Title: A Grand Illusion
Characters: Christine/Raoul, OCs
Chapters: 2/8 + epilogue
Rating: K+
Warnings: None for early chapters, twists and kidnapping later
"Papa! Look! Look what Donatien taught me!"
The little bundle of giggles and curls that was Madeline de Chagny leapt into her father's lap and held up a thin rod of wood, with a circle of paper slotted in the end. On one side of the paper was a picture of a cat, on the other a little bird in flight. Madeline held the rod at the opposite end, between the palm of her hands and started to rub them back and forth. Before his eyes, the little cat was suddenly batting at the bird with his upraised paws. Vicomte Raoul de Chagny laughed.
"That is almost dreadful, Madeline! The poor little bird."
She nodded, still with a beaming, beautiful smile on her face.
"But isn't it wonderful too, Papa? Donatien said it was an, um, ussion."
"An illusion, Madeline," he corrected her gently. "An illusion. Like magic."
"Yes! But he said it isn't quite magic. He hasn't learnt much magic yet and doesn't have any tricks to show me."
"Well, Donatien is good to show you what he does know then. You know, it is said that a magician never reveals his secrets."
The girl frowned and looked down at the stick and paper in her hands.
"But he taught me this. And he said that his papa was teaching him his tricks."
Raoul laughed again.
"Well, perhaps there are rare exceptions to the rule. You should feel very lucky and make sure you say thank you to Monsieur."
"I do, Papa! I always say thank you when he shows me a trick or saddles Princess or helps me onto Princess or teaches me something."
"Good girl."
Madeline ran off to go show the housekeeper her new trick.
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