A/N: Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Thanks for the new favorite!

Chapter Four

The next morning, Auriel was brought out of sleep by the sound of her door banging open. Her hair was tangled and hanging lazily in her face, and a she wiped a trickle of drool away from the corner of her mouth. She saw that the intruder was an older woman who was slightly bent over from age, knobby hands carrying a water basin and hazy, blue eyes soft. Over her skinny body was a light blue dress and white apron, a tight braid keeping her grey hair away from her wrinkled face.

"Good morning, deary." The woman greeted as she sat the basin on the nightstand. "It's time to get you ready for the day."

"Ready?" Auriel asked with a confused look on her face.

"Yes, you can't stay in your night clothes all day. You need to be presentable." The woman insisted, balling her hands into fists and putting them on her hips. "No girl under my care is going to walk around looking like she just rolled out of bed."

Auriel blinked multiple times before replying. "Alright."

"My name is Gretta, by the way."

"I'm Auriel."

Gretta set to work, starting by cleaning off the girl's exposed skin with a rag, and water from the basin. Begrudgingly Auriel allowed the woman to do her job, but inside she was cursing Frollo for giving her a babysitter. She could take care of herself. She didn't need someone to brush her hair and get her dressed. In fact, she was already scheming to get away from the old woman as soon as she got the chance.

"There." Gretta said approvingly, proud of her handiwork as she stepped away from Auriel, who was fully clothed and prepped.

Auriel looked down at the dress she wore, which was a deep red in color. "Thanks."

"No thanks are in order, deary." The maid waved her hand as she took a seat beside the fire. "It's what I do."

The girl nodded as she settled into the armchair beside Gretta.

"Now, I'm going to have a read, if you don't mind." Gretta pulled a book from the folds of her dress, shifting it between her fingers as she opened the cover. "Do you need something to do, deary?"

Auriel shook her head. "No, but I am curious. How did you learn to read?"

"Minister Frollo taught me." Gretta confided with a small smile. "He knew I wanted to learn, and so he took the time to give me lessons. We started with the Bible, and worked our way from there."

"I didn't see him as the type of man who would do something like that." Auriel admitted, looking down at her hands.

"He may have a mean streak, but there is good in him too." Gretta nodded understandingly. "Not many people can handle a man like him."

"He is a difficult man, that's for sure." Auriel muttered, thinking of the stubborn judge and his determination.

"Truthfully, he's been that way most of his life. When he was a young man he was always persistent, doing anything in his power to get what he wanted." Gretta recalled as she leaned back in her chair. "But he wasn't always that way, make no mistake, deary."

"What happened?"

"His father." Gretta smiled sadly. "Minister Frollo was a sweet young lad, but his father couldn't stand it. He wanted his son to be as wicked and controlling as he was, so he trained him- No, manipulated him, into following in his footsteps. Apparently it worked, but I know the gentle boy is still in there somewhere."

"I had no idea-" Auriel trailed off, shocked to have learned this about her captor. "But why tell me, Gretta?"

"I don't know." Gretta tilted her head. "Perhaps you could help push him back into the man I know he was meant to be."

Auriel shook her head. "He only wants to use me for his wretched plans, and I doubt anything I say or do could ever make a difference. To him I'm just a prisoner."

Gretta patted Auriel's hand. "You won't be his prisoner forever, deary."

Auriel soaked in these words as the woman turned to her book. So, there was good in Judge Frollo. All she had to do was find it. She knew in her heart that it would be no easy feat, but maybe, just maybe, she could try to bring out the best in him.

Later in the day, Auriel got her chance to leave the room. Gretta had fallen asleep while reading, and the young woman managed to slip out without disturbing the old maid. She meandered through one of the many empty hallways, this one being lined with suits of extravagant armor. She found herself drawn to one door in particular, due to the intricate metal designs that were embedded into the wood. She gripped the handle tightly between her fingers, causing them to turn white as she gently pulled the door open. Almost instantly she jumped back as she caught sight of the unexpected inhabitant of the room. Covering her mouth with her hand in embarrassment.

Claude Frollo was on his knees beside a barred window, an intent expression written across his features, and his hands folded devoutly in prayer. His eyes were closed, but he tensed at her entry as she made an attempt to back out of the room. Before she could run off, he rose a hand, signaling her to stay where she was, and he brought his prayer to an end. His dark grey eyes opened quickly to address the intruder that had so shamelessly walked into his chambers.

"What are you doing, Miss Dupont?" Frollo questioned as he caught sight of her. "I don't recall permitting you to be here."

"J-Judge Frollo, I'm sorry." She stuttered out as he stood. "I didn't know this was your room."

He lifted his chin, giving her an intense glare. "Why are you not with Gretta?"

"I was just exploring." She admitted, lowering her eyes to the floor. How embarrassing.

"She should know better than to allow a foolish girl to wander this place alone."

"Please, don't punish her. It's my fault for leaving my room unattended." Auriel was pleading. She hated to think the old woman would be in trouble for something she did.

"If I were to punish anyone for this incident it would be you." Frollo stated blatantly, trying to retain his ominous facade. "Luckily for you, I just don't happen to be in the mood." He walked over to her, taking hold of her chin in his ring adorned hand. "I suggest you stick to places you are familiar with. Who knows what you could find within these walls."

"I will keep that in mind." Her face became flushed with humiliation. "I apologize for intruding."

Usually Claude would be furious for being interrupted during prayer, but with her he found it didn't bother him nearly as much. He let go of her, his fingers burning from where he had touched her. "I was about to finish up anyway, so there is no need to trouble yourself over it. Just don't ever do it again."

"I won't." She assured, taking a glance around. She couldn't help but be nosey about what sort of things occupied his room, and she was shocked to see it was the bare minimum. A small dresser and a bed. Above the headboard was a detailed crucifix, but other than that there was no decoration to be found. Wood crackled within a fireplace very similar to the one in her bedroom, and sunlight poured through the window. She was captivated by the sight, watching dust particles drift within the brilliant rays of sun like tiny flecks of gold.

Frollo glanced at her, to the window, and then back at her. "What are you so entranced by?"

"It's beautiful." She said quietly. "The sunlight."

As Auriel said this, he could see that her eyes practically glowed. Their golden, russet hue intensified as they absorbed as much brightness as they could manage. She was eagerly taking in the brilliance of the sun for the first time in almost two months. She never realized how much she would miss it until now.

An unexplained ache filled the judge's chest as he observed her. How could he keep someone so akin to the light shrouded within the darkness of the Palace of Justice? She didn't belong in this place, and deep down he couldn't help but reprimand himself for forcing someone like her to stay here. Yet, it didn't change the fact that he needed her to be his solution, his way to take full control of Paris. He couldn't release her, and for now his devotion to his work had it's fangs punctured deep into his soul.

"I'll take you outside." Was out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

Her smile was brilliant as she gazed up at him hopefully. "You will?"

"On one condition."

Her smile faltered slightly. "What is it?"

"Don't try to escape."