Chapter 6: Quasi and Adie
The brief interlude held for a moment longer until we heard a door slam not to far away. We both turned to face the crash before looking worriedly into each others eyes.
I began to shake from leftover nerves as I realized only one person would ever come so far above the confines of the Cathedral. Why has he come here!?
"It is Claude Frollo, he must be coming to ask if you have helped me escape since I am not in the main section of the Cathedral... Remember, I am the gypsy woman Esmerelda, and you have not seen me" I whispered frantically as we both ran towards the bedroom, hiding inside while I finished relaying my instructions, "you took a bath and treated your wounds yourself, but act as if you are still in great pain since you would not have had someone to bandage your back. I will hide here until he leaves" I finished as we heard dominating footfalls coming up the stairs to he loft. Quasimodo appeared nervous about lying to his master, twisting his hands and chewing on his lips, so I begged him, "please do this for me, Quasimodo! I will go to prison and perhaps die if I am found here," I pleaded with tears in my eyes and immediately he began nodding frantically, that of course he would protect me.
I gave a relieved sigh and tilted my head up slightly to kiss his soft cheek in thanks before sending a dazed Quasimodo through the drapes into the main room of the loft, trying not to giggle at his doltish expression but focus on the crucial task at hand.
If I am found with Quasimodo, he could be sentenced to death by Frollo. Burned at the stake or hung for harboring a fugitive.
At that sobering thought, I burrowed underneath the bed towards the drapes, preparing to listen and pray that Quasimodo can successfully lie to his master.
"Quasimodo, where are you boy!?" I heard Frollo viciously yell and Quasimodo's answering, "I am here, master!" from the table sitting not far from the bedroom.
How I wish I could see his expression! Is he shaking? Is he blushing from my impromptu show of affection? His cheek feels soft... no, I will ponder that impulsive action later.
I heard rushed footfalls and then a resounding slap echoed through the room, ending with a loud thump as a body hit the floor and I cringed and clenched my hands in anger. How dare he lay one finger on Quasimodo after what happened earlier!?
"How DARE you disobey your master!" I heard Frollo scream in rage, and I knew that his frustration is most likely due to Esmerelda's, or my, mysterious disappearance from the Cathedral. Tears began to gather in my eyes again, how I wish I never would have left my bed chamber this day!
"Where is she? The witch who helped you!? Where is that worthless gypsy Esmerelda!?" He demanded, his voice too close to the bedroom for comfort. I heard Quasimodo gasp in a few breathes and rasp his answer.
"I do not know, master. I have not seen her since arriving back in my chambers for solitude and to treat my wounds" he whispered brokenly, his voice trembling with fear and my heart stopped as we awaiting Frollo's answer. Would he regard the lie as truth?
"I'm sorry master" his broken voice whispered close to my hiding spot, and I longed to reach out to Quasimodo and hold him, and have him hold me. I feel so broken, helpless.
"No apology can assuage me, you worthless wretch! I told you, the outside world is cruel to ugliness, but did you listen to your merciful master? Of course not!" He raged on, and I heard his heavy boot kick Quasimodo in the stomach, causing him to wheeze out in pain. After Quasimodo's apologizing sobs continued, Frollo continued in a softer, faux-kind voice, "listen here, Quasimodo, you are never to leave this tower again. Do you understand?" He asked harshly at the end, demanding satisfaction. No noise was uttered, but I assume Quasimodo nodded because suddenly I heard chairs scraping against the oak floor and a heavy item placed down. Food perhaps?
"I brought us a late dinner today, Quasimodo. No lessons tonight, as you have already studied the importance of punishment for sins against humanity." Frollo addressed steadily, with a cruel devil-may-care tone, mocking Quasimodo's disfigurement and whipping. No answer came from Quasimodo, but I could imagine the devastation from the memory on his face. How I wish I could erase it entirely. I sat underneath the four-poster bed for what felt like hours, but was most likely mere minutes, when Frollo said his terse goodnight and left. Even then, Quasimodo made himself busy by washing the dishes and tidying up for a few more minutes, and when the sound came from down below of the door slamming to the south tower, I hastily stood up and dusted off the costume before sitting on the bed to await Quasimodo.
When he entered his quaint bedroom, his eyes immediately fell to me sitting on his bed, and his cheeks suffused with color. I wonder what he was thinking about? Either way, I gathered my jumbled thoughts and waited for Quasimodo to speak.
