Chapter 2

Christine Daae sat at the window watching the rain drip down. It was early morning, her favourite time of day, and all the other children were still asleep; not that Christine could be counted as a child anymore, as she turned 18 last month. Listening out for any sounds below where the matron slept, she crept downstairs and into the kitchen.

As Christine crept over to the cupboard containing the biscuits, she heard faint giggles behind her and feet scuffling on the wooden floor. Ah, so not asleep then, she thought smirking. Without so much as a glance at them, she placed 3 biscuits on a plate and set it down on the table. The young woman then began walking out of the door into the garden and said in a matter of fact voice,

"Matron will be up in 10 minutes, so I'd make sure to clear up any crumbs, my little mice."

Listening to their giggling and whispering, she went over and sat on the swing nibbling her own biscuit. The sun was just begining to peak over the distant hills and the birds had begun their morning song. Christine smiled.

The first light hit the white weathered bricks of the once farmhouse she called her home. Now it was an orphanage, in which Christine was the oldest by around 8 years. Not that she would ever complain, as she adored all the children, but she sometimes wished for more. She knew she was destined to become a matron of the orphanage as Matron Valerius was not getting any younger.

The Matron was a kind woman and the closest thing to a parent she had since her mother and father died. Her father, who had died when Christine was 4, prepared for her future care by introducing her to Madame Valerius, and they soon came to care for each other.

As she sat there, Christine began humming a song her father used to sing. Her eyes closed and she got washed away into the memory and began to sing.

Lavender's blue,
Dilly dilly,
Lavenders green.

When I am King,
Dilly dilly,
You shall be Queen.

Who told you so,
Dilly dilly,
Who told you so?

T'was my own heart,
Dilly dilly,
That told me so.

She was broken out of her reverie by the sound of all her 'siblings' running out into the courtyard also. As they usually begged, she sang them a song, all the time oblivious to the man watching from the window.

Erik and Nadir pulled up to the front of the Foyer Doux Foyer in their carriage and glanced around. Erik was surprised at the quaint little building in front of him, expecting it to be a dark old house with a belfry and cracked walls. They made their way up to the front door and rang the doorbell, and were a moment later welcomed by a small woman with grey hair pulled into a loose bun. She smiled at them widely and ushered them inside.

"Welcome, welcome! You must be Monsieurs Claudin and Khan. I am Madame Valerius, the matron of the house. I can't tell you how pleased I am you could finally visit us, it means so much."

"And we are just as pleased to be here Madame, Monsieur Claudin has been meaning to have a trip out here but he is a very busy man" Nadir said, giving a nudge and sideways glance to Erik.

"Ah, erm, yes it is a pleasure to meet you Madame, but as Nadir says I am very busy so could we commence to the sitting room?"

After receiving a whithering look from Nadir, they were lead to the sitting room. Madame Valerius went off to make some tea, leaving the two men. Erik was pacing in front of the window, already restless of being there, when he heard what he thought was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

He stopped dead and leaned through the open window and caught a glimpse of the magnificent being with a voice of pure gold. The song was sweet and simple, and Erik could only imagine what she could do with an operatic aria or the like. Her eyes were closed and he sang with a serene smile on her face, making Erik's heart stop. She was beautiful.

"Erik, I swear to Allah, you will fall out of that window if you're not careful" Nadir said jokingly, but it caused Erik to whip around and shush him in a very ungentlemanly way.

Turning back around, he continued to watch as a dozen children, all wearing the same blue gingham shirt as her, ran to her and began begging her to sing.

I second that notion, Erik thought, and was open mouthed as she began again.

What was this girl doing in a simple orphanage? She had the potential to be the greatest diva in Europe, even the world, and her voice was hidden away because of the unfortunate nature of her past.

Sound familiar?

Oh do shut up, Erik said to his inner voice.

His conversation was interrupted when Madame Valerius came bustling in.

"Here we are dears, some nice hot tea."

As Erik poured himself a cup, he asked,

"Madame who is that young woman with all the children? Should she not be at a school by her age?"

"Ah our mean my Christine. Christine Daae is her name, Monsieur, and she has been here for 14 years. Regarding her education, it is not so simple as sending her off to a school, we are in the middle of nowhere! And with no family to support her, she hasn't the money to live. Such a pity, she is a bright girl and has a lot of talent." The Madame said sipping her tea.

"Yes, such a pity" Erik said, glancing again at the dark haired beauty, before asking the obligatory questions a benefactor should ask.

But young Christine Daae didn't leave his head, or his soul.

A/N I'm usually a bit against putting songs in fanfics, but I have made an exception. It is an old English folk song and is also in the new Cinderella film.

I have had a really busy weekend at work, but I really want to try and keep getting chapters up as quickly as possible!
And again, any reviews and comments are much appreciated :-)