I know that this has been quite anticipated and that i have taken way too long with it so i won't blather on about why i haven't uploaded sooner. But, this is the first chapter done on my new Mac. So YAY! Please review!
Phanty belongs to Leroux and Lloyd Weber.
"Get him off!" Someone yelled.
The weight on Erik's chest was lifted as Emile's body was removed. He scrambled out from underneath him with what strength he had left and simply lay on his back, exhausted. The grass was cool under his wet shirt and he felt another shiver run through him. He stared up at the night sky, serenity overcoming him. It had never looked so clear... never been so close. Freedom; How he had missed it.
"Erik!" Christine's voice. "Erik, are you alright!?" It grew closer. He looked to his left. She was beside him.
Christine
Christine...
The sight of her face brought him back down to Earth, and the reality of what had happened albeit painful, became clear to him once more. He was free. It was over.
"Christine..." He whispered. She was here. She was right in front of him, touching his face gently, hand over his wound.
"Erik..." She was crying. She leaned over him and pulled him into an embrace.
"Christine..." He repeated in disbelief.
"Yes. It's me. I'm here."
"Come, we need to leave." Nadir spoke; urgency in his voice. He walked towards them. "Come, Christine. Help me get him up."
"You're here." Erik cried, now beginning to weep, himself. He wrapped an arm around her and held her tightly. "You came back, Christine... I thought... I thought... I'd never see you again." He sobbed into her hair. "You could have been killed!" He cried, pushing her away gently and looking into her eyes, tears of happiness clouding his vision. "I'm so... I'm so angry with you for... risking your life." He began to laugh. "But I'm so happy. I'm so happy."
"Great. We are all happy." Nadir added with a hint of sarcasm. He pulled Christine away gently and she stood up. "Now get up, Erik. We have to leave."
"Oh lighten up, Daroga." Erik retorted, a crooked smile playing on his lips as he began to sit up. "Surely if I can find happiness in the state that I'm in, you can find it in yours."
"I won't find happiness until we are out of here."
One of Emile's men stepped forward.
"You... you killed him. You killed him!"
"Yes!" Erik spat, still struggling to sit up. "And I would do it again!"
"Erik!" Nadir hissed.
"And you!" The man pointed at Claude. "You helped him!"
"Come now, Brevet. Surely you did not agree with what he did!" He gestured to Erik who was now being assisted by Christine and Nadir. "What he was doing!"
"Of course not." Brevet replied. "None of us did... Do you think any of us enjoyed the last twenty years? Only travelling where he told us to? Only stopping because he heard something that could be linked back to him!" He pointed at Erik. "We never saw sense in it. But that changes nothing. He was our leader."
"And he is dead!"
"Dead! Yes! Murdered!"
"Do you agree with what he was doing?"
"Well... I..."
"Do you?"
"No! I told you!"
"Then grant me this, Brevet. One last favour... and then you can tell them what you like. You can tell them everything."
"You want me to let them escape."
Claude nodded. "Yes. And myself. We both know that I could no longer find peace within this camp. Allow me to gather my horse... and the one stolen from this man."
Brevet sighed deeply. He looked to Erik, still on the ground, drenched in blood; both Emile's and his own.
"Come, I will get you what you need. No one else need know what happened here until tomorrow." He looked away thoughtfully. "I will simply say that... I have not seen Emile." His gaze shifted to Emile's lifeless body, still face down in the grass, a pool of dark, thick liquid spreading out beneath him. "By the time he is found you will be gone..."
Claude approached Brevet.
"Thank you." He said. He shot a glance at the other man standing behind Brevet, apparently still awe struck at what had transpired. "Thank you both." The man swiftly nodded, his gaze never shifting from Emile's body...
"Come..." Brevet began. "We must make haste with the horses."
"Alright." He replied. His voice low and purposeful. He turned to Nadir. "You must go. As quickly as you can. Get him up and leave. I know it will be difficult but you cannot be seen walking. I will bring the horses over directly."
With that he turned away once more and with Brevet and the awestruck, nameless man, disappeared into the darkness.
