A/N: Ok I promise I am nearing the end of this story, at last, My goal is to finish by Band camp, which starts July 24... If not then, than hopefully by the time school starts, meaning August 10. No AP classes although I did get a 4 on the AP English Language and Composition test J Yay! I only got a 2 on US History, but that's ok. One Year of High School left! Woo Hoo! However I am a little sad. Oh and another thing. I have an idea for a new fic, but It need a title currently I'm working it under the title Broken Lives, but I don't really like it. So anyone BESIDES my beta who can tell me where the last name of Charlotte's character (Lorraine) in Erik's Opera comes from gets to help me decide! Yippee! HINT: An Author(ess) So here we go.
Important notes: When Charlotte sings it will be in ItalicsWhen Erik sings it will be in Bold, when they both sing it will be in Bold Italics when other characters sing it will be in Underlined Italics, Entire cast will be In Bold Underlined Italics
Chapter Fourteen: La Beauté et la Bête
Charlotte nervously wrung her hands as she and her father headed towards the opera house for the final rehearsal before the opening and final performance of La Beauté et la Bête by Bastien de Dior, Erik's pseudonym, and a name well known in the realm Opera Houses.
Erik's note to Charlotte's father, M. Ó hEachthairn, had been rather vague on who the lead male was, but Charlotte could recall every word of the note perfectly.
M. Ó hEachthairn,
I have acquired a rather remarkable opera by one Bastien de Dior, you may have heard of him. He is, a close, personal friend of mine and is eager to have your daughter play the lead role of Lorraine Deveraux in his new opera La Beauté et la Bête. Needless to say he was rather impressed by her voice. Keeping in mind what happened the last time you ignored my advice, I strongly advise you to produce this opera with your daughter as the female lead and the man of Bastien's choice as the male lead. I would also advise you to ask no questions about this man, you will not see him until your last rehearsal. Do not worry, I assure you everything will go smoothly. So long as you follow my instructions. Also be aware that your daughter has agreed to marry the Baron De Savios, in exchange for the chance to perform the role that will give her eternal glory, and so long as she chooses her dress.
Your obedient friend and angel,
O.G.
Charlotte's father had been so eager to perform a Bastien de Dior opera that he had followed all of Erik's instruction carefully and without question, although Charlotte could tell he was often annoyed and angered by his 'requests' and 'advice' and of course there was the price to pay for her disobedience.
So it came to pass that after weeks of uneventful rehearsals with out Erik, Charlotte was headed towards the opera for the last time as performer, the next time she came it would be as the wife of it's wealthiest patron. For the very next day at sunset she was to wed the Baron Philippe De Savios. This day that Charlotte of been looking forward to with eager anticipation she was now dreading, on this day she would be the Opera Populaire's crown jewel, the girl who Bastien de Dior chose to play the lead in his opera and the next she would wed the man some called the most powerful man in all of France, he was certainly the wealthiest.
Charlotte approached the stage nervously, she cold see a tall, striking figure in a black cloak waiting for her. Erik smiled as she approached and Charlotte averted her gaze, she wasn't sure she could ever forgive him for trading her for his opera. The rehearsal went smoothly. No one even thought twice about Erik's mask as he had been forward thinking enough to put it in the script that Prince Lucien always wore a mask because of childhood accident involving a horse. He was a dashing figure as Lucien and a terrifying one as Talen, the beast.
Erik glanced at Charlotte as she sang Lorraine's aria "I Cannot Help Loving Him," he knew that she would make that aria famous as it would her. The song was painful and touching, the one Lorraine sang before she left her home to return to her dying love. He could see several stage hands discreetly wiping tears from their eyes. He knew Charlotte didn't realize just how beautiful she was as Lorraine. Everything about Lorraine's simple costumes, and even the more extravagant one at the end of the opera when she was crowned Princess Lorraine, flattered her. He'd made sure that the dress for this number was the most stunning of all. It was simple, nothing fancy, a tight bodice and a straight-line skirt that flared only slightly and long sleeves that flared at the wrist. The dress was coral with white edging made to look like roses. She was stunning and the moment her voice soared in the final swell of music, he knew he had made a huge mistake. He loved Charlotte with his heart and soul, he would die for her, and without her he would die. Erik sighed and placed his head in his hands. He didn't know what to do.
that night
Charlotte stood in the center of the stage, eyes toward heaven as she sang her aria. This was her moment, her chance to shine and she let her voice soar.
I know it must be wrong
But without him I cannot go on
He is a beast, a monster by nature
But I love this woeful creature
It may be a sin but I cannot help loving him…
As the song came to a close Charlotte really let her voice go.
It may cost me my life
But after all these months of strife
I cannot help
Cannot help loving him
And I will love him
I will love him even if I…. die!
She smiled as the audience applauded and the curtain fell. She hurried off stage to prepare for her duet with Erik.
Talen, my love, I beg of you
Do not leave me all alone..
Lorraine, my love, forgive me
For I cannot go on…
Erik's music was so touching, so beautiful that Charlotte did not have to fake the tears that came to her eyes as Erik acted out Talen's death scene. His Aria, "What Does Love Mean," had been so heartbreaking that it was fortunate that Erik had written an intermission there, because almost the entire cast was crying after that number.
Then came the scene Charlotte had been dreading, the wedding of Prince Lucien and Lorraine. The only acting trick she knew of to hide the pain this caused was to imagine that it her wedding to Erik. She took a deep breath and took the step onto the stage, wearing the same dress that she would tomorrow, the wedding dress Erik had designed. It was every bit as elegant as she had thought it would be, simple and refined. It was the same style as the dress wore when she sang "I Cannot Help Loving Him," only the sleeves stopped just below her elbows and the skirt was overlaid with a thin layer of gauzy lace, patterned with roses. There was a train, a short one, just barely long enough for Lorraine's maidservant Iolanthe to carry it. She was also wearing a small pair of gloves that were made simply of white lace.
She held tight to the bouquet of red roses and white lilies. She smiled at Erik, who was incredibly handsome in a black suit. Her heart was beating rapidly as he took her hand and sang the words that bound Lorraine and Lucien for life.
I promise to love you the rest of my life
I promise to love you through pain and through strife
No matter where, no matter when
I will love you 'til the end
Once that painfully emotional scene had passed, Charlotte hurried to change for the final scene, Lorraine's coronation. This dress was the most extravagant she wore. It was gold in color, and had a full skirt. There were ruffles and there was sparkle, even a few jewels, but it was all used sparingly, so that it would not be gaudy. It was magnificent.
Charlotte slowly walked down the stage on Erik's arm. The coronation march was beautifully written and timed to perfection. She reached the end of the stage where King Alain, Lucien's father waited with the tiara and the words that would make her a Princess. He placed the tiara on her head and sang the words that proclaimed her royalty in front of all those who were present.Then the entire cast raised their voices n the triumphant closing.
Love conquers all, we know this is true,
It was love that helped Beauty conquer the Beast...
And then it was over. The audience applauded, but when Erik and Charlotte stepped forward for their bows the audience stood and applauded them even more. Only after three curtain calls could Charlotte retire to her dressing room.
Erik was positively giddy with excitement. His opera was a success, it went over much better than Don Juan had. Charlotte had been a success, the thought of Charlotte and the kiss they had never shared brought Erik down from his euphoria. He had to do something. He knew what their agreement had been, but it had been foolish to trade a life with Charlotte for a fleeting moment of glory. But what could he do?