Thank you again for all of your kind words. I am encouraged even more to continue…alas…who could abandon this thing….it has a life of its' own! I've decided to post three chapters at once, as it seemed far too cruel to leave one hanging for an entire weekend!
Captain Oblivious: I must admit that my cheeks ache a bit as I recover from the inflicted fit of laughter, having just read your carefully chosen words. "GLOMPING" is permitted, in fact encouraged at this point in the story. "Odd" is good in my intricately layered world…oddly…those words aren't…well…for lack of better words…odd at all! I hope you enjoy the twists and turns of the next chapters. PS. Oh, yes, you'd better mind your manners around Erik…his temper has been known to show itself in the form of a lasso! He likely wouldn't approve of your glomping HIS Christine!
Glitter Queen of the Ice Show: Thank you. I rather enjoyed penning the last chapter. Such tension is building now for this poor pair. And we know that tension has but two outlets….anger or satisfaction. Let us hope the latter prevails!
AJNEMO: Thank you for your compliment! No exploding is necessary. I've posted three chapters today…I just couldn't help myself.
Chapter 16 Chills and BlessingsRaoul lowered his aching body into the steaming water his maid had prepared for him. His damp and dirty clothing lying in a heap next to him on the floor. He sunk down into the tub until nothing rose above the surface save his head. Leaning back into the carved rest that was there for his neck, he sighed wearily.
He felt empty, hollow, defeated, as if he was dying. How could he have lost her? How could he have made her perform when she had begged him not to? How could she have returned to him…was she afraid that he would hunt them down and put an end to them both? Did she sacrifice her own life just to spare his? He felt a sickening knot in the pit of his gut.
Thoughts reeled in his head, emotions over took him. Raoul cried for the first time since he was a boy, wreaking further havoc on his body until he fell into a fitful sleep of exhaustion. The warm water provided much needed soothing for his strength-depleted muscles. Somewhere in his slumber he vowed to begin again in the morning, if only he knew where to start.
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Christine took in all of the wonder of the sleeping world and the beauty of the field as they crossed over the un-harvested hay that lay beneath their feet. She thought of little else except the man whose hand she was holding; the man she had grown to love, and cherish. Her former world dissolving with each resolute step the pair took.
Erik's keenly attuned eyes took turns from gazing down at her and scanning the horizon to be sure that none observed or followed them. At last they were at the edge of it, surrounded by a large thicket. Erik moved through, breaking branches and winching at the noise they made, knowing no alternative. He came back for Christine and led her through the roughshod hole in the growth.
Christine knew this place well. She had spent many hours here talking, praying. She could think of nothing more fitting than to be there with him on this special night.
Erik led Christine by the hand, passing row after row of bells and sculptured angels. As they neared the entrance of her father's mausoleum, she flashed back at the dark stains on the headstone where Raoul and Erik had both shed blood. She shook it quickly from her mind. THAT was not meant to be, THIS was meant to be and she no longer wished to think of anything but Erik, and Erik alone.
Erik led her to the steps in front of the monument, glancing up at the name DAAE etched on the crown. He cupped her face in his hands, breathing slowly as he whispered to her "Christine, this night your name shall change, but to what I do not know. For now I shall call you by your own name until I can bestow upon you a proper one."
Christine looked at Erik saying "a name is just a word, nothing more, it is the change in my heart that makes me yours." Erik embraced her kissing her head atop the mound of curls that surrounded her face.
They knelt together on the first step of her father's grave. Erik took her hands into his as he lowered his head. Christine did the same. The pair was trembling…not from the cold…but from the sheer glorious euphoria of what lay before them.
