Quick cathedral architecture vocabulary lesson before we start.
Sacristy: The section in the back of the church where the priest prepares for mass and keeps the materials for worship.
Nave: Large section of the church where the congregation is accommodated. (Basically everywhere Esmeralda was wandering during her song.)
Buttress: supportive pillar, usually made of stone or brick.
Present 2
Noelle moved among the dispersing chaos, trying her best to look nonchalant while her eyes scanned the crowd for a sign. Though this wasn't a scenario they planned for, she was sure Clopin try to get a message to her in some way, even if the message came in the form of a side-long glance and a wink. He must have been coming up with some sort of plan. He was usually concocting three or four schemes at any given moment. Surely he was plotting the escape of his favorite protégé.
Though, she wasn't sure what she could expect after this day. No one could have predicted that the fabled bell ringer would descend from his tower, much less that he would attempt to join in on the festivities. Clopin spotted him right away. The wheels in his head began turning the moment he saw the bell ringer. She could tell by the mischievous grin which spread on his face as he chased the hunchback around. Just like that, he'd added a new event to whatever else he had in store for the crowd that day. Although, she couldn't tell if his plans were born out of selfishness or kindness. Whatever his intentions, they ended in disaster.
It seems I will have an answer soon, she thought as she spotted a brightly-colored puppet peak out from behind an abandoned festival booth. The puppet was clearly made in its creator's image, right down to the gloved hand which was waving her over. Slowly, she inched though the crowd, aimlessly milling about as all the other spectators were. She came to rest with her back leaning against the booth's post. The puppet's black dot eyes stared vacantly up at her. The puppet's hand tapped her lightly on the hip. "Alley, black smith," a voice whispered and the puppet swiftly ducked back behind the booth.
Noelle waited a few minutes before making her way toward the alley. Once she entered, she saw Clopin leaning with his back against a stone wall. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and waved her over. "Ah, Noelle, now…"
"What were you thinking?" Noelle interrupted, finally asking the question that had been on her lips for hours.
"What was I thinking?" Clopin said incredulously.
Noelle went on as if she hadn't heard him. "The boy spends his life hiding in a bell tower. Why would you think he would want to be dragged in front of the crowd?"
"Excuse me? Did I imagine the smile on his face when he was crowned? He seemed to enjoy it."
"Yes, he enjoyed it. Right up until…"
"Ugh, no need to remind me." Clopin ran a hand down his weary face. "How was I to know the crowd would turn so ugly so fast? And the day began with such promise, too."
"And Esmeralda…"
Clopin scoffed as he turned in the direction of the cathedral and glared indignantly up at the building. "Why does that damned girl have to be such a brazen idealist? I should have drilled more cynicism into her."
Noelle placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "There will be time enough for that later," she told him.
"Later?" He turned his head toward her curiously.
"You're planning on her escape, yes?"
He immediately became alive again. "Of course, and I need you for it."
"I figured that much."
"Come with me." Clopin took her hand and lead her through a series of back allies. "Do you remember how we snuck in when we were young?" he asked, turning a corner.
"Yes, but that would require a door. Frollo has placed a guard at each one."
"Ah, yes, each large, discernable, ornate door has at least one guard posted in front of it. However, one door I've checked does not." They stopped at the mouth of the alley which faced the back of the cathedral. Across from them was a wooden door, still large though relatively smaller and less elaborately decorated than the others.
"The sacristy? You want us to go through there?"
"I want to go through there. It's locked from the outside, though," he answered stroking his beard. "You will go through the front door and let me in from the inside."
This was identical to the trick they used as children, though there was one glaring flaw. "The guard…"
"Is only there to catch Esmeralda when she comes out," he finished. "I've been watching them. No one is stopping the good citizens of Paris from going in. After all, they can't bar the church-goers from attending evening mass."
Noelle nodded. "So, I go in at evening mass and let you in while everyone in distracted."
"Yes, and while you're in there, you can look for Esmeralda. Let her know that I am coming for her."
"Sounds simple enough. Though, you don't seem too concerned about what could happen between now and mass."
"She has sanctuary. If she's smart, she'll stay put. Besides, she didn't seem too concerned about her own safety this morning." He said this last part bitterly. "Insulting Frollo in front of the entire city…Of all the insanely foolish...I thought I taught her to be cleverer than that. She could have put the whole court in danger. She'll be getting a piece of my mind tonight, that's for sure."
"I suspect you're only rescuing her so that you can yell at her," Noelle retorted with an amused smile.
"I can't lie to you, Noelle," Clopin said with a sigh. "That is part of my motivation."
"We have to get her out first."
