Madame Giry sat quietly in her room praying. A temporary comfort had settled around her as she had looked at the few pictures she'd had of Meg when she was a child. Outside of the pictures that were taken for the Opera House, they'd not had a formal family picture taken in years. When Meg returned, she'd see to it. She closed her eyes. She told herself over and over again, that it would be alright, everything would be alright…it was just a bad dream. Although she decided, she would feel much better when Nadir returned.
XXXXXX
Christine had retired. Knowing it would be hours before Nadir returned, she had to rest for the baby's sake. Erik had been resting peacefully at her side. She tried sitting up and reading to him, as she had done so many nights before, but that provided little comfort. She found the most rest lying next to him. As long as she could touch his skin, she felt safe, loved, comforted.
She stared at the ceiling as she felt sleep tugging at her eyelids. Even if she could not sleep, she could rest her eyes.
It a few moments she had yielded to the sleep she thought was eluding her. At first it was peaceful. It didn't take long before her dream returned. It was flashes of light, she could see wielding swords, twirling capes, lunges, blood, screams. She thrashed about on the bed, her muscles twitching involuntarily. Her dream seemed to move between places and time. She was at once in the cemetery, Raoul and Erik were crossing swords as she watched helpless to stop it. Then she flashed forward, Raoul again appeared in her dreams, lunging scraping swords with another in a cape, though Christine could not see his face.
She rolled from side to side, moaning. How she wanted to wake, but the dream would not release her. Flashing back and forth, shrill cries, and a final lunge and Raoul was over his opponent, poised for the final thrust. It seemed to move in torturously slow motion now, each agonizing second moving slower than the last. Raoul's wrist thrusting the point of his sword toward the other man's chest until he was within an inch of his life.
Christine felt herself crying out "NO….not like this…not like this…." The last image that flashed before her eyes was that of Erik's face and then a burst of white light as the sword pierced the heart, blood spewing from it like a geyser. Then her mind went blank.
Christine could feel that she'd broken a sweat, her nightgown damp from it, clung to her. She wrestled with her mind, trying to bring herself awake. One last fleeting image passed through her mind. Raoul standing above the lifeless form at his feet, a satisfied look on his face. She heard him say "this time I've not lost…not this time…"
Christine could feel herself trying to scream, to cry out. She jerked suddenly awake. She felt a strong pair of arms wrap around her as she began to sob uncontrollably. "Shhhhh….you've had a bad dream my dear….it is alright…I am here with you…." Erik had pulled her to him, and was caressing her head as it lay against his chest.
The door to their room burst open, Madame Giry rushing in, not having respected the customary rule of knocking first. "Is everything alright?"
"She's had a bad dream Madame, nothing more. She'll be fine in the morning, she simply requires rest."
Madame Giry looked white. "And what was the contents of this dream that it frightened her so?" Erik gave her a disconcerting look "an odd question at this time of the night, I'm sure she will share it with us in the morning, now go out and do close the…" Madame Giry interrupted. "I must know tonight I'm afraid. Nadir has gone out because of a dream she'd had earlier" Madame Giry paused, her next words nearly choking her, "he said it was more like a premonition than a dream."
Erik turned his head sharply, "what is this that you speak of, Nadir has gone where, and under what advice and information did he travel?"
Christine lay awake in Erik's arms. She'd stopped crying, but was still sniffling as she listened as Madame Giry explained what had transpired.
Erik pulled himself up to a sitting position, and then Christine after him. She laid her head on his chest resting it there as she began to speak. "The dream turned…it no longer had Meg in it…rather two men." Madame Giry came to rest in the chair next to the bed. Erik rubbed Christine's shoulder reassuringly. "And what of the men Christine?" "It was…it was…Raoul and…"
"RAOUL!" Erick thundered. The very mention of his name incited such anger in him. "Erik!" Madame Giry quickly broke in. His eyes flashed at her, but he quickly quieted, recognizing the urgency in her tone.
"Do go on" Madame Giry said. Christine puffed heavily. Erik's temper still frightened her, there was such power in it. He began to rub her shoulder again, showing her without words that she could continue, that he wouldn't interrupt.
"I saw flashes of the room where Meg had been. His sword was raised and it clashed with the other man." Christine paused, "the man was wearing a long black cape, but I couldn't see his face. Then I was in the cemetery Erik, where you and Raoul had the encounter."
Madame Giry's face lit with surprise and horror. "What?" she said timidly. "Not now, not now." Erik scowled at her gruffly.
"It kept moving back and forth, back and forth until, Raoul he, he….." Erik felt Christine go limp in is arms.
