Donkeyskin - ON HOLD

Of Georgiane

*Of Georgiane*

 Ballet rehearsals began soon after that, and with a surprising announcement. M. Beaufort had been approached by a young composer who wanted the dance company to choreograph his new music. M. Beaufort had accepted, and, during their first rehearsal at the palace, he gave them each a copy of the score.

Elodie read the title aloud. "The Ballad if Georgiane," she read, the name striking a chord within her. "Oh. This is a fairytale from North Avalon," she accused. "I know this story!" When the other dancers looked at her, confused, she summarized it for them.

"A brother and sister lived together in their family home, both orphans. The brother was an officer in the army, and he was gone much of the time. Georgiane was left alone in their pavilion, and, soon enough, war broke out and the brother was gone for two years. When he returned, he went to a masquerade with a young woman he'd met at war. Georgiane was there with a man she'd met when her brother was away, and she and her brother's lover had the same colored hair, and both wore the same mask.

"The brother mistook Georgiane for his sister and raped her, not knowing she was his sister. Georgiane grew depressed and tried to kill herself, but was stopped by her lover, who vowed to make her brother pay. He challenged the other man to a duel, in which both were wounded, and, when both went back to find Georgiane, the brother arrived first, and Georgiane, who had gone mad because of him, confronted him, in the hearing of his lover, who helped her to kill him.

"When Georgiane's lover returned, he found the brother's lover about to kill Georgiane and stopped her, sending her away. He soothed Georgiane's madness and she realized what she had done, and who had made her do it–the other woman. Her lover tracked the other woman down, and the woman was executed. Georgiane and her lover were married, and they lived happily ever after."

M. Beaufort chuckled. "In a nutshell," he agreed. "Yes. Now, here is the cast at the moment: Xavier, you will dance the part of the brother. Katia, you are the brother's lover–"

"Obviously," Noah whispered to Elodie.

"–Noah, you are the lover, and, finally, Lune will play Georgiane." M. Beaufort set aside the paper he was reading off of and studied another. "As for the chorus couples at the ball, Fleur and Roman, as our chorus leaders. Lovisa and Edouard..."

Manon had come up behind Elodie. "Come work with me in the studio? Noah, we'll come for you in a bit."

She and Elodie moved to the studio, leaving the majority of the dancers to work in the theatre. As usual, Manon sat down at the piano, rubbing a hand across her swollen belly. Elodie lowered herself into the splits and bent from side to side, beginning her stretching routine.

"Elodie," Manon said, and Elodie straightened, surprised that Manon had used her real name. "Look, I know this role is incredibly close to who you are, and I need to know if you aren't comfortable doing this."

Elodie sighed, swinging her legs together, her toes still pointed. "I hadn't even though about it," she admitted. Her mind worked as she spoke. "It won't be easy, I suppose," she went on. "I can do it, though. No, more than that, I need to do it. I need closure, Manon. I need people to see that I'm hurting, and that I'm not alone. I need to dance my story, but without saying a word, without revealing who I am. I need to relive it and to let it go. It's over; it happened years ago, but I still feel like I'm living it. Yes. I need to let it go."

Manon hummed pensively. "I see," she said softly. "But I don't understand. I guess I'll just let it go, then, and let you judge the risk."

"I think that's a good call," Elodie said, and went back to stretching.