This chapter was hard for me to write, seeing as I had to make Raoul a hero....stink'n fop!..Sorry if there is alot of mistakes, I did this all in one setting and didn't have time to review and fix and stuff, cause I'm going on vacation and won't have a computer, so I figured I should update.....enjoy the long chapter:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Il Muto Opening Night
"This is the last opera before we close for the season. Do not mess this up." Mme Giry firmly instructed her youngest ballerinas, but softened her voice and then said, "I know you won't." They smiled at her and she patted the smallest girl's hand then walked over to the lone girl sitting in the shadows. "Christine, all is well." She whispered, then hurried off with her rounds. Christine nodded to herself, then went onto the stage, smoothing down her maid rags and taking a deep breath.
The first ever performance of Il Muto went without a hitch. When it finished, the managers let out loud, yet still nervous laughs, the patron sighed triumphantly, and the auburn haired girl playing Serafimo looked up at the rafters thankfully. But she still worried, whispering, "A disaster...."
"Christine! I think this has to be one of my favorite operas yet!" Meg Giry laughed as she changed into a formal gown. "Meg, whats the occasion?" The dark haired girl asked in confusion, also changing into a nice dinner dress. "A new suitor. He's seems perfect; nice, rich, funny, young...and handsome!" Christine giggled with her friend, then pulled her curls up and off her neck and into an elegant bun. "I'm going to dinner with Raoul, do you think this looks okay?" She gestured to her voluminous forest green skirts and ivory blouse. She had a ring on her fourth finger on her right hand, a simple gold band with black etchings around the side. "Christine, you always look pretty. I'd have the ring fixed if you ever get a chance, though. Well, there he is! I must go! Have fun!" Meg gestured to the figure of a tall man in the distance, then hurried down to the grand foyer and waved, then disappeared from Christine's sight. The left behind girl looked down at the ring and turned it round her finger, so that a blooming rose was seen. "I'm afraid that I'll always be wearing a ring that looks like it needs to be fixed." She murmured to herself, then hurried down into the crowded foyer, shyly calling, "Raoul?"
A couple of quiet yells later, Raoul finally emerged, and kissed Christine on the cheek. She immediately blushed at the forward gesture and stammered a bashful 'hello' when he grabbed her hands and said, "Darling Lotte, don't be shy! You did wonderfully tonight, even though you weren't singing. You'll be the star diva again...." He pulled a small bouquet of pink roses and white daisies from behind his back and presented them to her with a flourish. "How lovely!" She exclaimed, and he smiled happily then pulled her towards the door and out to his carriage.
"Your really should try this, sweetheart." Raoul nudged Christine and gestured to his extravagant plate. Christine had been ecstatic when Raoul had told her the restaurant served foods from around the world, including Swedish dishes, and she had chosen a beloved, but simple food from her childhood. "No, Raoul, really, this is the best meal I've had in years." She beamed up at him and the vicomte truly felt like the happiest man in the world. They soon finished dining, and decided to enjoy the night. It was unseasonably warm. "Where do you want to go, Little Lotte? We can go anywhere!" The young man laughed gallantly. "I don't want to go just anywhere, I want to go to the park!" Christine teased, and they strolled into the park with interlocked arms, looking like the picture perfect example of sweethearts.
It was soon late, and Raoul felt compelled to take his love back to her home. They stood at the huge doors of the opera house, and Raoul suddenly felt shy again. He wanted nothing more to kiss Christine, but wasn't sure how she would react. Christine, meanwhile, felt happy and alive after her time with Raoul, and wondered why he was staring at her. "Something wrong, dear vicomte?" He shook his head quickly, then asked her, "Will you dine with me tomorrow night?" She nodded and offered a small grin, and Raoul gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "Goodnight, my lovely Lotte."
"Goodnight." She called as he went down the steps and to his carriage. Christine hurried into the opera house and to her room, wondering if she was being courted by Raoul. She changed into her most comfortable nightgown and blew out the single lite candle on her vanity. She settled into her couch bed and shut her eyes. "Have you forgotten your angel?" Mournful wisps of song woke Christine every time she was on the brink of sleeping, but she wasn't sure if it was her strangely guilty conscience or Erik. She finally got out of bed and sang, "How could I forget my reason for song?" There was silence, then, "You dined with him tonight." Christine felt that queer ice cold feeling settle over her again. Is this the feeling of betrayal?Christine thought to herself.
