A&A&A Boarding School

Authoresses' Note: Rukuelle would like to stress that the long delay is not her fault. Not at all. To reinforce that idea she will force Lydia to make a confession.

(in which Lydia Mendiant takes the stand)

Lydia speaks: Explanation – Drama Night. Elaboration – For the first week, we had Drama Night, and I was lead actress. So I was kind of busy, and also emotionally occupied. Drama Night ended on Friday. The good thing was that we won. The bad thing was that I lost Nicole Zhang, my character, and it was like I had lost a very important part of me. So I spent the weekend grieving. It was only until now that I started working. So sorry. Really sorry.

(in which Rukuelle drags Lydia off)

Anyway, that's why we weren't updating even though exams are now over. So we shall thank our reviewers like we always do... gavvie, disneyluver (we are so very pleased you gave us such a lot of lovely long reviews, but we cannot spare Legolas for your sake. Don't ask; long story. However rest assured that nothing shall happen to him till Wednesday. Then that will be bad), Dark Borg Drone, Manveri Mirkiel (know, lissehondonya, that your tenure is over. Now you only owe us one review per chapter. Be happy, AV), Asha Ice (yes, poor Maia. We worshipped her too), Fan of Fanfic (yes, we think Sam is an often overshadowed hobbit, mainly the fault of Frodo's big blue eyes), Aurora, naughtyness, hotdogfish, I AM EOWYN (it was actually Tu es bonne ecrivain, but we mean no offence. Just that Lydia loves being an intellectual snob – a deplorable flaw of her character), sine, Adele Starminster, vionny, Tsuki Yume (we think you mean by that Legolas. Again, long story. And we are sorry about the bishounen thing; we know next to nothing about manga or whatnot, and all we state is hearsay. We won't talk about it anymore, if it makes you unhappy), and surf all day and do the hula.

We know this chapter is probably not up to standards, but we needed to get some things straight. Sorry.

10. Performing Arts and the Phantom of the Opera

By the time they found the Performing Arts classroom, everyone had realised exactly how bad the combination of Captain Jack Sparrow and a wand was. Since there was no rule against using magic in the corridors, Jack had made use of his new weapon to frizz Gavroche, kill several innocent flies, turn the walls of Home Econs. violent purple as he passed, crack several major pillars and leave a trail of immense destruction from the Magic classroom to the Aesthetics block. The worst thing was he had no idea what he was doing, and hence that made it more fun for him.

"Put away your wand, Jack dear," said Galadriel gently, when they entered the classroom. Jack was thinking of an impertinent remark, but then he recalled what had happened to Van Helsing and Anna the previous day, and complied grudgingly.

The Performing Arts classroom was rather unlike the other rooms, in the fact that the wall was mirrored and there were no desks. The chairs had been replaced by different coloured cushions – although still arranged three-by-three, so there was no chance of changing cushion partners. With great puzzlement, the class greeted Galadriel and lowered themselves cautiously onto the cushions.

Galadriel gave her trademark eerie smile, and began. "Performing Arts consists of Music, Dance and Drama. Later in the year you will be learning mainly Dance," at which several boys (and not a few girls) turned a shade paler, "but at the moment we shall concentrate on your first Major Production, which will be this Sunday."

Major Production? thought several people simultaneously.

"Every first-year class," went on Galadriel by way of explanation, "on Orientation Night, or the Sunday of the first week, has to put up a performance for the rest of the school."

There came from the back of the class something that sounded like a muffled shriek of horror. Galadriel was non-plussed. "And of course, who better to direct each class's performance than me?"

Why am I not surprised? thought Anna in despair.

"And I also get to decide," continued Galadriel blithely, "what performance you shall put up. And this time, we shall be putting up..."

Everyone held their breaths. They all had a feeling that this was not the best of ideas.

Galadriel picked up a stack of scripts and displayed the cover of the topmost one. "The Phantom of the Opera."

There was a shocked silence, in which every single member of the class could not help but gape.

Galadriel merely smiled again and began handing out the scripts. "Don't look so surprised, dears. It really is a wonderful musical."

After skimming through his copy, Achilles looked up in disgust. "We're doing this?"

Galadriel fixed him with the familiar Look. "You won't say no, will you? Because you're not to."

Naturally, not even Achilles could have refused her at that point.

"There are three main roles," went on Galadriel, "which I shall be holding auditions for today. Yes, auditions." She turned and wrote three names on the board. "Christine, Raoul, and the Phantom. Let's audition the girls for Christine first, shall we?"

"Erm, what's Christine about?" asked Éowyn guardedly.

"Christine." Galadriel thought. "Christine is a sweet, innocent, ballet girl who is propelled to immense fame by her diabolical music teacher the Phantom."

Éowyn frowned. "Oh. Not for me."

"Now," went on Galadriel, "you can either volunteer yourselves, or sabo—nominate your peers. Yes."

Lili Frond shot her hand up. "I wanna nom...nomi...erm, choose myself, 'cos I'm, like, really perfect for the role!"