"Alright, Erik. Let's go." Nadir coaxed.
He yelled as both Christine and Nadir did all they could to pull him up from the ground. Once standing he leaned heavily on Nadir, both from refusal to hinder Christine and due to the fact that lifting his left arm caused him more pain than he was able to handle.
They began to stagger away from Erik's caravan. Erik knew that getting out of the clearing would be difficult but it would be one more hurdle overcome. If he could just make it out of sight... perhaps he had a chance. Every step made him question his resolve. What if he could not make it? He possessed little strength to walk, and each time he moved his injuries were disturbed. The wound in his chest was screaming.
"You're almost there, Erik." Christine spoke softly. Unsure of what else to do in order to ease his pain. "Please, let me help you walk."
"Bless you, Christine. But I cannot lift my left arm." He looked up at her; an affectionate yet pained smiled on his face. "You already are helping me."
He felt as though they had been walking for hours and could not help but wonder how they had been able to; why was it that no one had discovered them? With every step he anticipated pain; a bullet in his back; the sound of a gunshot ringing out, falling to the ground as the sound echoed through his ears. The anxiety was becoming overwhelming. With each step the fear grew. He could almost feel it; the darkness, looming over him... chasing him.
Finally they had reached the tree line. Once safe behind the cover of foliage Nadir set Erik down against a tree. They all took a deep breath.
Erik leaned back against the tree, utterly relieved and exhausted; it was the first real rest he had been able to achieve in hours. It felt glorious simply to be able to sit down. As soon as he did so, Christine was at his side, gripping his hand tightly and staring at him intently.
"Are you alright?"
"Yes. I have lost quite a lot of blood..." He shot a glance at Nadir before continuing. "But I will be alright... Have you any water?"
"Water!" Christine repeated. "Yes, of course!" She stood up and rummaged in Nadir's satchel for a few moments before sitting back down beside Erik and holding the water up to his lips. He was thankful for such an effort. He was incapable of holding it himself but he was far too proud to ask for assistance.
"Thank you." He said after coughing for a moment and continuing to drink. Christine smiled before standing up and making her way over to Nadir's satchel once more. She returned with piece of bread and a small cloth. She handed him the bread and began wiping his face with the cloth as he ate. "Thank you, Christine." He said gratefully. Cleaning the wounds on his face was far less important than the bullet in his chest but Erik didn't care to mention that to Christine. It felt heavenly just to be touched by her again.
"I am sorry, Erik. I truly am." Nadir spoke. "But I hadn't any other choice..."
"Oh, I'm sure." He looked up at him again with a smirk. Then the sarcasm left his voice and he looked down. "In truth old friend... no words could describe what you have done for me here tonight. Do not for a second think that I do not value your friendship... I owe you my life."
Nadir simply nodded, seemingly overcome with emotion. Hearing these words from a man so stoic, so proud truly was a gift.
"If I am to properly save your life... I will need to remove that bullet and wrap the wound and I will need to do it soon."
Erik nodded.
"I realize."
"Now, Erik." He said sternly.
"Now?" Christine cried. "He needs a chance to rest, Nadir! He has been through so much pain already!"
"No, Christine..." Erik squeezed her hand. "He is right. The sooner that bullet is out, the better. And... I cannot afford to lose any more blood and if it stays in there any longer it will kill me." He turned to Nadir who was now rummaging through his bag he had left there previously.
"I have whiskey and I have a knife..." He said remorsefully.
Erik cringed.
"It has to be done."
"God..."Christine cried. "What am I to do..? I cannot... see this?!"
"You must restrain him, Christine." Nadir said, sitting down beside them, utensils in hand.
"I can hardly do that!"
"You must!"
"She means physically." Erik smirked. Nadir turned to her.
"You must do your best. You care for him, do you not?"
"Of course!" She cried, looking at Erik.
"If that bullet stays in there, he will die. You know that."
"Oh, well thank you." Erik shot; a hint of humor in his voice.
"You know it to be true." Nadir retorted.
"I know. Believe me, I know." Erik turned to Christine. "It will be alright. Before you know it, it will be done. Claude will have arrived with the horses and we will be well on our way."
