Disclaimer: I only own my OC and her animal companion.
Chapter 10
Early the very next morning Sapphira was awaken abruptly by two soldiers grabbing her by both arms and pulling her up to her feet. She was immediately taken outside where a wooden cart awaited to escort her to her fate in the public square. As she was driven through the streets the citizens of Paris booed and hissed at her, except for Pierre and Esmeralda whom watched with great sadness as their beloved sister was being so cruelly treated. They made an attempt at reaching out to her and hold onto her hands to give her what little comfort they could offer but when they did it was short lived since they were shoved back by soldiers walking by the side of the cart.
Up ahead Sapphira saw the royal carriage.
"GREAT KING! GREAT KING!" she cried out desperately.
The cart stopped beside the Royal Carriage giving Sapphira a chance to speak with the King.
"GREAT KING! Great King, you have always been kind to the destitute I-I kneel before you innocent of crime" she pleaded but the King would hear none of it.
"Take her away!" he commanded and the cart continued its journey
"NO! PLEASE!" cried Sapphira watching as her only chance to save herself moved further and further away, all she could do now was hope for a miracle.
When the cart arrived in the public square it stopped at the stairway to the gallows, drums rolled as Sapphira was pulled from the cart by two soldiers and dragged up the stairs with her hands behind her back. The soldiers proceeded to stand her infront of the Hangman's Noose and relinquished their hold on her arms. The drum roll siezed when the man in black from the previous day stepped forward unravelling a scroll in his hand.
"Let it be known! That this woman known as La Sapphira! A gypsy of the streets of the world! Is to be hung by the neck until dead for taking the life of Monsieur Julian Gauchére! Here after, her body will remain on the scaffold for TWO DAYS OF PUBLIC DISPLAY!" he exclaimed to which the crowd responded with a cheer.
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In the bell tower Quasimodo watched as the soldiers drag Sapphira to the gallows and a plan came together in his mind that he hoped would save her life. Swiftly he mounted the lift and lowered himself to the walkways infront of the Cathedrals stain glass window then made his way towards the construction platform on the left hand side of the building.
He wait patiently for the right moment to take action.
XXX
Frollo with his staff in hand and the hood of his cloak over his head made his way up the gallows steps and stood before Sapphira whom was looking down at the floor and breathing heavily.
"Are you ready for absolution my child?" said a voice the was familiar to Sapphira.
She looked up to see her tormentor standing before her.
"You!" she said in recognition.
Frollo proceeded with his duties, not once showing the slightest bit of emotion.
"Do you confess your sins in the eyes of God? That he may guide your sole to Heaven?" he said so his voice could be heard by all around him and Sapphira.
The young gypsy girl gave him no answer and looked at him with anxiety at the thought that in meer moments her life would be no more.
"I can still save you, give yourself over to me, to the church. We can give you sanctuary" whispered Frollo once he took a step closer to her so no one would here him.
"As your?" asked Sapphira, knowing Frollo's offer came with a price.
The archdeacon answered by nodding his head.
"Never!" Sapphira whispered in anger.
Frollo said no more after this and turned to address the crowd.
"SHE HAS REFUSED ABSOLUTION!" he exclaimed and the crowd responded with 'booing' and taunting.
He proceeded to walk away but before descending the stairs he whispered once more to Sapphira.
"May God have mercy on your soul" and he left without ever looking back.
The drums rolled again building up the suspense, the executioner grabbed a hold of the lever to release the trap door for when the drums stopped for a final time. As the crowd waited anxiously Pierre and Esmeralda tried desperately to get past the guards that were blocking their path but their efforts were all for not and all hope seemed to be lost. That is until a flash of brown was seen swooping down from Notre Dame towards the gallows and soon everyone saw Quasimodo land on the gallows platform right next to Sapphira. Quickly he removed the noose from around her neck and Sapphira fell into his arms since the fear and anxiety she felt as she awaited her death caused her to faint. He grabbed the the rope with his other hand and with Sapphira in arms he swung back towards the platform.
"THE HUNCHBACK!" exclaimed Captain Phoebus as he watched everything from on top of his horse.