Haldir and Malfoy groaned in unison and rolled their eyes at the ceiling.

"I nominate Helen," exclaimed Legolas and Paris simultaneously. Glares followed.

"I nominate Arwen," called Aragorn.

"Good choice, dear," beamed Galadriel, and wrote Arwen's name down.

"I nominate Briseis!" shouted Achilles from the back.

"Really," gasped Briseis, "I really don't think I should...well...I can't..."

"You can," Andromache assured her.

"I nominate Elizabeth," said Will.

"Second that, savvy!" added Jack.

Elizabeth turned on them. "How dare you?"

Jack shrugged. "Come on. You're good for it, savvy?"

Elizabeth glared at her two deskmates. "You are so in for it. I think I'll kill you later."

Cosette thought: If I am chosen, and then Marius becomes Raoul, well, then... "I nominate myself," she spoke up.

Eponine saw through her plan immediately. "I nominate myself too!" she cried.

Galadriel wrote down the last two names. "Any more? No? Very well. We shall begin auditioning. Nominees, please get ready."

"What do we do?" asked Briseis nervously.

"Christine must be able to sing," explained Galadriel. "So you will sing us a song, preferably with great expression like an actress should, and the class will vote."

"Any song?"

"Any song. Lili, since you volunteered yourself first, you may begin."

Lili bounced up and tried to think of a good song that would show off her vocals. She pounced on the nearest one she could think of, and opened her mouth to sing, accompanying it with the appropriate claps.

"I'm a Bimbo!

I'm a Bimbo!

I'm a B – I – erm, M – um, what next? Oh well, never mind.

I'm a Bimbo!

I'm a Bimbo!

I'm a B – I – M – um, er, oh, I know! BO!"

There was an extremely disgusted silence. Lili sat down, pleased with herself. Finally, Galadriel (with great effort) managed, "Thank you, Lili. Helen, dear, you may begin."

Legolas and Paris, who were surreptitiously poking each other behind Helen's back with long rulers, ceased their activity when they heard their beloved's golden voice.

Helen raised her dreamlike gaze and sang.

There was loud applause as Helen paused and seated herself. Legolas and Paris tried to outdo each other in volume of clapping.

It was Arwen's turn. Arwen carefully tucked a strand of shadow-hair behind her ear in a movement of infinite elegance, and began:

"U ivethed na

I onnad si

Boe u dhanna

Ae u esteli

Esteli achnad

Na boe u i

Esteliohan esteliohan esteleo

Esteliohan

Esteoveleth."

Arwen's voice filled the silence like silver rain, like a starry fall, soft and yet full of feeling, and infinitely sweetly sad. There was a long silent interlude. Then thunderous applause. Galadriel flashed Arwen her loveliest smile. Aragorn was looking starstruck.

"There is no way I'm winning after this," hissed Briseis.

"Oh yes you are," Andromache hissed back, and shoved Briseis upright.

Briseis glanced around nervously and opened her mouth. Her voice was nothing as beautiful as Arwen's, but it had its own sweet quality.

"You rock," said Achilles over Andromache's applause. "You really, really rock."

"You're very good," countered Andromache, who preferred to talk in normal English. "See? That wasn't so hard, was it?"

"Freaky," replied Briseis darkly. "You should try it for yourself, you know, then you'll see."

Elizabeth stood up and glared at her deskmates, who were grinning. "I hate you," she declared, and began to sing.

"But she is good," commented Will as Elizabeth sang.

"See, savvy?" supplemented Jack.

Elizabeth finished, sniffed and sat down.

Cosette, with furtive glances towards Marius, rose and began:

"A heart full of love

A heart full of you

I saw you waiting and I knew

Waiting for you

At your feet

At your call

And it isn't a dream

Not a dream after all!"

Eponine, with much envy at the fact that Marius had applauded Cosette, shot up and followed:

"In the rain

The pavement shines like silver

All the lights

Are misty in the river

In the darkness

The trees are full of starlight

And all I see is him and me

Forever and forever."

She sat down and thought: He applauded me as well, and perhaps even louder, so there, you stupid Lark.

Galadriel beamed at the two filles and took up the marker. "Now we shall vote. Who votes for...um...Lili?"

Lili beamed around at the class. It was a huge surprise for her, but not for everyone else, when not a single hand was raised. Lili gasped in hurt and burying her head on the desk, burst into tears.

"Wimp," snorted Malfoy.

"Helen?"

Legolas and Paris competed to see whose hand was higher, and frowned balefully upon the people whose hands were not raised.

"And, who votes for...Arwen?"

Aragorn raised his hand proudly. So did a lot of other people – including Marius.

"What?" gasped Cosette.

"Merde!" exclaimed Eponine.

Marius ignored both their injured gazes and stared straight ahead where Galadriel was writing down Arwen's massive number of votes.

Briseis had only Andromache and Achilles for voters. "You see?"

