A Touch Of Home (Christine Daaé)

[Christine Daaé]

Christine couldn't help a small smile at the old woman's words. In such a case as this, ignorance really did seem bliss. She only wished she could afford such a luxury herself. “Yes, Mamma, and I'm sure that I can, though I cannot wait my entire life waiting to finish learning, Mamma. I doubt one can ever learn all that there is to be taught by an Angel of Music.” She didn't bother insisting on the fact that such a thing did not exist, as it seemed to be a lost case.

She let out a little sigh of relief when her adoptive mother stated that she did not intend to walk about. The last thing she wanted was for her to get hurt. She was so frail in her old age... “And I shall look for one, Mamma, but please, until then, you need your rest. I shall ask Raoul if he knows where there is a wheeled chair for you to sit in. Though even so, much of the place is only accessible by stair... I'm so sorry, Mamma.”

[mamma]

Furrowing her brows while gazing at the younger lady rather stunned, "Nonsense!" she began in joy and astonishment in the tone of her voice. "What ever do you mean waiting?" Softly she snickered, "Oh, my dear. Christine... you do not have to wait to learn. You learn all throughout your life! Never stop learning! No doubt your Good Genius will be patient enough to teach you for a lifetime. If there is anyone who can learn from the Angel of Music... it is you, Christine!" leaning slightly closer to the young woman with a sparkling smile, "You have a Gift, my dear girl!"
"Your Angel was sent for a reason." Still believing that this being whom had been teaching Christine was still a Gift from God above, some true Angel or at least a true Genius.

Placing her hands in her lap as she sat there calmly in bed, "Once you do find a wheeled chair," she began with a childish tone and pure Scarlet O'Hara attitude, "fetch me at once." Grinning with glee, "I should wish to see this place we are now living."

[Christine Daaé]

The girl managed a painted smile at the frail old woman's words about how one continued to learn all throughout life. “I know, Mamma, I know.... But the Angel told me that if I must bestow my heart here on Earth, then he would have no choice but to go back to Heaven, remember? Well, if that is the case, then it is time for him to go back to Heaven, Mamma...”

The girl gave a soft sigh. If only her adoptive mother knew exactly what this 'good genius' had done, then most certainly she would not be so insistent upon him staying...

The smile returned to the girl's face, more genuine this time, when the old woman asked to fetch her at once should she find a wheeled chair. “I most certainly will, Mamma. There is a lovely garden outside, similar to the one we had when we were living in Perros, though much bigger."

[mamma]

Barely an audible sigh came from the old frail woman as she rested back against the pillows she was propped upon. But kept a pleasant appearance to her visage. "No doubt the Angel will be missed. But all of Heaven will rejoice at his return." She could only think of the poor girl's father when he died. How would the Angel's return to Heaven affect Christine? Hopefully not as equally devastating as her father's death.

Once again her face lit up at the mention of the gardens. In a weak, gentle and slow clasp of her hands in front of her upper torso, "Oh, lovely! Gardens. I shall look forward to seeing them, Christine. No doubt they are lovely." She could barely remember the Gardens at Perros but there were slight hints in her mind of a variety of colors and flora.

[Christine Daaé]

The girl managed a sort of half smile at her adoptive mother's words. There had been a time once when she had thought that she might have missed him, but after she had come to this dreadful place, where her fiancé's life was at stake for the mere reason that they could not leave Paris together for the elopement as they had initially planned, she was certain that she would not have missed him at all. But now, now that it seemed there was no way in the world that this could be Érik's doing, she didn't know what to think any more... He had let her go, so that she and Raoul could live their lives together happily in holy matrimony... but when she had last seen him, he seemed to think that the two of them – Érik and Christine – were still to be wed. She glanced down at the plain gold ring on her finger, the ring which she had promised to wear until the moment he was dead and which she still wore being a woman of her word, and sighed. Why did all of this have to be so terribly confusing?