"Angel, Erik..." She managed to say softly. "You dined with him last night." His voice was a cold furious, a scary powerful angry that made Christine quiver and inch back toward her bed. "Do NOT dine with him tomorrow, Christine, else you shall have reasons for tears." She felt his presence leave, like an storm passing over, and she crawled into bed and shivered till sleep came.
After the second performance of Il Muto~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Some disaster!" Andre laughed with his fellow manager, then grabbed the nearest ballerina and said," Darling, let us have fun!"and pulled her out into the grand foyer. Christine Daae was standing near him, but missed the entire exchange. Her mind was elsewhere, specifically, below the opera house. "Sweetest, you haven't changed! Come on, hurry! I have a wonderful surprise for tonight, you'll love it!" Raoul De Chagny said excitedly, grabbing Christine's hands and smiling broadly. The girl was still dressed as Serafimo. "Raoul, I do not feel well. I cannot go to dinner with you. I am sorry." She sounded emotionless and rehearsed. "Are you sure? I had a great reservations and the surprise...Are you positive?" He sounded pathetically hopeful, but she still shook her head, without meeting his eyes. "Well, I'll escort you to your room then, so we can have some time together." Again she shook her head, saying, "I fear I'm not fit to be suitable company tonight. Perhaps we can eat together some other night. Go now, before the crowds leave." He looked down on her sadly and asked yet again, "Maybe I can fetch my doctor for you...or I can take my dinner with you...." He tried to hold her hand, but she turned, pretending not to see.
"Things have changed, Raoul..." She whispered, then looked back and waved before heading to her room for the night. When she entered the room, she quickly bolted the door and leaned against it, sliding down to meet the floor. "Raoul shall think me to be a wretched person...." Christine cried, wringing her hands.
"I do not think of you as wretched. The complete opposite, actually." A smooth low voice interrupted her crying, and she looked up to see Erik's tall form. "There are your tears...I fear I am the cause for them yet again.." He quickly crossed the room, and knelt next to her, wiping them away from her eyes. She flinched away at first, remembering the face beneath the mask. But then he pulled her up and into his arms and hummed with his beautiful voice, and Christine could only think of the angel she had known for nearly half her life. "You shall dine with me tonight." He stated, and before Christine could blink, he had worked the switch on the mirror and was leading her down to his home.
The girl was dazed at first, as they slowly walked down the many halls, but then she began to think, and she found that her thoughts disturbed her. Why am I going to dine with the man that made me lie to Raoul? Why did I accept his comfort when he caused my pain?! But Christine knew that if she had the chance to go back and change how things worked out, that she probably wouldn't, and that scared her even more then the disfigured side of Erik's face. On top of all of that, she realized that she was still dressed as Serafimo from the opera. So in true diva fashion, Christine fainted.
Once again, Christine woke to the gentle chiming of a music box. She glanced at the little Persian monkey in confusion. The dreamlike state that had been over her the first time she had awoken in the swan bed was gone. After she got her bearings, the soubrette realized that she was slightly angry at being forced into coming down to Erik's lair, and was still dressed as a foppish man, yet she almost felt remorseful over fainting and missing the magical ride in the gondola. Christine pulled the bed's cord and the black lace canopy rose gracefully, then the girl lept out of bed. She was prepared to go to Erik and demand to be taken back to her room, where she would eat in solitude. But that was before she saw the dress hanging from the wardrobe.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, going over to the massive wardrobe and letting her fingers travel over the smooth gown. It was a deep navy blue silk, like the night sky. It was an unusual style, Christine remembered it being popular in the beginning of the century, with the waistline being right under the bust line. She wondered if Erik wanted her to wear it. She cautiously left her little cove, but the lair appeared empty. "Erik?" She asked the air. The singer decided to just wear the dress, so she pulled one of the hanging blankets down from the wall to provide privacy, and changed out of her Serafimo costume. The dress had long slender sleeves, and the bottom fanned out luxuriously. She struggled with the hundreds of tiny ivory buttons on the back, but figured she had them all. The sweeping neck line was extraordinarily low, so the modest girl hiked it up as far as it would go. "I wonder what else the magic wardrobe holds?" Christine giggled to herself and opened up the big doors.
