Chapter 14: An Unexpected Arrival.

The front, main entrance, to the theatre remained closed and barred for the entire day. The crowd grew and grew as people continued to read the posters that were hung on the walls. The only people that were allowed to pass through the crowd were the men and women that Andre and Firmin had summoned to help with the organising of the Phantoms orders. These people, however, were not ushered into the theatre through the front doors. They were brought around to the stables and then in through the stable entrance to the stage. Andre and Firmin met them and welcomed them before setting them all to work.

Shortly after the notes had been read, and even before they have completely been digested, the large announcement posters were ripped down off the building walls, by the workers of the theatre. A great gasp arose from the crowd gather in the square and some even seemed angry to see the great bulletins being removed. Within the hour of the old posters removal, the new posters were being hung. They were bigger and brighter than the last ones. Looking much like giant calendars that show the following weeks of the month. In each square something was written and at the top and the bottom great reminders of the audition protocol were stated. The men, women and children rejoiced in the streets to see the new announcements. The progress of the show was beginning to sink in. Some people hurried off singing and dancing to be ready for the start of auditions. Others hurried to the restaurants that lines the street and the shops and celebrated with wine and cakes. It was to be a great time once again for the theatre and soon, though still very busy by any standards, the square began to settle down.

Inside the theatre, Madame Giry had broken the news to the young ballerinas. They were upset for what seemed like a fraction of a moment before Madame Giry rose their hopes again. They worked hard, without complaint, until Meg entered the practice hall. It was as if someone had turned on a light, for every girl in the room stared at Meg. They congratulated her out loud but cursed her under their breath. Meg could feel it as she walked through but she ignored it and went on to her practice. As she placed her dancing shoes on her feet and began to move along the other ballerinas watched. Some had tears gathering in their eyes as they watched her practice, other simply stared in awe, until Madame Giry yelled at them to continue their practice. It was clear to all of them why Meg had been chosen to play the roll of La Diable.

Meg remained in the ballet hall for most of the day. She practice and she stretched and continued as she would under normal circumstances. When the other ballerinas had left for their afternoon tea, Meg remained. She welcomed the quiet and watched patiently as each and every dancer left. Once they were out of the hall, she removed her ballet slippers and placed her aching feet on the cool, hardwood floor. The coolness of the wood soothed her acting feet and she was reminded of the way the Phantom wanted her to dance for this production. She moved gently and gracefully across the floor. Her feet never wavering at the lack of support from her ballet slippers. She danced on until she heard a noise in the back of the hall. She stopped as fear filled her entire being. Her mother stood watching her.

"Is that the dance the Phantom wants you to do?" Madame Giry said sternly a look of displeasure on her face.

"Yes, mother," Meg said as she lowered her eyes to the floor and placed herself in her prime positions to be punished.

"I suppose I don't have to agree with everything Erik has chosen," Madame Giry said as she came closer to her daughter, "and there is much technique in your dance," she continued as she walked a circle around Meg, "but I am amazed at the emotion my dear," she said her voice softening.

Meg finally brought her eyes up from the floor and looked at her mother. A look of pride had taken hold of the older woman's face. Meg smiled finally for the first time in what seemed like ages.

"I'd been worried you'd punish me the moment you saw what the Phantom asked of me," Meg said with a sigh of relief.

"I would have," Madame Giry said as she continued to walk in a circle around her daughter, "had I not know that you had been chosen as the dancer of choice for the drama, I would have told you to place those slippers back on your feet and to pirouette until you couldn't possible do it any longer then I would have told you to stop your crying and to do it again. But because I know that you have been working with the Phantom I cannot say anything as to his technique in his teaching because I have never seen you look so graceful and strong as a dancer. I am proud of you my darling but I don't want to see you dancing like this when any of the other ballerinas are practising."

"Never mother," Meg said, "I would never promote such a lack of technique or discipline to your students."

"I know you wouldn't my dear," Madame Giry smiled.

Mother and daughter shared an embrace in the silence of the ballet hall. It only lasted a moment as the other ballerinas would be returning to their practice momentarily but it was a touching moment none the less. When Madame Giry had released her daughter, Meg rushed to replace her ballet slippers before anyone entered. She had just managed to slip them on as the door at the far side of the hall opened. She stood up straight as both women looked to the door. The ballerinas were not the ones to cause the interruption, instead Andre and Firmin walked briskly toward them, followed by another person but they could not make that person out behind the taller men.

"Madame, we have a surprise for you," Andre said as they stopped only inches away from Meg and her mother.

"I don't know if I can take any more surprises today," Madame Giry sighed.

"Ah well then we will cut to the chase," Firmin said, "one of your students have returned." he said and stepped aside.

Behind the two men stood a plain looking woman. Dressed in more fashionable clothing but clearly suffering in social standing. It took a moment for Madame Giry and even Meg to recognise who the person was.

"Christine," Meg gasped as she looked on an older version of her friend.

The three years since Christine Daae had left the theatre truly had aged her beyond her years. She looked tired and pail. Her eyes weren't as bright as they had once been. It was no wonder people believed her to be gone from Paris. She looked so different from what she had once been. Her look spoke loudly of the trials that she had gone through and yet she walked tall with pride and the precision of all of her ballet training. The clothing, though newer in style, was clearly warn and Christine looked to have lost weight as the clothing hung off her body. Never the less she looked pleased to see her old friends and no fear lived within her eyes as she stepped into the sun light that flooded the ballet hall. It almost seemed as if she had sighed with relief to be home.

"Meg it is so good to see you!" Christine said and took her dear old friend in an embrace.

"Why have you returned to such a place of horror," Madame Giry asked as she looked at the run down young woman that stood before her.

"I need your help," Christine said as she lowered her eyes to the floor, "I had vowed never to return, I know that, but I must. It's a long and private story that I may tell you sometime. But for now I wish to ask that you take me back into the ballet troop. I wish to dance again."

"Are you sure this is a wise decision?" Firmin asked a sudden memory striking him with a newfound fear.

"If it is or if it isn't I can't choose," Christine said, "please. I am begging you."

"Alright," Madame Giry said after a moment of silence, "will you be staying within the theatre dormitories?" she asked.

"I had hoped to," Christine said her eyes sparkling.

"Please Monsieurs, could you leave us alone for a moment, if Madame du Chagny is to remain in the theatre I will fetch you to make the arrangements. For now I wish to have a word with her in private," Madame Giry said and walked toward the far end of the ballet hall, "Meg set the ballerinas to practice some more. I'll return shortly," and with that she and Christine walked from the room.

Meg stood silently and waited for the ballerinas to return. They looked at her strangely as she stood alone in the practice hall but knew the look that had crossed her face. It was one of the same looks that her mother always gave. With a sharp glance and a motion to the recently returned pianist, the ballerinas lined up and followed as Meg led them in a series of steps and stretches. Though they would never tell anyone, the younger ballerinas were pleased and excited just to be able to watch as Meg tried to lead them through rehearsal. They felt awed to be in the presence of such a great dancer.