"Lie down..." Nadir instructed. Erik complied.
"Christine, help me take off his shirt. We will need to change it anyway, it is soaking wet." After receiving a compliant nod from Erik, Christine obeyed Nadir dutifully. She gasped as she peeled away his blood soaked shirt. His torso was covered in blood, yes. But there were numerous other cuts and abrasions that hadn't been there prior. Much of his body was as bruised as his face and his injured rib looked much worse. It had to have been broken...
"Erik... what..." She drew her hand to her mouth. "What have they done?" As gently as she could, she ran her hand over his bruises. Tears fell from her eyes as she did. "I am so sorry..."
"It is quite alright, Christine. Most of them are not as bad as they look... and none of them are your fault." He squeezed her hand reassuringly. He turned to Nadir. "Do it. Just do it." He clenched his fists in preparation.
"Here." Nadir handed Erik the opened bottle of whiskey. "Drink some of this first. It won't do much but it cannot hurt." After several swigs from the bottle, he handed it back to Nadir and lay back down. Christine took his hand in hers and smiled down at him awkwardly.
"I'm going to pour some of this on the wound first, alright?"
"Yes, yes. Get it over with."
As the liquid was poured over Erik's chest he held his breath and clenched his fists. For fear of hurting Christine's hand in his desperation he discarded it for a hand full of grass. Thankfully his self restraint proved stronger than the pain and he was able to keep silent.
"Alright..." Nadir bent over Erik, preparing for the next part; the worst part. "I... Erik, I cannot even see the bullet..."
"Yes, well... you should know where it is, shouldn't you! Just do it, Daroga! I would do it myself if I could!"
"But you can't! So stop being unpleasant!" Nadir yelled, temporarily forgetting where he was. "Only Allah knows how I have put up with you all these years!" He raised the knife.
"Ready?"
"YES!"
With that Nadir made his incision; several millimeters away from the wound so as not to directly hit the bullet. A small yell escaped Erik as thick, red liquid oozed from the wound once more. He quickly silenced himself, aware that he could not afford to make sound. Nadir pushed the knife in deeper and the pain was unbearable. Instinctively Erik reached for Nadir's hand to stop the pain but Christine caught it in time. Thankfully after a few more seconds, the blade was removed.
"I felt it but its... quite deep."
"Just get it out..." Erik breathed, a thin sheen of sweat now covering his torso.
"I don't even have tweezers!"
"It doesn't matter, do what you have to."
"Alright." He sighed. He looked up at Christine whose gaze had not left Erik. "Christine..." He said. She looked at him. "You can do this."
Christine nodded and placed her hands on Erik's shoulders, an attempt to keep him in place.
When the blade entered Erik's flesh a second time he almost heaved from the pain. As it went deeper all he could do was clench his fists tighter and close his eyes... but that presented another danger. Losing consciousness would certainly end this agony... He wanted nothing more than to give in to it; the darkness, the cool blackness; restful and pain free. But he could not give in to it... if he lost consciousness escape would be impossible. The need to call out became dire... but such an action could spoil everything; endanger them all. Each time Nadir's blade moved, his resolve lessened. The world was spinning... Christine and Nadir's voices seemed so very far away.
He couldn't hold on any longer.
Keep your eyes open...
Don't give in...
And then... The pain spiked... In spite of everything he had aimed to do, he cried out and struggled away from the blade.
"It's alright!" Nadir spoke. "It's out!"
Christine took hold of his hand.
"It's done, Erik!"
"What..?" He breathed, attempting to rest on his elbows but falling back down in exhaustion.
"It's out! Look!" Nadir held the bullet out in front of him.
Erik let out a long sigh.
"Thank god."
"We need to wrap it. Christine, there should be some bandages in the satchel as well..."
"I've got them." She said, holding them out.
Before wrapping the wound Nadir made sure drench it in whiskey. After that, he helped Erik into a new shirt and laid him back against the tree to rest.
"S-see..." Erik began, still grimacing from what he had endured. "All d-done..."