She looked back up at Mamma Valérius as the woman spoke. The gardens.... She recalled a time when she and Raoul were still children, when he had come to visit her in Perros, and they had sat in those gardens at the house there and talked together, as cautious as two diplomats, until the sun began to set and he left after pressing a kiss to her trembling lips and telling her 'Mademoiselle, I shall never forget you...' She was glad that he hadn't.

She shook her head a little, almost as if trying to awaken herself from a dream, and then looked at Mamma, taking her hand gently and offering a soft smile. I should go get you that tea. I'll be back in a few minutes, I promise. Here...[/b]” The girl got up and went over to one of the shelves and selected a book, then returned to er mother's bedside and set the book in the woman's lap, along with a pair of reading glasses. “Do you need these, Mamma? I'm sorry I don't know your routine as well as the maid, but maybe you'd like to read a little while you wait? I shall return shortly...”

The girl left the room and went downstairs to the kitchen, putting the kettle on and preparing a tea tray to take up to her Mamma Valérius. After preparing the tray, she set to work on starting the consommé by preparing the broth and the vegetables and putting them in a pot to simmer down while she and Mamma Valérius had tea together. After leaving the contents of the soup in a pot on medium heat, the kettle soon gave a whistle and so the girl took it and filled the tea pot with hot water from the kettle. She filled two tea balls with some of the loose Earl Grey she had found (she didn't want to risk frightening the dear old woman by using some of the easier to make tea in the odd paper sachets), put a few tea biscuits on a small plate for Mamma to have if she cared while they were waiting for the soup, and then took the tray with its contents and headed back up stairs to the room of the older woman.

She gave a light tap upon the door before entering, praying that none of the strange inhabitants of the manor had found the room and gone in while she was gone and frightened the poor old woman. At a brief glance, there appeared to be no one else, and so she gave out a soft sigh of relief before entering the old woman's chambers. “I brought you that tea, Mamma.... And some biscuits, if you care for them at all. I started a consommé and it should be done in a few minutes...” She set the stray down on the bed and pulled up a chair to the bedside and sat.. She then proceeded to pour the water into the cups and set the put back down, holding a cup and saucer carefully out to Mamma Valérius, not wanting any of the hot liquid to accidentally spill and burn her. “You may want to let it steep for a few minutes. I'm not sure how strong the maid usually makes it for you...”

[mamma]

Gazing at Christine for a moment then looking away as the usual innocent old lady visage grace her. Losing track of time in a sort of spaced off sort of way. One of those senior moments that Mamma would sometimes have. Brought out of it as she looked down at the book that Christine had given her with reading glasses. After a moment of bewildered study of the items in her lap and picking them up slowly, she turned that confused gaze to the younger woman but did not say a word. Opening her mouth as though she were going to speak but instead closed her mouth and released a slow, soft sigh. With the items in hand, she put on the glasses, tilting her head up and down as she was trying to read what book it was. Then opened up to a page, any page, didn't matter what page.

Once again she lost all track of time. Not that she was engrossed in the book but when a person was in the twilight of their years time seems to be nothing but a blur. Passing without a care.
Looking up as she saw Christine enter the room with the tray and smiled. Setting down the book and removing the glasses. "Oh, thank you, my dear," she chimed warmly.

Taking the tea saucer with the cup atop it with those old hands. The cup click-clacked for a couple of seconds as the elder woman's unsteady hands held the fragile china and warm liquid. Old bony fingers from the other hand took hold of the little chain of the tea ball and dunked the ball gently a few times with the occasional click-clack of the tea cup and saucer. "You are doing just fine, my dear," smiling up at the youthful woman. "She simply brought me tea just as you did." Another smile as she then let go of the chain and let the ball settle for a moment. Reaching for a spoon to set it upon the saucer with once again another click-clack. Releasing another slight sigh as she looked like she was thinking but was not.
Taking back up the small tea ball chain and dunking the ball a few more times then withdrew it, letting the brownish water stream then drip from the ball until it barely released any more drops. Setting the ball upon the saucer then with the spoon she stirred the dark liquid briefly and slowly, slid the spoon lightly over the rim of the tea before setting it back down upon the saucer. Finally, with her old fragile hands, she gathered up the tea cup with usual grace and familiarity, bringing that little china cup to her lips to drink of it's contents and savoring the delightful, warm pungent yet delicate tasting libation.

