Yay chapter four! =) sorry it's taken me awhile but I was kinda busy, in fact my days will only get busier but I promise that I won't stop writing ^^. I was a little sad that I didn't get many reviews for the last chapter but hey I've had over 70 visitors and this hasn't really been up very long =D. I have to admit that I have lived a good life XD, sorry again, I got to go see Wicked the musical last Saturday and all I have to say is IT WAS AMAZING!!!

The night after I saw it I stayed up till 5 in the morning with church in just a few hours. I went back to bed and slept half the day.

Ok so I finally got one of the songs in ^_^, if the way I have the songs is stupid all I have to say is sorry. I had no idea if I should italicise it or use align center or what so...yea at least it's there =P

Disclaimer: HoND belongs to Disney and Victor Hugo, all the songs belong to Disney. Flannery and other Characters belong to me.

Enjoy ^.^,

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The Bell Ringer of Notre Dame

The sound of bells entered my ears. I sat up, I was no longer on the bench but in a bed. It was a very small room; very shabby and dark too. There were no windows. I assumed that it was the morning bells waking up all of Paris.

I forced myself to get up, no wonder I didn't sleep well the mattress was made of hay. My eyes felt so heavy that I could have fallen asleep within seconds. I had to steady myself many times just to keep from falling over. My body felt weaker than a newborn kitten. Though it ached much more than a newborn kitten's.

The cracked door let in some light but not much. I started heading for it, the bells had just quited. Just as I was about to open it further I heard the unmistakable sound of voices. It almost sounded like there were four. One was the definitely was a male tenor.

"Poor dear, all bruised up," the first voice was that of a very deep male voice.

The next voice was male but was lighter than the last, "She must have gotten in one heck of a fight, we can tell who lost."

"Hugo!!" the other voices all yelled.

"What?"

"I heard her telling her story to the archdeacon; it's awful," his voice sounded quiet and shy.

"Well Quasi it was kind of you to let her have your bed last night," a very maternal voice said.

"W-well sleeping on a wooden bench couldn't have been very comfortable."

"What are you going to do when she wakes up?" inquired the deep voice. There was a pause. I waited, I didn't want to walk in on someone's conversation but I guess that snooping was just as bad.

Finally "Quasi" spoke, "I'll just wait till she leaves. If she sees that no one is here she'll leave." Maybe, but not now.

I, deciding that I had snooped enough, opened the door. Everything went awkwardly quiet, almost deafening. I stepped out into a huge room. The only words that can describe it the most is amazing.

The room was larger than the previous and the ceiling couldn't be seen. Bright golden bells of many sizes hung above my head, so these were the famous bells of Notre Dame. I could only stare at them in awe, one could never understand how big they really were until they had seen them.

I finally tore my gaze away from them and walked up to a table. There was a wooden model of Notre Dame and several houses. The craftsmanship was incredible, the look so real that someone could walk out of them at any moment.

There were also mini people and animals. I giggled at the ones I recognized, they too looked so close to the originals. The person who lived up here must go out into town often to be able to get this much detail.

I turned around remembering that I was not alone. "Hello?" my throat was dry so my voice came out hoarse. I waited but I could neither see nor hear anyone.

I spotted three gargoyles toward the center of the room, an odd place for them to be. By no means were they intimidating like the ones that adorned the cathedral's exterior. One was short and stout, another tall with seemed like angel wings, while the last seemed old and frail. A strange trio indeed.

"I know someone is here. I'd like to thank you for letting me sleep here for the night," I waited but again no reply, "Please I would like to thank you." I spotted a shadow move by one of the bells, sadly when I turned my head it was gone. I felt watched but it wasn't nerve wrecking.

I took a few steps toward where the shadow had been. I knew he probably wasn't there anymore but that was the only place that I'm sure he had been. "Really all I want to do is thank you," still nothing, "Alright I'll leave." I walked to the stair and stopped. "By the way my name is Flannery, you really do have thanks," and with that I made my way back down to the main floor of the cathedral.

Just before I left the archdeacon found me. "My dear I will pray for you," he said putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you sir. I'll need it, I'll need a lot of it."

"I'm sure that God will bring good out of all this."

"I hope so, I honestly don't think I could deal with it again but I don't know where to go."

"Well should you ever need sanctuary again for the night the doors are always open."

"Thank you sir," I bowed my head, he nodded and went back to whatever he had been doing. My steps to the door were hesitant, I didn't want to go back. I'm sure that marks were visible.

When I reached the doors out of my sanctuary I had come to a decision. Just because I left didn't mean I had to go back to the estate. Yes there was a strong possibility that I would run into Jacques while in town but it was better than facing him alone while caged within four walls.

