Christine and Madame Giry strolled leisurely through the gardens, tarrying briefly to look at the orchids, painted daisies, and the assorted lilies that Erik had chosen. "He's not missed a detail. The gardener said he even gave specific instructions as to the placement of each color of flower. See how each hue darkens as it moves toward the edge of the garden?" Christine was making polite conversation, thankful for the brief distraction. It didn't last.
Madame Giry walked in front of Christine, stopping her, then leading her to the bench at the edge of the garden that overlooked the glittering sea. "Do you know why he chose this place Christine?" Christine turned to look at her expectantly. "He had talked about it only briefly…a distant place…I thought it was a figment of his imaginative mind really until we arrived here." She looked up at Christine. "I think he chose this place because it reminded him of the stories that you spoke of as a child…of you and your father living in a house by the sea."
Christine gazed out with undulating adulation at the grounds that led down to the sands of the shore, and then towards the back of the house. Madame Giry smiled. "Do you notice anything that looks familiar child?"
Christine stopped, turning back to Madame Giry "whatever do you mean?" Madame Giry lifted Christine's chin, and turned it toward a small collection of trees at the edge of the sand. Christine strained her eyes, deciding instead to go over to it. Madame Giry stayed fixed on the bench. Christine needed to discover this alone, it was hers to find, just as Madame Giry had found it.
The warm breeze passed through her hair, briefly ruffling the edges of her dress. Today the winds bore a mist, and she could nearly taste the saltiness of the water with each breath. The grass was lush on this patch of earth, and the trees were a bit different than those in the rest of the property. Christine wondered why she'd paid them no mind before today.
As she came to the edge of them, she looked past the first two willowy timbers, and could see something in the middle. Perhaps something carved, made out of stone, but she couldn't be certain. As she moved past the first circle of trees, it hit her. Her eyes grew wide, her hand drawing quickly to her quivering lips.
There in the center of this grotto was a statue. A large figure, holding a violin, a small child kneeling at his feet. The statue had been cleaned and polished, and for any unaware eye, one would have guessed it was new…but it was not. She'd laid eyes on it before.
Christine rushed over, kneeling down before it, folding her hands in front of her. "How could he have…where…." Christine began to weep, reaching out to place her hand on the base. Her right hand wandering up to the face, down to the child, her left hand covering her heart. "Father…." Christine gasped. "Father he came…."
Christine rose to her feet, getting closer to hungrily take in every detail. Suddenly she'd moved through space and time. She was a little girl again….her father was just uncovering the statue…a present for her sixth birthday! "We will leave it here by the sea, in our favorite place my child…happy birthday!"
Christine could hear her father's voice in her mind as clearly as if he was standing right next to her. "Now see here, his wings are a bit covered by his commanding cloak, and see here how his mouth is opened as if he's singing, and here how he stands on a collection of music books and sheets, and here, how he's holding your hand?" Christine could see it all again in her mind's eye. Her father had given her the statue as a gift. The full significance not within the comprehension of a six-year olds mind, but she had been in awe of it anyway.
Christine closed her eyes, not wanting to let go of the memories that flooded her now. "He is the angel of music, he will inspire you, lead you down paths to the love of music that is deep inside of you. He will lead you to finding yourself my dear," her father slipped his hand under her chin as he helped her to her feet, embracing her.
Christine found herself wrapping her arms around her middle, rocking back and forth. It seemed far too impossible that he had found this treasure and brought it here for her. How in the world had he found it after all this time? When he was feeling better she would ask him. There was so much about this place she wanted to ask him….so much about him that she wanted to ask. "Patience….patience" she said to herself as she stood wiping the tears from her face.
Madame Giry had sat for nearly a half-hour before Christine reappeared. Her face was damp, but she could see that a smile graced Christine's lips. She smiled too. He had truly loved her all those years, never knowing if she would ever love him in return. That was the essence of the purest form of love; to love…expecting nothing in return.
XXXXX
Nadir didn't even knock. He knew he would be expected. Though time had separated them again and again, their reactions were excruciatingly predictable. He pushed the door open. Erik would be there, face turned away as though he didn't care that someone was entering. It was his way of feigning indifference. Nadir looked up, and as expected, Erik was gazing out the windows on the opposite side of the room. Nadir took his place in the chair, sighing heavily.
"She is beautiful Erik…just as you said." He could hear a muffled "hmmmffff" coming from his friend. "The house is beautiful too." Erik laughed before he could maintain his stoic demeanor. "It is good to hear you laugh again my friend…we heard you earlier when we were out in the…" Erik interrupted "the garden?"
