Chapter 25

Mind and Soul

Coralie woke up and sat in bed, crying and panting hard. She looked around trying to locate herself. The purple and orange colours of the tent she shared with La Esmeralda were vaguely lit by a couple of outside torches. She brought her hand to her chest, only to confirm the rushed beat of her heart.

Standing up, she looked at Esmeralda's bed and heard her light breathing, along with Djali's snores. She sobbed and left their tent, walking quickly through the cold stone floor of the Court of Miracles grounds, reaching Clopin's tent.

Slowly she held the sheet of the entrance aside and walked in. After her eyes were comfortable with the dim lighting of the room, she looked at the bed, searching for his peaceful face.

And there he was, stretched across the several colourful pillows, his shoulder length dark hair covering his face. She stepped closer and brushed his hair aside, revealing his smiling features.

"Even in dreams you find joy," she murmured with a sob.

He frowned and opened his eyes lazily.

"Chatonne? What time is it?" he asked roughly. "What are you doing in here?"

She cried at the sound of his voice and pressed her lips tightly between her teeth.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright," she said between sobs.

He ran a hand through his eyes and shifted his position.

"Why are you crying?" he asked brushing the same hand through her face.

"It was horrible," she said.

"Here, why don't you tell me everything?" he said moving aside and making her a sign to lie down beside him.

She crawled in bed and rested her head on his chest, feeling him, making sure he was alive. Her tears dropped in his tunic, leaving tiny wet dots in the indigo fabric.

"I had a nightmare," she said.

"Really? What kind of nightmare? Was it with that Frollo creature again?"

"Yes."

"What did he do to you this time?" he asked her softly, caressing her shoulders.

"He made me watch you die."

Clopin's hand stilled, but his voice kept as soft as before.

"Well, as you can see I'm very much alive," he secured.

"I know, but it was so horrible. I thought I'd lost you."

"Oh ma petite chat, I'm right here, alright?" he said tightening his grip on her.

She looked up to him and her eyes locked with his melted chocolate gaze.

"Don't you ever let go. Promise me, you won't let go."

"I promise," he said with a smile.

She jolted up and kissed his lips lovingly. Taken by surprise, it took Clopin about five seconds for him to react. When he finally snapped out of the shock, he smiled against her lips and embraced her waist, returning the kiss with the same passion she was giving him. She parted her lips from his and hid her face in the curve of his neck.

"I don't want to lose you, Clopin."

"You won't. Coral, what's happening here?" he asked, puzzled with both her speech and her actions.

"I just became sure of something," she muttered.

"Of what?"

"Before I thought I loved you. Now I am sure of it."

He scowled.

"Have you been drinking?"

"No."

"You shouldn't play with a man's heart like this, Coral, I've told you once–"

"Clopin, shut up. Please," she said. "You really don't understand, do you?"

He stared at her. "What's there to understand?"

"When I saw you die, I felt like half of me died with you. When I saw your body balancing in that damned gallows, I felt like dying myself! I couldn't feel a thing. Nothing at all. Where my soul should be, there was only a huge void. And that is the worst of pains."

Her voice was cracked up and rough and her eyes were teary. Clopin felt an urge to hold her tight and this time he didn't fight it. He tightened his grip on her and kissed the top of her head.

"I'm just saying that I love you, Clopin."

"Je t'aime aussi, ma belle," he whispered with a grin.

"You do?"

"Of course I do! I've known it since, well, since me and Esmeralda rescued you from Frollo's mansion. The thought of him touching you was as revolting as it was painful," he confessed.

"Is that so? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Well, I thought you liked someone else."

"Like whom?"

"Dear Quasimodo, or the jewel maker."

She raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"And why is that?"

"You seemed very fond of them. You even accepted expensive gifts from the apprentice, so–"

"I am not that shallow, you know?" she said kissing his chest.

He smiled and ran a hand trough her dark hair. She pulled herself up, and laid her head in his pillow, brushing her nose on his.

"I was afraid, you were going to say yes, when the jewel maker proposed to you," he said.

"You saw that?"

"You were taking so long. I thought you were in trouble, so I went looking for you," he admitted. "But then I heard you talking about that man that owned your heart. And for a second I thought you were talking about me. Until you compared his heart with an angel's heart."

"Once I said Quasimodo was as kind as an angel. I see..." she said softly.