Once again that look as though she were thinking as she took another sip then setting the cup down upon the saucer not even looking at the biscuits. "Do tell me," as she reached out one hand slowly to Christine's hand to lightly touch it, "what else has been happening, my dear. I'm rather curious you know," once again giving her that sweet, innocent smile and chimed voice.

[Christine Daaé]

“You're welcome, Mamma,” she girl said when the old woman thanked her. “I'm only happy I am able to act in her stead. I'm afraid I didn't pay as much attention as I probably should have to your schedule while we were back in Paris, so you'll have to help me out a bit...”

The girl took a sip of her own tea, somewhat relieved at how smoothly things were going. She was nowhere near ready to explain to Mamma Valérius what she and Raoul had seen in the village, nor that he had been robbed and that they no longer had any money. It was best not to worry her at all...

“Oh, not much has happened, really, Mamma, though I must warn you that there are some strange people who live here in this place. A few of them I fear might be quite mad, so if any of them begin speaking to you, please just be pleasant. They're harmless, really” – for the most part anyway – “and I'm sure that any of them would be more than happy to come and visit you. I fear though that a few may not knock beforehand, which is why I am telling you this...”

She let out a somewhat happy sigh, the steam of the cup warming her breath. “Raoul will be so happy to know that you are doing well. I shall have to bring him to visit you. I'm sure the two of you will have much to discuss, all things considered.”

The girl glanced over at the clock. They still had a few more minutes before she needed to go down to take the consommé off of the heat and dish it up. “Would you like a biscuit, Mamma?” She held the tray of biscuits out to the old woman, wondering whether or not she would take one.

[mamma]

Waving her hand a little as she shook her head. "No. No, I'm fine. Thank you dearie," as she sipped her tea some more. Greatly enjoying the earthy spice that soothed her very bones and nerves. A great wonder that the English had filtered this wondrous libation around the world.

"Strange... people?" Looking at Christine with a blank stare not sure what the younger woman was talking about. But nodded with a slight shake of her head to dismiss what Christine said as though it were poppycock and nonsense.
Patting the bedding, "Do you like the bedding?" She suddenly changed the subject oddly with a glee in her voice and a sparkle in her eyes.

[Christine Daaé]

Christine gave a small smile and nodded as she continued to sip her tea with Mamma Valérius, setting down her cup only for a moment to take one of the biscuits herself. She was, after all, very fond of sweets, and wasn't about to let perfectly good biscuits go to waste.

She couldn't help but to allow a small giggle to escape her when the old woman asked her (of all things she could have asked) if she liked the bedding. “Yes, very much so, Mamma. It is very nice, quite soft. It would seem though that the consommé should be nearly finished by now. Shall I bring you a bowl, Mamma?”

[mamma]

Smiling like a child who's work had been approved as she caressed the bedding like it was a fluffy Persian cat. It was obvious she loved the bed. Loved her room.
"Oh, yes. Please do, dearie." leaning over to pat Christine's hand gentle with a smile. "Such a good girl you are, Christine. Thank you so much for taking care of me." With an innocent grin she looked at the younger woman thoughtfully as though remembering another time, another place.

Looking back off to the wall again as her brow furrowed slightly with disappointment at some pictureless black rectangle. For the moment, she brushed it off but it would occasionally trouble her thoughts.

[Christine Daaé]

“You're welcome, Mamma,” Christine said, smiling as her adoptive mother patted her hand. “I'll go get you that consommé now. I'll be right back.”

The girl stood from the bed, setting her cup down on the tea tray and then moving the tray to a flat surface before stepping out of the room once more, and going downstairs, back to the dining room again. A faint aroma from the simmering soup hovered in the air. Christine went to the stove and took off the lid. It seemed to be finished from what she could tell. Setting the lid down on the counter, the girl found another tray, two bowls, and two spoons, and then ladled some soup into each of the two bowls. She turned off the heat and then set the lid back over the pot. Perhaps some hungry soul might wander into the dining room and put it to good use.