"Of course. I'll be back here once I hear the bells for evening mass. When should I expect you?"
"I think it would be best if I slipped out of line after receiving communion. Once I get inside, I'll open the door and wave you over. We'll have to be quick, though. Mass ends soon after communion."
Clopin nodded. "I'll also need you to distract the Archdeacon while I leave the sacristy. Are we clear on the entire plan?"
"Yes."
"Good. I will see you again this evening."
[-]
Clopin watched from the shadows as Noelle entered the cathedral. Once she was in, he made his way to the alley across from the sacristy door. He waited, often checking to make sure no guards noticed their missed door. None had so far, but the guards were still posted outside the cathedral. He found Frollo's overreaction to be odd. All of this for being called a fool in front of a drunken, unruly crowd? Clopin had seen Frollo's guards loose interest in much shorter amounts of time for much more serious crimes. Did the judge really fear public humiliation this much? Finally, he saw the door open slightly and Noelle's hand wave him inside. Clopin darted across the street and slinked inside.
"Quickly now," Noelle said as she quietly closed the door. "I had to take a seat in the back and so I was one of the last to receive communion."
"Did you see her?" he asked. "Did you tell her I was coming?"
"No, I didn't see her, not in the nave anyway," she answered. Clopin scowled and looked away. Noelle placed a hand on his face and turned him back toward her. "The cathedral is immense. There are plenty of other places she can be."
His fingers curled around her hand and brought it down. "Well, if that's the case, we best start look-"
The sound of the door opening froze them both for a moment. Clopin quickly ducked behind a large table in the center of the room. Noelle shoved his hat down, noticing the tip sticking up from his hiding place.
The Archdeacon entered the room, surprised to see Noelle standing there. "Ah, Mademoiselle Janvier, is it? May I ask what you're doing back here?"
"Yes, I was waiting for you, Father," Noelle answered. "I was hoping you could take confession this evening."
"Of course, just give me moment to change out of these vestments. Is there something pressing on your mind?"
"No, I simply realized that I haven't been in a while and I didn't want to wait for fear I would forget again."
The archdeacon moved toward the wardrobe in the back of the room. Clopin was forced to slide around to the other side of the table. With the archdeacon's back turned, he took the opportunity to slip out of the door and into the nave.
Clopin tucked himself behind a buttress and glanced around. He never felt comfortable in this place. Technically there was nothing barring him from entrance. He'd never had to declare sanctuary himself, in fact he prided himself on being sly and quick enough to get around Frollo's soldiers undetected. The few times he had been in there though, he always felt unwelcome. It wasn't the Archdeacon. His reputation for kindness and compassion was known to all creeds and colors in Paris. No, it was the people. It was the glances and glares that said "what are you doing here? This isn't your place." Over time, he'd learn to ignore them the best he could. Tonight, though, he decided it was best to keep as hidden as possible. The Gypsy King waltzing around the cathedral after Frollo very publicly called for the arrest of the gypsy girl hiding inside would be much too suspicious.
For now, he was faced the problem of where to look. Noelle was right, this place was immense, cavernous even. Searching the entire place would take hours that he didn't have. Come on, Clopin. You know her better than anybody. Where would she go? For as long as he'd known her, she had a tendency to wander off and explore. On a typical day, he could easily picture her picking a random direction and going off to see what secrets that cathedral held. Secrets in the cathedral… He could think of one not-so-secret secret here, and he'd crowned it King of Fools just that morning. Esmeralda's heart clearly blead for the bell ringer. Was it possible she sought him out? Perhaps tried to check up on him?
Clopin spotted the enclosed spiral staircase which lead up to the bell tower. Well, my search must start somewhere, he thought to himself. And so, he began his ascent.
Once he reached the top and stepped out onto the open walkway, he couldn't help but stop and take in the view. He'd seen the city at night hundreds of times, but never from this angle. It was too dark to see the streets and buildings in detail, but the moon and stars showed brightly in the night and reflected off of the waters of the Sane. Perhaps Esmeralda is up here, he thought to himself. If nothing else, he could see her staying up here for the open air and the view alone. He stargazed for just one more moment before continuing with his search.
He reached the end of the walkway and stepped into the bell tower. It was darker inside without the benefit of the stars and moon for illumination. Though he could see the flicker of some candles on a platform a short ways up, they did him no good where he was standing. Moving as quietly as possible, he tried to navigate the indeterminate shapes in the dark. Though one false move sent his shin colliding with a hard, stone gargoyle. "Gah!" the cry escaped his lips and he quickly covered his mouth to cut off any further uproars. Damn! Damn! Damn! So much for the notoriously stealthy gypsy king! Unable to curse and swear as he would have liked, he continued his tirade in his head. What a place to keep a gargoyle! What was that hunchback thinking?