Nadir paused, leaning back into the chair. This was Erik's cue that he was going to be speaking first, Nadir would have his turn, but not until Erik had his. "Do not forget who designed this house my friend…I heard all of your words…out in the garden!" He turned abruptly to look at Nadir. Erik could feel his temper flaring, but he couldn't understand why…Nadir had done nothing.
"Yes, I see. Some of the same old Erik still dwells in you!" Nadir retorted. "Just how did you expect us to get along Erik? You were in no position to introduce us, give us our due…the situation pressed us into relationships with those whose acquaintance we'd not made…but we're no the worse for it!"
"Silence!" Erik bellowed, then his voice retreated. "What have you told her Nadir? What does she know of our time together, how you and I became as you call it…blood brothers? Did you tell her of my time in Persia…of my time with…" Erik could not bear to say the name.
Nadir stood and walked over to Erik. "I'd think after this long while you'd know who your truest friends were Erik…do you not think I've had thousands of opportunities to reveal you even before I met her? If I'd decided to sully your name, I'd have done so when it was most advantageous to me…."
Erik huffed. He new Nadir spoke the truth. "No doubt she asked, and what then did you say to her? She is curious to a fault I'm afraid, she's rather prying." Erik said, a small smirk on his face as he thought of Christine's incessant questioning.
"Yes, you are correct, she asked…in fact she asked several times…but I told her simply that this was for you to explain, that it was not my place. She had to accept that it would remain a mystery until the words came from you."
"And if I'd never woken? What then would you have told her?" Nadir smiled again, sitting down on the edge of Erik's bed. "My friend, I would have told her that which she already knew….that you were a man that loved her….to his dying breath."
Erik reached out and clasped Nadir's hand. Though Erik was weakened, Nadir still grimaced under the crush of his grip. "A true friend you are Nadir….a true friend…."
Nadir rose to embrace him. Erik could rise only so far before the tug about his middle caused him to withdraw in pain. Nadir pulled back, a look of shame washing over him.
"Erik I.." Erik would have none of this. "Nadir, it is in the past. Of any two men that I've known, we are the most skilled at leaving things in the past. Let the issue of this," Erik pointed to his mid-section, "be no different."
Nadir's face was hanging low now. "Nadir, it does neither you nor I any good to wallow in pity. We have much to talk about my friend, let us not begin with a subject we both know would lead to a quarrel. You may recall that I am rather good with my sword!" That made Nadir smirk. Yes, Erik had proved shamelessly, time and again, that he was a better swordsman than Nadir. Nadir never took his defeats gracefully, and that usually ended in a bruised ego and a sweaty brow.
"Erik, I am relieved to find that at least I've not destroyed your distain for the trivialities of apology. I will simply say that I am sorry. I've never been that careless, and I regret having caused you and your wife such pain."
Erik thought about a quick-witted answer, and then bit his tongue thinking better of it. He needed to accept the apology, not for his sake but Nadir's. "Sir, all will be forgiven provided you get me out of this bed and out in the land of the living. I am quite awake now, and quite ready to do something more than reclining!" Nadir laughed again. "Yes my friend….I am quite certain you are."
XXXXXX
Meg was in the parlor, packed bags at her side. The innkeeper had already fetched a hansom for her. She had decided against procuring her usual hansom, in lieu of an earlier departure. The gentleman she saw pulling his carriage along side the inn was decidedly younger than most, and his carriage looked to be new, having had little real use. Meg turned away to bid her innkeeper farewell. Her early leave had caused a bit of confusion, but Meg was of little mind to explain herself. No doubt the gossip from the Starboard would provide all of the necessary answers.
There was a gentle rap at the door. Meg lifted her bags and made her way towards it as the innkeeper opened the door, uttering the customary greeting. Then she stopped as she heard the innkeeper say "but Sir, she is just on her way out, as you can see the hansom is already here."
Meg leaned around the pillar, hoping beyond hope that it was not Raoul. She listened intently, waiting for him to speak again. "My good Sir, I wish to speak to her only briefly, I'll not detain her."
Meg gasped, as the man pushed the innkeeper aside. "Monsieur De Chagny!" "Good my dear, you have not left. May I speak with you?" He turned glancing toward the innkeeper, "privately?" With that the innkeeper disappeared.
He motioned toward a bench near the door, sitting down, Meg reluctantly did the same. "My son has not been himself. You understand that likely better than any other as you were close to her also. I fear that he may have treated you improperly today….would I be safe in making this assumption?" Meg couldn't speak, and he interpreted that as agreement.
"I do not pretend to dismiss his actions, I pray only that this will not influence your mother's decision to return to Paris. You and your mother would be greatly missed." He was searching her face for any glimpse of softening, but it did not betray her. He continued "Raoul has become a bumbling fool, wearing his feelings on his sleeve, saying things that might be misconstrued, misunderstood."
