Author's Note: Short interlude... Unfortunately, I can't post the link to the song/lyrics, but post the first line of the lyrics and the web blog I found it on should show up.
Le Fantôme et L'ange
Interlude
Låten (song)
Christine wished to be alone.
She asked Raoul to allow her to walk by herself, despite his protest against the idea. He felt it unwise, considering what had just happened, though he tried to avoid mentioning anything directly. Christine promised she would go straight home and swore she only wanted to have some time to herself. It did not take much of a fight. Before they parted at the base of the hill which overlooked Perros, Raoul traded Christine's candle for his lantern.
"Lanterns are easy to come by," Raoul said. "Besides, it will offer better light."
"Thank you," Christine smiled.
Even with the lantern, the night seemed darker while she was alone. Christine and Raoul remained at the top of the hill for some time after the group of young boys fled. It was so bright being close to the stars in the sky with the glow of the lanterns passing through the village below. Together, they sat deciding how to handle the whole "ordeal." Though they never found a way to explain the event that had passed, they decided to agree to inform others that it was all only a joke gone too far. Christine felt better knowing Raoul would stand behind her, but as she traveled farther down the western path, her spirits faded like the stars now hiding behind a sheet of clouds.
She sighed heavily with her gloomy spirit returning once more. Walking alone at least was enjoyable enough as her memory kept her occupied. She recalled the feast and the fun she had dancing with the townspeople, learning their songs and teaching her former ways of dancing. Her heart filled with longing, wishing to feel the closeness of her home again.
Yearningly, she allowed herself to sing aloud. It was an airy little song from home which was still sang in the old folk language of Knivsta. It was a language nearly untouched, yet still adored by everybody in the kingdom. It remained alive only through song, which was most at heart to those who lived north of the great sea. Though Christine had little connection to the language to speak it, she had all the respect in to world for the music. It soothed, it felt, it moved… it drove Christine to a different form of understanding which she couldn't articulate but she clearly comprehended.
"När som jag var på mitt adertonde år, det var en vacker gosse som fölluti min håg…"
She sang quietly, yet some notes she allowed herself to hold out, letting it crescendo through the trees. This in particular was a sad song, but even its mournful tone helped Christine feel less lonesome.
"…Tack för att du varit min endaste tröst och tack för alla stunder jag vilat vid ditt bröst. I himmlen skall vi åter bli förenta."
Christine repeated and sang the song rest of her way home, quietly gathering her thoughts as she traveled. She paid no attention to the shadows of the night behind her, enraptured by her song.