I guess this is my first Hunchback of Notre Dame fanfic…well, if you could please review, it'll tell me whether to continue this story or not. Oh, and if anyone has any French girl name ideas, I'd be much obliged if you'd let me know. I'll send you a cookie! Enjoy!

Chapter One: Judgment

Frollo was enjoying himself. He had only a few more cases left in the day before he could retire to his home for an evening of relaxation. Of course, there was the matter of the Boy, but that was, most gratefully, a short and rare meeting. He had not seen him in quite a while. Perhaps he could manage a visit to the belltower in a few days.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he glanced over the page placed in front of him. It was a crudely written document covering the bare details of what manner of crime had been committed by the next arrestee. No doubt another gypsy thief, he thought. He was sick of gypsies, the heathens who stole his tax money and seduced the minds of the people. As soon as it was in his power he'd have them all killed at once. For now he had to settle with killing them one by one. "Next one, please," he said to the guard at the door. He was ready to face the gypsy.

What he wasn't ready for was the young woman who was dragging behind the guards. One of them yanked on the chains around her wrists, and instead of following she yanked right back, sending the guard toppling over. She then proceeded to try to knock the other one off his feet, but he was better prepared and quickly overpowered her, dragging her in front of Frollo.

He sighed. Why was he surrounded by such idiots? "You can let her go. I trust this heathen won't dare attack a man of God," he said. He turned his attention to the girl. "Do you know why you are here, gypsy?"

She scowled darkly as she answered. "I'm here because I was trying to keep myself alive."

"Theft is a sin, gypsy. And you have stolen from the baker, I see. Even worse, your greed for fine foods has condemned you. Being a gypsy has condemned you. Do you repent?"

"I repent for stealing from the baker. I should've stolen from you instead, your honor."

He stood, his eyes flashing with anger. "Insolent creature! You mock the very face of God! If you were not protected by these guards you would not dare insult me this way!"

The rattled her chains as she spoke, "Nay, if you would return my staff to me and unbound these chains you would be afraid to stand in front of me. I could have you dead in three minutes."

Frollo's voice became dangerously soft. "Is that a threat, gypsy?"

"I'm not a gypsy," she said.

"You are insolent beyond repair, you heathen creature. Your punishment is death!"

Her voice rose in anger. "Death? For stealing a slice of bread? And you call yourself a Minister of Justice!"

"Had you only stolen you would've been thrown in prison, but now you have earned your punishment! To the gallows!" He pointed to his right and a burly guard came forward. Grasping her arm, he began to drag the girl away. She turned towards Frollo as she was dragged off, the words dripping off her tongue like icicles.

"It is not my theft that condemns me, Frollo. It is your hatred for me, and your hatred for those less fortunate than you. One day you will be at the mercy of another, and God forbid he show you the amount of mercy you have shown me! Then you will understand why we must steal to live!"

He stopped the guard with a quick motion of his hand. "Just to show you how merciful I really am," he hissed, "I won't kill you. I'll let you do it yourself." Turning to the guard, he issued his orders. "Have her sent to the northeast belltower of the cathedral. Tie her up there and let her starve. She can have her last days with the king of Judgment."

Turning to the girl again, he spoke softly. "I don't know how long you'll last, gypsy. But one thing is for certain. You will kill yourself in that belltower-or you will starve to death. My mercy is allowing you to choose the way you end your life. No one ever called Frollo an unfair man."

As the guard was dragging her off, the girl felt Frollo's last whisper echo around her sensitive ears, filling her mind until it became all she heard. "God have mercy on your soul, gypsy…"