She found a thin silvery ribbon edged in gold, and let her hair down from the ponytail she had to wear as Serafimo. She thought about pulling her hair back with the ribbon, but loved the feeling of her hair swinging freely against her bare back, so she tied the ribbon round her neck like a necklace. Her hair provided protection against the low round backing of the dress as well, because the buttons started below her shoulder blade. As a final touch, Christine reached into the pocket of the trousers she had been previously wearing, and slid the elegant rose ring unto her finger. She felt beautiful. She pushed the curtains up and wandered into the main area, looking for Erik. She had just began to open her mouth and call for him when she noticed a tall silhouette near the lake.
He was dressed in a splendid suit with a large swirling black cloak round his shoulders. The soprano was shocked. Erik was always well dressed, but his current attire was even more so, and Christine found the black on black strangely alluring, with his snow white mask boldly contrasting . She tip-toed over to him. His face was turned toward the misty lake,but Christine could tell he was lost in thought. "Erik?" She whispered anxiously, suddenly doubting about whether she should have put the dress on. But all her fears were erased when he turned toward her as if in a daze, and gave the slightest hint of a smile. His face cleared and he glanced at her with appreciation.
"Stunning, like always." He murmured, and offered his arm. She took it, but wondered, 'where are we going?' The angel led her to the gondola yet again, and Christine bit back a smile as he helped her into the long boat. He rowed silently, staring at Christine and his magnificent lake, while she looked on in wonder, her previous anger long forgotten. It was incredibly quiet, with the only noise being the lapping water around the boat, but Christine felt like she was listening to the most beautiful music. She really wanted to ask about their destination, but kept silent, knowing for once that her inquisitive voice would ruin the moment.
Then the boat was still, and the Phantom was looking down at her and gently helping her up and pulling her to a dark ledge. He was leading her into darkness. Christine nearly whimpered as they walked, because she could not see a thing, and the only comfort she had was Erik's cold hand guiding her along. She followed, holding her skirts in one hand, occasionally tripping, but having a growing feeling of excitement instead of fear. Her angel would never lead her into danger!
Then, suddenly, she was thrust into light. Her eyes teared up, and she pulled her hand from Erik's and covered her eyes, letting them slowly fall when she could see. "Oh!" Christine exclaimed, drinking in lush golden scenery. There were huge candelabras with fat white candles and statues of Greek gods holding little golden lamps. There was a tiny, trickling river around the little area, making it appear like an island. In the center, was a glass table held up by four rearing horses made up of a smooth stone. The table was laid with elegant dishes and two goblets of wine. Near the edges of the island, were little fountains with detailed figurines entwined with live roses and the gurgling water made sweet, soothing noises. Christine realized that the river probably connected to the lake somehow, but she was too dazed to care. The whole set-up was something out of her girlhood fantasies. She finally turned to Erik and gazed at him open mouthed, while he looked on proudly. She couldn't bring herself to make a sound, least it all turn out to be a dream.
Erik peered into Christine's brown eyes, as if trying to discern something from the amber depths. She stared back, taking strength from the golden garden to look into his ever changing blue gaze. Finally, he said, "I made this place for you. You inspire everything for me." He never broke eye contact, and Christine finally gave in and looked away, a flush evident on her neck. He gestured over to the table, and the soprano was helped into a chair and served food and wine. Erik just took a glass of drink for himself and watched Christine eat. Suddenly, she placed her gold fork on the table and stared at his empty plate.
"Eat, please. I have never seen you eat, Erik." He grimaced, or smiled, Christine couldn't really tell, and served himself a tiny portion of food. He ate gracefully and carefully, and Christine felt a funny feeling come over herself as she watched. It was almost sensual, the way he ate, and she gasped when he once again made eye contact. He chuckled after a bite and looked at Christine's nearly full plate, and she resumed eating fervently. They soon finished and he helped her out of her chair, and gave a small smile as she sighed contentedly. She happily strolled around the little island, exclaiming over the statue of Artemis, and the fountain with blood red roses. Christine sat on the little tile shore that met the river, and pulled her voluminous hair over her shoulder, weaving little braids in it absent-mindedly.
Erik joined her silently, and she jumped, then gave a sheepish giggle. He sat a little behind her, and said chidingly, "You missed a button." She fought the urge to jump again when she felt his cool fingers on her back, but they quickly left when the top button was rightfully clasped. "What are you thinking about?" He asked, taking her pale right hand and twisting the rose ring around her finger.
