Disclaimer: I own nothing of POTO

Thank you for waiting and I shall not delay you any longer =)

A TALE NEVER TOLD

CHAPTER 2

All that could be heard from within the dark room was the ruffling of paper. The only light were the two candles sat either end of the large desk. The man standing shook his head and scribbled something out replacing it with another drawing. He looked around the room hoping for some inspiration but found nothing. He knew he spent far too much time than was necessary in his study, after a period of time the room had become like a cage for him. He looked up towards the door just as it opened. He found himself looking at none other than his head of housekeeper Madame Giry. She entered silently and walked over towards the curtains to open them. The light of the clear night sky filled the room.

Madame Giry looked over at the man behind the desk. It amazed the woman of how much pressure this man took upon himself to finish a new design, it was remarkable for any man as well as the amount of accomplishments this man had achieved in his life time and what a shame it was the people know him more for his anger than the architect and problem solver that Sir Erik Destler is. His quick temper gets the best of him most times and unleashes hell upon those who have done wrong by him. But what amazed her was the love he could give if given a chance, Angelina was proof of that. The girl had won her father's heart since birth and not to mention inherited his stubbornness. A chance for love is what he needs, especially after the cruelty he has received due to the appearance of a quarter of his face. She could not blame him for his frustration sometimes as many have turned him down due to the appearance of his face and one woman in particular had used it against him. Manipulating him with thoughts that were false and crushed his hopes in the palm of her hand but she had given him one thing that she could say she was thankful for.

"What are you doing here?" he spoke with a cold demeanour while placing the pencil on the desk. He looked at the woman who had looked out for him ever since the day he was born.

She walked away from the curtains and instead went towards the door. She could sense if Erik was in one of his moods and decided best that she would tell him quickly and leave.

"Problems Erik?" she asked curiously.

"Yes, I am looking at it." He replied sharply with a straight face.

"Erik I am going to be blunt and what has been done can only be continued and not reversed or changed in any way. Once I begin you must let me finish. Promise me that." She paused for a response and received a stiff nod. "Angelina needs a motherly figure and that is why I have arranged for a meeting. The Daae's will be arriving within the next couple of days. If Christine is right for Angelina as well as becoming the Lady for this castle you are to marry her by the end of next week."

Erik stared at his head of housekeeper. What was she playing at? Who would willingly want to marry him…unless, no. he would not suffer again, not to mention let his daughter suffer with him. He would not marry they are good were they are. He advanced towards Madame Giry.

"Madame Giry I think that you are missing the point. Angelina has received a motherly figure before and thankfully it was before she could even remember. Do you remember what she put Angelina through? The pain she suffered as a baby. A baby! NO ONE DESERVES TO BE TREATED LIKE THAT. A BABY. A TINY DEFENCELESS BABY!"

"Erik it was not your fault. You didn't know she was going to…"

"You are missing the point woman. I left my daughter alone with her. Alone. I left her defenceless against that whore. And I am not going to leave my daughter in the care of another 'motherly' figure again. Do you understand?" His face was solid as stone as he spoke the final words.

"Erik…"

"Leave now. You are already testing my patience." He stated coldly turning his back to her to walk towards the balcony.

"I cannot undo what has been done but…not every woman is the same. You know that fully well. At least on my behalf and Angelina's give her a chance." She gave Erik one last glance and then left the room.

Erik stood there on the balcony motionless. Up above him clouds were forming. A storm was coming. He took a deep breath of fresh air trying to calm him nerves. But his thoughts over took his mind and he couldn't seem to calm down. How dare she? Who does she think she is? Thinking that she could arrange his marriage. He was Erik Destler. Lord of the North. Greatest architect in Europe. Advisory for the King. How dare she tell him what to do? He had every mind to go to her and tell her to leave. But he couldn't. She was older than he and had the respect of many. If he told her to leave many others would follow suit willingly.

This is when the thought occurred to him. He would leave. He would leave for a 'business trip' that cannot wait. Without a groom there would be no wedding.

"Maid." he called. "MAID!" He called again as someone opened the door. He looked to see that it was a maid he had called for. He looked at her, "Pack my things. I must leave for urgent business. It cannot wait; I want my things ready and in the carriage in the next 10 minutes. I shall be waiting down stairs. Do not and I shall repeat do not wake Madame Giry. She is tired and must rest. She does far too much than is required most of the time." All the time he added silently.

He left the room and in to the dark corridor towards Angelina's room. The years of training in the dark did him well and now he could see perfectly in the dark, just as he could when the sun is at its highest point. He opened the door silently and went to his daughter. Her dolls were scattered around the room as well as her other toys. Carefully he sat beside her and took off his mask. He woke her gently.

"Angel." He whispered. She started to rub her eyes and then look towards her father. She jumped up in response and hugged her father.

"Daddy!" she squealed happily hugging as tightly as she arms could.

He responded her hug and gently pecked her cheek. "Listen Angel, I have to go. There is some urgent business that cannot wait." He looked at her while speaking and the smiles seemed to disappear as spoke. "I know you are not fond of my trips Angel but I have duties my dear."

"But do you have to go daddy? Why can't someone else do it for you?" she pleaded as she embraced her father again. He chuckled. Even at this age she knew so much. He remembered one day when he asked her a question, "Why learn so much so quickly?" She replied with "I want to be like my daddy!"

He sighed. "Angel, no one else knows as much as I do or thinks like me and therefore I must do the jobs I am given." He sighed again. "I have to go now. I love you mon cherie." He gave her one last hug, grabbed his mask and walked towards the door. He glanced once more towards her. "Make sure you give them hell while I'm gone." And with a smile and a wink he left, closing the door quietly behind him.

