Chapter 8: The Proposal
A/N: Before I begin chapter 8, I just want to do my little shout out thing, so here goes:
TurtleMom: Hi! Thanks for the review. It made my day!
Lady Nessa: I know it's getting good—it's about to get better!
There is still plenty more action, adventure and humor to come, so stay tuned!
Raoul picked up the rose and studied it long and hard. A light coming from the mirror in the corner caught his eye. As he made his way over to the mirror, he heard the sound of two people giggling. He cocked his head to one side, opened the mirror and peered down the long hallway lit by torches. Listening long and hard, he listened in for the giggling; but it seemed to have stopped. By this time, Raoul had one leg in the hallway and the other was in the dressing room.
"Papa!" came a voice from behind him. Drawing out his sword, he saw Meg and Raphael, walking briskly towards him. Raoul sighed and put his sword back in its hilt. Meg, noticing blood on Raoul's left hand and sword blade, fainted, landing gracefully in Raphael's strong arms. Raoul, slightly embarrassed, untied the ribbon that held his ponytail in place and wrapped it tightly against his hand, blood seeping through the navy blue material. Slowly, Raoul made his way over to where Meg lay on the ground. He held her hand with his uninjured one, quietly talking to Meg, hoping she would come out of her faint. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked wildly around, like a scared animal. She saw her father and Raphael standing over her, not too close, but close enough so that they were in Meg's view.
"W. . .Where am I?" Meg asked, her voice hoarse. Raphael looked from Raoul to Meg and back again.
"Um, Meg. You fainted, remember?" Raphael asked, helping Meg sit up. Raoul had gone to get Meg some water. With Raoul gone, Raphael took in a deep breath.
"What is it, Raphael?" Meg inquired.
"Meg, we've known each other for five wonderful months," Raphael started.
"Where is this going?" Meg asked, staring at the boy she loved with all her heart.
"I was wondering. . ." Raphael said, his voice wavering.
"Yes, my love?" Meg questioned impatiently.
"Will you marry. . ." his voice trailed off as Raoul entered the room, a glass goblet in his hand.
"Here you are, Meg," Raoul told his daughter. Meg smiled weakly at him, an embarrassed look on her face as she drank the water. Raoul smiled at her.
"I'm glad that she's okay," Raoul told Raphael.
"Yeah. . .I'm glad, too," Raphael said uneasily. Raoul bid Meg and Raphael goodnight and left the room.
"Finally. I thought he would never leave," Raphael whispered as Raoul closed the dressing room door.
"What is it that you wanted to ask me?" Meg demand.
"Before there are anymore interruptions, will you marry me?" Raphael asked quickly, taking Meg's hand in his and kneeling before her. Meg didn't know what to say.
"Oh, Raphael. This is so sudden! We are only seventeen, don't you agree that we need more time? I can't marry you now, I just can't!" Meg told him, her voice quivering.
"Meg, I have loved you since I first laid my eyes on you. I love you with all my heart and I will never stop loving you. You are my light in the darkness. . ." as Raphael continued to talk, Meg felt her eyes well up with tears as he told her how much he loved her and that he would rather die for her than anything. As Meg began to cry, Raphael drew her close and held her tight. It felt like he would never let her go. Abruptly, Meg shoved away from Raphael.
"Meg, what did you do that for?" he asked, surprised.
"What about my Angel of Music?" inquired Meg, looking around to see if her Angel was near. Sighing, she turned back to Raphael, who had a hurt look on his face.
"Raphael, I'm sorry. I don't think I can marry you just yet. Just give me time to think . . . I really don't know what to say. I don't know how long it will take me to. . ." Meg was cut short when there was a knock on the door. Looking regretfully at Raphael, she opened the door. It was her father.
"Meg, what are you doing?" he asked slowly, entering the room.
"I'm talking with Raphael. Why do you ask?" Meg implored.
Raoul sighed heavily. Looking at a ring that had dropped to the floor, he stooped down and picked it up. He studied it long and hard, not saying a word to anyone.
"Maybe I should go," Raphael whispered, kissing Meg on the forehead as he left the room. Meg smiled weakly at him and turned to her father.
"Papa, what in Heaven's name are you doing?" she inquired, twisting a lock of hair around her index finger as she spoke.
"Do you know what this is?" Raoul asked.
"Yes," Meg responded quickly.
"What in the world are you doing with this?" Raoul inquired, his brow furrowing.
"Raphael proposed, but I told him no," Meg blurted. Gasping, she placed her hand over her mouth.
"Why?" Raoul asked as Meg removed her hand from her mouth.
"Because I'm not ready for marriage yet," Meg told him.
"I'm proud of you for telling him no," Raoul kissed his daughter's cheek and left the room so that Meg could change into her nightdress. As Meg was getting under the covers, she heard the voice of her angel calling her. She decided to ignore him and fell asleep.
"He proposed to you, but you refused him which I find very wise," the Angel sang in an unfamiliar tune.
"Mmm, Angel, I'm tired. Leave me be," Meg muttered, turning over on her stomach.
"I agree with your father—for once in my life. You are too young for marriage," the Angel told her from the darkness.