"...You" She answered honestly, staring out into the river, then the darkness that was beyond it. He looked away, then back at her, his gaze burning her into looking at him. "Why did you leave me for Raoul?" He whispered in a pained tone, and Christine's mouth popped open in shock. That was the last thing she was expecting. His cold hand gripped hers painfully, and she tried to squirm away. "Raoul is...." She fought with her panicking emotions, and tried to figure out why she loved being around Raoul. "Am I not enough?!" He shouted, and her hand was practically purple due to his squeezing. His ever changing moods terrified Christine, and she cried, "Your hurting me!" He dropped her long hand like it was an hot potato, and glared down at her. "Raoul does not scare me." She said spitefully, rubbing her hand, which still had dark imprints of Erik's fingers on it. He stopped breathing and turned away from her.
She immediately felt horrible, and her terror vanished like the wind after a huge storm. Her long, but little hand reached out for his, and she grasped it warmly, ignoring the freezing cold temperature of it,which almost made it feel burning hot. "Am I too wicked for you to love me?" Erik finally asked in a cold mocking tone, and turned and faced her. When she saw his dead eyes, her heart nearly stopped. She slowly crawled away, feeling immense pity for her fallen angel, but having her fears once again awakened. He looked as though he was not a mortal man, more like a spirit who lusted to watch others experience immense pain."Take me back! Please take me back!" She cried, crawling away from the shore and crossing her arms over herself in defense. "You want to go back? Back to your little Vicomte! You'll leave me once again!" He screamed, and lept out and grabbed Christine . She cried freely,feeling a terrible terror while trying to avoid his eyes. The beauty of the little island was lost as he shook her. "Stop it! Erik, stop it! Take me back." She yelled,but her voice dropped to a pitiful whisper at the end of her plea. He dropped her suddenly, and turned away and quickly headed out toward the dark passage of which they had come. "As you wish." He spat as the tips of his black cloak disappeared into the night.
Christine pushed herself off the ground wearily and followed,trying to make out his form, but she couldn't even see her own hand in front of her. Thought she hated to admit it, being alone in the night scared her, and she whimpered. She was determined not to call for Erik, though, and see his hateful, burning eyes, so she walked back into the island room and went to an especially bright corner where there were cushiony silk pillows stacked high. The girl arranged a little nest and sank down, her tears and fears draining her little energy. With a last wary look around the room, she closed her eyes and slept.
"There you are, awake at last! Come, it is nearly time for warm-ups!" A low but excited trill interrupted Christine from her gazing outside the window near her bed. She had awoken to find her face puffy and her hair wild, dressed in a midnight blue silk dinner gown, and draped in her bed. When she had last closed her eyes ,however, she had been in a fort of pillows many stories beneath the opera house. After she woke up for the first time, the girl had changed into her night gown, then crawled back into her bed sometime during the sunrise and napped. Her costume for the production was folded neatly and placed on her dresser, with a little red rose bud placed on top of the stack. "Good morning." Christine said amiably, her voice a little raw. "More like good afternoon, sleepy head. Did you have a busy night?" She giggled suggestively and gestured to the expensive dress laying on the floor. The little dancer didn't wait for an answer, though and chided, "You need to get dressed! I'll be waiting!" She skipped out of the room and shut the door. Christine went over to her basin and poured some water, and not even testing the temperature, plunged her face in. "Aiee!" She squealed, grabbing a clothe and drying of the water droplets quickly. The ice cold water had done its job. Feeling revived, she changed into her costume and hurried down to the theater.
Christine watched Raoul nod to the managers, then scurried behind the massive bed that served as the main prop in IL Muto. 'So he finally worked up the courage to sit in box five?' Christine thought to herself and tightened her ponytail. Oh, Raoul, your plan to rebel against the Phantom's orders shall not teach him a lesson, it shall only anger him...But then the opera began and Christine's thoughts were only on being the best Serafimo she could be. Which meant not making faces at Carlotta like she had last time while they waited for their entrance.
"Serafimo, your disguise is perfect!" Carlotta cooed then sang, "Why who can this be?"Christine went along with the movements and got a laughs for her antics as a lover. While she acted, Christine managed to shoot smiles at Raoul, who seemed to be enjoying the comedy very much. The opera continued and the group sang, "If he knew the truth,he'd never, ever go!" A powerful voice cut short the silly song, and Christine whispered,"Its him",after she heard Erik's angry threats. "Your part is silent, little toad!" Carlotta hissed and nervously went off for her voice spray.
