The key for my story:

"talking"

/Thinking/

(something I have to say)

inner thoughts

'sarcasm'

Hey there people. This is mysticaldreamsorceress. Hope you enjoy the story and I'll try to update as often as I can.

Chapter 2

They were once again one the road. Every time they stopped Mira would refuse to perform. But she did earn some money. She was good at mimicking animals and the people and childrenfrom the villages all loved it. Wherever they went Mira would ask what their favorite animal was and make their sounds exactly. But as they left the deserts she had to rely on her other talents to make money. Soon she was forced to perform on the streets. Thus leading to why she was currently asleep. She worked for money that she usually gave to those families who didn't make that much. She danced for how ever long she could, usually from sunrise to sunset. She also took up watch regularly, another reason why she was asleep.

They were entering France and Aremis stopped the caravan for a much needed break. He looked at his calendar and saw that they would reach Paris around the time of the Feasts of Fools. Mira was tending to the older gypsies and was helping them with their chores. He had to admit she was talented. Being his adopted daughter he felt it was his job to protect her. She didn't seem to have any interest in the men of the caravan no matter how much they tried to gain her attention. She was now 19 and many were expecting her to get married soon.

4 Weeks Later

They were on the outskirts of Paris. Aremis had no idea who the king of the gypsies was. The last time his band had rested here was when the now elders were young children. Mira was excited about the prospect of seeing other gypsies. He looked over at her and couldn't help but smile. She looked so innocent watching the road with shining eyes, like she couldn't hurt a fly. But he knew better, the whole group knew better. She had proved that when one of the families were in trouble, she could become a fighter.

Flashback

It had been a rare nice day. It was their last day in the town. The town wasn't as big as Paris, but still large enough to have some guards. The Homien family were packing up their cart. They were headed to meet up with the rest of the caravan so they would be able to leave before dawn. A guard suddenly showed up and claimed they were thieves for he saw how much money they had. Mira just happened to be walking by at the time.

"What is going on here?" Mira asks politely to the guard. It was always best to be polite so they wouldn't get angry for no reason.

"These gypsies are accused of thievery. But I can easily drop the charges." The guard says looking at the eldest daughter lustfully. She was about 15 and a rather pretty girl.

"I don't believe they have stolen anything. They have worked hard for their money." Mira says watching the guard intently. She did not like the way he was looking at the girl.

"If you would give me but an hour with the girl the charges will be dropped." The guard says to the man.

"No! Pappa!" The girl cries to her father. Her father stands in front of her to protect her from the guard.

"You shall not harm the girl." Mira says seeing the girls fear. The girls aunt was a whore and she had no intention of ever becoming one. She was a lyre player, one of the best in the caravan, and everyone respected her for it.

The guard looked angry and attacked Mira. From what the family told Aremis when they got back to the safety of the caravan was that Mira had injured the man with nothing but her hands. They said he quickly left seeing as he had no other choice. The caravan left as soon as they could. So far no one was following them, or so Mira claimed. Aremis trusted Mira, she seemed to have heightened senses for sight and hearing.

End Flashback

Mira saw Aremis looking at her from the corner of her eye. She noticed he had been doing it for a while.

"What?" Mira asks looking at him. He looked forward again and then looked back at her before speaking.

"Just thinking about the past. You should get some sleep." Aremis says giving her a pointed look.

"Alright. Wake me when we get to Paris." Mira says and climbs into the back of the wagon.

Paris

It had been at least two months after Frollo's 'tragic' demise. The gypsies were once again in their old routine. It was said a new judge had come to Paris. The gypsies were on edge. They were hoping it wasn't someone as cruel as Frollo was. Esmerelda was still nervous about her near death encounter with the fire, and almost falling off of Notre Dame. Clopin had been generous and given her a few weeks off from working the streets. She was, at the moment, visiting with Quasi in the bell tower.

"I'm still very grateful you saved me Quasi." Esmerelda says looking at Quasi across his table. He was carving a new wooden model of the baker.

"That's what friends are for." Quasi replies quietly with a smile.

He had come to terms with the fact that Esmerelda only liked him as a friend. He was glad that she was happy with Phebus. He was waiting for their wedding. Quasimodo was about 20. Esmerelda was about 23. Clopin was at least 29. Phebus was 25.

It turned out that the new judge was now in charge. Luckily for the gypsies he had quite a fancy for them. He liked to see them dance and perform on the streets and their fortune tricks. He would tolerate them, until they started to disobey the laws. The soldiers however still persecuted them, but they were use to this.

