Woo double digits! YES!
We made love many times that night. We knew we had sinned, but it was guilty pleasure that we did not regret. The Frollo the public knew was cold and mean and rough but with me…he was gentle and loving. It was though he had a split personality. Through the night, the chilly seawater climbed higher and higher until it hit us. When the sun came up, I sat on his lap with my arms around his neck, his robes covering both of us.
But now that the carriage had come back to pick up us, I found myself blushing dark red every time my eyes met his. While we rode back to the Palace, he raised an eyebrow. A low almost non-existent chuckle escaped from him. "You have your shirt on backwards, Lavender." Looking down, I laughed as well.
Taking off my shirt, I winced and felt all…sandy. I really needed a bath. Perhaps one sparkled with bath salts…rose scented this time! Frollo inhaled sharply, staring at my exposed breast. It was obvious that it took all of his will power not to do what he was thinking of. A smile crawled on my lips; this would be a very interesting day.
"I just think she may be in trouble!" Clopin exclaimed innocently, throwing his hands up in defeat. Kara stopped walking and turned, placing her hands on her hips. Her dark brown hair managed to cover her blood red eye.
"Clopin, when will you learn to accept the fact that Lavender is a free strong spirited teenager who longs to find Prince Charming? She's probably talking to Frollo about politics. I doubt she's…locked in chains against a wall and getting whipped!" As soon as the words let her mouth, she felt a twinge of guilt. She had seen many times the way they acted around each other, she knew very well it was difficult to just…let a loved one go.
He sighed heavily and nodded, "I suppose I can allow her some freedom. I just hope she's okay…" There was a dreamy look in his eyes. "What about you?"
"What about me?" Kara snapped on accident, looking for a silver moon scarf.
"Ever find Prince Charming?"
She snorted and turned to him, grinning, "Yes, but he turned out to be a boy in tarnished foil. What about you? Find a Damsel in Distress?"
Clopin laughed loudly at this, stepping closer, "Yes actually…if I recall it correctly, I saved you."
"You didn't save me! You just…distracted the guards!" Her face went aflame.
"Whatever you say, Kara."
"Don't give me that!" She cried out, following him into the market. "You know you didn't save me! I ran, you never carried me!" She mocked him, "If I remember correctly, you tackled me instead!"
He looked at her with a smirk, "Ever the independent girl, aren't you?"
Kara looked away, unable to hold his gaze. Something about it made her shiver. It wasn't bad, it was a good pleasing feeling but…it still frightened her. Was she in love, true love, with his man before her? Or was it her mind and heart playing tricks on her?
Clopin felt his heart speed up. "Um…come on, let's go to the tavern." It was a silent trip with a few glances. Finally he spoke up, "Would you…I mean…Would you think you'd ever marry one day, perhaps, Kara?"
The brown haired girl looked at him, shocked. "Oh…um…perhaps…Maybe…why?"
"Well…I think I…" His was interrupted by a gypsy crashing into hem and running off. "That was rude!" He frowned.
"I wonder why he…" Kara started but gasped when two guards followed suit. One guard grabbed Clopin's shoulder while the other took out some cuffs. "What are you doing?!" She cried out, enraged by their random brutality.
The fat one frowned at her, obviously annoyed, "We're arresting this man for stealing!" So that was why that guy had crashed passed them a moment ago. Clopin struggled and managed to get loose before he was knocked out by the blunt end of a sword.
"But he didn't steal anything! The man who ran by here did, we were just walking! You can't do this!" Kara screamed, watching helplessly as they took the guy she loved away.
Shaking my head, I groaned, "Noooo…five more minutes, mama." During the ride back, I ended up falling asleep with my head on his lap. At first I was just closing my eyes but he kept stroking my face and hair, humming softly.
He frowned and waited for me to get up. "Remind me to ask you to sing later…" I murmured softly. When I stood outside, stretching, I felt the warmth of the sun shining upon my sore body. Frollo grabbed my wrist and pulled me inside…so much for a nice warm spring day.
"I'll have a bath drawn for you." He stated with a tired voice, making it obvious that he felt as sandy as I did. A giggle escaped my lips when I thought about last nights actions.
An hour later, I let my exhausted self sink into the hot water full of rose scent salts. Sighing in content, I lay my head on the edge and smiled. That dream from the other night scared me still…what were my parents trying to tell me? Did it involve Claude? Kara? Or perhaps even Clopin!
"M'lady!" The maid, whom I found out was named Kathryn, ran in. "M'lady, a gypsy is tied in the dungeons and is claiming to want to talk to you! He's been accused of stealing and will be whipped soon!"
My eyes widened, "What?! Clopin?!" Jumping out, I dried off quickly and placed a thin silk robe on that barely reached my knees. Not caring who saw, I sprinted down to the dungeons and managed to nearly trip several times. Clopin would never steal! It must be a mistake! Did Frollo find out about me and him and arrested him?
"Lavender!" A voice cried out, stopping me in my tracks. Turning, I knelt before a cell and stared inside. Clopin had chains on his wrist but otherwise seemed unharmed.
Grabbing his hand through the bars, I frowned, "Clopin, what happened? The maid told me you were arrested for stealing, is it true?"
He squeezed my hand, "Never! The guards wouldn't hear of it though!" I closed my eyes for a brief second. I had to talk to Frollo about this. "Um…what are you wearing? Is the Judge making to you wear it?!" Clopin brought me back to the present.
