Chapter 1
Author's Note: Originally Elizabeth was from Dordogne but it is entirely implausible to walk from there so I changed to it Bourges which is far enough from Paris that she is still not a city girl by any means but much closer and the city has a rich history of art and architecture.
In my story, Erik helped to fund the repairs to the Opera House and it is now five years after the events of Don Juan Triumphant.
For those wondering about Erik and Elizabeth's age difference, it is 16 years. She is 20 and he is 36. According to the ALW film Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum had a 14 year age gap during filming (I have to re-verify this).
I am a huge Phan and I will be using elements from ALW's movie, stage musical, Susan Kay's book (only a few tidbits, not much), Leroux's book, and the 1990 Kopit and Yeston miniseries with Charles Dance (Cherik). If you see anything you recognize from any of the above, I do not own it. The parts from Kay's book and the Kopit and Yeston series are mainly character traits and ideas for the plot. They will be explained in Authors Notes if you are not familiar with them.
Teach me to live, give me the strength to try!
-Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
Bourges, France
Elizabeth Lisette Collins walked through the trees delineating the property line between her family's small home and the estate of the Marquis de Moulins, lost in thought. She didn't know how she had come to this moment and fear of the unknown made her want to turn back as she thought of the past. Her family barely owned the small house they lived in, but the Moulines family had been gracious enough to allow their horse to graze and Elizabeth to play within their property line. Their condition had been that she would not approach the manor proper and she had mostly obeyed it.
The Collins family owned very little in the world, just an old chestnut mare who they only used for riding into town. Elizabeth and Mary had named her Cocoa when they purchased her and she was a gentle creature. As they got older, it was Elizabeth who rode Cocoa the most, using her to run errands in town or to get to their local theater for ballet lessons.
Much to her mother's chagrin, Elizabeth loved to dance. Elaine Collins had enrolled her in ballet lessons along with Mary when they were very young in an effort to help them move on from their father's death. Mary lasted barely two weeks, she detested the difficult dance and she was older than every other girl in the beginning classes. Elizabeth fell in love with ballet as soon as she started. The ballet mistress recognized her love for it and allowed her to stay enrolled in lessons for free when they fell on harder times.
Elizabeth was hardly a natural dancer, she simply practiced more than the other girls did. When the others went home, she stayed extra hours at the theater and there were times she pushed herself so hard she would nearly collapse. The next day she would do the same thing all over again. She was well-known as the most dedicated dancer and the most skilled. When the old ballet mistress fell ill, Elizabeth took over for her temporarily and in addition to teaching the younger classes, she supervised the older girls and looked after her mentor
Madame Lyonelle was the one who suggested she move on from this town and go to Paris to audition for the corps de ballet. She passed by the end of the month and Elizabeth was devastated at losing the woman who had become a second mother to her. At her funeral, Elizabeth made a promise to her.
"I swear it, Madame, I will go to Paris somehow. I will be the best I can possibly be in honor of you and all you have taught me. I will become a great ballerina."
From that day on, Elizabeth was consumed by the desire to go to Paris. Her mother tried to persuade her not to go, to do as her older sister had done and become a maid for a wealthy family, but Elizabeth did not listen. It was the source of many arguments in their small home and finally Elaine relented and allowed her to go on the condition that she find a way to pay for the trip herself. Mary was not so kind and she refused to see her sister to say goodbye, claiming she had far too much work to do.
Elizabeth was greatly saddened by her sister's behavior, but she was determined not to let it discourage her. With the condition her mother had given her, Elizabeth saw no possible way to get to Paris except by walking and she set out that morning with her small carpetbag that contained the only two other dresses she owned. When she saw Gustave de Moulines walking towards her, she dropped the small carpetbag and greeted him with a hug.
Gustave de Moulines was significantly taller than her, his brown hair and eyes were rather unremarkable, but he had a handsome, distinguished face. He was close to her age, twenty-five to her twenty and her first friend when they arrived in Bourges. He had become her closest friend over the years even though his parents had forbidden him from further contact with her after she became a dancer. They would find ways to speak, sneaking into the treeline for stolen moments, or Gustave would linger a little too long in front of her home when he went riding.
"Gustave, I'm so glad I could say goodbye to you," she said, offering him a smile.
"I heard a rumor that you're going to Paris…when are you leaving?" Gustave asked, his eyes full of concern.
"Now, actually."
"I can take you to where you need to go, if you like? How are you getting there?"
"Oh, I was going to walk-"
"You can't walk all the way to Paris, Elizabeth! Let me take you to the train, at least."
"Gustave, I don't want-"
"Let me take you or I won't let you leave. You can't walk there." He insisted, looking into her eyes with concern.
Elizabeth relented because she knew that Gustave would not relent. "I will pay you back for this…I swear it…"
"I'll come to your first performance and I fully expect you to show me Paris."
Elizabeth agreed and offered him a smile and she let him help her onto his horse. Gustave secured her bag before mounting and they rode off into town. Elizabeth couldn't help but feel apprehensive when she saw a few of the wealthier families stare disapprovingly at them as they rode by.
"You're going to the Paris Opera House, right?" He asked, helping her dismount when they arrived at the train station. Elizabeth nodded, a sudden fear preventing her from speaking.
"I'll come see you soon. It's a short distance to travel and I might even stay for awhile in Paris, my father actually suggested it. You'll love Paris, Elizabeth-"
"Oh, Gustave, I'm scared to death! I've never left Bourges and now Paris…I don't know anyone there…"
"There's no reason to be scared, let me get your ticket."
Gustave came back with a train ticket in minutes and Elizabeth's eyes widened when she saw she had a private compartment. He seemed nervous and she placed her hand on his arm in question when he looked away as if unsure if he should speak.
"Paris is wonderful! The Opera is always hiring people and the sights you'll see there…" he trailed off, fidgeting with a small jewelry pouch.
"What is-?"
"I want to see you again, in Paris, where we can go somewhere and I can show off the prettiest girl in France. I bought this for you, a reminder that I'm here for you always and a promise to remember our good times," he said, pulling out a delicate chain.
Elizabeth's eyes widened at the delicate horse charm on the simple gold chain and she let Gustave clasp the necklace around her neck.
"Your parents will be angry," she whispered.
"They don't get to tell me what to do anymore," he replied, his hand lingering on her shoulder.
"Goodbye, Gustave," she said, hugging him again.
Elizabeth watched him walk away and she touched the delicate pendant he had given her with a smile on her face. She went over to the waiting area for the train and sat on one of the benches, her bag clutched tightly in her hands.
Just before she boarded the train, Elizabeth felt a rush of fear, as if she was making the biggest mistake of her life. Her mother and sister were against her going to Paris even if her mother had eventually given in and allowed her to leave. Gustave was here and she couldn't help but blush at the memory of his arms around her as they rode. If she stayed, maybe he would even court her, but she knew that would not be without conflict. She was a ballerina and from a poor family, his family would never accept their relationship. Elizabeth had made a promise to Madame Lyonelle, she promised her that she would dance on the stage of the Paris Opera and she was going to fulfill that promise no matter what.