"Nadir, do you have another jacket in there? He is shaking." Christine called behind her. Nadir handed her a jacket which with great difficulty she helped Erik into. She rubbed his arms in an attempt to raise his temperature.
He looked up at her.
"I love you, Christine."
She bent down and placed a small kiss on his lips.
"I love you, Erik." She cried. "I can't believe you are here. Finally, here with me."
Erik shakily raised his right hand and stroked her face affectionately. She smiled to his touch.
"D-Daroga..." Erik began. "H-have you any idea where we are?" He looked back to Christine, offering the question to both of them.
"We are still in France. I will be able to get us back to Paris."
"N-not Paris... we were... heading to Boscherville. It... it is near Rouen. Christine and I... were g-going to spend some t-time there. And then... decide..." They had spoken of leaving the country but Erik knew that he was in no fit state to travel now.
"Well, we have been travelling North, that much I know."
"That is g-good. Boscherville is North of Paris."
"Is that where your mother's home is?" Christine asked, she was now sitting beside Erik, gripping his hand tightly.
"Oui."
Christine nodded. She looked up at Nadir.
"Do we know how..."
Nadir held his hand out, gesturing for her to remain quiet.
"Shh... I see someone." He whispered.
"Is it Claude?"
"I... cannot tell. But... he has two horses. And I think that one is the one you identified as Caesar, Christine."
"Nadir!" A voice whispered. "It is me, Claude! I cannot see you!"
With a sigh of relief, Nadir stepped out from behind the foliage. As soon as Claude and the horses were properly hidden behind the tree line, they prepared to leave.
"Caesar..." Erik whispered at the sight of his horse. At once the horse turned to the man sitting on the ground and approached him, obviously just as excited to see his master as Erik was to see him. Erik laughed in delight as Caesar nuzzled him and Christine could only smile at Erik's happiness and hope that it would not be short lived.
"Claude... do you mind?" Nadir asked, gesturing to Erik.
"Of course." He said. Erik eyed him warily. "You have every right not to trust me, Monsieur." Claude began. "But it is now or never. We have only so much time before your handiwork is discovered." Erik scoffed but allowed himself to be lifted up by the two men. He staggered over to Caesar and grimaced in pain as he mounted him. Even with Nadir's assistance it took all the strength he had.
"I will ride with Erik." Christine spoke. "I will help him to sit up."
"I would not burden you, my love."
"It does not matter how stubborn you are now, Erik. I am going to help you." Lifting her skirts, she mounted Caesar, sitting behind Erik. "You can lean on me if you need." She wrapped her arms around him, loosening her grip when she felt him inhale sharply.
"Sorry." She winced, remembering his bruises.
"It is alright." He said.
Soon, they were on their way. Each yard travelled was agonizing for his wounds and yet Erik found that in spite of it all he was overwhelmed with happiness and relief. Yes, he ha always retained his façade of pride; the aloof persona that had seen him through many questionable experiences in his years but in truth, part of him wondered if he would ever escape that caravan… it had taken him years the last time. Of course he would never voice such concerns. They did not matter now. He was free. Finally free and in a few short weeks they would be on their way to their new life.
"We cannot thank you enough, Claude." Christine spoke from behind Erik.
"Please, there is no need. It is what any decent person would have done." He shot a glance at Erik who was looking forward stoically, perhaps intentionally avoiding his gaze. He turned back toward the road ahead. "I will take my leave of you once we reach the main thoroughfare."
"You are leaving us so soon, Monsieur? Christine cried, attempting to look over Erik's shoulder. He turned his head slightly, briefly glancing at her with his eyes narrowed. Of course she could understand Erik's reservations about this man; she could understand why he did not trust him… he had every reason to act in such a way after what he had been through… But surely he could see that Claude was not at all like Emile. He had risked everything; given up everything he had known for what was right; for Erik. She simply frowned at him and continued. "Where will you go?"
"I will simply wander the lands I suppose, as I have always done."
Erik scoffed. Claude chose to ignore it.
"Are you sure that you wish to travel on your own so soon?" Christine asked.