"That is enough!" Erik pulled Christine closer to him as she began to cry again. Madame Giry leaned back in the chair. "Perhaps this has all been a bad dream, one we will wake from in the morning." Madame Giry said as she rose and walked toward the door. "Try to get some sleep, you need your rest." She glanced back at Erik who was cradling Christine in his arms. "And you need your rest too young man!" She said as she closed the door.
Christine sobbed, a mournful sob, a deep gut wrenching sob escaping from her pitifully. "Erik, it frightened me so….he was standing over you, he'd pierced you, and it felt as though he'd driven the sword through my own heart!"
"Christine, do not worry, I am here, and as you can see, I am quite alive." That made Christine smile, nestling in all the more in the crook of his arm. Erik began to gently slide the two of them back into a reclining position, holding Christine close to him. He lifted her chin with his hand, bringing his lips tenderly to hers. "My dear dreams will always haunt us. I have had my share of them. But dreams have no power over us unless we let them. They fade with morning light." He kissed her again. "Do not worry, I will hold you as you sleep, no harm will come to you in my arms."
Though Christine lay silently in his arms, sleep would not come. She wondered why she would dream such a thing. Was it her anger against Meg? Was it her repressed sorrows for Raoul? She just wished the night was over, that it was dawn, that Nadir was back releasing her mind of the ill-at-ease that had settled in it. It was all very unlikely, but it tormented her still. She closed her eyes…perhaps praying would help.
Erik sat silently. He wrestled with his own emotions. This was his "family". He'd been the one looking after them for nearly Meg's entire life. Now, he felt useless, as useless as a nag that is set out to pasture, its owners pity the only thing keeping it from the butcher's block. He couldn't even care for himself, let alone offer any real protection to anyone. Now Nadir had gone off, alone into the night. Perhaps the mission would be fruitless, but he knew of Nadir's instincts, and they had never steered him wrong before!
Erik's mind wandered to the many times that he and Nadir had fought side-by-side. He had been his most faithful friend, even though there were sometimes years in between their encounters. Nadir was most decidedly a capable adversary, that caused Erik little worry. But, if Christine's dreams had any truth to them, there would be consequences to his arrival at the winter house…the repercussions could be devastating.
How Erik longed to be up on his horse, if only to ride in the shadows to be certain that all was well. Erik thought long and hard. Having made up his mind, he cleared his throat. "Madame Giry!" he hollered in the loudest voice he could manage. It was minutes only before she clamored into the room, robe forgotten in hers.
"What is it? Has she had another dream?" her face was pale, strained from lack of sleep, and hours of worry. "No." Erik said. "Now I'd ask you to fetch the coachman, tell him to bring the carriage to the back of the house. He should bridle four horses instead of the usual two, and he'll need to…" Madame Giry curtly interrupted, "Erik, whatever for, you must be mad if you think I'll allow Christine to…" "No, not Christine. I am going to…do not give me that look," Erik said flashing his eyes back at Madame Giry who was shaking her head. "Woman, I am the master of this house, and the master no longer sleeps! If I should wish to go, I shall go! I've no mind to allow Meg or Nadir to come to any harm. If Christine is correct….if the dream is correct…they will be needing assistance. If her dream is but folly, then we will have lost but a few hours of sleep, and nothing more. I simply cannot…nay…WILL not sit idly when there is something to be done!"
Erik's tone was harsh and commandeering. It both frightened and comforted Madame Giry as she knew that Erik was coming back to them…he was coming back to them. She stood a moment, fighting with herself. In his condition, a long journey could be dangerous. "NOW!" Erik bellowed. Madame Giry turned without a word and walked to the door. "You'd best send someone to see if the physician could accompany us. I'm certain that would alleviate your unmentioned fears of my traveling!" Madame Giry shook her head…it was is if he could read her mind.
Christine trembled in his arms. She'd been silently listening to him mumble, and then shout for Madame Giry. She was terrified of letting him go, and yet she knew she could do little to stop him. Any words or ploys to try to get him to stay would be in vain, so she would save her breath.
"Christine?" Erik shifted his weight beneath her. "Yes Erik, I know you must go, but I do wish you'd ask the physician first, you've only been awake less than a day and I'd worry that…" she was quiet.
"I must go Christine, if Nadir was compelled to go, then I must follow. If there are indeed injured people, Nadir shan't be able to bring them back on his horse!" Christine knew he was right.
"Then we'd best get you dressed, you cannot go in your bedclothes." Erik sighed, grabbing at his side as he pulled himself up to the edge of the bed. Twelve hours ago he could barely move his head, and now his muscles were beginning to move on command.
