V. Threaten and adore
It was chilly in the shadow of the trees. The Phantom had found them a place where they could sit on a fallen trunk and spread out their belongings in what might be considered the tiniest clearing imaginable, but despite this whole adventure's irresistibly romantic flair, it was chilly. Of course, the Phantom had warned them about this. He had reminded them that it might be surprisingly warm still for the end of October, but that it was October all the same, and November's foggy cold was drawing near, but in the warmth of the Opera House Meg had only seen the exciting expedition ahead and not thought of such trivialities as the current time of year. Perhaps she should have stayed at home? But no, not when everybody else was coming along.
Well, only Christine and Raoul and Senta. And the new girl, Valencienne. But should she stay at home when some new girl was going? No, no indeed! There was no way a Maxim performer was setting out on an adventure and Meg Giry was staying behind!
To be fair, it was not Valencienne's fault she had only found employment at the Maxim; there were more than enough singers around to fill every opera chorus twice, as Meg's mother used to say. But still, Meg and Erik had been friends already when Valencienne still had been completely oblivious to his existence.
She was jealous, she admitted to herself, jealous that Valencienne had been permitted to sit on César in front of Erik and lean against him, jealous that there was another woman in his life now. Of course, she could have claimed him earlier on, he had been more than ready to get to know her in ways her mother would very much disapprove of, but she had refused back then, and she would still refuse now. She had enjoyed the occasional snuggling, and kissing too at times, but there were certain lines she would not cross, and it had not been enough for him. Moreover, especially recently he had been a brother to her, more than anything else. There was no reason to be jealous, because she had not wanted to be what Valencienne was to Erik now.
But all the same…
Raoul spread out a couple of blankets on the ground, and Senta was the first to settle down on them, sitting on her haunches and looking up at Raoul expectantly with her tongue hanging out. With her thick, fluffy fur, she probably did not feel the cold at all. Her white-tipped tail hit the blanket beneath her as she wagged, as cheerful as ever.
To Meg's right, the horses were whickering and snorting and stamping their hooves, trying to accommodate themselves where they had been tied to thick branches. César was attempting to nip Christine's grey mare beside him, but the Phantom whistled softly and stared at him hard, and the stallion lowered his head and concentrated on the moss he was standing on instead.
"Well," Raoul said, sitting down beside Meg, "this is as cosy as it's going to get."
"Couldn't we have a fire?" she asked hopefully. A fire, that would be something really romantic!
Raoul shook his head. "Too dangerous. We might be seen, and we don't want any unnecessary trouble. We're with Erik, yes, and Erik is here to see Nordstedt, but it's still best if we avoid all contact with the Prussians if possible."
Sighing, Meg exchanged a glance with Christine, who shrugged. "This is going to get pretty uncomfortable before too long," she stated.
"No nagging, piglet. You wanted to come, I never made you." The Phantom did not even turn, but continued affixing the horses' nosebags.
Meg snorted. Calling her piglet in front of Valencienne! And the worst was that he was completely right in what he said.
"Do we have lunch now?" Raoul asked, trying to fend off Senta's attempts at climbing his lap.
"Absolutely not, kid. It may be midday, but it's still not lunchtime."
"So might I inquire when lunchtime is, in the Lord Phantom's worthy opinion?"
"The Lord Phantom decrees that there will be no lunch for you, kid," the Phantom shot back dryly. "No, seriously: You lot can have lunch whenever you like. I'm going to see General von Nordstedt." Indeed, when passing out the nosebags, he had left out César. "Raoul, be so kind and toss me a carrot."
"You want me to peel it for you?" Raoul grinned as he reached into a bag. "Or do you prefer to eat it nice and earthy and unpeeled?"
"For my horse, you dolt! He's coming with me."
"Yes, I know. Here, catch." Raoul threw the demanded carrot, and the Phantom caught it with his left hand and smoothly transferred it to César's waiting muzzle. "So, we said I stay here with Christine and you go to the camp. What do the other two do? Stay with us as well?"