"Dear father we come before you now asking for your blessing on our lives. Our hearts are filled with joy and love, but we will proceed no further unless we know that you would not have objected to our pairing." Erik paused, glancing up at Christine, who herself was stealing a glance at him; they smiled as he continued. "The love I feel for your daughter is real and deep. So deep that I would lay my very soul open to see that no harm come to her." Christine squeezed his hand. "I have shared your music with her, adding some of my own, to cheer her spirit. She came to me in the stillness of the night when she missed you so, and I comforted her. I assisted her growth as you would have, allowing her own voice to take flight. I encouraged and protected her as if she was blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh." Erik paused, drawing in a long breath, moving closer to Christine. "On this night dear father, we ask for your blessing that the two of us become one flesh, no longer separate, but together forever."
Erik paused. In the stillness of the night could only be heard the sound of the falling snow. Erik looked at Christine, eyes wide with wonder and love. Her hair now glistened with a soft white covering of freshly fallen snow. He marveled at how much it resembled a delicate veil placed so perfectly on the head of his bride. He looked most seriously at her, somehow seeking final confirmation that she loved him enough to sacrifice their individual futures and become one in love….to share one lifetime.
Christine was flying, lost on the wings of her angel's touch. She could do nothing more than stare back into his piercing eyes. Suddenly, high above them, a burst of light streaked far up in the ink-black sky. A lone star raced across the galaxy, shooting off into the heavens as if illuminating the night just for them.
Erik and Christine looked at each other, a broad smile spread across both of their lips. They knew, in that moment, he approved. Erik pulled from his pocket a small number of pages, opening them carefully and reading them aloud to Christine.
"And the two shall be joined together, one flesh, one life, no longer separate, but joined together for eternity…let no man put asunder." He paused looking deeply into her eyes pulling her even closer. "Christine, will you have me to hold, from this day forward, in good times and in bad, sharing with me your life and your love, finding rest and peace in my arms, trusting in me for your happiness, forsaking all others until death us do part?"
Christine's eyes glistened in the moonlight. She reached out, placing her hand over Erik's heart. She looked up into his eyes and said "yes, I do." Erik smiled as tears of joy streamed down his face. Christine found her voice, "Erik, will you have me to hold, from this day forward, trusting in me to love and accept you, to make you feel whole, to share our love without doubt or reservation, forsaking all others until death us do part?"
Erik's voice cracked "yes, I will…with all of my heart and soul." The unadulterated force of that moment lacked description. It was as if two celestial spheres had collided, a fiery fission creating a new heavenly body, an object of awe and wonder for all the ages. The two embraced, flesh pressing against flesh, they could no longer be parted. The new husband and wife tarried a long while simply holding each other as their hearts exchanged promises, hopes and dreams for eternity.
Erik then took out a small prayer book, something he had picked up in the streets of Paris by a cathedral. Inside was a simple, humble prayer. Erik began "may the Lord God smile on you, may He be gracious unto you, may He grant you everlasting peace. May you keep Him always in your mind, ever fearful, ever mindful, that He is an omnipotent God. His blessings be with you as you make your new life together, and may He bless your union with many happy years."
Erik slowly closed the book. Looking at Christine, he took her face into his hands lifting her chin to meet his. "My wife, I love you more than life itself. I shall never forsake you or leave your side. No man on this earth is filled with more joy than I am. I can scarcely take it in that you have chosen to be mine…forever. From this night forward all that I am is yours, and all that you are is mine."
There on their knees, in the shadow of her father's grave, they received his silent blessing.
Just then, a small gust of wind whistled through the trees, making a small swirl of the freshly fallen snow. In the wintry glow of the pale moon, the snow glittered like a million diamonds suspended in the air to encircle them. Time stood still…for them…and them alone…a fated pairing…a true love to last for a lifetime.
Erik tenderly kissed Christine's trembling lips, wiping the tears from her eyes. She no longer looked away when he touched her face, for she was no longer a stranger, a demur girl in need of discretion. She was his wife, and she belonged to him…all of her now belonged to him.
Erik swept her up into his arms, covering her with his cloak. Christine clung to him resting her head on his chest. He carried her back toward the cavern, through the branches and across the field of hay. The faint trails of the shooting star still lighting the crisp night sky. A precious, starry winter night, full of promise, full of love, full of redemption.