Author´s notes: Alright, this chapter is still phluffy, so savor it while it lasts. Anyway, I might have them leaving soon… but Kay fans know there´s still a lot in store for both of them! Don Giovanni lovers, you know what scenes I´m talking about. If not, go watch the opera! I almost fell off my seat laughing when I saw it for the first time!
X X X
Chapter XXVI
X X X X
In the following days, Raoul registered a change in Christine´s behavior. He thought that perhaps the aftermath of their last disaster of a conversation would be awkward, but Christine, whether because she had gotten used to the environment at last or because of something else, seemed to smile a bit more often, and it wasn't an uptight grimace of someone who would rather wish to be elsewhere. She was now even slightly more cheerful, less pale, and seemed to be far happier than before.
He didn't dare question this new development and attributed the happiness to her relief that she didn't have a row with him after the rejection of his marriage proposal. Nevertheless, Raoul was glad that she didn't seem so nervous and timid anymore. For those precious moments, it really seemed that the Little Lotte he used to know was back, as mischievous as ever, though now more mature.
He didn't mention making their engagement more than an illusion, but their pretense now seemed more real, like one of those silly games they used to play as children. Meanwhile, he found out that Christine had agreed to perform a few arias for the court, after some preparation. The shah revealed to him that Erik, the man he had met some time before, was, among a great many other things, an amazing musician. Well, Raoul decided, if his speaking voice sounded as it did, he would be astonished if the man couldn't sing at least ten times as good as the renown tenors.
Thus Christine had someone to practice with.
That meant he saw a great deal less of her, unless he was allowed at their practice, which, as he had learned from Christine, wouldn't be wise, since the performance was supposed to be a surprise gift until one of the khanum´s slaves overheard them… so the only surprise would be the aria she would be singing.
The khanum, from what he had seen, seemed less than happy about letting Erik tutor Christine for the time being. Rumors had reached even his ears – that the woman was quite obsessed with her source of amusement, obsessed with the man himself. Painfully obviously to all but the man in question and the shah. Raoul knew manners, so he didn't dare bring it up at any time.
Their political appointments were going well. Thus far, the situation seemed ideal and as soon as everything would be ready, they would be able to leave. That meant about after Christine´s performance… that would probably be their last night there. Perhaps, during the journey back to Paris, he could talk to Christine again… but he didn't have much hope. She was determined, and he respected her refusal as her final word.
His brother was of a different opinion, however.
"I don't think she should have agreed to do this." Philippe said the next day when they met for lunch. It was a sunny day, Christine was not present, and the elderly de Chagny was just sipping a glass of expensive wine.
Raoul stopped cutting his meat and looked up. "She is free to do as she wishes. And perhaps the shah asked her to sing something, she didn't say how she got this idea."
"That isn't the point, Raoul. Your little prima donna might be the cause of a delay." His brother noted with a frown. Once Raoul asked why Christine would be the cause of anything, Philippe frowned. "You aren't familiar with the customs of these people. I wouldn't show off any… talents, be it modest or otherwise, which I´m sure she won´t." he added when Raoul was about to interject. "Surely you know of the resident harem. I daresay Mademoiselle Daaé wouldn't want to become part of it."
Raoul paled slightly. He hadn't thought of that very much. "But… she isn't a slave or a resident girl. She cannot be viewed as property or a possible candidate for the harem."
"Indeed, but she is an unmarried woman."
"The shah wouldn't risk it." Raoul noted vehemently.
"Perhaps." Philippe noted with a sigh, "It would certainly mean a conflict, for I have no wish to leave Christine here on her own, captive or free. Nevertheless, since she agreed to do it, let her sing. But I would be wary and depart the next day."
"You are getting paranoid, brother."
Philippe smiled sadly. "Sometimes I wish I could live in the perfect little world you do. I´m merely realistic. Just make sure everyone knows – and remembers – that you are engaged. Then we should have nothing to be afraid of." Again, the Count sipped his drink for a moment. "I´m afraid they might ask us to stay a while longer."
"Why?"
"Even ignoring the case of your lovely fiancée, we´ll probably have to wait a while until the shah throws a few lavish parties in our honor, formally thanks us and gives us blessings for the journey. Now add a few delays and the fact that the "King of Kings" has even other things on his mind than us… and we have at least a month to wait." Philippe announced grimly.
Raoul was stunned. "And what are we supposed to be doing till then? Having a constant tour of the palace? The hospitality is appreciated, but we should be returning home one day!"
"That is not all. In case the court will like Christine´s performance, and the opposite is out of the question, they might ask for a reprise."
"Which delays us even further." The Vicomte finished, dropping his cutlery with a deep frown. He was silent for a moment, gazing at his food, until he looked up. "And you know this from…?"
"The shah himself." Philippe announced, "He asked me if we would like to stay. He´ll probably want to show us what is built of his new palace, then we have those papers to sign… as I´ve said, it will take some time."
His brother sighed. "All for France, eh?"
"Naturally." the Count said, with a ghost of a smile.
X X X
The night of the performance was nothing short of thrilling to all audiences. All thought only Christine would be performing, so they were truly unprepared for the strange spectacle that was to be unleashed in front of their eyes.