Madame Giry had woken the coachman, and several others in the stable to assist him. She sent one of the stable boys off to fetch the doctor. Then she made her way to the house, putting a pot of water on to boil as she wandered about the kitchen plucking things from the cupboard and pantry to fill a basket of provisions. She was rummaging through the medicine cabinet, putting together a small kit of things just in case the doctor wasn't available. Who would administer the treatments if he was not there, she was uncertain, but it was better to have something than nothing.
She heard a noise, and then a shuffle of feet. "Sara! I didn't mean to disturb you." Sara was scanning the counter looking at all that Madame Giry had pulled out. She began helping her pack before she even asked why.
"Is everything alright mum?" she said, packing the last of the foodstuffs in the basket, covering it with a linen cloth. "Nadir has gone to the winter house, and now Erik is determined to follow." "Erik? He can hardly move….what on earth good would it do for him to go?"
Madame Giry gave Sara a knowing look. "Ah, yes, no use in arguing with that man, he's stubborn to the core. I suppose we could render him unconscious with a blow to the head!" Normally Madame Giry would have laughed at the attempt at humor, but her emotions were on high alert, and even Sara's softening demeanor did little to quell her apprehension.
The pair had the baskets packed in short order. Sara hoisted them both and carried them to the back door. The coachman met her there, taking the baskets and carrying them to the stable where the carriage was being readied.
Madame Giry returned to the pot that was now boiling on the stove. Carefully she filled a large jar with the hot water and submersed a tea ball in it. She turned to Sara. "There is little to explain really. Nadir has gone to the winter house. Christine had a dream that Meg was in danger, and it woke her from the dead of sleep. Nadir heard of it and departed at once, having an instinct that there was something to be feared."
"But Meg wasn't due to return until next week, how could she…" Madame Giry reached out and put a hand on Sara's shoulder. "I know, it puzzles me also. But what I do understand, and trust, is that if these two men are frightened, then I should think there is something to it."
Sara nodded. She'd not known them long, but was beginning to understand that there was a deep, deep, thread of trust that wove them all together, and though she was on the fringe, she somehow felt a part of it. She handed Madame Giry a snug woolen sack. Madame Giry slipped the jar of tea into. "I'll run this out to the carriage mum, I'm certain that there are things for you to tend to." Madame Giry smiled, turned departing into the dark hallway.
Author's Notes:
Captain Oblivious: Yes, I knew you'd not like the plot line, although I didn't expect you to stomp on it! Perhaps a swift swing of your sword….. Yes, Meg has much to tell them…much indeed. But will someone…something intervene….thus making the agony go on? Yikes, I think I just felt your sword swish past me! Hope you enjoy….hey, stop swishing that sword around….!
Glad to hear you're renting Reign of Fire, its really rather good. You'll probably laugh at the scene where the two of them are re-enacting a scene from Star Wars, it had me rolling on the floor! Its odd to see them both on screen, but not a bad sort of odd! Dracula 2000 will become a favorite I'm sure..It got me to run out and buy a hard copy of the Stoker original! It is so much fun to see him in so many different roles. Although my heart still, and will forever belong to the Phantom!
Daferretgirl: Welcome to the family! Yes, poor Meg, she has been on such a rollercoaster lately…and the ride isn't over yet! Thanks for the compliment. I hope you enjoy the next chapters!
NinetalesLuver: Yes, you are most welcomed to the family! Thank you for your compliment. I do love weaving a tale, the more complicated it gets the faster my heart pounds! Sorry if I've made you neglect your other internet activity…I just cannot seem to help myself! Hope you enjoy the next chapters!
PhantomFan13: Yes, the cliffies are hard to avoid without giving away too much! You are a thoughtful one aren't you. The next updates may further complicate your theories, but you are very good at reading the writer's technique called foreshadowing….just keep in mind, I am rather fond of that myself, so what you read, may not be what is written….
Craynann: If you could picture me in your mind's eye right now, you'd see me humbling bowing to your compliments. I sincerely appreciate them more than my words can describe. Everything sounds "good" to me until I get it on paper, then I'm not sure at all. You're encouragement keeps me going. I also am glad it isn't in book form yet, for that would mean it would be over, and I'm just not ready to give it up! So much to come….hope you enjoy it!
Waytoointoerik: Love hate relationship with the cliffies…I know what you mean exactly! I get to the end of a chapter, and my fingers tremble because my mind doesn't want me to stop, but alas, I have to work, and I have to sleep, and well, live, although my mind wants to do little else than obey it's command to update, update, update…. I actually look forward to the week, because I know I'll be writing every night! Hope you enjoy this set of chapters…..