He appeared to realize that I was waiting, and he sighed heavily before walking forward to stand in front of me to speak: "I do not think I would be safe for you to leave tonight" he said finally, staring down at the dust-mites on the floor with a twisted expression, "the guards will be patrolling the streets searching for your alter-ego, so it would be best to leave at some point tomorrow," he finished, and glanced up when I nodded, agreeing with his plan. He looked back down before continuing, "since that is the case, I will sleep out on the loft and you may take the bed. I am sorry I do not have any better accommodations to offer you, M'lady" he finished resolutely with a hard gleam in his eye, and I realized that by addressing me by "M'lady" he was reminding himself of our vast differences in status. I shook my head at that, we are both bound to people's whims in our own way.
"Please do not address me as 'M'lady', as I have said, I am not my father's daughter" I whispered, feeling sad to relinquish my family but knowing that I can never go back. Where will I go? Away from France, from this life. Quasimodo peered at me from underneath his wavy hair and I shook off my troubles to smile at him, "and the bed is big enough for the both of us, I would think." I finished bemusedly, and blushed when I realized I had just offered to share my bed with a man, unmarried! Quasimodo seemed to notice my distress for he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, before walking swiftly out of the bedroom and onto the loft. I took a deep breathe, thankful for the seclusion to ponder my naiveté issues, when I heard yet another crash and a muted curse. I rushed out of the bedroom to see Quasimodo on the loft ten feet above, clutching his torso and standing below Big Marie, the largest bell in Notre Dame, and the most valuable. It was crafted in the last 1100s as a symbol of the wealth of France, and within its cracked outer appearance lay hundred of jewels and fine metals. I quickly climbed up the latter, hitching my skirt up to reach the top, and immediately raced to Quasimodo, demanding to know what was amiss.
"I" he coughed for a moment, before wheezing on, "I cannot ring Big Marie for the time. People must know it is now the beginning of Ordinary Time in the church calendar!" He said frantically, and I realized that without Quasimodo's constant ringing, people would not know the time beyond the beginning of the day is with the sun in the east.
"Alright, what should I do?" I asked resolutely, and Quasimodo gapped at me. I held my ground for a moment, but when his expression did not change I snapped at him, "it must be done, correct? You are not well, so someone must" I reasoned with him. He continued to shake his head in denial, and said in a scandalized tone, "but you cannot ring the bell! It is- it is so profoundly unladylike!" He blustered, and I shook my head in frustration. Honestly, perhaps I am not so ladylike! Why should I be? I fumed whilst turning towards the rope tied to the bell and tentatively reaching for it. This cannot be so difficult, all I have to do is pull on it.
I yanked the rope towards me and down as hard as I could with both arms and I ignored Quasimodo's shout of "wait!" The gargantuan bell swung towards me, and I almost cheered from the success. I knew I cold do succeed in this, and it was not even that-
I was jerked forward and plummeted into the opening beneath the bell, clutching to the rope for dear life, and I fell down halfway into the separate lofts which held the different bells. I was swinging in mid air, and if I dropped the rope, I would fall at least twenty feet to the bottom of the floor leading out of the tower that Frollo had recently vacated. Through my fear, when I glanced up I was struck by the sheer beauty of the jewels and reflective glass on the inside of the magnificent bell.
My screams were rivaling that of the ringing bell, and our sounds mixed together to reign in the new liturgical year for the Parisians. Through my distress, I never noticed an arm reaching around my waist and pulling me towards them and climbing upwards until we fell onto the previous loft. I looked up to apologize, but I realized I was still sitting in the arms of Quasimodo who was gasping for breathe through the pain. When I uncurled my arms from his back, I noticed blood on my hands. His blood! His wounds reopened! God-damn my stupidity!
"Quasimodo, I am so sorry!" I exclaimed, jumping up and reaching down to pull him up as well. I helped him down the ladder and once we reached the bedroom I took off his shirt, against his half-hearted requests not to bother, and requested he lay down again on the bed. As I re-washed and re-wrapped his wounds, my face grew hot again due to my stupidity.
"You must think me a fool, for not realizing I would be pulled down once the bell swung to the opposite side" I whispered in the quite room, the fire dancing and casting shadows all around us.
"Of course not, M'lady" Quasimodo said, but I cut him off before he could continue.