"Mademoiselle, I will be quite fine. As will you three. I do not believe that Brevet will pursue us and by the time the rest of the clan awaken, we will be long gone. In all truth I believe that everyone will feel some sense of relief at what has happened tonight."
"They will be relieved that I murdered their leader?" Erik finally spat. "Your leader?" Claude turned to him once more.
"I believe that they weren't all what you believed them to be. Emile was a bad man but that had nothing to do with what he was… his heritage… his lifestyle. His mind was twisted and warped by his father."
"I do not care for your reasoning, gypsy."
"Well you will hear it." Claude brought his horse to a halt before Erik. Caesar exclaimed in frustrated surprise before he was forced to do the same.
"Get out of my way, Claude."
"Emile was terribly aggrieved by his father's death but I believe that he was confused. He loved his father as any son would…"
Erik scoffed again. He had not even known his father.
"…But he knew that his father was a cruel man. Hate was instilled in him from a very young age and… therefore he was nothing but… a product of his environment…"
"Do you think that I should feel sympathy for Emile? Is that what this speech is in aid of?!"
"Erik… calm down." Christine soothed, placing a hand on his arm from behind. He shook her off.
"You believe that because Emile was a product of his environment, I should… what… forgive him?"
"I am not saying that at all. I am simply saying that…"
"What you have told me may explain his behaviour but it does not excuse it. Just as my experiences do not excuse mine… I am but a product of hate… cruelty, loathing. But I accept my shortcomings and my sins, I take ownership for them. Did he?"
"We are not all like him, Erik!"
"You are!" Erik cried, almost falling from Caesar in his anger and proceeding to aggravate his shoulder in the process. He winced and dropped the reins, bringing his hand to his injury with a grimace.
"You will hurt yourself, Erik! Stop!" Christine cried. Nadir watched on in silence.
"How can I hurt myself more than they already have?" Christine winced at the cynicism in his voice.
Erik turned back to Claude.
"You are all the same! You are all just as bad as him and just as bad as his father because not ONE of you came to my aid… In all those years of suffering, you simply watched and then turned your heads when watching became to hard… You could turn away from it… I could not. I never could."
"I DID!" Claude cried. "I came to your aid… And now that he is dead… you will see that others will share my sentiment. You will not be followed because we are not all like him!"
"Erik…" Christine cooed, rubbing his arm affectionately.
"No, Christine. It is fine. I am done. That is all I wish to say." He turned back to Emile who stood before him, eyes following him, questioning his actions. "Will you remove your horse from my path now, Monsieur? I don't believe that you have anything left to say to me."
Claude sighed and did as he was bid. He rode ahead. Nadir offered Erik a stern look before following suit. Christine stared out into the night. There was silence and the atmosphere had grown noticeably thicker now that the arguing had stopped. A cricket chirped in the distance. An icy chill caused her to shiver and huddle closer to Erik.
"Are you cold, Christine?" He asked softly.
"Are you alright?" She responded.
"How do you mean?" He asked with a smirk. Christine didn't respond. "You mean what just happened? Yes. Yes I am fine."
Dissatisfied with his response, she continued.
"I know that you cannot simply forgive what has happened to you…"
"You mean what has been done to me. Things do not just happen."
"It was just a choice of words, Erik. I know that you are in pain but please do not be like that."
He took a deep breath and brought his hand to his shoulder once more.
"I am sorry. I should not take it out on you. You are the last person who deserves anything like that…"
"Well… perhaps you are reacting to Claude in the same way? Perhaps he is getting the blame for it all just because he is here?"
"Why are you so intent on defending him, Christine?"
"Because if it were not for him, I would not have you here with me."
Silence.
"Erik, look up."
"What?"
"Look up! Look at the sky. The stars. Do you remember when we stopped by the riverbank and looked up at the same sky?"
"Before we were taken…"
"Yes. Do you remember what you said?"