"They have bad taste," snarled Achilles, with a look that did not bode well. "Really bad taste."

Will and Jack naturally voted for Elizabeth. So did Anna (Holly and Éowyn were saving theirs for Eponine, with sincere hopes that Elizabeth would understand).

Eponine was pleased when she received more votes than Cosette, but Marius's lack of support still stung her heart.

It was unanimous. "Christine Daae," announced Galadriel with obvious pride, "is Arwen."

There was much cheering and applause as Arwen tried to look modest.

"The Phantom of the Opera," said Galadriel. "Nominees?"

"Artemis," put in Holly, "because he has that undeniably evil look."

"I beg your pardon," began Artemis, extremely miffed, but Galadriel had written down his name. Artemis gaped at Holly, who smirked back.

"Payback time," muttered Elizabeth. "I nominate Jack!" she called.

Jack did not appear greatly offended. "It's Captain Jack Sparrow!" was all he said.

"Malfoy," spoke up Hermione, "since he's evil too."

Draco Malfoy blanched.

"I nominate Legolas," sneered Paris, "as he has all the negative qualities of the Phantom, like selfishness, cruelty, insanity..."

"I nominate Paris," yelled Legolas over Paris's ranting, "because his ugly face looks just right for the role!"

Galadriel stepped up to prevent the brewing fight, and called out, "Anyone else? No? Then do begin, Artemis dear."

Artemis sat with his back perfectly straight and stiff. "I refuse to sing."

Galadriel turned to him with a look of concern. "But...why?"

Artemis stared coolly back at her, his blue eyes unblinking. "I cannot sing, and I will not. I decline the nomination."

Galadriel seemed disappointed, but sighed in resignation. "Well, that's too bad, but I can't force anyone to audition if they don't want to."

"Really?" exclaimed Malfoy. "In that case, I decline too."

Legolas and Paris glanced at each other and said simultaneously: "So do we!"

Galadriel stared in horror. "I don't understand. I know of a lot of people who would die to be the Phantom. But it's your choice. Jack, dear, you won't resign, will you?"

Jack shrugged. "I guess it's no big deal."

Galadriel sighed in relief. "Good. Now, for Raoul de Chagny..."

As it turned out, a lot more people wanted the role of Raoul than the role of the Phantom. Naturally, Arwen got Aragorn nominated. However, he was sharing competition with several other boys such as Éomer, Chix and strangely, the French Revolution. When it came to the French Revolution's singing, everyone had a very good idea of what was coming. They were not disappointed.

Enjolras stood up at attention. "Do you hear the people sing?" he began. "Singing the song of angry men! It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!"

"Good," said Galadriel.

Joly bounced up. "When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, it is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"

"Thank you," said Galadriel.

Feuilly was next. "Will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me? Beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see?"

"Next," said Galadriel.

Courfeyrac leapt up. "Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free! Do you hear the people sing?"

"Sit down," said Galadriel.

Gavroche scrambled up onto his cushion to be seen better. "Singing the song of angry men! It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!"

"That's enough," said Galadriel.

Grantaire rose and slurred, "When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when – "

"That's all, I hope," said Galadriel.

"WHEN TOMORROW COMES!" chorused the French Revolution in merry unison.

"Thank you very much," replied Galadriel firmly. "Now, taisez-vous!"

The French Revolution, having finished their performance, were too pleased with themselves to be in the least affected.

"Don't worry," reassured Arwen. "No one sings as well as you, Estel."

Hector, on the other side, wondered when exactly she had got around to calling Aragorn Estel (a very strange name, he thought) but decided not to worry too much about that. And she was right. The other boys who had auditioned seemed, on overall, to have rather terrible singing.

It was only natural that Aragorn was voted as Raoul.

After which, Galadriel held votings for minor characters, and promised that she would let them off for break after that. At the end of class, the casting of characters ran as such.

CHRISTINE : Arwen

PHANTOM : Jack

RAOUL : Aragorn

MEG GIRY : Briseis

MME. GIRY : Andromache

(something Briseis insisted upon, and Achilles agreed with, on the grounds that Andromache was a disagreeable hag – not that he mentioned it)

ANDRE : Merry

FIRMIN : Pippin

(a very short pair of managers they made)

CARLOTTA : Elizabeth

(another case of Jack-and-Will sabotage)

PIANGI : Will

(in which Elizabeth decided he might as well join her in being sabotaged)

LEFEUVRE : Mulch

BUQUET : Gimli

REYER : Hector

(who could not play the piano, but could give an excellent impression of doing so)

"I am pleased," declared Galadriel when the casting had been confirmed. "And I will expect you – all of you – to attend the rehearsals later in the day. I will send word when I want you to be in the Hall. And in the meantime, dears, as I promised you may go for break."

Everyone rushed out of the Performing Arts classroom, leaving a wake of upturned cushions behind them. Many felt that this Orientation Night performance did not bode well. And in a lot of ways, they were quite right.

End of Chapter

Next chapter coming ... Indicial Equations and Impertinence