"Adeline, please. You just witnessed me embarrass myself to an immeasurable degree, so I beg of you," I teased exasperatedly, "address me as Adeline."
He turned his head to face mine whilst resting on the pillow, "alright Adeline. I have just had a bit more practice, that is all... I am not sure, but I doubt you have ever had to ring bells or do anything of the sort," he said lightly, and I almost grinned in spite of myself. He is teasing me!
"No- drinking tea and attending formal events is not conducive to manual labour" I teased back as he snorted into the pillow he was resting on, and I felt a warmth overtake me in that moment.
"I am so sorry, Quasimodo, I was not thinking" I apologized once again meekly, and he sat up to look at me. We were closer than we ever had been, and I could see the fire dancing off of the curved bone over his eye. When I glanced down from my scrutiny, I saw that his eyes were widened in astonishment.
"You need never apologize to me, because you saved me from certain death today" he said, and I gasped from his nonchalant attitude, before he held up a meaty hand to continue, "they would have whipped and beaten me until I was unable to move, and even if I had made it here alive, I would have died from blood loss or infection. Without you, I would be dead..." He trailed off, and I asked why he sounded forlorn when he said he could have be dead this day.
"I wish I were dead" he said apologetically, as if apologizing for my sacrifice, since it was made for a man who did not wish for the life I had given him back.
"Do not say that! There is much to live for," I practically yelled again with conviction, springing up in anger. How can he say his life has no meaning? If his life has no meaning, my life must have no meaning either. When I told him so, he gaped at me once again, and I smiled inwardly at my ability to shake is composure so easily.
"You have a good family, a name, and a fiancé" he spat the last with derision, and I wondered why he cared about my fiancé? Does he want to marry? Oh, well, of course he would want love. I was quick to correct him on his assumptions about my reasons to live.
"As I told you, my fiancé is in love with my dowry and the idea of a subservient wife" I monotoned as an explanation, "and my family is not loving, but rather cunning in our attempts to rise to the top of society. The only one I care for is my little brother, Pierre. My father beats us regularly," I saw Quasimodo flinch at that, and I grimaced apologetically at the reminder of his earlier abuse from the hands of his master, "to instill discipline and his dominance. My mother hates me" I said without pre-amble, for it had always been apparent to me that my mother abhors my existence. And I profoundly dislike her.
Unfortunately, I care for her more than I will ever let on, since she would not care either way to know of my feelings; and although I do not need her love, it does hurt to know she has deep affection for all my other siblings.
"And having a title means nothing to me. I am dishonored by my family's cruelty and self-serving ways, their attempts to mold me into one of them has failed" I spat as I turned around to glare into the fire, hating my family. Their escape from the festival today because the ugliness of Quasimodo made them uncomfortable. And, of course, they must have their small comforts.
When I turned around after taking a moment to compose myself, Quasimodo was staring at me with some emotion glowing in his eyes. Respect.
How odd, no one had even looked at me with respect before. It is a humbling experience.
"Perhaps..." Quasimodo trailed off, staring at me for a moment before continuing, "perhaps we are not so dissimilar after all." And I nodded at him, pleased he was able to see the connection between us as well. It made me feel safer, more secure. I am not alone. Neither is Quasimodo. I began to grin and bounce lightly on my toes -– a habit my mother used to slap me for -– in my excitement.
"So are we friends now?" I asked him happily, trying to quell down my fear of rejection. He looked shocked still for a moment before nodding in reply.
"If... if that is what you want?" He said with a question in the end, and I laughed at his reluctance and nodded, still grinning like a lunatic.
"It has been so long since I have had a friend!" I mused to myself, the last friend I had was Jennifer Demontes, but her family fell out of favor when we were nine and I was forbidden from ever seeing her again. The last I heard her family had been taken as prisoners of war to England. I still become sad when I think of her, and I pray that she can one day become free and happy. I shook off my melancholy thoughts and began grinning again, as Quasimodo sat back from my shark-like expression.
"Can I call you Quasi?" I asked suddenly, and he spluttered from the shock of it all. I suppose I could be a bit intimidating. Right, stop scaring your new friend.
"Ugh, yes. alright. Affirmative" he said quickly, and I giggled at his nervous agreements. He looked down at the comforter and I took pity on him and stopped laughing with some effort.
