Over There and Back Again
A Sorcerer's Tale
Prompt 041: Gargoyle
Author's Ramblings: After my last lame attempt at a prompt (that HotDog lame story, I know) my computer fell to a deep depression and we had to take matter into our own hands (we being: Nanu and Deyhra) and after I (Nanu) cried for about fifteen minutes we were forced to erase the hard drive and re-install windows… thank God I've backed up these files last week if not you would not have heard a word from me again. LOL. So here we are, back in action. I hope you enjoy this piece and … Happy Writing! (Hope no one looses all I've lost information wise *sob sob*)
Victor Hugo's Vision
Notre Dame Cathedral was finished in 1345 it had been cause of great celebration but from Balthazar's point of view it deserved none. It was a new church that's all and there were thousands all over Europe; why even bother make one more? But then again he'd always wondered about normal humans. Balthazar had refused to visit Notre Dame for a hundred years later, but the French Clan had called upon him to see if a special child of theirs could be the prime Merlinian. So he traveled to France, expecting good news, and arrived at the particular place where he'll meet his guide.
Jill Delacroix was a gorgeous woman, tall, redhead, green blue eyes and pale skin. Her body was well built and Balthazar had the sightless feeling that she might have used more than just her magic to lure Morganians out of their hiding place. France was currently a better place for sorcerers to live, thanks to the current Clan's members but everyone was praising Jill for her efforts. Balthazar just arched an eyebrow as she approached, wearing a gypsy's outfit and looking so at home it gave him the creeps. Still if he'd been single and she willing to mingle he'd been willing to give her a try. He immediately felt guilty; what would Veronica think of him?
"Mr. Blake?" She asked in a heavy French accent, snapping Balthazar from his thoughts and give a gentle nod. She presented herself, giving a little curtsy and surprising Balthazar, once again. He returned her greeting with a slight bow of his head watching as she smiled. "I have always loved the age you came from, I found it so refreshing to know at least once men were courteous to total strangers."
"Indeed." If she'd only known.
"Please this way." And she pointed towards the large cathedral. Balthazar arched an eyebrow and followed in silence, senses active and ready for any attack. "The child's parents have requested to remain anonymous unless she is the Prime Merlinian their names are not to be revealed."
"I only need to see the child fro now." He reached into his pocket, touching the small dragon statue, as the woman opened the heavy wooden doors. Balthazar followed watching as she cautiously moved through the cathedra and called out for someone. She murmured in French for a while, until suddenly small tentative steps made Balthazar turn. The child was pale, her hair a curly and well kept, her brow eyes looked haunted; Balthazar couldn't help but notice she looked very special. He smiled at the child Jill had not yet noticed the presence and walked slowly towards her. "Hello." He murmured softy, the child smiling at him shyly. "Are you Joan?"
The girl nodded enthusiastically, smiling. "Well Joan, I'm going to show you something and if it likes you, you can keep it."
Again the girl smiled, probably she had not understood a word he'd said, but Balthazar was so used to speaking the words to all the children he'd met and could not help but whisper them. Balthazar produced the item, and showed it to the girl, who stared at the little figurine in awe. He showed her his open palm and she extended her small pale hand, where he placed Merlin's Dragon. Jill noticed them interacting and neared to watch.
Balthazar smiled at the girl, and taking the ring stood and brushed her hair with his hand. "You are a very lovely girl." He whispered, looking down at the girl, who didn't really understand what had happened. Balthazar turned to Jill, shook his head and heard her sigh.
"I'm sorry, sir. We really thought…"
"Nothing to be sorry about, I've been thought this before. Honestly I would have been very surprised if it had worked." A shout for outside was heard and Balthazar turned to the tall wood doors. "What's going on?"
"Jill had picked the girl up and was running to the side of the building, finding a set or stairs and hurrying up. Balthazar followed, confused, and soon was slipping into the bell chamber's at the top of the building. He watched Jill slip easily through the messy terrain, holding the girl close, and Balthazar attempted to follow, steps clumsy and groaning when he almost hit the bells by falling.
"Jill?"
"Shh, they would find us." She said from across the tower, placing the girl inside a hidden door, and closing it. "The Morganians knew we'll be here."
"And you still…?"
"I needed help to get rid of this particular gang!"
"So it was a way of luring me out." Balthazar shook his head, not really surprised. Sighing Balthazar realized something; he ought to become a child again, nothing surprised him anymore. He'd become a bitter old man by the time he let Veronica out and he very much doubter she would like that. The angry shouts echoing from the long flight of stairs snapped him from the musings and he turned to Jill. "How many?"
"About twenty five."
"Armed?"
"Probably."
"Not good." He looked around as the woman stepped in sigh.
"Just give them time; till nightfall."
"Give who time?"
The door slammed open and the shouts died.
"Hide, quickly." He ordered in a murmur, searching for a hiding spot himself. Jill did as told, probably joining the girl's hideout while Balthazar took a deep breath and crouched behind one of the stone gargoyles, assumed a similar position and turned into a growling gargoyle. He only moved when one of the Morganians passed close by, searching, his eyes following the man. The sun was hitting the cathedra's front face, and the glass had become an array of colors shinning with the power of the sun's oranges and reds. Balthazar heard the clouds of thunder rolling behind them, announcing rain, and wished to be able to slip away as soon as nightfall fell so he could somehow ambush the attackers.
