Chapter 4- Birthday

Ten years had passed since that fateful night. Jocelyna was now 27 years old. Not a day went by when Jocelyna didn't think of Rhayeder.

Every year on his birthday, she would visit Notre Dame Cathedral and lay a single rose in the 'offerings' tray as a 'Happy Birthday' to Rhayeder as well as a way of telling him how much she loved him. Though she knew Rhayeder would not remember her or know of her love for him, she, nonetheless, couldn't help but hope that, somehow, something inside Rhayeder would let him remember Jocelyna and who she is and let him know just how much he is loved.

Jocelyna had spent ten years in the Court of Miracles and was very fond of her friends that lived there too. She had a few close friends and some general acquaintances which she mingled happily with at mealtimes and parties.

The 22 year old, self-proclaimed leader of the gypsies, Clopin, was always someone Jocelyna found the most interesting, albeit strange, but she loved his goofy behaviour and incredible energy.

What she particularly loved about living in an area that sheltered so many people was the new face she noticed every now and again, either a new-born child or a newcomer that had travelled far from the many other gypsy camps she had heard about. Her days in the camp usually consisted of taking care of the babies, which she loved so much as they reminded her a lot of Rhayeder, playing with the gypsy children which she also loved to do, as they were so energetic which she loved to see, helping prepare various meals with the gypsies that loved to cook, helping make more clothes for the ever-growing populace, and generally chatting and having fun with everyone.

The thing she most of all loved to do and looked forward to, along with every other gypsy, was attending the many parties held at the camp. This was a chance to eat all you can eat, act crazy and not be judged, relax and let yourself go and, in particular, dance, which Jocelyna LOVED to do. She always had loved dancing, as the violins always carried her to some place completely different every time she tapped her feet to the rhythm. When dancing, she can just forget about everything and be anyone she wanted to be. Dancing has always been a big part of gypsy parties so literally everyone will get up from their cushions and join in when the first note of the violin is heard; creating an array of colours from the ribbons and sashes whirled about from each dancing gypsy with every step. It truly is a magical moment.

The only time Jocelyna hates in the gypsy camp, and it occurs every single night, is when she sees the empty space next to her in her bed that would have nested Rhayeder. Just thinking of Rhayeder growing up gives her a weak feeling in her stomach, as she cannot watch Rhayeder grow and learn every single day. Just the thought of Frollo taking her place and being the one who shares these moments of Rhayeder's life gives her a sickly feeling that usually stays until well into the next day.

Jocelyna couldn't believe Rhayeder was already 10 years old. He was no longer the small bundle she constantly held so close to her chest, but a child.

It was still very early in the morning when Jocelyna sat up on her blankets and crossed off with a small palette knife the number '9' that was etched into the wall of her sleeping wagon, alongside a crossed-off '8' and so on until the number '1', also crossed off, took the space on the corner of the wall. She then used the same knife to scratch a distinct '1' and then, next to it, a '0'. It was his 10th birthday today and, like every year, Jocelyna was going to visit Notre Dame and deliver her rose.

These roses were not easy to find and often involved some unbelievable patience as she waited for the farmer to leave his hut on a nearby field, not far from the camp, in order to get the rose. The patch of roses just so happened to be situated exactly where the farmer's hut was so when Jocelyna was sure the farmer had left the hut to tend to his animals nearby, she would dash as fast as she could to the patch, pull one out and sprint to the other end of the field, back to the camp. She did this every year but she knew that somehow it was worth it.

The sun was already high in the sky when Jocelyna finally set off, after a long breakfast with her friends, towards Notre Dame. Thankfully, the camp wasn't too far from the Cathedral so Jocelyna was more than happy just slowly walking along the Seine and observing the other citizens of Paris as they tend to their everyday chores.

She always wore a cloak when on outings, the light navy one she wore on 'the trip' ten years ago, as she knew some Paris citizens didn't care for gypsies and often frowned at her at the first sight of her exotic, multi-coloured gypsy attire. At least with the cloak she could blend in and enjoy perusing the stalls that so often decorated the Paris streets with no trouble.

After several minutes observing various vases and plates at a nearby crafts stall, she made her way across the town square to the Cathedral which, even to this day, took her breath away and made her stop and stand still, voluntary or not, and soak in its intrinsic beauty.

Once entering the Cathedral through those giant oak doors which she now knew very well, which were already open, she made her annual walk to the 'offerings' tray that was placed in a corner next to a statue of the virgin Mary holding baby Jesus. Examining the statue, Jocelyna couldn't help but be reminded of herself long ago, holding Rhayeder the same way.

She drew the precious rose from her cloak pocket, having earlier completed her tricky annual task of retrieving it from the farmer's patch, and placed it with both hands, as though it were a newborn baby, carefully into the tray. She then stared at the rose, as though expecting it to magically light up, and simply whispered, "Happy birthday, Rhayeder. I love you with all my heart and miss you dearly."

After blowing a kiss to the rose, she looked up above her to the great mosaic ceiling, picturing Rhayeder in the bell tower only metres above her. She was so close to him, yet still so far away.

Having stood in that same position with her head aloft for a while, she eventually decided she was finished and began to leave. She made her way solemnly back to the doors but just as she was about to leave the Cathedral, she stopped in her tracks for she heard a sound. The sound of bells.

She was certain she wasn't imagining it but she made her way back into the Cathedral to verify that what she heard was, in fact, real. She spotted an eave in the Cathedral's wall next to her and began to make her way towards it.

Indeed, like she predicted, the sound of bells was louder. They were so unbelievably beautiful to hear, with each bell performing a different note, creating a harmony. This then made her realise that the bells were chiming for morning mass, which explained the open oak doors and the amounts of people filing into the Cathedral which Jocelyna assumed were here to attend the service.

The thought that came to Jocelyna next gave her an unusual warm, fuzzy feeling inside–Rhayeder must be the one ringing these bells!

She knew she was right, as she recalled the kind Archdeacon telling her this 10 years ago in that small room she can barely picture now.

Frollo has assured me that he will keep Rhayeder in a safe place, the bell tower of this Cathedral in which he will soon become the bell ringer.

If asked, Jocelyna would not have been able to explain her feelings at the present moment. She was just so unbelievably happy, partly that he was alive, as she knew Frollo's initial intentions to kill Rhayeder as a baby, and also because it was just so amazing knowing that he was so close to her and that she was so close to him. Knowing her son was ringing the bells made them sound even more beautiful- she knew she would be hearing those bells in her head forever.

Jocelyna stood where she was and closed her eyes for a few minutes, just listening to the variety of notes the bells made and the melodies they created. When the bells had finally finished and Jocelyna had opened her eyes, she was tingling all over which brought her to smile.

It was the first smile, she recalled, that she had made when thinking about Rhayeder, for she was not thinking of him in a state of sorrow and loss but of hope that, soon, the two would be united once again.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

:D Looks like things could work out ok :-)

Notice the 'Notre Dame De Paris' reference I made with Jocelyna placing the rose, as though it were a newborn baby, into the offerings tray, like Quasi's mother placed him in the offerings tray.

Next chapter will be about Rhayeder, now Quasimodo, and basically takes place right after Jocelyna smiles to herself in the Cathedral, soooo stay tuned and, as ever, reviews would be very nice :-)