"Oui. My hopes pretty much shattered with that."

"Clopin?"

"Oui, chatonne?"

"Kiss me," she asked.

She didn't have to ask twice. He leaned forwards and glued their lips together, savouring the fresh taste of her tongue and feeling her soft skin under his fingertips as he caressed her cheek. Shortly after, their breathing got heavier and their bodies started to ask for a lot more than just lip contact.

He pulled her waist and shifted their position so he was laying on top of her. She moaned as a fierce battle for control took place between their mouths. Savouring the victory, Clopin deepened his kiss and dared to travel a hand up her soft leg, feeling her velvet skin under his warm hands. She moaned against his lips as she tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling him to her. Suddenly he opened his eyes and backed away.

"I. Can't. Breathe." he panted.

She giggled and caressed his cheek. "Sorry."

"Ah, ma belle. I just had an epiphany!"

She looked strangely at him and frowned. "What does the January 6th have to do with our kissing and panting?"

"Not that Epiphany, ma chère. I just realized something," he said.

"Oh," she sighed and blushed. "And what was that?"

"I can free you!"

She looked puzzled at him.

"What?"

He kissed the tip of her nose and smiled. "I want to do this the right way, chatonne. I don't want to take advantage of you," he said as he rolled off her and laid again by her side, tangling his legs on hers. "Marry me."

She blinked twice and sighed. "No."

He laughed. "Why not? You said no to that Raphaël boy because you didn't love him. What's your excuse for not marrying me? Be my queen, Coralie."

"That's exactly why I can't marry you," she said. "I don't want titles. I'm a healer, and a tailor, and a 'faller'. Specially a 'faller'. I don't want to be a queen and boss around or have the responsibilities you have! I don't want to be all royal and almighty like you are!"

He laughed again. "Too late for that, don't you think?"

"I'm not following, now."

"Your father was my predecessor. What makes you very gypsy and very royal too," he said. "And, you don't have to boss anyone around. I'm here for that. You just stay beside me and be pretty," he said.

She frowned. "I don't want to be a queen. There are lots of people here that hate me!"

"That's normal! You can't please everyone!"

"That makes me feel a lot better, thank you," she said sarcastically.

"Look, ma petite. Do you really think I'm loved by every single soul in here? Even in families there are least favourites."

"Tell me about it," she rolled her eyes and smirked. "So you are saying that there are people here that don't like you either?"

"Oui, that's exactly what I'm saying. Take Geraldine for an example."

"Geraldine loves you! She's always praising your looks and wiping your chin as if you were a child. It's kind of annoying actually."

"She doesn't love me. She hates my soul, believe me. She fears me, that's all."

"Fears you? You aren't scary at all!" she laughed.

He rolled his eyes. "And Frèdrik can't even look me in the eyes. He thinks I stole his flute when we were children, and since then he doesn't even talk to me."

"Did you steal his flute?"

"I was four! And the flute was very beautiful and shiny! But that's totally off the point."

She laughed and kissed his lips tenderly. "Clopin. I want to be free so bad. But I just don't feel like having to carry all this weight on my shoulders!"

"Then carry only half. I'll carry the rest with you," he whispered.

She thought for a few seconds, leaving Clopin in a grave state of anxiety.

"No one, and I mean no one, gets to call me Your Highness, My Queen or any other fancy title like so. My parents already named me and I shall honour them by being called by my own name," she said severely.

Clopin smirked. "As you wish."

"And, Clopin Trouillefou, if you even dare to call me 'your wife' or 'darling' or any other lame stuff like that, I will hunt you down and shave your goatee, before I hang you upside down and beat you with a stick, are we clear?"

He gulped dryly and nodded. "What about chérie? Or mon coeur? Or mon amour?"

"I'll put those up for consideration," she said.

"So, is there a wedding coming soon?"

"Yes."

He embraced her and kissed her forehead. Few minutes later, they both fell asleep, breathing peacefully, in perfect synchrony.

A/N: You guys are priceless. I had sooo much fun reading your reviews! Did you really, I mean c'mon! really think that I would kill Clo? I'm evil, but I'm not heartless... much. God, I love you all *insert big fluffy heart here*

Well, I hope this nauseating FLUFFY chapter makes up for it. I hope you're not mad at me anymore (O.O)

Music: Bed of Roses: Bon Jovi

Next: A Secret

*Bloo*