One of the Morganians stood beside Balthazar looking down. He spoke in French, letting the others know he had not found neither the women nor Blake, and as soon as he stopped talking, Balthazar rose, hit his jaw in just the right spot that unlocked the jawbone from the skull and as he groaned inwardly, Balthazar kicked him and the man slip down the side of the building and over the bushes below, landing on his back on green. He was still alive. Balthazar crouched again, and turned to see another one of the Morganians looking around. The ropes to ring the bells catch his eyes and Balthazar slid through the shadows towards them, his feet hitting several pipes that were laying about and kicking them and making them roll towards the open hole and roll down the bell's chamber. He'd honestly tried to stop them, but he was only managed to stop one while the others clanked loudly, making the whole gang run around the bells.
Balthazar groaned silently, and scattered to hide. The sun was sinking, and Balthazar realized the numbers had dwindled, so as he hid on top of the bell, holding tightly onto the metal bars that secured the mechanism for the bells, he avoided making any noise. He was still holding the metal pipe; and using all the resources he had his ring started glowing.
The men were talking among themselves, murmuring about the legends of the Notre Dame and its ghosts. Their leader finally stepped out, making Balthazar turn. "If you believe that this forsaken church haunted then leave. If not scatter and find Blake or I'll start throwing men down the sides of the building."
Balthazar should have known Horvath was involved in this whole thing. Annoyed and holding a whip in hand, Balthazar slowly made his way towards the top of the bell, avoiding creating any sound or movement to all that surrounded him. He made his way to the outer sides of the bell and waving the soft material of the metal-turn-whip he wrapped it around one of the Morganian's standing guard beside the bell. He lifted the man, or boy, and knocked him unconscious by hitting him against the ceiling. The crack of his skull echoed, making the others turn. But Balthazar moved to hide again, repeating the process several times with some other Morganians before the sun completely vanished on the horizon.
Fine, now what? If he was supposed to buy them time, who was supposed to help them now?
A scream tore through the night, and Balthazar turned; a roar echoed in the Bell's chambers, and realizing something was up Balthazar slid over the wood and metal around the bell and over the top of the building to look down. He didn't even had to look down; the gargoyles to the side of the tower were lifting its arms; taking larger shapes and wings spreading. Not yet noticed, Balthazar lost his footing and slid down the hole, falling against the bell with a loud clanking sound, the bell moved to the side and let him slide further down, before Balthazar took hold of the rope to ring the bell and with a gasp of fear halted his own fall.
Funny; he couldn't have done magic to save his own life after seeing the gargoyles taking life. He looked up, Jill crying out someone's name, and Balthazar hurried up the rope, with some difficulty. He reached the bell and saw the Horvath fighting with a tall gargoyle that seemed rather angry, while the other Morganians were been swung from side to side or around them. Jill found Balthazar, pulled him over the side of the bell Joan received him on the ground holding him down.
"Told you we've got backup."
"Gargoyles?"
"A whole clan devoted to helping Merlinians and the search for the prime Merlinian. But were stuck to protecting the Cathedral." Answered Jill quickly, smiling smugly. "They were the ones to find Joan." Balthazar tried to stand but a gargoyle pushed him to the ground and started sniffling him, just as Horvath was lifted and flown away. The gargoyle's thick dark eyes stared at him for a second; before letting out a shriek/wail and flying away. Balthazar was paralyzed, and it took both Jill and Joan to get him to stand up. "Sorry about that, they were just checking to see if you are who you claim to be."
Balthazar said nothing, stood up and Joan took hold of his hand. One of the Morganians was dropped on the ground. "We've got to get out of here. Before things get too ugly." Murmured Jill, nodding towards Joan; the child didn't deserve to see men cut in half or ripped open. A man ahead screamed and out the walls the sound of liquid hitting stone was heard; rain started to fall soon after.
"Let's get down then." Agreed Balthazar, taking a deep breath.
"The stairs are blocked." Said Jill, questioning his sanity; Balthazar lifted Joan to piggyback ride, making sure the child was holding tightly, and then took Jill's hand.
"Hang on." And he jumped down the bell's chamber, taking tight hold of the rope the bells started to ring their announcement; it was now ten in the night.
But Balthazar was unaware of a particular detail; a Morganian saw his shadow and thought it was the shadow of another inhabitant of the Cathedral.
"Isn't it simply stunning?" Veronica stood in front of the large cathedral, thick sunglasses covering her eyes from the summer sun as she stared at the tall towers and tried to make out several of the gargoyles perched on the ledges. Balthazar stood beside her, staring down at a pamphlet, reading some of the history of the cathedral. "Is it true there's a hunchback on the towers?"
Balthazar looked up, as Veronica lifted her digital camera, Becky's gift for Veronica's birthday, and snapped a picture. He laughed out loud when he found out he'd been confused for a hunchback that night, stealing away a gypsy girl. The last part he understood, but he; a hunchback? Balthazar turned to Veronica, who was watching him worriedly. "Balthazar are you ok?"
"I need something to drink."
"Water? I think I have a bottle." He lifted his hand, and shook it.
He needed something a bit stronger; Tequila would be a good option. "Can we move on?" Balthazar wanted to move on, he never had found churches fascinating, unlike Veronica. He wanted to go eat something and probably take a nap to then dive into the French Night life alongside his wife.
"Balthazar you've been here a few times but it's my first time here so be patient ok?" Veronica was trying to rain on his parade, walking away to admire the large rose window better, but Balthazar just smiled and followed her.
"Not true I have only visited once; but I got to ring the bells." He commented, following his wife to try and make it up for his impatience.
Author's Ramblings: Cookies to whoever figures out who the little girl Balthazar tested is. Happy writing!