"IT'S QUASIMODO!" shouted a man's voice in the crowd.
"Sanctuary! Sanctuary!" cried Quasimodo before moving the gypsy girl to rest over his shoulders and carried her up a ladder.
On lookers were shock and amazed, pointing up at the Cathedral as they watched Quasimodo carry Sapphira towards the lift and as they went up towards the bell tower. The soldiers sprung into action. Captain Phoebus led a group of soldiers towards the Cathedral door whilst archers got in to position to shoot up towards the bell tower. The soldiers who were making their way towards the Cathedral doors were met by the door being slammed in their faces since all of the Priests and the alter assistants dropped what they were carrying and ran inside since the law of Sanctuary was declared and it was their duty to uphold it. The soldiers started banging on the doors but still they would not open, a small hatch in the door opened to reveal one of the elder priests.
"GET AWAY FROM THIS DOOR!" he shouted, the soldiers stopped to let Captain Phoebus negotiate with the priest.
"Give us the gypsy witch and the hunchback" he said in authority.
Quasimodo's voice was heard from above.
"SANCTUARY! SANCTUARY! SANCTUARY" he shouted and when they all looked up they saw Quasimodo holding the young gypsy girl above his head in victory.
The crowds watched on, Pierre and Esmeralda expressed their happiness with simultaneously exclaiming "Yes!" before hugging and kissing each other vigorously.
"SANCTUARY! HAHAHAHAH!" Quasimodo laughed as he kept holding Sapphira above his head.
The soldiers at the door attepted at ramming it open with their bodies but the door was so heavy it didn't budge an inch.
XXX
As the soldiers attempted to break down the door Quasimodo had taken Sapphira inside and placed her on his bed before quickly returning to the balcony to see the soldiers surrounding the Cathedral doors and archers pointing their crossbows towards him.
"SANCTUARY!" he shouted once again.
XXX
"FIRE!" exclaimed Captain Phoebus.
The archers let their arrows loose but none of them hit their mark so the archers continued to reload and loose in hopes that one of them would succeed. Determined to protect his home Quasimodo began to throw various objects over the balcony in hope of stopping the soldiers from gaining entrance, among the items was a long wooden beam.
XXX
When the beam fell to the ground it missed the soldiers by a mere inch. Captain Phoebus commanded the soldiers to pick the beam up and use it as a battering ram.
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After throwing multiple items over the balcony Quasimodo search desperately for something else that would help in stopping the soldiers. His sight fell upon the two large vats of Molten Lead.
"Molten lead! Molten lead!" he chanted as he ran behind the first vat.
"Molten AHHH!" he cried out in pain because the moment he touched the handle it burned his skin, he recovered from the shock then grabbed a hold of the handle, pulled it up and poured the vats entire content onto the floor. The red, hot liquid flowed towards the stone gargoyles and started spilling from their mouths as if they were dragons breathing fire.
XXX
When the Molten lead fell upon the soldiers they all screamed with agony and some even fell down dead from the sudden shock. At the second vat Quasimodo used a wooden pole to push up the handle instead of his bare hands this time and when that spilled down below the remaining soldiers kept out of the line of fire until it was safe for them to pick up their fallen comrades and move to safety.
XXX
Quasimodo yelled in triumphant victory as he carefully made his way towards the edge of the balcony and looked down at the crowd below.
"SANCTUARY! SAUNCTUARY! SANCTUARY!" he cried before collapsing on to his knees in exhaustions.
The crowds below chanted along with him as the soldiers picked up the battering ram again to try and break the door down but before they could make a second blow the door opened and Claude Frollo stepped out, walking menacingly towards the soldiers making them slowly step back and drop the battering ram onto the ground. The crowds fell into silence, nervously they waited for what the Archdeacon was going to say or do. At the top of the steps Frollo stopped and looked out onto the crowd.
"THIS IS THE HOUSE OF GOD!" he exclaimed in authority.
With that been said the crowds dispersed and Frollo turned to look up at the Bell Tower.
Well here is Chapter 10 everyone. I hope you all enjoy it and if so you know the drill.
See you in the next chapter : )