Clopin was once again in his cart playing 'babysitter'. He didn't mind though. He always had fun entertaining the kids. He loved to see their faces light up every time they heard a story. Even though they heard the same story many times before. It was dusk and the remaining kids were going home. Soon he made it to the new entrance way into the court of miracles. Once he got inside the court area he settled by the large fire and ate his meal with his gypsies. Clopin was conversing with Esmerelda about when she could return to work when a young boy, their messenger, came over and told him a scout had spotted a group of wagons on their way to the city.

"Are they gypsies?" Clopin questions the young man catiously.

"We aren't really sure sir." Was the reply from the young boy. He looked out of breath but otherwise looked fine.

"Well, go and find out." Clopin says with a wave of his gloved hand and the boy leaves.

Meanwhile

The scout was watching as the group of wagons got closer. It was night and getting harder to see farther away. The first of the wagons came into his eyesight range and he suspected that they were gypsies by the wagons' colorings and desighns.

"It's a band of traveling gypsies, I think." He whispers down to the messenger who had just entered to ask that question. The messenger was just a kid, but he was the fastest they had. He looked up with a rather annoyed face, but never the less he turned around and ran back into the tunnels. He quickly charged through the catacombs and flew by the guards on duty. Catching the guards' attention in the process. They began to be curious as to what was going on.

The young boy reached the entrance to the court and halted for just a moment. He needed to gain his breath back before he went and delivered his message. Then he quickly ran over to Clopin and Esmerelda.

"It's a group of gypsies sir." He replies out of breathe.

"Then we better go and greet them!" Clopin says and gathers a few men on his way out.

Aremis could have sworn he saw a head peak out from behind a gravestone just a while ago from the cemetery up ahead. He had no idea who was behind him and jumped at the sound of the quit voice.

"There's someone there." Mira whispers behind him. She was right at his left sholder and was watching the cemetary they were headed towards intently.

"Mira! Your suppose to be resting." Aremis scolds her looking at her with a glare.

"And you were suppose to wake me once we got their!" Mira replies back annoyed.

"Tell the others we're almost there." Aremis says changing the subject quickly.

"Alright." Mira obeys and travels to the back of the wagon and relays the message to the wagon behind them.

"Mira. Come here." Aremis says. He needed her eyes. He was getting much to old for this type of thing.

"Yes?" Mira asks coming up to him after she relayed the message.

"What do you see?" Aremis asks her quietly scanning the land in front of them.

"I see a group of men hiding. There are four large men, a young boy, a scout, but I can't see the other. I just know there's another. Some seem to be looking in a direction where noone else is near." Mira says giving Aremis a heads up on what's in front of them. It was times like these he was glad he met her in the desert and invited her to join their group years ago.

Clopin could see the wagons were still far away. The only reason they could make out that they were gypsy wagons were the bright colors. But just to make sure that they were true gypsies they were hiding behind the tombstones waiting for them to get closer.

The wagons were about 4 yards away when the scout yelled out to them.

"Halt! Who's there?" He asks from behind his stone. He was the closest to the band of wagons.

"Traveling gypsies. We ask for shelter for a time." Came a man's deep reply.

"Give us your leader's name." The scout continued.

"My name is Aremis Breyne." Aremis replies. One of Clopin's guards had heard of him from another traveling group that had passed by a few months before.

"They're gypsies. A friend of mine from the last group told me about him." He whispers to Clopin.

With Aremis

Aremis was waiting for the reply. At least he had Mira there to keep him informed.

"One's heard of you. They will let us enter." Mira whispers into his ear after she faintly heard the whisper from the men in front of them.

No sooner had she said this than four men came from behind tombstones. One a scout, and three large men.

"Where are you heading?" Asks the scout quickly and suspiciously.

"To the court of miracles." Aremis replies calmly watching the men.

"What about the others?" Mira asks Aremis from where she sat behind him. He looked and observed that indeed some of the 'welcoming committee' were missing.

"Do you not trust us? Your other three companions still hide." Aremis says watching their reactions carefully.

"What are you talking about?" Asks the scout. "This is all there is." He continues confidently.

Clopin was listening to this exchange and was trying, but failing, to figure out how he knew the others were there. Suddenly he heard another voice. It sounded very feminine.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but there are three of you still hiding. It's not nice to lie you know." Mira says from behind Aremis.

Clopin motioned for the others to reveal themselves. After them he followed.

"Welcome to Paris!" Clopin says coming closer to the wagons. The other men soon followed him.

Mysticaldreamsorceress: please review. I would like to know what you think. Should I continue? Should I quit? Do you have any suggestions? I'd like to know. Tell me if you want!