The Phantom shrugged. "I expect so. I never promised this was going to be overly interesting."
"We're with you," Christine agreed, "and that's what it's about. To accompany you, not for adventures."
"Yes, but –" Meg stopped herself and bit her lower lip. Yes, Christine was right. Erik had asked if they wanted to come with him, but had warned them that they would have to wait while he fulfilled his errand.
But all the same… this place was nothing but gloomy and chilly. Whereas getting a look at the Prussian encampment was a very tempting idea. Of course Meg harboured a dislike for the Prussians, like everybody else in the city probably, but there was nothing wrong with being curious.
Her mother had not liked the idea much, but she had agreed, and so there could really be nothing wrong with it.
Well… she had not expected anyone to accompany Erik into the camp, or had she?
Which was highly unlikely, anyway.
"You can come with me if you like, little sister."
Meg stared at him in unconcealed surprise, at the smile playing beneath the black mask. Had he really just said that? Had he really permitted her to accompany him? That he had called her little sister was probably not to make Valencienne jealous; she did not pay it much attention. She was to go with Erik!
"Same goes for you," the Phantom added with a nod at Valencienne. "Let's leave those two love-doves to themselves in this nice romantic forest, shall we?" He attempted a smile, but one corner of his mouth twitched traitorously, so that it became a grimace. "Kid, you have an eye on her. If you do anything you shouldn't, I'll know straight away."
Raoul answered with his open, jolly grin he wore so often. "So will I, old villain."
"Yes, I suppose you will." He bid him goodbye with a nudge to the shoulder, whereas Christine got a long, earnest look that, to Meg's friend, probably carried a meaning none of the others would understand. First he and Christine, then he and Valencienne… Again Meg had to fight down a growing sensation of jealousy.
But on the other hand, Meg reasoned as she once again climbed the horse that had brought her here, patting the bowed neck a little uneasily – she really was not used to horses, especially not if they moved too quickly while she had to try to sit as gracefully as possible –, on the other hand… it was better that way. Yes, it was. Having to put up with Erik as a friend could be difficult enough sometimes, but having to put up with him as a lover… Christine had told her quite enough, after all, and she and the Phantom had not even been lovers, technically. Clearly enough, he had a… peculiar way with those he loved. Well, he had loved Christine to the point of obsession – and probably still did so – which did not hold true for anyone else, yet all the same… He had regarded Christine as his own, his property, at the same time as throwing himself at her feet. He had controlled and dominated her, and yet pleaded with her like with a queen, or even a goddess. He had adored her, devoted as a dog, but as he had understood that he would not possess her in the end, he had meant to destroy her.
It still was a very sobering thought, after several months.
And Valencienne knew nothing of all this. There she sat on César's back with her arms around the Phantom's waist and her cheek against his shoulder, oblivious to the true nature of the man she had thrown in her lot with.
"Keep up, little sister," the Phantom called back. "Stray around here alone, and they'll be down on you like a flock of Pharenian vultures!"
Hesitantly, Meg dug in her heels just a little, and the horse sped up with a disconcerting little jolt. "What vultures, exactly?"
At first he did not reply, then he shrugged slightly. "Any old flock of vultures, it does not matter. Just keep up!"
Aha. And what would Aeternus have to say to this? The thought came suddenly, unbidden, and left an uncomfortable sensation at the pit of her stomach.
Why couldn't he be just the Erik she had come to know and like?
Because that Erik, a nasty little voice inside her head whispered, does not, in fact, exist. He's just an illusion, the image of the Phantom as you'd like to have him. All the time you knew the real Erik is different.
Maybe she should take Valencienne aside and talk to her. She seemed a nice girl to Meg; how could she just let her walk into a trap blindfolded. Of course, it was unfair to think of Erik in such a way, but then again, when it came to their first quarrel… would he be fair?
But then the sprawling camp before her distracted her, and she finally managed to banish her gloomy thoughts from her mind.