The remark didn't sting like it normally would as Christine looked up into the bright ceiling, praying she wouldn't see the shadow of a cloak over box five. She didn't and sighed, but she knew that she wouldn't feel relief until the opera was over. Carlotta, seasoned diva that she was, smiled for the audience and said for the opera to be continued. "You cannot speak, but kiss me in my husband's ahhhbbbkk!" The singer's voice started her song confidently, but then let out a great croak at the long note. The audience gasped, and Christine knew that it wasn't a coincidence that the diva had lost her voice on this night. She resumed her song again, her face twitching nervously, and the girl felt sympathy for her fellow singer. Carlotta continued to croak and grunt on the high notes until she finally ran off the stage screaming for her mother. The audience laughed and laughed, not sure if the commotion was all a great joke.
Christine looked around in confusion as the stage crowded with dancers and the drunk scenery movers while the crowd continued to howl with amusement. Finally, the great scarlet curtains closed and veiled in the embarrassing group, and the mangers hurried on to the stage, eager to restore dignity to the Opera Populaire. Christine stood right behind the curtains, dazed and unsure where to go when she heard Firmin say, "Ladies and Gentlemen, we apologize... Uh, the performance will continue in ten minutes time when the role of the countess will be played by Mlle Daae!" Suddenly, she was pulled from behind the curtains and presented on the stage, and applause and happy shouts filled her ears. She smiled shyly, then was hurried behind them once again and sent to Mme Giry to be dressed as her new role.
Christine stared into her huge golden-framed mirror. Mme Giry laced her corset tightly and she fidgeted, but didn't say a word. Her mind was filled with a million racing thoughts, and she somehow new that the Phantom was not done wreaking havoc on the opera house that night. Mme Giry finished her lacings and turned and presented Christine with a rose tied with a black ribbon. She held the rose away from her body and turned it round in her hands. Her eyes were haunted, but Me Giry watched silently and backed away, folding her hands. In the distance, Christine heard delighted laughter at the whimsical ballet that was entertaining the crowd till the opera resumed.
"AAHHHH!" Screams and terrified gasps came from where Christine had last heard laughter, and she hurried and grabbed a cloak and threw it over her underclothes and ran toward the stage. She never made it, but heard from the whispers of the dancers that Joseph Boquet was dead,killed by the opera's infamous phantom. Raoul ran toward her, and they quickly embraced in relief while he asked if she was alright. "Raoul! We're not safe here!" Christine cried, and pulled Raoul toward the many stairs that led to the opera house's ceiling. Her curls bounced wildly as she climbed the many stairs at a hurried run, followed by Raoul.
"Why have you brought me here?" He asked in confusion, his heart still racing from the sight of Boquet's hung body. Christine, whether it was from sheer terror or a subconscious way to calm herself down, sang her response. "We can't go back there!" He tugged on her red cloak, catching on to her calming method, sang, "We must return!" Christine looked back at him, and answered, "He'll kill you! His eyes will find us there! Those eyes that burn..." Once they finished climbing the stairs, Christine rushed across a storage unit, pushing past an old worker. "And if he has to kill a thousand men, the PHANTOM OF THE OPERA WILL KILL AND KILL AGAIN!" Raoul told her to not think that, and forget the ever-waking nightmare. But Christine was too far gone, and her scared eyes and angry mouth continued to sing, "My God, who is this man?! He hunts to kill! I can't escape from him, I never will..." She sang what she had always wondered and mounted another set of stairs. Raoul had finally tried to stop convincing her to forget when he realized his efforts were futile, and echoed her song while he ran to catch up, voicing his own questions."Whose is this voice you hear..with every breath!"
"And in this labyrinth, where night is blind, the Phantom of the opera is THERE inside my mind..."
Their voices died out as they finally reached the roof of the opera. Christine felt relieved ,thinking that the highest part of the theater would be the least likely place for the Phantom to be, and that Raoul was safe for now. "There is no Phantom of the opera..." The Vicomte cooed as he tried to make eye contact with Christine. She ignored his statement and sang, "Raoul, I've been there. To his world of un-ending night...to a world where the daylight dissolves into darkness...darkness..." Her eyes stared down at the snow covered floor, and she realized that her hand still clutched the god-forsaken gift of a monster. But she could not bring herself to fling it over the roof. She slowly walked over to her friend, and looked into his disbelieving eyes. "Raoul, I've seen him. Can I ever forget that sight?..Of a face so distorted deformed it was hardly a face in that darkness...darkness...." Raoul looked down on her with blue eyes full of pity and horror that she had to go through so much. Christine seemed lost to the world as she tenderly brought the rose to her face and in a different tone sang, "But his voice filled my spirit with a strange, sweet sound, and those nights there was music in mind!" Raoul eye's widened as she walked away from him, and lifted her white face to the sky. Her tender voice almost seemed filled with...love as she sang, "And with his music, my soul began to soar!" And her voice soared on the last note, an angelic sound that echoed throughout the sky. "and I heard as I never heard before...." Raoul realized that he was quickly losing his Lotte to an invisible ghost, and while walking over to her, said, "What you heard was a dream and nothing more!" But she ignored him, and still looking at her rose, whispered, "Yet in his eyes, all the sadness of the world...those pleading eyes which both threaten and adore..." and she drifted away from her childhood sweetheart yet again.
