Fallen Angels Chap.8
Christine stood at the window, breathing in the marvelous country air, letting it calm her. The south of France was strikingly beautiful in these late August days. The managers had been upset when she had told them that she was taking a holiday so close to opening night of the new season, but had eventually conceded, mostly due to Christine already having perfect mastery over the part she would play.
Suddenly, her stomach lurched, giving her the unpleasant worry of vomiting out the window. Father, please give me your calming touch. He had granted such prayers before, and Christine needed his hand on this blissfully nerve-racking day.
She felt his presence all around her in this place, smiling down on the daughter he loved so much. Perhaps it was simply the place itself that conjured him into her mind; she remembered it well from her childhood. The chapel outside of Avingon had been a favorite stop on their travels, connected to a monastery where kindly monks would put up travelers for a night or two. The monks had been excellent teachers, story tellers, and scholars. There had always been a warm welcome waiting for them. Christine allowed her mind to wander old memories for some time, still feeling a bit lightheaded.
"Christine!" The voice drew her back to reality. "Don't go and faint on us." Meg came to stand beside her at the window outpost. "You think you would be used to these sorts of affairs by now." Christine gave her blonde friend a look, which caused an uproar of girlish giggles between the two.
"Now straighten up dear and allow me to fix this." Meg had clucked over Christine like a mother hen all day, and her mother had jokingly stated that she was attempting to steal her job. Now she took a strand of pearls and began working them through Christine's hair, at the same time pining it up, so that the pearls were wound into a dramatic upsweep. She then completed her work by crowning Christine's locks with the veil of cream colored lace.
"Do I look alright?"
"You look beautiful dear." The dress was given a final inspection by the pair to insure that everything was perfect. The entire dress was lace covered satin, in the shame cream shade as the veil. The dainty sleeves belled at the elbows and fell to her wrists, the neckline stayed at her neck, proper to a church wedding. The dress had no cumbersome bustle, instead in belled gently at the waist like a medieval princess. Throughout the layer of lace, hundreds of little pearls had been sewn in.
"Come girls." Margolis Giry called them to the door leading into the main room of the chapel.
"Coming maman." They both responded in unison. Christine had begun to think of her more and more like a mother these days. The veil was gently lifted over to cover Christine's face.
As the church organ played, the small bridal procession entered, Christine glancing up through the veil to where the expectant groom waited. Erik stared nervously at the approaching procession, looking for all the world like he would fall over any minute. His suit was a dove gray, a very fine cut, with diamonds adorning the cuffs, the mask, of course, was in place, a glaring reminder of Erik's striking difference from the rest of the world. To Christine it was simply a reminder that true beauty often lurked beneath the surface. Henri stood beside Erik, trying to calm the nervous man.
Madame Giry took her hand and gently placed it in Erik's, the symbolic gesture of giving the bride to her groom, and Meg took her place beside her. Christine could feel the sweat on his hand, and squeezed it reassuringly as the priest began the ceremony.
I can't believe we've come this far. Christine marveled as Erik, in a nervous voice almost whispered the words "I do."
The same promises were asked of Christine, and in sure voice, looking directly into Erik's eyes, she answered "I do."
Erik's lithe fingers than placed her ring on her finger as he recited the vow he had written for this day. "Christine, you are the only woman I have ever loved. The only thing I could ever desire is that you would allow me to remain forever by your side and to love you for the rest of my life. You save me from myself. I swear I will love you always strive to care for you as my honored and beloved wife"
Christine's eyes filled with tears as she placed the gold band on Erik's finger, they spilled over as she recited her vow to him. "Erik, you have given me back all that I believed lost and more. You have always been my savior, my angel. I love and will be yours as long as you desire me beside you. From this moment on, I will be forever at your side. I swear I will love you and respect you as my honored and beloved husband."
The priest's resonating voice then pronounced them husband and wife. Erik lifted the veil from her face, his heart pounding against his chest. They both smiled as they saw one another in tears. Erik drew his face towards hers and gently gave her the kiss that united them in marriage at long last.
Fin