"I… said that…"
"You said that you wished we could just be together, without danger, without the worry of someone pursuing us… And I told you that one day we would. Well that is now. We are here, together. Did you think that possible? I hate to say it but there was a time when I doubted whether such a thing would ever be possible again." She touched his arm. "Just look at that sky. Look at how beautiful it is… You would not be able to look upon it, look upon me if it were not for that man." She pointed ahead. "Nadir's plan was flawed. It was clever but it was never going to work. None of it would have worked if it were not for him."
Erik sighed.
"Well… what do you want me to do?" He asked petulantly. How could he even consider speaking to Claude, regardless of what he had done to redeem himself and the actions of his clan?
"A thank you would be a start!"
Silence again. They rode for a minute or so before Christine spoke again.
"How far do you think we are from… where we were heading?"
"I don't know. I might have an idea when we reach the main road. Preferably that would be soon…"
Christine nodded uneasily, unbeknownst to Erik. She too hoped that it would be soon. She knew that Erik's strength was a façade and that he was far from comfortable. He had to have been exhausted and while they had wrapped his wound, he was far from being out of danger. She couldn't wait until they reached their destination. Only then would she be at ease, once his wounds had been sewn… he could finally achieve some rest and so could she.
After an hour or so of silent travelling they reached the main road. Perhaps it was the same one she and Erik had travelled on at some point. In truth it had not come a moment too soon. Erik was beginning to fall forward, proceeding to lean heavily on Caesar's strong neck. Once Christine was able to come to the conclusion that he was in fact just sleeping, she did not wake him for fear of interrupting what little rest he aimed to achieve. Nadir and Claude stopped ahead of them and with some gentle encouragement from the woman behind him, Erik slowly sat up and looked around.
"We have reached the road." She said softly.
"This is where I take my leave…" Claude began. "Where is it that you are heading?"
"A town near Rouen." Nadir spoke before Erik could warn him not to. Claude nodded.
"Rouen is North." He pointed to his right. "Keep heading up this road for a day or so."
"We know which way is North…" Erik muttered under his breath. Claude approached him.
"I am sorry for what my clan has put you through over the years. Truly, I am. I know that words cannot revoke your suffering. Words are just words. But they are all I have…" He put out his hand. Erik stared down at it, recalling a similar moment he had shared with le Vicomte many weeks ago. There it was, outstretched in good faith, in good hope. After a few moments of observation he gritted his teeth and took the man's hand in his own. For what it was worth, Christine was right. This man had given up all that he was tonight and had not asked for anything in return.
"Thank you." He said softly. Claude nodded to Erik in recognition of his efforts.
"Thank you for what you have done, Monsieur." Christine added. "I for one am not too proud to say it."
"You are very welcome, Miss Daae."
Claude said his goodbyes to Nadir and left. Erik watched as he did so and did not allow his gaze to wander even after Claude had been entirely enveloped by the surrounding darkness.
"Come…" Nadir began warily. Erik was irritable at the best of times and his condition did nothing to improve that. "…Let us continue."
He did not respond.
"Erik…"
He was still staring after the man who had left them… even though he was out of sight.
"Yes." Erik finally responded; his voice distant. This was it… Perhaps the troubles of his childhood really were over. Perhaps the memories, the nightmares… were done. Perhaps his fears and insecurities had left right along with Claude. "Yes." He repeated. He turned to Nadir. "Yes, let us go."
"How is the shoulder?" Nadir asked.
"Well. It would be a great deal better had a madman not lodged a bullet inside."
"Ah. It cannot be too bad if you have the strength for cynicism."
"I always have strength for cynicism, my old friend."
"Yes. That I know too well. In all honesty though, how are you?"
"In all honesty, how do you think?" Nadir simply stared at him. Erik sighed. He was too tired for sarcasm and perhaps his friend had had enough for one night. "It stopped bleeding hours ago. As for the pain… There is not much that can be done, is there?"
"Will you be alright?" Christine asked.
"Of course, my dear. I have made it through so far have I not?" He was in pain, and he was exhausted but at least he was warm. Christine's presence had seen to that.
"Yes." She smiled weakly. "Do you need to rest?"
"No, no. The sooner we get where we are going, the better."
