Disclaimer: I do not own POTO or Elisabeth.

Chapter Four

Grounded

After Erik disappeared, everyone unfroze. Christine was still standing in the middle of the aisle, still dazed from what had just happened.

"Christine," Raoul called, "what are you doing?"

She sharply turned around and ran into his arms. "Didn't you see, Raoul? Erik was here!"

He looked down at his bride with concern. He held her tighter and cooed, "We need to get you away from here. When we are in Sweden, you shall finally be free of the monster."

"No, I won't, Raoul! He's… He's…" By now everyone, expect Mamma Valerius, who was still wrapped up in her own little world, was staring at Christine as if she was a madwoman.

"Calm down, Christine. I will protect you. I will see to it that you are safe." The priest gave Raoul a quizzical look. "She is fine, Father. It's probably just the excitement."

"As you say, Monsieur," the priest rejoined, still unconvinced. "You may go now. God bless you both, my children." He made the sign of the cross above them both, and then turned to Christine and gave her a second blessing.

Raoul and Christine exited the church, followed by Mamma Valerius. The newlyweds climbed into their carriage, and Mamma Valerius, with a last word of joy, climbed into the other carriage, which Raoul had sent for her.

For a while, the couple sat in total silence, a few feet away from each other. Raoul breeched the space between himself and Christine by placing his hand tenderly on her arm and asked with equal gentleness, "What is wrong, Christine?"

"Nothing. It must have been the excitement, just like you said, dear." She forced a small smile onto her lips and embraced her husband.

"I love you, Christine," Raoul cooed, stroking her curls.

"I love you too, Raoul."

Raoul pulled away from Christine and asked, "Are you happy to be returning to Sweden?"

"Of course." Her agitation was quickly forgotten as ecstasy replaced it. "It is the most beautiful country in the world, Raoul! I just know that you will love it there."

"I know I shall love a place so dear to you."

"I can't wait to go back. I haven't set foot on Swedish soil since I was eight."

The two carriages stopped in front of the de Chagny mansion. Raoul helped Christine out, and then walked over to the other carriage to help Mamma Valerius out.

Mamma Valerius gasped as she stood beside Christine, "Such a grand place, Christine! Are you sure you want to leave all this behind for Sweden?" For a moment, Christine asked herself why she was leaving again. Then she remembered the reason- Erik. For a brief time, she had forgotten all about him, but now his memory came through, clearer than ever.

"Yes, Mamma, I am quite sure," Christine replied gravely.

Raoul asked, heading towards the door, "Let us go inside. Armand should have lunch ready for us." Christine took her husband's outstretched hand and followed him inside, with Mamma Valerius trailing behind. Servants were still scurrying about the dining room table, setting out the platters. From down the hall one could hear them as they gossiped between themselves.

"Why do you think the comte wanted a meal at such an odd time? It's only ten o'clock."

"Who knows?"

"Won't his sisters think it odd?"

"You are quite dull. Don't you know that they're all vacationing at the sea now?"

"I almost forgot. Still, that doesn't answer my question."

A maid who had been going about her work silently know spoke up. "It's not nice to gossip about the comte."

"Be quiet, Adele."

"Quick, the comte's coming. Don't you hear?" And the servants dispersed.

Upon seeing the small banquet that had been set out, Mamma Valerius gasped once again and asked Christine, "Are you sure that you want to leave this grand place?"

"I am quite sure, Mamma."

Christine scooped a few meager servings of the fine food on her plate, but couldn't bring herself to eat it. Mamma Valerius managed to lighten her mood a bit, though. The old lady obviously wanted to devour the fine dishes like a wild animal; you could see it in her eyes. However, her breading wouldn't allow her to do so. Occasionally, she would break down and shove a hearty spoonful into her small mouth. After this unexpected comical relief, Christine was able to eat normally.

At quarter to eleven, Raoul rose and announced that they would need to leave for the train station soon. Christine hurried to her room where Elaine helped her into her stiff traveling gown. After picking up the carpetbag that contained her personal belongings (her trunk was already loaded onto the carriage), Christine joined Raoul and Mamma Valerius in the foyer of the mansion.

"Are we all ready to leave, then?" Raoul asked as Christine descended the stairs.

"Yes."

Raoul handed an envelope to the butler and told him to give it to his sisters when they returned from their vacation. Then, the little party piled into the carriage and set off for the train station.

Christine glimpsed her dainty gold watch. "It's nearly quarter after eleven," she cried. "We must hurry!"

"I'm going as fast as I can," Jacques called, "but the streets are so crowded today."

"Calm down, Christine. We'll make it on time," Raoul said. Christine couldn't manage to calm down. She didn't want to spend one more night in Paris- she was afraid that Erik would come for her tonight, before her marriage to Raoul was consummated. She had to fly away now.

The train station was now in sight, and Christine relaxed a little. She kept telling herself that they would be able to catch the train. Suddenly, the sound of a train whistle filled the air. Christine frantically looked at her watch. It was eleven-fifteen on the dot. The train was leaving.

"Raoul, that's our train!"

"No it isn't, Christine. It's only eleven-ten. We'll make it yet."

"My watch says eleven-fifteen."

"Then it's fast."

"If you say so…" The carriage came to the train station. Raoul hopped out and helped Christine and Mamma Valerius get down. They made their way to the platform and sat on a bench. They waited there for ten minutes. It was now eleven-twenty (according to Raoul's watch).

"The train will be here soon," Raoul declared, "it is just a little late." A half hour passed. Raoul leaned over to a man standing beside them and asked, "Where are you headed?"

"Why do you want to know!" the man growled irately. Raoul decided that the man would be of no use to him, so he got up to go ask someone in the office

"I'll be right back," he told Christine. He quickly made his way to the office and asked one of the workers what time the train for Sweden was leaving.

"It's already gone. It left some fifty minutes ago."

"When will the next train to Sweden leave?"

"There's no more today."

"Then when would a train be leaving tomorrow?"

"To Sweden? At eleven o'clock in the morning and three-twenty in the afternoon."

"I'll take three tickets for the three-twenty train."

The worker ripped off three tickets from a long roll and said, "Sixty francs." Raoul handed him the money, received his tickets, and went back to tell Christine and Mamma Valerius the news.

A/N: Please R&R! Flames are welcome.