Four scenes, five characters, each time, they changed costume, both of them. It was possible that no one would really understand what they were singing about, so they sang the songs twice – first in Persian (a difficult feat for Christine, but she mastered the songs after several painstaking lessons) and then in Italian, as they were originally meant to be sung, Still, they were careful enough to show a banner that described where they were and who they were before the song began.
The music was performed strangely. It seemed to simply float around the audience, yet there were no instruments visible and certainly no players present. It wasn't an entire orchestra playing, only two or three instruments, but no one seemed to mind. They didn't want to see the core of the illusion, only tried to see its splendor and savor it until the end.
The remaining voice – the bass they needed for only one scene and only for a few "whispered" lines – also seemed to float out of nowhere, through a magical means unknown to them, and the puppet representing Leporello was considered a real person by most.
Don Giovanni was what they had decided to perform, and so they did.
And how they managed it! They did the scenes in "chronological" order, as they went in the play. Probably no one in the audience had ever heard or seen anything like it and the applause thundered more and more after each of the scenes.
The first arrival of Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni attempting to seduce Zerlina, the graveyard scene where Donna Anna tells Don Ottavio of her attacker, plus the two following arias – one for each character, and, finally, Zerlina convincing her fiancé, Masetto, that she was innocent.
The only difference between the normal version of the opera sung at any theater and their, ignoring the spectacular effects, was the fact that Erik remained masked while singing, and in the play, Don Giovanni was masked only at the beginning… though that was a scene they decided was not good to perform in the current conditions, seeing as it involved Don Giovanni attempting to rape Donna Anna.
Christine had it easier, singing soprano roles each time, however Erik sung parts of all three possible voices: Don Ottavio, the tenor, Masetto, the bass and Don Giovanni, the baritone. And Christine was the only one not surprised that he managed without problems. She knew that her Angel of Music could sing any song he wished and his range would probably make the most accomplished singers faint.
Needless to say, the court hadn't had such splendid and non-violent entertainment in ages.
At the end of the performance, the final applause was so loud that it might have shattered the very foundations of the building. The pair came out, still dressed as peasants, and Christine was almost positively certain that the glass of the windows cracked at least in one of the rooms of the palace.
The shah himself rose from his throne while applauding, as did most of the other politicians, Raoul was beaming at Christine and Philippe was smiling kindly. Only the khanum remained sitting, clapping with a good attempt at enthusiasm, but it seemed more like she was glaring at Christine with the utmost loathing, which wasn't entirely hidden by her many veils.
"Very well done, my friends!" the shah called amidst the clapping. It ceased in a few seconds, since everyone realized the shah wanted to speak. "Very well done indeed! I must say, I anticipated a spectacular spectacle, but you have outdone my wildest imaginings!"
Christine smiled – after hard lessons, the praise was really appreciated. And after days of pouting, she managed to persuade Erik to let her in on the secret of the music. She wasn't about to tell anyone the principle, but they had a good laugh about it later on.
After much more praise, they were finally allowed to go change into their normal clothes and join in the feast. It was a difficult situation – now, after the performance, they had to try to keep as much distance between them as possible, and thus far, it wasn't proving very easy, since it seemed that there was some kind of magnetic connection between them. Whenever they thought they were far away from each other, something seemed to draw them closer and they ended up together.
"I say this calls for another surprise, wouldn't you say, my dear?" the khanum spoke up unexpectedly in the middle of the feast, addressing her son.
The shah nodded, "Indeed." And he turned to the side of the room where Christine and the de Chagnys were sitting, then to the spot where Erik was silently standing, wondering how much longer it will take until he and Christine would be able to get away. "If ever you have the energy and the time to come up with another gift of a performance as wonderful as this, I would be glad to receive it."
Erik only nodded, a motion copied by Christine, who, as the feast progressed, gave and excuse to the de Chagnys and disappeared somewhere. Erik, who had been stealing fleeting glances at her whenever he thought safe, seemed to melt into the shadows – when the khanum searched the hall with her eyes to find him, he was gone.
As planned before, Erik found her in a faraway part of the gardens, a lone figure illuminated by the moonlight waiting anxiously. She jumped a bit when she felt a hand on her shoulder but then smiled and automatically embraced him.
"I´m lead to think you are happy, my dear." He noted softly, running a hand through her curly hair gently.
"I am with you." she raised her head, beaming at him, "How could I be sad? And the night was a success."
Unexpectedly, he released her, only holding her hand. From the glitter that passed through his eyes, she deduced correctly that a smile appeared on his face. "The night is only beginning, Christine…" Smiling wider at the delightfully unknowing expression on her face, when lack of understanding and confusion showed on her moonlit face, he added, "and if you listen, you´ll hear more beautiful music than what they heard tonight."
He began singing softly the music he had denied to show her before, and Christine, her confused face morphing into an enchanted (and, to Erik, enchanting) smile, understood.
Nighttime sharpens
Heightens each sensation
Darkness stirs
And wakes imagination
Silently the senses
abandon their defenses
Christine´s eyelids slid down slightly, but she remained conscious and aware of her surroundings… even more aware that he slowly pulled her closer as they began to walk through the starlit gardens, their eyes never leaving the other´s.
Slowly, gently
Night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it
Tremulous and tender
Turn your face away
From the garish light of day
Turn your thoughts away from cold, unfeeling light
And listen to the music of the night…
The last line was whispered even by Christine and the song ended in an embrace.