"Well whether you need rest or not, we are stopping soon. The sun will be up and we must keep ourselves concealed. Perhaps your gypsy clan is not following you but you are still very much a wanted man…"
"My gypsy clan, Daroga?"
Nadir shot a smirk at Erik before turning to face the road once more.
As soon as the first rays of sunlight could be seen rising in the East, Nadir insisted that they conceal themselves in the tree line once more. He demounted his horse before assisting Christine in doing so followed by Erik. Erik made more of a fuss about the indignity of it all than about the actual pain involved. Thankfully it did not snow. They were able to tie the horses and set up two make-shift tents as they had before and they were able to do so without incident. After assisting Erik with eating and drinking Nadir instructed him to rest in one of the tents. He did so without much coercion. He was exhausted and he could not recall when he had last been able to achieve a sleep that had not been caused by a loss of consciousness.
"Go." Nadir told Christine as they stood by the tents. "You should rest as well. I will stay awake."
Christine crawled into the tent and lay next to Erik, pressing herself up against his back and wrapping an arm around him. Something she had not done in what seemed an eternity. Apparently exhaustion had gotten the better of him. He did not turn to face her, simply took her hand in his own and pulled it further around himself. He mumbled something sleepily and soon fell into a steady breathing pattern which could only denote sleep; rest at last. She did the same.
Erik awoke to extreme hunger and the pain was much worse than it had been upon falling asleep. The next day was always worse… or in his case, the next night. From experience he had learned that to be the case but one never quite got accustomed to pain… only learned to accept it. He turned to his left to see Christine snuggled up against him and in spite of the pain he was feeling he could not help but smile. His heart swelled with happiness. Waking up next to Christine… mere hours ago he would not have thought it possible. If not for the pain wracking his body and the hunger eating at him from the inside out he would have thought it a dream. With great difficulty he turned to face her and placed a kiss on her forehead before slipping out from beneath her. Once standing he stared down at her. She must be just as exhausted as he.
"You are relieved of your duties, Daroga." He spoke as he exited the tent; his voice still hoarse from sleep. Nadir was sitting beside his own tent, wrapped in blankets with a book in hand… apparently reading in the depleting sunlight.
"Just in time." He said, peering at Erik over his spectacles. "We should be on our way."
"Since when did you need those?" Erik asked, sitting down beside his friend with a grimace.
"Ah. The years have not been kind to my sight, I am afraid. You are fortunate to have been blessed with such sight."
"Fortunate." Erik scoffed. "That is not a word I would use to describe my life."
Nadir shrugged. He had grown quite accustomed to Erik's self-deprecating comments and chose no longer to address them. There was no point.
"You are bleeding through your bandages, Erik." He began, pulling at Erik's jacket. "We should change them."
"I would rather we didn't. We will arrive at the house tonight if we make good time."
"Alright… it can wait, I suppose." Nadir had learned to choose his arguments… His gaze shifted to meet Erik's. "It is good to see you."
"You cannot say it, can you?" Erik asked, a smirk playing on his lips. A strange contrast to the rest of his bruised face.
"Say what?"
"That you were worried for me. That you are glad I am alive; still part of this world in spite of the grief I have caused you over the years."
"…And still cause me." Nadir retorted. "Here." He produced some more food from within his tent and handed it to his friend. "Stop bothering me and eat something."
"Merci." Erik took the food gladly, the smirk never leaving his lips.
"What of Christine?"
"What of Christine?"
"Will you not tell me how you two came to be in the company of one another? Please do not tell me that you…"
"Of course not! I would not take her against her will!" Erik cringed inwardly at the memory as he chewed his bread; not quite stale but filling all the same. "I am sure that Christine has filled you in on the details you wish to know."
"Vague details… She loves you. That much I know."
Erik scoffed.
"Against all odds." He said, his voice distant.
"Perhaps I will regale you with the details at a later date, Daroga… perhaps when I am in better spirits. Have you more water?"
Nadir nodded before doing what was asked of him. Erik had regained much of his strength and while still in considerable pain, was now able to achieve these basic tasks without the assistance of either of his companions; something which lifted his spirits greatly.
