Chapter 12: The Wedding and The "Wedding Gift"

The following week was hectic for the new and loving couple. They wanted to get the wedding over with before Raoul decided to stop them.

Speaking of Raoul, he was a total loon. He lost sanity and he needed one of those fuzzy rooms just for insane people. He had destroyed his entire manor but left Christine's room clean just in case she did come back. (A/N: Raoul, you are losing it) He went up to her room just to look at the ring that he had given her but she returned it to him. He shuddered at the sight of it. He hurriedly threw it out the window and into the lake. Christine loved that lake. He noticed he had broken a window but he didn't care. He went down stairs and into his study to gain some peace. It was full of items that would hurt someone. He knew what he had to do in order to stop his pain. (A/N: Ooooh, full of suspense! Okay, I'll shut up now)

All right, back to the match made in heaven. They were getting ready for their small, yet cozy wedding. Mme. Giry was the minister and Meg was the witness. She was thinking on how to hook up with Raoul after ward and how she wanted to… That's not the story. Erik wore his usual suit, cape and white half mask. Christine was in her bridal gown and in her future husband's bedroom.

Erik and Mme. Giry walked up to the chapel. It had been cleaned up a little. Not much damage had been done except for the stained window. The heat of the flames had shattered it. The walls still had their angels painted on them and they had been touched up so they would stand out for the marriage.

He went over and lit Gustave Daae's candle for Christine. He knew it would mean a lot to her. He wished that Gustave could be there for Christine but if it weren't for him dying, the two would have never met and this wouldn't be happening.

Mme. Giry looked pleased with Erik. It was the happiest she had ever seen the man. When she first saw him, he was covered with whiplashes and had a sack over his head. Now, he was well dressed, had a mask on and was smiling so brightly! It had been a complete turn around for him.

Meg entered the room with a grin and laughing and she announced that the bride was ready. She signaled to Christine who was up in the corridor to come on down.

Erik's jaw literally dropped when he saw his bride. She was the most attractive he had ever seen. Her hair was pulled out of her face. The veil was placed on the front of her face. Her dress flowed down the stairs as she walked down and then she was up by her groom the ceremony began.

It went very smoothly. Everything ran accordingly, the vows, the ring enchantment, and the kiss. The kiss was the best part of the marriage in the opinion of the husband and wife. After the kiss, Erik scooped up his bride and carried her all the way down to his lair.

Then, the two swapped presents. Erik was the first to give his gift. He gave Christine a red rose with a black ribbon and a leather folder. The folder had writing on it like it was some kind of an opera, which it was. It was titled "One Love, One Lifetime,"

"Would you like me to play it for you?" Erik asked as he took his position at the seat of the organ. She nodded her head as a yes response.

When he first began to play the composition, he couldn't look at his wife. He was nervous she wouldn't like it. As he was easing into the music he relaxed a little and then looked over to Christine.

"It's the same melody of 'All I Ask of You,' isn't it?" she asked with a smile upon her face.

"It is. I hope you are enjoying it. This is just the introduction. No singing yet. Once we come across it, would you sing the melody?"

"Sure."

He was at the tune where singing was assigned just as soon as she said yes. She had to be careful about the notes as some of them took a big leap in range. She managed and the two of them sang for hours. They had enjoyed it and at the end, Christine kissed Erik and removed his mask. He didn't mind anymore. He was a married man and she already knew what his face looked like under it so he just said 'the hell with it'.

They went to sleep in the bedroom, wiped out from the day before and all Christine had on her mind was she was now a married woman and the happiest one on the face of the Earth.

Later that night, Christine awoke from a restful slumber to the sound of splashing water. 'It must be morning' Christine thought. She noticed that her husband wasn't at her side so he was probably washing his face. She gathered her hair away from her face and put on a robe. She rubbed her eye's walking over to the edge of the bedroom and saw two men fighting. It was Erik and Raoul! How did Raoul get down here?