Raoul knew that Christine responded best to song, and being quite a romantic himself, decided that he would just go with his instinct and sing her a song to bring her back to him. He decided that he might not ever have this chance again, and would sing what he had been wanting for days. The Vicomte slowly approached his love and laid his warm hands on her shoulders, hating the monster that made her terrified as he felt her shoulders shake with the battle to not let her tears fall. He gently turned her around to face him, and wiped away her few tears, whispering her name. He didn't understand why she suddenly flinched and bit her lip while looking away from him. Raoul pushed that away from his mind and sang, "No more talk of darkness, forget these wide-eyed fears! I'm here, nothing can harm you, my words will warm and calm you." He had been taking singing lessons for the past couple of days and knew he had a sweet, nice voice and was pleased that his song came out reassuring and soft, just what Christine needed to know to not ever fear him. Raoul's thoughts were only on comforting and promising Christine wonderful things when he sang, "Let me be your freedom, let daylight dry your tears, I'm here, with you beside, you, to guard you and to guide you." His eyes gave truth to his words and Christine looked into his light blue gaze gratefully, and thought of all the things she'd never have with Erik. With a shy smile smile, she let her heart sing, "Say you'll love me every waking moment! Turn my head with talk of summer-time! Say you need me with you now and always, promise me that all you say is true...Thats all I ask of you." and dropped the ill-fated rose without even realizing it.
Raoul sighed with relief since he now knew Christine actually shared his affections, and looked into her vulnerable brown eyes while pulling her into a loving hug. "Let me be your shelter, let me be your light!! Your safe, no one will find you, your fears are far behind you!" They stared into each other's eyes, and Christine sang, "All I want is freedom, a world with no more night!" Raoul looked away when he heard her words.' Does she want to stay single?' He thought with confusion as she turned away from him, looking haunted yet again. But then she looked back and smiled, and added tenderly, "And you, always beside me, to guard me and to hide me!" The Vicomte was filled with love then, and gallantly sang, "Then say you'll share with me one love, one lifetime! Let me lead you from your solitude!" Raoul grabbed her cold hands and joyfully led her around the roof like it was a grand palace. Then he pulled he toward him and sang into her hair, "Say you need me with you here beside, any where you go, let me go too!" Christine smiled as he tenderly breathed her name, and pulled his hands into her own while she happily answered, "Say you'll share with me one love one lifetime! Say the word and I will follow you!"
They faced each other and stared into twin lovesick eyes while singing, "Share each day with me, each night each morning!" Then Christine was vulnerable yet again, and whispered, "Say you love me?" And Raoul answered how she hoped he would, and they joined in song again, singing, "Love me, thats all I ask of you..." Her soft smile disappeared into Raoul's hand as he gently tipped her face up and kissed her. It was Christine's first kiss, and Raoul's most important kiss. Christine decided she loved Raoul and kissing as he joyfully twirled her in the air while their lips were still locked. They beamed and wrapped their arms round each other and kissed softly a couple more times before finishing their duet with huge smiles, "Any where you go, let me go too! Love me, thats all I ask of you..." Christine's face glowed, and she pulled her hand's from Raoul's warm shoulder and lip's as she regretfully said, "I must go! They'll wonder where I am..." Her voice still sounded joyful from their sweet promises and kisses,though. He looked down at her with awe as she pulled him toward the door, still too happy to not sing, "Christine, I love you!"
She giggled as he lightly kissed her and grabbed her hands, then excitedly whispered, "Order your fine horses! Be with them at the door!" Raoul opened the door for her and laughed, "And soon, you'll be beside me!" Christine lovingly sighed up at him and chirped, "You'll guard me and you'll hide me!", and they hurried down the stairs, hand in hand,so that Christine could finish the opera that brought them together.