I had to shield my eyes when I stepped outside, the sun was blinding. Maybe it was because of my swollen eyes or maybe it was the simple fact that the church was dark. A nice breeze was blowing though, I'm sure my hair looked like crap anyway, I pulled out the pins that held the locks in place.

It felt so good to have it down and flying free around my face. I'm sure that since it was so long that there was a few tangles in it but I didn't care. For a moment I fantasized myself back in England, running around acting like a fool with my friends. Days I wished I could keep living with dreams that I would never carry out now. I pulled myself back to reality and walked into the square, merging with the people of Paris.

I took time to fully assess different wares, unlike other times when I'd merely glance at them. I felt like a nomad, I was just roaming. I did, however, avoid all streets that lead past Jacques estate.

After some time I found myself back at the square. I hadn't really dwelt there. I decided no harm could come from looking around; if what the archdeacon had told me was true Jacques would probably be at the Palace of Justice. Poor Ami though would be stuck with the governess, I'd make it up to her later.

While walking through the crowd I spotted a familiar caravan. It looked like he was just setting up, the morning was still quite young. I walked over to find the jester unpacking some little props and other puppets.

"Excuse-moi, monsieur," he seemed a little taken aback when he saw me standing there, "I was wondering if you needed any help?"

I was so sure that he would make a smart comment about how nice I was being to him, "Non merci. What are you doing out so early?" Instead he sounded so sincere, like he actually cared.

"Couldn't sleep," I tucked a strand of auburn behind my ear and out of my face.

"Why? It was a beautiful night out, a bit chilly I admit, but quite calming."

"I didn't notice," I shrugging, "The nights aren't really much of a highlight for me."

"Well how about I make your morning ten times better," that familiar crooked smile lit up his half covered face. I couldn't help but smirk.

"And how will you do that?"

"I promised that the next time I saw you I would tell you the story of the bell ringer."

"Yes, but my daughter also wanted to hear it."

"She's your daughter?" he almost look about ready to go into shock.

"Yes,"

"You look far too young to be a mother," his mood was solemn again.

I giggled, "Please I would have to have been eight to have her." He didn't laugh but he made an effort to act humored. I guess that he didn't often mask his feelings like I did, I could tell that he was trying though.

"So she would be your..."

"Step-daughter, yes."

"Ah, well I plan on telling it before the Feast of Fools anyway so she can hear it then."

"So I get the sneak preview?"

"Oui," he was grinning again, "Tell me how you like it afterward, but just a warning, even if you don't like it I'll tell it anyway."

I feigned annoyance, "Then what's the point? If it sucks then you'll only make a huge fool of yourself."

"Perfect, the festival is that exact day. I'll fit in perfectly."

I rolled my eyes, "You do anyway."

Suddenly his little puppet appeared. "I have to agree with her you know," sounded that high pitched voice.

He looked down at the puppet in aggravation, "Your supposed to be on my side."

"Since when?" it argued.

"I made you!"

"So?" he hit his mini self's head with a stick, I smiled. He truly did act so childish, no wonder he was such a hit with the children.

He cleared his throat, "Alright to start the story."

"Well hurry I can't wait all day," I said. Again he cleared his throat, then to my amazement he started singing.

"Morning in Paris, the city awakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
The fisherman fishes, the baker man bakes
To the bells of Notre Dame
To the big bells as loud as the thunder
To the little bells soft as a psalm
And some say the soul of the city's
The toll of the bells
The bells of Notre Dame"

He paused as the bells started ringing. I didn't really notice though; I had chills running through my body as he had been singing.

Living in a proper British house meant learning everything a proper young woman was supposed to know. This was especially true of the fine arts like piano, painting, and singing. I didn't mind learning to play the piano but painting I hated. Singing I loved but I was far too shy to sing for anyone but my sister and our governess.

I didn't just learn to sing but I learned about the art itself. I went to many plays and saw many choirs, I knew the work that went into keeping your voice healthy. I was especially familiar with the all the notes and pitches a singer could hit. From tenor, bass, alto, and soprano. I personally was a soprano but I could hit some alto notes.

The way this man sang already had me pulled in by the first verse, it had been quite a few years since anyone's voice had automatically stolen all my attention.

"Listen, they're beautiful, no? So many colors of sound, so many changing moods. Because you know, they don't ring all by themselves," his puppet popped up and chimed in.
"They don't?"
"No, silly boy. Up there, high, high in the dark bell tower lives the mysterious bell ringer. Who is this creature?"

"Who?" the puppet echoed.
"What is he?"

"What?"
"How did he come to be there?"

"How?"
"Hush," he pulled out the small stick and hit the puppet on its poor head again, "and Clopin will tell you. It is a tale, a tale of a man and a monster."