In the mean time, Christine took up the tray with the two bowls and two spoons, and returned back upstairs to the room where Mamma Valérius was, giving a light tap upon the door before entering. “Here you are, Mamma,” she said. “The consommé that you wanted.”

[mamma]

Smiling as she watched Christine leave the room and folded her hands upon her lap for a moment before she picked up her tea and finished it. For a rare moment the elderly woman reflected upon the past and upon young Christine. How the girl was such a light in her life. The youthful girl was her reason for life at the moment.

Having lost track of her thoughts and time, looking up upon hearing the tapping upon the door and once again smiling as Christine re-entered the room.
"Oh, thank you, my dear." A content look upon the older woman's face. The whole time she watched the golden hair youth with a surreal gaze. Awaiting to be served her very light meal. Noticing the two settings and deduced that Christine would join her. That delighted her old heart to no end. How good Christine was she thought and smiled.

[Christine Daaé]

“You're quite welcome, Mamma,” The girl said when her adoptive mother thanked her. She went to sit on the bed again and set the tray down on the old woman's lap. “Careful. It's still a bit hot... I hope it tastes fine...”

She smiled and watched the old woman very closely, waiting to see her reaction. “I found a simple recipe in the kitchen. I've never tried it before though. If it needs salt or pepper, please just tell me and I'll go get them for you. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Perhaps we can find you a new maid?”

That was, assuming that they could find a way to afford one now that all of their money had been stolen. Christine could honestly say, despite the fact that she loathed it there within the confines of the manor, she was not at all looking forward to returning to the village. The only place where she wanted to return to was home...

[mamma]

Her gentle eyes were watching Christine the whole time until the tray reached her lap. "Oh, thank you, Christine dear." Smiling at the girl then looking at her light meal. The poor old woman was rather hungry but no doubt this would be enough.

Taking the first spoonful of the dirty thin liquid then nodded her approval. "You did good, my dear." Smiling at the young gold hair woman. "Your efforts are truly appreciated, my dear." And the old woman continued on and on to enjoy her consummé.

A little look of slightly raised brows and a tilting of her head between 'bites', "Where ever did that girl go," Mamma said with an annoyed curiosity that was almost a whisper.

It wasn't long that the elderly woman did finish eating the light soup before enjoying another sip of her tea which was cooling down dramatically by now. But Mamma was also wearing down, too. Becoming a little tired she looked at Christine. "I'm glad you came to visit me, dear Christine." Smiling more, taking Christine's hand into her own and patting it. "I do so enjoy our conversations. Tell good Monsieur de Chagny I do expect to have him come visit me soon."

[Christine Daaé]

Christine watched the dear old woman, breath held, as she sipped a spoonful of the soup. She certainly did hope that it was all right. She wasn't used to doing this for Mamma most of the time, and didn't want to inconvenience her at all... She almost wished that the maid were here, although she knew that was impossible. She let out a sift sigh. How she wished they were all back in Paris...

She finally breathed in relief when the old woman nod of approval. “I'm glad that you like it, Mamma. Tell me, is there anything else at all that I can get for you?” Now that she was seeing Mamma Valérius was quite content and enjoying her meal, Christine began to eat as well. She couldn't help a little chuckle escaping her when she overheard the old woman mention the house keeper. “Se's not here, Mamma,” she reminded her gently. “Perhaps we should try looking for a new one?” Christine wasn't really sure how they would since they had no money, but if it would appease her dear adoptive mother, then that was all that mattered. “Until then, I will be happy to look after you. I missed you so much....”

she let out a soft sigh and gently wrapped her arms around the old woman. “Of course, Mamma. I am sure that Monsieur de Chagny will be more than happy to come speak to you. ” She kissed her cheek and took away the empty bowl. “I'm sure he will be delighted to see you again...”