Chapter 22: A Change in Plans
Raoul's POV
Everyone had passed the hours after arriving at my estate sitting in the parlour, in front of the fire, hardly speaking. Phillipe sat in a chair by the window, staring outside, his face as pale as the moonlight. Initially he had been angry with me for searching out the lair, but now he was simply sick with worry over the news that we had overheard. Lucien and Meg sat upon the couch, Meg's head upon Lucien's shoulder. Lucien's green eyes were clouded with concern, the ususal smile gone from his face. Madame Giry sat next to Christine, trying to coax her to eat something. Jacques, Caroline, and Sarah had prepared dinner, but Christine had been unable to eat anything. After a while I had been desperate for some air, some time to think without all the tnesion, so I gave Christine's hand a squeeze and had gone out onto the back deck, where I now sat.
The night was chilly, with an ever present drizzle that had ceased to fade over the past hours. The clouds hung over Paris like a pair of handcuffs on a prisoner; they refused to budge. And they brought with them a feeling of ill foreboding, a feeling that something wasn't right. It was unnaturally silent, and the moon was nowhere to be seen. I sighed. Could I truly sit here and wait to be attacked? Could I really depend upon the police? They always seemed to get there just after we needed them. I had just made up my mind that something had to be done when I felt a most familiar hand on my shoulder. I smiled slightly, reaching back to catch her hand in mine.It was a sweet moment, but the decision that I had to impart to her was so grave.
"Christine, I refuse to sit here and wait to be attacked. I refuse to let them get to you ever again. What if something happened to you or our child, or to anyone that we loved? I wouldn't be able to live with myself, love," I stopped and pulled her to me, the harsh evening wind blowing around us.
After a few moments she spoke. "But Raoul what are you going to do, seek them out yourself? That's far too dangerous! You're always so noble, have you ever stopped to consider what I would do if something were to happen to you? I've almost lost you twice, I don't want that to happen again, and neither do the others who care about you..."
But her desperate words were interupted by a deep and urgent whisper.
"Chagny!" It was Erik, who had suddenly appeared next to the porch railing. "We must go now it you care for your loved ones safety at all!"
I stared at him, quite baffled. "What has happened?"
"I have no time to explain it to you now, you foolish boy! I will tell you on our way there!" he said harshly, with a signifigant glance at Christine.
It was clear in his eyes that he had heard something that concerned her, and despite my trust issues with the man, I knew he wouldn't lie about this; if there was one thing he laothed more that me, it was the gypsies. There was nothing for it; I grabbed my sword from its position on the porch railing and put it on. I turned to face Christine and saw a melancholy but resolved expression on her face.
"I must go Christine, don't you see?" I said, hoping desperately for her to understand why I had to do this.
"I do Raoul, but please promise me that you'll come back," she pleaded, her eyes wide. "Promise me."
"I promise," I said, kissing her swiftly. "Tell the others I've gone, and swear to me that you'll stay close to Lucien and Phillipe."
She nodded, and I kissed her forehead.
"Come Chagny!" growled Erik impatiently.
I gave Christine one last glance and then set off with Erik, galloping off into the night, and into the unknown.
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Christine's POV
I watched Raoul ride off into the darkness with Erik, stopping only for a moment to ponder how strange it was. It certainly wasn't a sight I had ever expected to see. After a minute however, I dashed inside, the shock of Raoul's sudden departure ebbing and the panic setting in. Once I reached the parlour, Meg was the first to notice my presence.
"Christine, has something happened? Your face is as pale as a ghost!" she said, her blue eyes filled with worry.
The words seemed to fall out of my mouth, completely outof my control. "Raoul has gone with Erik. Something has gone amiss about the gypsies. Erik heard something..." I trailed off, not knowing what to say anymore. My gaze fell on Phillipe, who was standing now.
"He went with that Phantom fellow of all people to the gypsy lair itself!" he said in a breathless voice, the color draining slowly from his face. "Has he gone insane Christine? He could be killed!" he said, his voice rising, his short, dark blonde hair looking grayer than ever.
"He's just doing what he feels is right," I answered. "He hasn't gone insane."
"Well I'm going after him!" exclaimed Lucien. "I know the way there. Phillipe you ought to stay here and look after Christine."
"I'm going Lucien, he's my little brother!" said Phillipe, his voice cracking from holding back tears. "Madame Giry, will you make sure that nothing happens to Christine?" asked Phillipe, his hand resting on my shoulder protectively.
Madame looked ready to answer, but before she could, I interrupted.
"I'm going with you," I said firmly, hardly recognizing my own voice. "I'm not going to just stand by and let this happen. And after all," I said realizing I had found a loophole, "Raoul made me swear that I would stay close to you two."
Everyone in the room stared at me, obviously not knowing what to say. It was Meg who spoke first.
"I think you're right Christine, you have every right to go." said Meg quietly.
"But Meg," said Lucien desperately. "Christine is pregnant, she could get hurt, she..."
"She loves Raoul!" exclaimed Meg. "And I daresay that I would do the same for you Lucien!"
He stopped at her words, and it was Phillipe who next looked ready to argue, but Madame interrupted him.
"I believe that she will go even if you don't want her to Phillipe, and it would be better that you two be by her side that her being on her own wouldn't you say?"
Both grudgingly agreed, but cast worried glances my way. I knew it was irrational of me to go, but my heart told me that it was the right thing to do. I whisked upstairs, and slipped on a pair of Raoul's old riding breeches and shirt, and pulled my hair out of my face. I wanted to ride there, but Lucien put his foot down, saying that that would harm the baby. We would take the carriage and park it right outside the opera, then walk to the lair. I came back downstairs, and the three of us were off. Madame and Meg were on their way to the police station, to inform the authorities of what had occured. Then, with Phillipe driving, we set off. Things were quiet between us until, Lucien spoke a few words of encouragment in my ear.
"I'm sure he'll be all right Christine. And as strange as this sounds, at least he's got that Erik fellow with him." he said gently.
"He's so brave," I whispered. "Sometimes I wish he weren't, then I wouldn't have to worry so much."
"And he married a brave woman," said Lucien, smiling slightly at me.
I smiled back, grateful for his encouraging presence. It was silent after that. I placed a hand on my stomach and said a prayer to God for the safety of my unborn child as the horses sped across the countryside toward an unknown fate.
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A/N: Hey everyeone! I hope that you like this chapter. Sorry for the cliffie, but I couldn't help myself. Thankyou so much for your wonderful reviews, I appreciate them so much; please keep it up. Enjoy!