Argh. Like Hornets Protecting Their Hive
Fourteen
-+-ND-+-
Semmary opened her eyes to find Clopin sewing together a puppet. He looked like he was in deep concentration, and he even had his tongue sticking out a little from the corner of his mouth. He was nearly finished…and when he did, his face relaxed and he held it at arm's length, admiring his work.
It was a near spitting image of himself. It even had a hat with a tiny purple feather sticking from it.
"Is that you?" Semmary asked quietly. She realized the only light in the place was a dim candle, and she remembered she was in Clopin's caravan.
Clopin glanced at her before looking at the puppet again. "Sort of. I'm not sure I like it, though." He frowned, stroking his chin in thought. "It seems like something's not quite right with it."
Semmary sat up and watched as Clopin pinched the tiny feather with his index finger and thumb, and he squeezed it upwards. The feather was now yellow. "Amazing," she whispered.
Clopin removed his own hat and looked at the feather on it. He ran his hand over it, and it turned yellow as well. He put it back on, looking over at Semmary. "Did you want to look at the puppet?"
The younger girl nodded and stood, walking over to where he was seated.
He put the puppet on his hand and made it wave to her. She smiled and pet its head. After a few seconds, her smile faded.
"Thank you," she said quietly.
Clopin set the puppet down again. "For what?"
Semmary looked at the floor and bit her lip a little. "For getting me out of my own life. For not wanting me to see the knife in my mother…."
"For helping me raise Angeliqua…."
"For being my best friend…."
"For saving my life more than once…."
"For being there when I needed you…."
"For protecting me."
Clopin smiled and hugged Semmary tightly. "Anytime, my dear. Anytime."
+-+ND+-+
"Semmary…."
She opened her eyes slowly, noticing they felt moister than usual. Phoebus and Quasimodo were standing over her, looking slightly worried.
"It's over."
Semmary sat up and held her head, feeling the tears fall out of her eyes as she did so. "What?"
Quasimodo helped her stand. "The war's over."
Phoebus nodded and also helped her stand. "The gypsies. They um…killed Georges. He put up a big fight, though."
"They also, uh…." Quasimodo wrung his hands together. "They took Clopin."
Semmary nodded. "That's alright. He is their king, after all."
"And you're their queen…."
"Not anymore." Semmary sniffed and wiped her eyes. "I'm going away. Somewhere I can't think of him constantly." She smiled forlornly. "You needn't worry about me. I'll be fine."
"But what about Angeliqua? And Mariska?"
"I'll take them with me."
"Can you raise them alone?"
"What about the gypsies?"
"Gentlemen," Semmary said firmly but calmly. "The gypsies will be fine. Clopin wasn't actually a king. He was just a band leader." She held her hurt arm. "And I'm pretty sure I'm capable of raising two children on my own. Angeliqua's old enough now to do quite a bit by herself."
Quasimodo looked at the ground, and Phoebus watched Semmary with utmost respect.
"Good luck," Phoebus said softly.
Semmary smiled and hugged the two of them. "Thank you both. Tell Esmeralda I said good-bye?"
Phoebus nodded.
One more to go.