"Wake Christine. We should go."
Erik sauntered back into the tent to see his love exactly where he had left her; curled up against the cold, her hair spread out against the blankets, a slight smile on her face…
Keeping his hand pressed tightly against his side for fear of disrupting his injuries, Erik knelt down beside her and gently shook her until she opened her eyes. He hadn't consulted a mirror in days but he was certain that he looked worse than ever… Even so, she smiled up at him as she woke.
"Time to leave." He said. He stroked her face gently and she smiled to his touch before taking his hand in her own placing a kiss upon his bruised knuckles.
"Good morning." She smiled sleepily.
"Good evening." He corrected.
"Oh, yes…" She giggled. "It feels strange, does it not?"
"Not for me. This is… somewhat normal for me."
"I suppose it would be." She replied thoughtfully as she sat up. She leant in and pulled him toward her until their foreheads were touching. Erik smiled. It had been an eternity since they had been able to share breath like this, share warmth, share space… Their lips met…
Nadir's voice sounded from outside.
"We must be leaving now, you two."
Christine laughed quietly. Erik smiled, an attempt to be polite. But it was not funny at all.
"Impeccable timing as always, Daroga." He called.
"Come…" Erik began. He placed another kiss on her lips before standing up and offering her his hand. She took it and embraced him as soon as she had reached her feet.
"I am so happy. Do you know that?" She asked. "Can you comprehend how incandescently happy i am?"
Erik smiled as he wrapped his right arm around her.
"I can…"
Of course he could.
Of course.
They had been riding for several hours. Only travelling at a walking pace for fear of tiring the horses and seldom speaking for fear of tiring themselves.
"Christine… I have been meaning to ask you something…" Erik suddenly began. It had only occurred to him in the last hour or so, but once it had he could not fathom why he had not been bothered by it sooner. Prior to the catastrophe unfolding it had been all he had thought about…
"Yes? What is it?"
"What happened to… the boy? You told me that he accompanied you to visit me, that he was helping you… what happened? Why is he not here? I am glad of the fact, of course. But I… could not help but wonder."
"Raoul left. Shortly after we met with Nadir, he left."
"Do… you know why?"
"He… he found out that we were engaged. It was too much for him to bear, evidently."
"Ah…" Erik responded after a short silence. He didn't know what he had expected to hear but having heard Christine's answer he could not help but feel sorry for the boy. Once, he had been in that very same position. Christine Daae… engaged to another. The very thought was unbearable… he looked down to his left, Christine's hand was gently resting on his waist, her engagement ring; visible. As soon as he was able he would buy her a new ring. There were far too many memories associated with that which she was wearing. Too much pain… too much confusion. And more importantly, the ring was not his to give. Giving it to Christine was wrong of him… both times. Yes, she had said yes… and she was truly his, but having her wear the boy's ring was an insult to him… For what that was worth…
"I… plan to buy you a new ring, Christine. And I plan to marry you, of course… when I am able." He placed his hand over hers. "If you will still have me after everything."
"Of course I will." She said with a laugh.
"Daroga…" He called, a renewed sense of energy flowing through him. "Do you plan to stay with us when we arrive?"
"Well I suppose that I will, for a time… If only to care for you and suffer your moods so that Christine does not have to."
Christine laughed.
"Christine is well acquainted with his moods." She threw over Erik's shoulder.
After another hour or so they came to a fork in the road. The right continued on, the same width… the left narrowed slightly.
"Left." Erik spoke. Nadir followed his instruction.
"Are we close?" Christine whispered. Erik did not answer. The trees bordered the small, dirt road and the sound of the horses' hooves beneath them seemed to take on a strange echo as the greenery grew denser. They walked on in silence for a few more minutes. The greenery began to thin out once more before they greeted with light…only a feint glow on the horizon, but that of a town…
Boscherville.
Nadir turned around to question Erik. His gaze was unwavering and his eyes had somewhat glazed over as his features took on an unreadable expression. He knew without needing to ask that they had reached their destination.
Please let me know what you think! How do you like the direction in which it's going? Good? Bad? Unexpected?