"Who's there?"
The call came from the lighted platform above. Damn that hunchback… Clopin was just beginning to realize how dangerous it was to come up here. The hunchback was more or less Frollo's pet, after all. At least, that was the rumor. His presence in the tower could easily make it back to Frollo.
Above him, he heard the wood begin to creak as the bell ringer made his way down. "I know someone's here," he called out again as he made his descent.
Clopin hid behind beneath the platform and behind the rickety wooden staircase. He watched as the hunchback climbed down onto the floor where he was standing. The boy looked around and took a moment to inspect the gargoyle which Clopin knocked into. He took one look out of the doorway and turned back. "I know you're still in here," he called again. Clopin listened to the voice curiously. He detected an interesting tone to it. The hunchback spoke with a fragile sort of authority, like a child trying his best to sound brave.
"Are you a soldier?" the hunchback called. Clopin could have laughed at that one. It was the only time in his life he was mistaken for a soldier.
"If you're a soldier, then get out! She has sanctuary!"
Now this was intriguing. Was Esmeralda up here after all? And the bell ringer was keeping Frollo's soldiers away? If she was, he knew he wouldn't be able to find her without also dealing with the hunchback. Slowly, he crept out of his hiding place, though he did not leave the shadows entirely. "You could not be more wrong, mon ami," he said, letting the charm seep from his voice. "I've come to help her, not arrest her."
"Who are you?" the hunchback asked, turning in the direction of Clopin's voice.
"I am a friend, her friend," he said as he inched out of the shadows. "I want to help her get home safely. Is that not what you want?"
The bell ringer paused a moment before silently making his way up the staircase. Clopin climbed up behind him. "Not sure if you can trust me, eh? I understand," he said conversationally. "I, too, am cautious when it comes to these sort of things." Clopin made it up to platform and followed as the hunchback scaled a ladder to yet another platform. "If you tell me where she is, I can make sure she makes it out of here. I promise you she will be pleased to see me. You see, I've known her since she was a child. I am like family to her." He finished his speech once he'd reached to top.
The bell ringer paused at the word, 'family.' He glanced back and his expression softened. Clopin followed as the bell ringer skulked forward. They moved past a table and onto a terrace behind it."You're too late," the bell ringer said. "She is already gone."
His heart stopped. "Gone? Gone where?"
"Home, I think," the bell ringer answered, looking out into the city. "She said something about the Court of Miracles."
"How exactly did she get past the guards?"
"We climbed down. Well, I climbed. She held on." As he spoke, Clopin looked down over the ledge, half expecting to see an Esmeralda-shaped smear on the cobblestones below. "I'm used to climbing around this place, so it was no trouble," the bell ringer finished.
"You climbed down?" Clopin asked, as if trying to work out a complicated riddle.
The bell ringer shyly glanced away. "Yes, well, not down the front, obviously. We went down a side where no soldiers were."
Clopin paused a moment, still taking everything in. "You helped her escape…"
"Yes. We couldn't have gone through a door because the guards were there. So, I…"
"Why?"
"P-pardon me?" the bell ringer stammered.
"Why did you do it?" He was still trying to wrap his head around this. In a city of rumors and gossip, everyone had a reputation, even the hidden bell ringer. It was said that the boy was shy and gentle, but also completely obedient to his master, Frollo. Did this same boy defy his master to aid the people his master notoriously hates?
A bashful smile came to the bell ringer's face. Were it not so dark, Clopin was sure he would see the boy blush. "She was kind to me. She wasn't like…" he cut himself off and looked up at Clopin, seeming to suddenly remember he was talking to another gypsy. "Well, like my master said she would be."
Suddenly, everything fell into place. Being a practiced liar himself, Clopin was good at detecting lies. In the bell ringer, he saw nothing but sincerity. The boy was simply grateful for being shown a shred of kindness for once in his life. "And what will you say when Frollo asks you how Esmeralda escaped?"
"Oh, I don't think he'll ask me. He never talks to me about this sort of thing."
"Hmmm…I suppose you would know more about that than I, but I would advise you to think of something to say, just in case." Clopin gave the boy a light pat on the shoulder and turned to leave.
He was nearing the end of the platform when Quasimodo called out to him. "Wait," the boy called hesitantly. "I have a question. Did you know who I was? At the festival?"
A cringe tugged at the corner of Clpoin's mouth as the events of the day came rushing back him. "I…could not know for certain, but I suspected."
"So, then, did you know what would happen?" There was a hint of anger underlying the boy's usually shy and unsure tone.