Meg looked at him confused. He shook his head, "Raoul was rather forward with you today. Please except my apology for his improper actions and words." Meg bristled. She recalled feeling uncomfortable as she regained consciousness, but hadn't sensed the slightest bit of impropriety on Raoul's part, although admittedly it had been a bit of a fog.
Raoul's father looked at Meg. "Miss Giry, Raoul's expression of his love for you likely came as a shock, and I dare say he himself did not recall uttering those words, that is how truly sorry he feels for his actions."
"What?" The question slipped from between her lips before she could manage to stop it. Meg was confused. Had she heard correctly?
"Meg," he reached forward toucing her hand, the informality unsettled her, "you know that Raoul is in a rather injured state, his thinking is not clear…" All Meg really could hear is what he had said first….Raoul had professed his love for her?
She stood abruptly. "Monsieur De Chagny, I do not wish to seem ungrateful, or ill mannered." He blinked, he was not accustomed to women exhibiting such forthrightness. "It seems an appropriate amount of space would do well for both Raoul and I. I shall return home, delivering your correspondence to my mother. In a week's time I shall either send her response by messenger, or return it myself personally. Until then, I would prefer to go home. Unescorted."
De Chagny stood, nodding to Meg. "Very well. I shall express your regrets to Raoul and his sister." He put on his hat and moved toward the door. "This is most wise of you young miss. Raoul will no doubt need time to recover as well." He tipped his hat and departed.
Meg leaned heavily against the closed door. The innkeeper appearing from behind the kitchen door, rushed to her side. "Are you alright miss?" Meg nodded. She moved back towards her bags, picking them up going back to the door. "Miss, here, you've dropped this." Meg extended her hand grasping the item he was holding. "Nice young family aren't they?" Meg paled as she realized what it was he was handing her. The picture had fallen out of her skirt and had been lying on the floor! She had to get back home….time was of the essence!
Author's notes:
You are all very clever indeed…but one never REALLY knows what is going to happen… Oh, and thank you about the heads up of the chapters appearing in the wrong order…don't know what happened there, but I'll fix it!
Captain Oblivious: Somehow, I feel like we may have met in a previous life…not that I believe in previous lives mind you! You will love Dracula….it really is some of Gerry's best work prior to POTO. I had to get it because Joel Schumaker said that it was this movie that he saw that led him to Gerard for the lead role in POTO! So….alas…it was destined to be. I must say though, the older this man gets….well…let's just say he's aging like a fine bottle of vintage…a very fine bottle of vintage! O.k., I've lost myself again! Yes, poor Erik, he pushed the envelope too far when he came out of hiding and took Christine back with him into his hermetically sealed world of darkness and mystery. Once that barrier was broken, all He broke loose! Something like a single fragmented germ that destroys an entire system….(hope you've seen War of The Worlds, or that won't even make sense to you!) Have a great day! Hope you enjoy the next installment.
Crayann: Thank you for your sincere compliment. I have so enjoyed writing this. Sometimes I worry that there is a lull in the story, or that it becomes far too detailed. I'm glad you're sticking with it. Yes, Meg and Raoul….the world has been far to cruel to even the pampered prince. For all the money that he has, the one thing he desired most was love. Funny how he and Erik both wanted the same thing…and they came from two such opposite ends of the spectrum. It gets down to basic human need. In that arena, we all share one level playing field. The deep need to be needed and loved…those two men both wanted it, and with any smile of fortune, they should get their due! Hope you enjoy the next chapters. Buckle your seat belts though, there is a wild ride ahead!
Pertie: Thank you for the compliments. I wish to please my readers, and your encouraging words help me to stay on the right track! I think you'll enjoy the next chapters, though I doubt they'll reveal much more about where this is all headed…
PhantomFan13: You are right, somehow the chapters got a bit turned around. I hope to have that fixed today. Thank you for your review. But I must warn you, assumptions are dangerous beasts…they can lead us in the wrong direction…. Hope you enjoy the next chapters!
Diveprincess: The Bahamas…..hmmmm….explains in part your choice of tag names. If, by some miracle, you read this before you go…please have a Mai Tai for me when you are on the beach soaking up the glistening turquoise waters….maybe think about how Erik would have longed to take Christine there on a honeymoon….oh how sweet that would be! Have a wonderful time!
Stormyrainedoncowgirl: You are most welcome! I've been thinking a little about that tag name of yours…I have someone that is close to me whose tag name is Rainy, her real name is Misty…so if relative words are any clue, perhaps you are either a rope slinging (in which case Erik would love you) meteorologist, or you just love horses (which would make you a friend of Nadir who is a horse whisperer). Either way, you fit into the family nicely! Thanks for the review. I hope you enjoy the updates. Better get a good grip on the straps of your saddle, it is going to get a little "interesting!"