So here's the next chapter. Some of Trinity's past is revealed in here. Also, this is the chapter that I warned you about earlier -- where Clopin gets kind of OOC. So sorry about that, I hope it's not too terrible.

Disclaimer: Not mine.


Chapter Four

Trinity and Esmeralda waded through the sewage in silence. Djali was huddled in Esmeralda's arms, his nose wrinkled at the smell. Only a few torches were lit, and they had to squint to see ahead of themselves in the darkness.

Suddenly there was a small splash ahead of them and a torch flared to life, lighting Clopin's face in an eerie mask before it settled down into a steady flame. "Where have you been?" he said sharply.

"I took Trinity to meet Quasi," Esmeralda said, sounding puzzled. "I told you earlier I would."

"You've been gone for two hours," he said. "I didn't think it would be that long. It's dangerous out there."

"What are you talking about?" Esmeralda demanded. "You've never worried about me going out before."

"It's not you he's worried about." Trinity's voice was quiet with sudden fury, and they both turned to look at her. "It's me." Her bright blue eyes were angry when he met them, his face expressionless. "Clopin, do you think I'll do something stupid?" she demanded. "Do you really think I'm that daft? I know what would happen to you if you were found out. I'm not a little girl to be coddled! I don't need you there to watch out for me and lecture me if I do something wrong, as much as you think I do! I've changed, Clopin, but obviously you haven't!"

He looked startled for a moment at this attack, and said, "Trinity--"

Angrily, she brushed past him, disappearing into the dark tunnel. She emerged into the Court of Miracles to find it quieting down as the gypsies went to bed. Avoiding everyone's gazes, she went to her room and threw her cloak on the pillow, sinking onto the couch and wiping the tears from her eyes. She lit the candles and let her palm hover above the flame for a moment, feeling the heat. There was a noise at the door and she quickly snatched her hand back as Esmeralda moved the curtain aside. "May I come in?" she asked softly.

"Of course," Trinity said, putting on a falsely cheerful front. She got to her feet and took two cups and a flask of wine from the small shelf behind her as Esmeralda sat on one of the pillows. Trinity set the cups down on the table and poured the wine, offering a cup to Esmeralda. She took it and asked quietly, "What is going on between you and Clopin?"

"What?" Trinity said. "Nothing. Nothing's going on." Her hands clenched in her lap. Esmeralda raised an eyebrow and said, "Trinity, he's been acting strange ever since you came here. If there isn't something going on, then he must be sick."

Trinity sighed and combed her fingers through her hair. "There was something, a long time ago," she said. "He just…" She sighed. "It's a long story."

"I've got time," Esmeralda answered, swiftly sidestepping her excuse. When Trinity hesitated again, she leaned forward and gently touched her hand. "You can trust me."

Trinity nodded and began, "About seven years ago, I lived in Paris with my family -- that is, I lived with my aunt, uncle, and my cousin. It was my seventeenth birthday, and Clopin was twenty-one, and he was courting me. That year, he gave me my necklace as a gift." Her blue eyes were focused on the floor as she relived the night.

A young couple slipped away from the Topsy Turvy celebrations, away from the lamps and the torches down to the riverbank. The young man took off the cloak that covered his joker's costume and set it on the ground, bowing deeply to her with a mischievous grin on his face. She laughed and elbowed him gently as she sat down, and he lowered himself down beside her. He put his arm around her shoulders and she moved in closer, leaning her head on his shoulder. "It's a beautiful night," she whispered. He nodded, playing with a lock of her hair, and said, "Not as beautiful as you." She made a face and said, "That was incredibly lame, Monsieur Trouillefou."

He grinned and said, "It's the truth." She reached up and tweaked his long nose.

"Now, Mademoiselle Rausette," he said, "is there anything in my hand?" He held his long-fingered hand out in front of her, palm-up, obviously empty.

"I don't believe there is," she said, a smile tugging at her lips. He closed his hand into a fist and said, "Look again." He opened his fingers to reveal a small box.

"Oh, Clopin, you didn't have to get me anything," she said.

"Take it," he insisted. She reached out and lifted it from his palm, pulling the red ribbon and removing the lid. She gasped softly when she saw the little gold bell inside. He smiled and pulled it out, revealing a gold chain. As he clasped it around her neck he whispered in her ear, "To always remind you of the bells of Notre Dame when you're on your wide travels of the world."

She smiled and turned her head, kissing his cheek. "Thank you," she said softly. "I love it." It tinkled softly as she moved her head. They sat in silence for a few moments, and then she said, "Clopin?"

"Mmm?"

"Promise you'll always be there for me?"

He smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Always, Trinity," he promised.

Without realizing it, Trinity had taken the small bell in her hand as she spoke. Esmeralda had remained silent, her green eyes fixed steadily on Trinity's face. Trinity sighed and took a drink of the wine she had set out, releasing the bell; the resounding tinkle seemed to echo in the short silence.

"He wasn't, was he?" Esmeralda said softly. Trinity shook her head. "Two weeks later, my family died in a fire," she said. "I had no one then except for him. He promised to meet me at the same spot that night, to help me, but he never showed up." Her hands were trembling where they held the cup, and to her shame a tear fell from her eye and landed on her thumb. "I never knew who my parents were, or if I had any siblings. Clopin was the only one who could have been there for me, and he wasn't. To a seventeen year old, that kind of promise means everything, especially when you lose it all. And he broke it." Her shoulders slumped, and she said bitterly, "He was always incredibly protective of me. I guess that hasn't changed."

"That would be horrible," Esmeralda said. "To lose everything, and not even know who your parents were."

For the first time since seeing Quasimodo, a real smile touched Trinity's face. "I know now," she said. "They were gypsies that fled to Paris when I was an infant. They took my twin brother and left me behind with my aunt and uncle. I found out about three years ago, and came here, only to find out -- from Clopin -- that they had died."

Esmeralda looked stunned for a moment. "All of them?" she asked.

"Not my brother," Trinity said. "He's still alive."

"Have you tried to find him?"

"Oh, I've found him." A sparkle came into her blue eyes, and a smile played about her mouth. "There's someone keeping an eye on him for me."

"Have you met him?" Esmeralda asked, leaning forward.

"Once," she answered with a soft smile. "He just didn't realize who I was. And I hope I'll be able to meet him again."