Clopin took some time choosing his words. He knew he had to tread cautiously here. "The Feast of Fools is usually a time when things that are strange or different are welcome, even celebrated. When I saw you, I thought 'Who better for King of Fools than the strangest man in Paris?' I assumed the crowd would think the same."
"You were wrong." Quasimodo said with firmly. His tone startled Clopin. It was the first time the boy sounded certain of anything in their entire conversation.
"Yes…" Clopin answered solemnly "I was." This was the closest Quasimodo was going to get to an apology from Clopin. They weren't something he typically handed out freely, especially not to people he barely knew. But, in this case, he felt he owed the boy something. "Farewell, Quasimodo," Clopin said as he turned and put his feet on the top rung of the ladder. "I…I never wished to cause you any harm."
"Wait," Quasimodo called again. Clopin stopped at the top the ladder. "How did you know my name?"
Clopin smirked and glanced up at him. "Let's just say, I've heard it before."
[-]
By the time Clopin descended the steps from the bell tower, all of the parishioners had left save for a few lingering in the pews or praying before the statues. Even those were beginning to thin out. He spotted Noelle at the votive candles with her cloak hanging over her shoulders. He silently approached her and watched as she stuck the match, setting it aflame.
"Where is she?" Noelle asked, not looking up from her candles.
"Not here," Clopin answered. "Apparently she didn't need our help to escape."
"Are you certain it was escape and not capture?" she asked, lighting a candle
"Frollo's men are still outside, aren't they?"
"Mmm…" Noelle murmured in understanding. She lit another. "How did you learn about her esacpe?"
Clopin smirked. "It was the bell ringer of all people."
"Really?"
"Yes, he saw me sneaking about and he told me some outlandish story about climbing down from the bell tower."
Noelle gave him a skeptical look. "And you believed him?"
"Strangely, his story made perfect sense," Clopin said thoughtfully. "…too much sense to have been made up on the spot."
"Your stories always made perfect sense too," Noelle pointed out.
Clopin grinned widely. "That's because I am brilliant."
"Of course you are…" she deadpanned in reply, though a small smile began to form on her face.
Clopin observed as Noelle touched the flame on her match to a candle's wick. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?" she retorted. "I lit one for my mother and father. This one is for my brother."
"Prayer candles? I had no idea you were so devout."
"I think it's a nice gesture is all," she explained calmly as she lit two more candles. "My brother and I used to light one for our mother every week after mass. You know, when your father died, my father would light a candle for him every Sunday. When he also died, I continued the tradition. I light one for your mother as well."
"So you light them for the dead," he stated matter-of-fact. "But your brother is alive, unless there's news you haven't shared with me."
Noelle gave an exasperated sigh. "He is alive as far as I know, but the way he traipses around France, not a care in the world…someone needs to keep his well-being in mind. Lord knows, he doesn't."
"What are the dead going to do with a bunch of candles? Either they've got better things to do or worse things to worry about."
She lit one more. "Are you quite finished criticizing my candles?"
"Hmmm…" Clopin brought his fist to his chin, as if deep in thought. "Yes, I am finished."
Noelle blew out her match. "Fine, then. I am finished as well. Shall we go?"
"You didn't need to wait for me to come back, you know." Clopin remarked. "You could have left."
"You didn't need to wait for me to finish my candles, but you did," Noelle pointed out in return. "Are you going to leave through the sacristy? The archdeacon has retired for the night, so you should have no trouble."
"I'll need to, unless you can distract the guards long enough for me to disappear into the night." He gave her a mischievous grin.
"Distract them how?" she retorted.
"You know, by using your womanly attributes." He made a show of looking her up and down.
"Giving birth on the church steps would be pretty distracting…"
"If you think that'll get the job done."
"Well, you better pray the angel Gabriel visits me in the next few seconds. Otherwise, we'll be missing a key element to this plot."
"Seeing as we are in short supply of miracles at the moment, I suppose the sacristy will have to do," Clopin answered. "I better go quickly. I have to make sure she made it back alright."
"Yes, you should. You will let me know if you need anything else, I don't doubt." She reached up and straightened his hat. "Goodnight, then. I wish you safe travels."
"Are you going to light a candle for that as well?" he quipped with an impish smile.
Noelle smirked in return. "Perhaps I'll light one and pray for a less mocking friend."
"You would never wish for such a thing." Clopin answered. "Goodnight, my most clever friend.'
He slipped away then and made his way toward his exit. He slipped though the sacristy door, checked for guards, and ran off into the alley. From the church steps, Noelle watched as Clopin disappeared into the shadows. Once he was out of sight, she flipped up the hood of her cloak, and took off in her own direction.