"Dark was the night when our tale was begun
On the docks near Notre Dame

Four frightened gypsies slid silently under
The docks near Notre Dame

But a trap had been laid for the gypsies
And they gazed up in fear and alarm
At a figure whose clutches
Were iron as much as the bells

The bells of Notre Dame"

Gypsies? I frowned, I should have known that he would try to tell me a tale with such people in it. But had I not, just the very night before, stood up for them? I regained my composer as he continued his tale.

"Judge Claude Frollo longed
To purge the world
Of vice and sin

And he saw corruption everywhere
Except within"

He, Clopin I think his name was, explained the gypsies' capture and Minister Frollo's hatred of gypsies. He arrested all the men and thought that the young mother had stolen goods.

"She ran." he said and explained the chase. She had tried to seek sanctuary in Notre Dame yet no one would answer. Frollo had caught up to her and tried to take away the bundle she was carrying. She fought him for it. Frollo killed her by kicking her away, her head slammed down on the stone steps of the cathedral. When Frollo looked at the bundle he found out it was baby.

Frollo tried to drown the baby but the archdeacon stopped him. He told Frollo that he would have two lives on his hands if he drowned the baby. That Notre Dame knew what he had done and certainly so did God. He could not hid from their eyes.

"And for one time in his life
Of power and control

Frollo felt a twinge of fear
For his immortal soul"

Frollo gave in and asked the archdeacon what it is that he should do, he told him that he needed to raise the baby like his own child. Frollo agreed but as long as it lived in the bell tower of Notre Dame.

Clopin pulled a red cloth around him and a new puppet appeared, it looked like an old man with gray hair wearing a black robe and a very strange hat.

"And Frollo gave the child a cruel name. A name that means half-formed, Quasimodo."

"Now here is a riddle to guess if you can
Sing the bells of Notre Dame
Who is the monster and who is the man?

Sing the bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells, bells, bells, bells
Bells of Notre Dame!"

My mouth dropped open in a very unladylike manner. Never in my life had I heard or even heard of a man who was able to hit a not like that, never. It was normal for altos and sopranos to hit but.....suddenly Clopin's puppet was right up in my face.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Did madam like it?"

"It was...well..," the puppet and Clopin looked at each other than at me, "It was very good and the singing was fabulous." I could see the pride sparkling in his eyes but he continued to give me that same smug look. "What?" I asked

"There's more isn't there?"

"Well," I couldn't tell him that he had the most amazing voice I'd ever heard, "So are you trying to say that there was something wrong with the bell ringer?"

"Wrong?"

"Frollo wanted to drown him right?"

"Yes."

"Well what was it that was the matter with him?"

"He was born deformed, people say that he is a hunchback," he gave me a wicked look. My heart got caught in my throat, I had stayed in the hunchback's room! What if he had come out?!

I leaned up against the caravan and tried to stay the horrible images that were starting to form in my head.

"Flannery?" I looked up to find Clopin out of the caravan and standing in front of me. "Hey are you alright you look as white as a-, wait your already white," he smiled.

"I'm fine," I said no longer leaning against the caravan, "and we were never properly introduced so that gives you no right to call me by my given name."

Clopin bowed (he was laughing I know he was), "Well then madam, I am Clopin Trouillefou."

I had to toss my head to remove some strands of amber out of my vision, "As you by now well know I am Flannery Wilki- I mean Flannery Follet."

"Well seeing as we have now been formally introduced I can call u Fina," he smirked.

"What since when?!"

"Well your step-daughter calls u that."

"But she's only a kid. And more importantly my daughter."

"So? If I remember correctly you've known me longer."

"Yeah, you were extremely rude to me! That doesn't gain points in my book."

"You didn't make a very good impression either."

I looked away, "I have no idea what your talking about."

"Almost cursing a person for an accident never bods well. Also treating people like they are dirt beneath those fancy heels of yours never makes anyone feel good."

"I do not treat people-"

"The first few times you saw me you always had a look of disgust on your face. And if some poor beggar or just a humble person walks by you shy away from they."

I just stared at him in shock. I admit that I always was nervous that one of those heth-, people, would rob me or even kill me. Stories like that were common in England they made you afraid to walk down the street without seeing someone you knew. But was it right?

"Well Fina?" he stood there with his arms crossed; he might have been smiling but his onyx eyes bore a hole right through me. Again I had to look away, how come he could act so calm yet affect me so much that I started to doubt the things I had been taught since infancy?

"Alright I have my faults too," I said locking eyes with him, hopefully my glare was enough to unsettle him. To my disappointment he didn't even move.

"So does he," Clopin looked behind me. I slowly turned, I wish it had taken centuries. As soon as I saw who I ran into Clopin's caravan and crouched down beside many boxes in the furthest corner.

"Deciding to play hid-and-seek are we?" I quickly put my right index finger over my mouth, if Jacques heard him talking he might come over her.

Clopin walked into the caravan and pulled the little silk canopy inside. Then he went back out to close the windows. He spent a few more minutes outside before he walked back in and closed the door.