"Wonderful! You can call me Adeline, or if you like, Adie" I said happily, walking over to sit across from him on the bed. I actually enjoy that nickname, just not when people whom I dislike take liberties and use it without gaining my permission.
I am speaking of Phoebus, of course. Le âne!
"A-Alright" Quasi said nervously, and I smiled warmly across at him. I have a feeling Quasi and I are going to be good friends! But there is still the problem of Claude Frollo.
When my expression became dark, Quasimodo carefully grabbed my hand, as if sensing the hatred I was exuding for his master. I grinned at his comforting gesture and he blushed and dropped my hand quickly, only for me to pick his hand back up and squeeze it in reassurance.
"So, can you show me the rest of the bells?" I asked him exuberantly. I had always been interested in the history and sound of the bells, and what better time to study them then to see them up close: "my brother John studied them at University and he said they are all dedicated to a specific saint. Is that true?"
Quasimodo sat up against, wincing from the pain on his back and side, and began to regal me with the stories of the bells, "I will show you them all tomorrow in the daytime, but we both need a good nights rest" he said pointedly, and I blushed at the reminder that we had experienced a trying day physically and emotionally, "but I can tell you all I know of them. Little Marie came to us as a gift from Spain in the 1300s, and is an exact replica of Big Marie except it sounds a C instead of an F" he told me, his voice taking on a slight lecturing lilt to it and I was happy to be able to take his thoughts off of the terrible day, "Gabriel, the bronze bell, is in honor of the Angel who announced the good news of the Annunciation: Mary conceiving Jesus. Anne is beautiful, she sounds the note E and is named after the patron saint of Paris, Mary's mother."
His eyes took on a dazed look as he explained the bell's history to me, and I found myself grinning from his enthusiastic gesticulations: "Marcel is named in honor of the ninth bishop of Paris, and sounds a D. Jean-Marie is in memory of a past Cardinal who made many progressive architectural changes to Notre Dame to ensure the structure would be sound, and sounds an A when struck. Étienne, who sounds a slightly flat B, is named in honor of Saint Steven, the very first Christian martyr. Each bell's resonance and note is based on its size, width, and metal. The highest notes are created from the small bells with thin metal walls, and the larger they become the deeper the notes." He told me as I listened closely, memorizing the names and sounds and histories of the infamous bells, until Quasimodo cut off with a wheeze and I sprang up to retrieve a glass of wine for us both.
He accepted it cautiously, as if still surprised he would be worthy of my interest. After a few minutes of silence, I looked away from the dancing fire I had been gazing into to find Quasimodo, asleep and snoring softly. I shook my head with a small smile as my maternal instinct took over and I reached to pluck the cup from his hand. I then gently settled him down into a horizontal position, covering his body with a the comforter. As I sat next to the sleeping man, I was struck by how calm and young he appeared to be in his sleep; he is not much older than me, only by about seven years.
I leapt up in chagrin when I realized I had been absentmindedly tracing his features with my hand. I went over to the looking glass in the corner to peer at my gypsy-esque facade. The mirror is so compact and dusty it seems to be rarely used, which is sadly not surprising. I suppose if someone told you how ugly you were everyday that you would not pine away at your reflection.
I took a damp washcloth and washed away Esmerelda's cosmetics until I could see my regular face once again. I glanced over at Quasimodo, and once again seeing him still in a deep sleep, began undressing my layers. First I unlaced the blue corset and laid it neatly by the fire, followed by the shirt and white blouse. Once I was just in my chemise, I glanced once again in the mirror to see the beauty Quasimodo and Phoebus saw in me.
My chemise is white with mid-length sleeves, falling to my mid-calves with splits up both sides to my thigh. The top opened as widely off of my shoulders as Esmerelda's blouse did, leaving my collarbone and much of my bust exposed. With so much of my body on display, I could see the warmth of my body and how soft it must seem. With my breasts unrestricted, I felt free and comfortable at last. I glanced around the room, not wishing to invade Quasi's privacy but longing to find some sort of garment to cover my indecent dress. I discovered a soft looking red cloak hanging on a hook in the corner of the small room and covered myself with it, grateful for the protective fabric.
I nestled down in the comfortable armchair by the fire and spread the throw from the back of the chair over myself and listened to my new friend's breathing, the comforting sound lulling me into a restless sleep.
Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunchback of Notre Dame