Glaring, I covered myself and stood up, "No, it's my bathing robe…I was relaxing when the maid came running in. I'll go talk to Frollo."
"Claude, you have to release Clopin! I've known the man for years and he would never steal from anyone!" I cried out as I bursted through the doors. Frollo had been sitting in front of his fireplace, sipping wine. His wet hair made it obvious he had just gotten out of his bath.
Speaking of…I was still in my purple silk robe…which showed nearly everything…with my hair dripping wet…oopsie! The Judge stared at me before sneering, "I'm sorry Lavender but he did steal, the guards saw him do so. And…what do you mean you've known him for years?"
Inhaling sharply with worry, I hesitated, "…Well…He's the man I've lived with since father died. I mean, I've lived with Esmeralda as well but…I shared a tent with him and…I should just stop."
His eyes were glazed over with anger as he stood, throwing the glass to the wall. "You shared a tent with him?! Did you whore yourself out to him as well?!"
My eyes widened, not with fear, but shock at such an accusation. "…I'm not a whore Claude. In fact, you're my first and last! I demand you let Clopin go! He did not steal a thing!"
Frollo regained his composure before nodding, "I'll let him go…after he's been whipped."
"You can't do that! He's innocent!"
"I can do as I please! If the guards claim they saw him, then…"
"So if the guards say you're a son of a whore, you gonna believe them?!"
Claude grabbed my wrist in an iron grip, making me wince. "No, Lavender. But he's guilty. Now leave!" He spun around and walked away, or started to at least.
"You…you…" Red was my vision. "You stuck up egotistic selfish prideful monster! You bastard! You're willing to whip an innocent man just because those baboons under your sorry ass control tell you he's guilty?! Have you no shame, you…"
That was as far as I got before he threw me to the ground. "Silence woman!" He shouted, shaking with anger. It was obvious he wanted to hit me, to curse at me like I cursed at him. Suddenly I found him on top of me, his hand snaking its way into my robe. "I like you like this…vulnerable…exposed…" That voice that haunted my dreams whispered, sending a violent shiver down my spine. My breathing came out in short gasps of excited terror, feeling his hand brush against my breast.
"G-Get off of me!" I managed to regain my control, shoving my foot in his chest to push him off. "Stay away from me!" Getting up, I stumbled through the halls and into the dungeons.
"What did he say?" Clopin snarled with doubt of freedom. Sighing, I collapsed next to him and covered myself. I couldn't tell him how the judge acted…
"He said he wouldn't let you go until the whipping…I'm sorry Clopin but he's…I'm sorry." I hung my head, feeling shamed that I couldn't help my friend when he had helped me so many times.
Somehow we managed to talk about lighter things. "How are things with Kara?" I grinned. For a split second, he glanced away. He was embarrassed!
"I love her."
"What?!" I nearly choked on air. "You…" I couldn't exactly say I was heartbroken…just upset. Then again, I reasoned, I had no right to be anything but happy for him for I had fallen in love with the judge.
"I love her. Lavender, she's amazing! She's funny, she's nice, she's so independent, and her eyes…it's so weird to see brown and red together but she looks absolutely gorgeous! I find myself just wanting to…to run my fingers through those brown locks of hers…" He breathed with a smile on his face.
The question now was…did she love him?
"M'lady!" It was Kathryn's voice.
"Yes?" I looked over, realizing my robe was probably caked with filth from the floor.
"He's coming!"
"Who?"
"The pope. Frollo of course! Quickly, hide!"
Gasping, I managed to spot a small yet good hide away. Clopin could see me as well as I could see him. As the maid said, Frollo walked in and sneered at the gypsy. "You're Clopin the thief?"
Clopin grinned as his puppet, which I hadn't seen in the longest time, came out, "No! I am Clopin! This is my pet…" He covered the puppet's mouth. "I don't know about the thief part, but I am Clopin."
Claude smiled and leaned forward. Although his guards couldn't hear a word, I could. "I will set you free this once on the plea of Lavender. However…remember this gypsy…she is mine. If I ever see you lay a hand on her, you will pay dearly."
My face turned dark red with shame, anger, and embarrassment. While I was, I admit, happy that Frollo let him go; he didn't need to say that! When Clopin left, I ran into Claude's room.
"I'm yours?! Since when did that ever happen?! Just because my father threw away my life for a job doesn't mean I'm yours! Last time I checked…" I shouted, my words echoing.
Claude grabbed my shoulders, making me think just for a moment he would try the same thing he did earlier. "I love you Lavender…" His voice was as soft as cotton, his lips crashing into mine. My anger and heart melted, relaxing in his gentle grip.
"Clopin!" Kara cried out, practically tackling the man when he walked out. "I've been waiting for you! Are you okay?"
He grinned at this, "Yes, Kara, no worries." There was a lot on his mind as he strolled back to the Court of Miracles with her. His hand grasped hers, smirking at her blush.
Kara looked at the King and wondered if she would be his Queen. Looking away quickly, as if he would read her thoughts, she smiled and raced him. It was rare moments like these that she forgot about the pain, the agony of her sister Snow. But soon…she would have her revenge.
Next chapter: Mostly Kara and Clopin stuff. If I can't think of any other stuff, there will be only two more chapters, maybe, before the end. And then a sequel! Yay! Review!