A/N Hi! So, the song Heaven's light/Hellfire from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame has been stuck in my head for a while, and so I thought, what if there was no Esmeralda? What if, instead, there was Heather, taken as a small child from the Archipelago? What if she took Esmeralda's place in the movie? And so I thought I'd do this...it gets a teensy bit dark, just thought I should warn you...
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any characters, plotline, or songs. Dialogue either.
"Put that down, someone could get hurt."
"Yeah, that's the idea!"
"Oh, I see you have a kid."
The infuriating soldier parried her strike with a candle stick with his sword as her goat attempted to headbutt him.
She smiled sweetly.
"Yeah, well, he doesn't take to kindly to soldiers."
She thrust at him again and he jumped back.
"And neither do I!"
"That's hitting a bit below the belt, don't you think?"
"No, this is!"
"Ooof!"
He stumbled back before giving a blank grin.
"Touche."
Darn, why was he so good looking? She shook herself. She was a Viking. He had been sent to lock her up.
"Wait."
She stopped, the still lit candlestick right up against his face.
"What?"
"I didn't come in here to fight you."
She scowled at him, still angry.
"Then what do you want?"
"I'd settle for your name," he said sheathing his sword.
She slowly lowered the candlestick.
"Why?" she asked, suspicious.
"It's usually what people do when they meet each other."
She stared for a moment before saying, "Heather."
"Beautiful. My name's Phoebus. It means 'Sun God.' Your name is much better than Phoebus."
She stared a moment, her brain processing.
He'd called her name beautiful. His name meant Sun God. It fit him.
Then she saw Prime Minister Frollo behind Phoebus.
Oh gods.
"Excellent work, Captain. Take her away."
Phoebus, who had turned to Frollo at the sound of his voice, whipped back around to Heather.
"Claim sanctuary." he hissed quietly, all teasing gone from his voice. It was harsh now.
"You tricked me." she said equally quietly, her anger returning.
"I'm sorry, sir, she's...claimed sanctuary." Phoebus said, slowly turning back to Frollo.
Frollo quirked an eyebrow. "Very well. But she shall never escape. Come along, Captain."
Phoebus left quickly, and neither of them saw Frollo duck behind a large pillar.
Heather was ranting to herself when suddenly she felt an arm twist around her neck, choking her, and heard Frollo's voice.
"You will never escape me. I will hunt you down forever. And though I cannot touch you while you are inside this church, know the second you step outside that I will kill you, Viking dirt."
His voice stopped, but she felt something in her hair.
Oh Thor.
She wrenched away.
"What are you doing!?"
"Such a shame that such a young life should be wasted."
"Don't lie to me. I know what you were thinking."
He laughed, a sound that made her skin crawl.
"Such unholy thoughts. Perhaps it would be better to kill you now. But no. You certainly have chosen a magnificent prison. But Vikings don't do well inside stone walls..."
She had grown used to the Gypsy clothing, used it as a weapon, but now it made her feel vulnerable.
"Go."
He smiled his evil smile and did just that.
That night, back in the Court of Miracles, she couldn't sleep. She was afraid of Frollo. Afraid of what he'd do to her Gypsy family. She knew he hated Gypsies and Vikings both. Then she thought of Phoebus, how he had protected her. Why?
Unbeknownst to her, up in the dark bell tower Quasimodo was having a private battle with himself.
He didn't know what to say, so he began to sing while carving a new figurine out of wood and remembering her words: "If I could do this you wouldn't see me dancing in the streets for coins."
The song was gentle and sweet.
How many times out there
I've seen a happy pair
of lovers walking in the night.
They had a kind of glow around them.
It almost looked like heaven's light.
He smiled at the stars while holding up the wooden figure to the moonlight.
I knew I'd never know
that warm and loving glow
though I might wish with all my might.
He sighed heavily.
No face as hideous
as my face
was ever meant for heaven's light.
He took out a paintbrush and began painting the little statuette.
But suddenly an angel
has smiled at me
and kissed my cheek without a trace of fright.
He set his finished model on the table, a perfect likeness of Heather.
I dare to dream that she
might even care for me.
And as I ring these bells tonight...
my cold, dark tower seems so bright.
I swear it must be heaven's light!
The bells rang in perfect rythym, swinging back and forth to make a glorious harmonic cacophony of beautiful sound.
Across the city , Frollo was staring into his fireplace. He too, began to sing.
Beata Maria, you know I am a righteous man.
Of my virtue I am justly proud.
He thought he could hear a dark choir singing in Latin, accompanying him.
Beata Maria, you know I'm so much purer than
the common vulgar weak liscentious crowd.
Then tell me Maria, why I see her dancing there, why her smoldering eyes still scorch my soul!
I feel her, I see her
the sun caught in her raven hair
is blazing in me out of all control.
He could see her in the flames. And pulled back in realization.
Like fire!
Hellfire!
This fire in my skin
This burning desire
is turning me
to
sin.
There were red hooded shades, all pointing and chanting out his verdict in Latin.
It's not my fault!
I'm not to blame.
It is the Viking girl, the witch who cast this flame!
It's not my fault!
If in God's plan
he made the devil so much stronger than a man...
Beata, Maria, don't let this siren cast her spell,
don't let her fire sear my flesh and bone
destroy Heather the Viking girl
and let her taste the fires of hell!
Or else let her be mine and mine alone...
The doors opened.
"Minister Frollo. The Viking girl has escaped."
"What?"
"She's nowhere in the cathedral."
"What? But how...nevermind. Get out. Get out you idiot."
Hellfire,
dark fire
now Viking it's your turn.
Choose me or
your pyre
be mine or you will burn!
He sank to his knees, burying his face in his hands.
God have mercy on me...
the dark choir echoed him.
Kyrie elieson...
God have mercy on her...
Kyrie elieson...
But she will be mine or
she...
will...
BURN!
The dark choir had no words now, so they harmonized in a beautiful display of horror.
And Frollo collapsed.
A/N So, so so sorry if that seemed too morbid. Just how the song goes. Thank you for reading!