She was now fully awake since she saw her husband and ex dueling it out just like at the graveyard. Erik had his clever tricks and when he stumped Raoul, he would always succeed in wounding him. They were only minor cuts though (darn!) but a lot of those were deep in the skin and making blood gush everywhere. Both men's clothes were stained from mainly Raoul's blood but Erik did have a few cuts on himself.

Christine rushed over to the port where the gondola lands and stepped in the water a little. Both men heard the water and looked over at the young woman. She had tears running down her face and she looked very upset. Both of them looked shocked that she had woken up.

"Christine. It's good to see you," Raoul said in a rather mocking way that made Christine nervous. "How have you been? You don't look so good. Are you alright?" and just as he said that the young man captured her and the sword was placed against her throat.

"What are you doing to my wife?" Erik said scornfully. He was very protective over Christine for this was his only wife he would get.

"Your wife!" He was shocked that they had gotten married so soon and at that he pushed Christine away and into the arms of her husband. "You know, funny how life works. You love someone and you think they love you back but all the time you have been engaged, they run off and see another man. Isn't that the position you were in, Christine?" Raoul said this as the tears were starting to create rivers down his cheeks. "All of the time we were engaged, did I not give you enough? I could have given my life for you but all you gave me was a freaking ring!" he said this in a yell of tears and he started to cry as he talked. "I know you loved him. I knew all along. Why did you have to break my heart on what was supposed to be a day of happiness. You had to leave me," and then tears turned into hatred and he stepped toward the newlyweds. Christine clenched onto Erik's shirt and buried her face in his chest. He wrapped his arms around her.

"I know what you are thinking and yes, I'm finishing what you wouldn't let me do at the graveyard. Step aside, Lotte for I am about to hurt you just as you hurt me!" and then Erik pushed Christine away. Raoul took a stab at Erik's heart but missed because Erik had put his sword up. They started to fight again but it didn't continue for long.

Christine had thought up a plop to attempt to get Raoul out. She quickly grabbed the lasso and Erik was facing her so she knew what she was doing. He made sure that Raoul wouldn't turn around when Christine was about to wrap a noose around Raoul's neck.

She gradually stepped into the water without making a sound. Erik occupied Raoul to make sure this was unexpected. He did pretty well at this for he kept cutting him and then Raoul attacked her beloved husband. Raoul had succeeded in doing so and made him scream in pain. This was a good time for Christine to splash around in the water since the noise of water slashing around would be covered by her husbands scream.

She lurched in the direction of Raoul's neck and succeeded in the placing of the noose. Erik then took over by tightening it and tying him to the gate. It was déjà vu of the awful night except for the whole love triangle. It had Erik and Christine paired and things weren't working out for Raoul. He was just about to get hung as he said this startling statement.

"Christine, will you still love me. Once I'm dead that is. If not, I want to curse my way to hell since I will have no meaning." Christine's breath was taken away.

"You obviously didn't read my letter. I stated that you would always have a place in my heart. It was just for you and I would love you in a way no-one would understand. I didn't write that just to waste my time. I wrote it to speak my mind and get across to you. Now, if you promise to leave and never return, I will be sure Erik let's you go." Once Christine said this, Raoul looked relieved.

Erik gave Christine a questionable look and then let lose on the rope in disappointment. He had hoped that would be the last breath that the Viscount would have taken but Christine spared his life. She was always a kind person.

"Erik, come and I will take care of your wounds. Raoul leave now or I will be sure you will pay the price," and then she walked away into his room and started to bandage her love.

Raoul tried to whisper 'thank you' but the words just wouldn't come out. It had really hurt him physically and emotionally that she had left for good. He left and the couple was spying curiously to make sure that he had and then relaxed when they put down the gate.

Raoul had really put some bad cuts on Erik and she knew he must be aided at once. She quickly cleaned and dressed then and then lay next to him in bed. He grabbed her and pulled her in closer into him and then she slipped away into a deep sleep. He quickly followed into the sleeping spell. They were consumed by darkness and Christine knew she would now be haunted by Raoul but not for long.