry woman was trouble. The other thing was the matter of Lord Callin. Of course, after the beating he'd received he couldn't have gone far.
No, Atherton was pleased with his success. He drank some more wine and smirked to himself.
He was unaware that his happy little existence was about to be torn apart.
Lord Charlton shouted for attention above the din of the court.
"Arguing among ourselves will not help the situation!" He said angrily.
"And what exactly do you suggest we do?" Someone shouted.
"I don't know, but-" His voice was drowned out again.
And then they all fell silent as a shout came from the entrance hall, where Hawkins' rebels were keeping guard. The door flew open and a mass of red-clad soldiers flooded the room. Most of the court leapt back as Rebels and Royal Guards fought, the shouts and clashes of swords filling the air.
Charlton watched in amazement as Ubaldo Piangi slashed through the rebels. Man after man fell beneath him, to be tied and pushed to one side. What the hell was this? Did Piangi really think that he could win?
Apparently he could. For Piangi looked across at him and bowed slightly, with a smile, before turning back to the battle.
Hawkins couldn't believe what he was seeing as he stumbled into the courtroom. The Royal Guard and his own men battling it out in the main hall, blood splattered on the floor and about half of his rebels tied up on the ground. Someone shouted and Piangi looked over at Hawkins. Atherton took a step back.
And then he froze as a cold blade pressed into his neck. Hawkins' eyes widened as his attacker stepped into his eye line. A beautiful woman, no older than twenty-five, with dark curly hair and dark eyes set in a porcelain face. She smiled serenely at him.
"Hello Hawkins." She said calmly. He swallowed hard.
"Christine Daae." He hissed.
"Princess Christine Daae, in case you've forgotten. I suggest you call your men off before Piangi slaughters them all." She said, without taking her eyes off him. Hawkins shouted for the rebels to fall back.
Within the space of a minute every fighter in the room was staring at the pair in the doorway. Hawkins looked at Christine who glared back, pride and anger in her face,
"Now then, Hawkins… where is Raoul de Chagny?"
On the other side of the city, Meg Giry looked up as there was a knock on the door. Her mother was busy so she stood and crossed to the door. Pulling it open, she gasped as she came face to face with a white mask.
A/N: I am SO sorry about how long you had to wait for this. I've been so busy this last week, I've been travelling all over the country and I've been exhausted. But it's finally here, so I hope you enjoy it!
Lotsa luv
Katie