"Won't people be suspicious that your closed so early?" I said fear longing to seep through my voice.

He shook his head, "No, many people don't pay much attention to me. The children a little more but they don't come till later."

"Ah," I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"So was the morning air too cold for your pale noble skin or did you really just want to play hide-and-seek?"

"Stop antagonizing me!" I hissed. To myself I said, "No wonder not many people stop by."

"Haha!" he laughed, "If that was only it then I'd still have a larger crowd."

I tilted my head in confusion, "If it's not because your strange, crazy, and immature than what else could there be?"

He sat down on the floor in front of me, "I'll tell you if you promise not to leave after you hear it,"

"Okay-"

"And,"

"And?!"

"Yes and, anyway you have to tell me who your hiding from."

I tried to glare him down again but his black gaze made me nervous and fidgety. I looked down in defeat (for what must have been the tenth time that day), "I'm hiding from my husband."

He grabbed my left hand and pulled the sleeve up to reveal nasty black bruises, "Because of these." I pulled my hand away.

"I love Ami like a younger sister and I don't want to let my parents down but once was quite enough." Realizing something I jumped up, "Wait you didn't even ask what they were from or if they were the cause of why I was hiding!"

"So?"

"You know somehow!"

"Maybe I do, maybe I don't."

"Don't play word games with me! Just say it!"

"Fine, but you'll owe me something else after this," I started to protest but he hushed me, "I...have a friend who was at Notre Dame who saw you last night. He watched you stumble in."

"A friend?"

"Yes,"

"I'd like to meet them sometime and find out just how much they know." He merely shrug at this. "Well then I guess I'm ready for your next question."

"Alright, why haven't you left yet if you can't stand it anymore?"

"Easy, I have nowhere to go. If I went home my parents would send me back. If I stayed in Notre Dame he would eventually look there. And lastly if I stayed at a noble's house they'd only alert my "husband"," I gritted the last word.

He seemed to just sit there and think for awhile. I was about to say something to him he cut me off.

"Alright now for mine, remember you can't leave."

"I'm not going anywhere anyway."

"Ok, the reason why you don't see many people hanging around here is because I'm...how do I put it? One of the ruffians you surely don't like."

"I could have guessed that on my own."

"Yes but I just wanted to clear things up a bit more for you."

"Well you failed. I'm more confused now than I was two seconds ago."

"Maybe that's how I want it at the moment."

"Why can't you make sense?"

"Why don't you run away?"

"I told you I have anywhere to go!" I said visible upset. He sighed as if giving in to an inner conflict. Then Clopin reached around his neck and pulled out a small woven necklace from underneath his tunic.

It was oval shaped with a large cross in the middle. Blue threads ran in an oval around the cross while several tan treads almost seemed to make a grid. Just right of and outside the blue oval was a smaller cross circled in black thread. Clopin placed it in my hands.

"If you ever do decide to leave and you don't have anywhere to go this will lead you to sanctuary."

"How?"

"Just remember this, when you wear this woven band you hold the city in your hand."

I turned it over in my hands and tried to solve his riddle. The blue oval reminded me of the river surrounding Notre Dame and the main square of the city. Wait...city, the larger cross was exactly where Notre Dame would be on a map.

"It's a map," I said in awe.

"Yes, I'm surprised you figured that out so quickly."

I finally had hopes of a place I could run to if I decided to leave, and it was close enough that I could take Ami with me. I threw my arms around Clopin's neck.

"Thank you so much!"

"Your welcome, now would you let go."

"Why?"

"I can't really breathe."

"Oops, sorry," I pulled back embarrassed. I had almost thrown all my propriety into the wind. I put on the map to my sanctuary and tucked it beneath my gown so it wasn't visible.

He sat there staring at me for a bit. "You know your one strange woman Flannery."

"If that's true then your triple that." the voices of many people could now be heard. "It seems that the day is no longer very young. I should go," I stood and tried to brush out the wrinkles in my dress.

"Au revoir Madam Follet."

I stopped right at the door, "Don't call me that. It's Flannery, and Au revoir Monsieur Trouillefou." I didn't look back as I walked through the crowded streets, no if I did I might have been tempted to leave right there.

I wearily made it back to the estate, just the morning had drained me of my energy. No one, except the servants of course, was home. So I went up to Ami's room since it was closer and collapsed on the bed. I was instantly asleep.

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Don't be fooled, she isn't falling for him yet =), nope something happens in the next chatper and she won't even talk to him haha so you have to wait to find out.

Oh and one other thing I just heard of these mary sues o.o. Please if Flannery is a mary sue..PM ME SO I CAN CHANGE THAT!! I don't want my character to become one of those dreaded sues 0.o that would be my worst nightmare. XD sorry.

Please review, thanks