Be Our Guest

The castle was vast and had many different rooms to it, many of them seemed to never be used as they were covered in a thin layer of dust. Despite the disuse the rooms were all furnished with the best that money could buy. Golden candelabras were used to light most of the castle along with torches and a grand chandelier in the ballroom.

"I hope you're enjoying the castle," Nadir said as Christine entered a sitting room.

"Its beautiful," she said.

"Hmm, most who live here would deny that," he chuckled, "they think that it is too dark and dreary."

"Well maybe in the empty rooms. How many live here exactly?"

"Exactly?" he repeated, "well there is myself and Madame Giry and her daughter."

"That's all?"

"Unless you count the Master, yes that is all. This castle used to be full of servants and people…then everything changed."

"Oh…what happened?"

"Things change," Nadir replied simply, "there is little more to it than that…tell me Mademoiselle, do you like to read?"

"Yes, I love to read," Christine replied.

"Well then, would you like to see the library?"

"There is a library?"

"Of course, the Master loves to read…I believe that he has read every book in the entire place…and there are hundreds and hundreds of books."

Nadir led her to the library and showed her around the vast shelves of books. There were more books in that single room than she had seen in her entire life, books on any subject possibly imaginable.

"You can take anyone you'd like," Nadir said, "but I have to go. There are many things to be done in this castle and very few to do them."

"Thank you," Christine said, "oh, I'd like to read them all."

"I wish you luck in that endeavour. Good day, Mademoiselle."


Christine spent hours in the library poring over the different books, it wasn't until late afternoon that she finally decided to go back to her room. The halls of the castle were empty as she walked and her footsteps echoed eerily through the halls. As she was walking music seeped into the air. She paused and looked around, finding the source to be a door that she had just passed, she turned back and walked towards it.

The music was beautiful and the notes weaved together seamlessly into a song that she had never heard before. Unconsciously she reached down and found the handle of the door and started to open it. She stepped into the room tentatively and the music stopped as Erik turned to look at her.

"I'm sorry," she said hurriedly, "I didn't mean to disturb you, please continue."

Erik didn't move, he simply sat and stared at her, fingers still poised over the keys. At length he moved them away and turned to look at her fully.

"It was really quite lovely," Christine ventured, "I didn't want you to stop."

"You like music?" he asked.

"Yes. My father…my father plays the violin and I used to sing for him."

"I see, do you enjoy singing?"

"Yes, very much."

"Then sing for me."

"I-I don't know what to sing," Christine said hurriedly.

"Anything," Erik replied simply.

"Well, I don't really know…I have never sung for anyone before."

"There is a first time for everything," Erik replied, "sing for me."

Christine nodded her head and took a deep steadying breath. She didn't want to sing for him, but she was even less inclined to rouse his temper. So, quietly at first, she began to sing a small lullaby that her father had taught her. When she finished she was startled to see Erik staring at her with an odd intensity.

"Was it that terrible?" she murmured.

"No, you have a beautiful voice Mademoiselle…" he trailed off and turned back to the organ, "very beautiful indeed."

"May I go now?"

"Yes…go."


Christine gave a small shout of surprise when she entered her room to find Meg tidying it. The blonde girl looked up and gave her a bright smile.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I was just cleaning your room."

"Oh, you really didn't need to do that," Christine said.

"Its my job," Meg reasoned, "at least its supposed to be my job. The master never used to use any of these rooms and he doesn't let us into his room, so I haven't had very much to do. Its nice to have a purpose again."

"Oh, well then go ahead," Christine said with a small smile, "it will be nice to not have to do it myself."

"So where did you go in the castle?" Meg asked as she straightened the pillows.

"Everywhere, or close to it. Mostly a lot of empty, dusty rooms. I saw the library, it was amazing."

"Yes, the Master likes to read."

"Oh and I saw Erik's music room."

"What?" Meg gasped.

"His music room," Christine repeated, its really quite amazing, he has so many instruments and scores in there…and the most amazing pipe organ."

"Yes, he loves music," Meg sighed, "he spends entire days in that room some times. Maman says that it can't be good for his health…no one ever goes into that room if he's in it. He tends to get upset if you do."

"Oh…well he seemed fine to me. Though he made me sing for him."

"Sing for him?"

"Yes, it was really quite strange…he said that I have a beautiful voice."

"How kind of him," Meg said with a broad smile, "I have to go now, I have to help with supper. You will go won't you?"

"I suppose so…there is nothing else to do."


Christine found Meg's company to be agreeable and would talk with the other girl whenever possible. Often times they would simply sit in her room and talk. However Meg did have duties in the castle and when Christine could not talk with her she would go into the library.

It wasn't long before she became aware of Erik watching her from a distance. At first his presence was frightening and made her uncomfortable, but within a few days of it she became used to his distant presence, though it was still mildly unnerving.

"I would like you to sing for me again," Erik stated one afternoon.

Christine jumped at his voice, "Oh! You startled me," she gasped.

"I would like you to sing for me," Erik repeated almost defensively, "and this time I will play for you."

"Alright," Christine said softly, "I would like that."

Erik motioned for her to enter the music room and she did. She noticed that when she passed Erik drew back, as if unwilling to touch her. Once inside he stepped past her carefully and picked up a violin from the bench of the organ.

"On the violin?" Christine asked.

"Yes," he replied simply, "you said that your father used to play."

"He does," she replied, "what would you like me to sing?"

"The lullaby you sang for me before will be fine," he replied, readying the bow, "go ahead."


Christine stared up at the ceiling before getting up. It was evening and the sun would be setting soon. She hadn't gone to supper that night, Erik's playing had reminded her too much of home, and she hated him for it. He hadn't meant it to, she knew that. But it didn't matter, it still did, and the feeling of hopelessness that had remained with her for the first days of her imprisonment returned.