The maid was waiting by the entrance. "Everything is ready my lord." she spoke looking down.

"Thank you." he whispered as entered the waiting carriage.

A fairly sized cottage stood in the outskirt of a small village. It was surrounded by wildlife what with a forest to the west and a stream running from south to north. The stream passed the heart of village.

Christine hummed a soothing lullaby as she brushed her younger sister's hair. She had wanted to go to town that day as her order of books had arrived but was stopped by the news of her father returning home after such an unexpected short journey. She couldn't help but think of what may have caused her father to return home so quickly. Maybe Sir Becket had granted her father the extra loan?

"Chrissie?" Amelia asked after Christine had finished her lullaby as well as brushing her hair. "You know Raoul?" Christine fought back an urge to smile. Earlier on in the week they had met Raoul a family friend who seemed very interested in Amelia and Amelia him.

"Yes I think that after 5 years of knowing his family I think I may know him." Christine teased as she stood and started making her way to the kitchen to check the dinner that she had begun, Amelia following.

"Well I think that…" She paused to look Christine in the eyes. "I think that I like him." Christine smiled she had seen this coming ever since the Christmas Ball his family had held a few weeks ago. During that night Raoul danced with no one apart from Amelia and Amelia was more than happy to oblige with the request. All throughout the night the couple had an aura of love and it could be seen in their eyes. Then a week earlier he has asked her about Amelia's likes and dislikes as well as what would make her happy. Knowing this, she knew that the two had feelings for each other.

"Well Amelia Daae I think that he likes you to. Actually I know this for a fact." She paused to watch Amelia's confused face and easily read the thought process going through her mind. "How?" She questioned herself for Amelia. "Well last week Raoul had come to me and engaged me in a conversation regarding none other but you." She smiled and finished adding the final touches to their dinner.

"Christine? Amelia? Where are my two favourite girls?" a voice came from the entrance of the household which could be only recognised as their father's.

"Well considering that we're your only girl's papa, unless there are some siblings that you haven't told us about." Christine teased her father as she embraced him with a hug.

"Papa!" Amelia rejoiced as she too joined in the embrace.

He looked at both of his daughters. The smiles on their faces warmed his very heart. They had kept him going when Elizabeth had died. He smiled at his daughters as he returned their embrace. How was he going to tell his daughters?

"Papa you must be tired, come rest and tell me about your journey." Amelia guided her father to a chair while Christine walked back towards the kitchen. She quickly grabbed the roast pot from the kitchen placing it on the dining table. She then turned her gaze towards her father and her sister. Amelia was staring intently at the fire and her father…well he looked worried. She walked over to the two and sat opposite her father.

She looked at him waiting to hear how his trip went but judging by his facial expression it seemed as though that the loan wasn't granted. She waited to hear the words, the words which would prove her judgment wrong.

"Sir Becket couldn't grant us the loan, not without losing his job." he looked down as he spoke.

"It's-" Amelia started but was cut off by her sister

"Amelia let Papa finish." Christine said waiting for her father to continue.

"He did however pull a few strings but it...it affects you so much Chrissie." He inhaled deeply and put his hands over his face. Christine felt so sorry for him but what could affect her so unless…

"Papa, please I will do anything for you and Amelia." She went over to him and tugged at his hands.

"His name is Sir Erik Destler. He is the strategist adviser of The King and he looks after the lands of the north. Thus named Knight of the north and he is also an architect." He then paused to make sure he didn't leave anything out. "Chrissie, he also has a daughter who's six and I think her name is Angelina. Christine you don't have to do this. I -"

"NO!" Amelia shouted stopping her father from continuing. "Papa how can you even ask Christine that? I will not allow this to happen when there is other ways!" Amelia stopped as she looked at Christine who stood in silence. She walked over to her sister, "Chrissie?" Amelia paused, waiting for a reaction. "Christine?" She said again but this time gently shaking her which caused Christine to get out of her trance like state.

She looked at her father and sister allowing everything to sink in. The man surely had a lot of titles yet he was not married and he had a daughter? But there must be a catch as someone who is of that standing must have something wrong with them but she would ignore this if it would help her father and sister. If her marrying would allow them to keep their home then she would do it. She could not stand the thought of them being homeless so much that she didn't care about the fact that she would be stuck in a loveless marriage for the rest of her life. "I'll do it." Christine whispered.

"Christine?" her father whispered in disbelief.

"Christine what are you thinking? You will not do this I absolutely condemn -"

"It is my choice is it not? And I am choosing this, this way you are keeping your promise to Mama, Papa. I am choosing to marry Mr Destler. I…I want to do this. When must we go?"

Her father looked at her begging to differ but knew he wouldn't be able to change his daughter's mind after she had set her mind to something. It was a trait she had inherited from her mother.

Her father sighed thinking about the surreal situation. "Immediately." he whispered. "The marriage is set to take place next week." He turned and walked out of the room not wanting to look his daughter in the eye any longer.

Amelia who stood still, stunned by what had happened in a matter of moments. Her sister was going to be stuck in a loveless marriage for the rest of her life and so that they don't live on the streets. Her appreciation and admiration for her sister grew even though she had so much admiration for her already but right now she had to support her sister and that meant helping to pack.

There goes chapter 2 out of the way, time to move on and start writing chapter 3 before the madness of school starts with the pressure of A-levels. And I got my GCSE results today :) have to say I did better than I expected to - which is always a plus :D