A/N: Yay! After forever I'm proud to present our next chapter! It may seem odd that some characters from Hunchback of Notre Dame and Agathe from Beauty and the Beast (2017) make an appearance, but they are somewhat vital to our story, especially Frollo. I own no mention of Beauty and the Beast; Prince of Egypt; Hunchback of Notre Dame; or Disney's A Christmas Carol. GK Chesterson as well as BBC network own Father Brown and all its characters. Enjoy!
FEFEFEFEFEFE
Words could not begin to describe the boredom and frustration Judge Claude Frollo felt having to preside at the Festival of Fools.
He could have allowed the boy Quasimodo to enjoy himself, and yet...
No, pride dictated that he leave the boy where he was, hidden from any and all.
Frollo was counting down the moments until the farce was over.
and then, she appeared...
A vision in red and gold, dark copper skin alighting her emerald green eyes, she danced...
She did not merely dance upon the stage for the copper and golden coins spilling at her feet, but she danced in his mind, his heart, his soul... as dark and sinful as his soul was...
Frollo felt something in his chest jump, his heart or his stomach he could not tell, for in his mind, the vision of the vixen dancing before him with a saucy little wink would not go away.
Just when he thought she would grant him mercy and the ability to breathe again, she had danced over to him!
Taking out a scarf of stars, she wrapped it around his neck and pulled him close.
Claude had never been so close to a woman before, save the one whom had died by his hands all those years ago, Quasimodo's own mother...
And here, a young girl of the same people held him captivated by her dance, her sight, her scent, and those glittering green eyes...
The judge suddenly had the most fanciful notion of bringing the gypsy girl to his side... not just as companion, but as his bride, forevermore...
Frollo had just been about to reach out to her, when she mischievously kissed his nose and then pulled his chaperone over his head.
The men around them roared with laughter and even Captain Phobeus had cracked a smile.
Frollo was outraged. His pride damaged, and utterly humiliated, he was filled with desire for revenge!
Those desires for revenge came stronger when it was found that Quasimodo had defied him into disobedience, and the girl, it seemed, meant to set him free...
"You! Gypsy girl! Get down at once!" Frollo barked.
The girl had changed costumes, now dressed in a white shift that teased her shoulders and collar bone, a violet, near blue skirt that tingled when she walked, and a green sash around her waist.
The finery of her people... and yet, were she his, he would be sure she wanted for nothing...
Frollo, angry at the girl for her previous humiliation against him, shook his head at his thoughts.
Esmeralda acknowledged him, giving a slight curtsy before fetching the blade at her calf.
To his credit, Frollo flushed- then scowled at Phobeus when the man smirked at the girl.
"Yes, Your Honor. Just as soon as I free this poor creature."
Had he asked when or how? No! He, Judge Claude Frollo had given this gypsy girl a direct order! He expected and deserved to be obeyed!
"I forbid it!" he hollered.
He had ordered too late, not that she would have listened anyway. She whipped out her knife and cut the ropes holding Quasimodo.
"How dare you defy me!" The judge screamed.
Esmeralda had the good sense not to roll her eyes at him.
"You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak of justice, yet you are cruel to those most in need of your help!"
Frollo glowered at her, seeing red. "Silence!"
Esmeralda glared at him. He was the best that Paris could do?! Bah!
"Justice!" she cried, not knowing how many of her people were in the crowd including Clopin, but her protest set an outcry amongst the people gathered.
Frollo seethed with rage.
"Mark my words, gypsy. You will pay for this insolence!"
Esmeralda shook her head in disappointment. Judge Claude Frollo was not an ugly man, on the contrary, the proud individual donned in his black robes caused Esme's heart to flutter as it had never done so before.
His anger towards her and her people for not doing as he wished made him seem crueler than he possibly was...
She shook her head again in sorrow and anger.
"Then it appears we've crowned the wrong fool. The only fool I see is you!"
Grandmama always did say her tongue would get her into trouble...
Esme gulped as the judge squinted at her and pointed in her direction, as the Pharaoh must have pointed his soldiers at the Israelites.(1)
"Captain Phoebus! Arrest her." Frollo
growled.
He smirked to himself intending to deal with the wretched girl later, when suddenly she disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
What the judge hadn't seen was the powder the girl dropped on the ground and made her escape as the guards were sent into a tizzy of coughing and confusion.
Frollo's mouth gaped in angered awe and confusion. "Witchcraft!"
He got on his horse, Napoleon, and headed for the Palace of Justice to reassemble himself and make ready his orders for the Captain and his men.
He'd find that girl if it were the last
thing he'd do!
Later...
Frollo had been heading back to the Palace of Justice from the Town Square when he heard voices.
"You're not at all like the other soldiers." Esmeralda's voice floated toward him, caressing his ears
"Thank you." Phobeus purred.
Frollo gritted his teeth. He'd sent Phoebus here to arrest the girl, not flirt with her!
Esmeralda walked around the Captain gracefully, taking care not to get too close.
"So, if you're not going to arrest me, what do you want?"
Frollo could see Phoebus smiling at Esmeralda- he clenched his fists in anger.
"I'd settle for your name."
Frollo scoffed, yet decided to remain hidden...
"Esmeralda." the girl responded, cautiously
Ahh even when she pronounced it for others it sounded like jewels falling from her lips...
Phoebus moved closer; he was too close for both Frollo's and Esmeralda's liking...
"It's beautiful. Much better than Phoebus, anyway."
Grrrrr! NO! That was NOT supposed to happen! If anyone, that gypsy girl was supposed to fall in love with Claude Frollo himself!
Then again, Frollo thought with a devious smirk, all would come about in good time...
As Phobeus and Esmeralda gazed into each other's eyes, neither noticed Frollo and the guards in the hallway.
Frollo chuckled to himself- oh yes. He had done quite a bit of research on his Captain before hiring him... now it was just about setting the right pace...
He decided to make his entrance then.
"Good work, Captain!" the judge
applauded "Now, arrest her."
Phoebus had his back to Frollo.
"Claim sanctuary." he whispered.
Esmeralda looked at the captain oddly.
"Say it!" he hissed insistently.
Esmeralda glared at him mistrustfully. Something told her he had known Frollo was coming... were the two in correspondence together?
"You tricked me!" she growled.
Frollo grinned, drumming his fingers on his robe, casting a sneer in Esmeralda's direction.
"I'm waiting, Captain." he crowed
He waited a moment or two and discovered no movement on the Captain's part.
Phoebus: I'm sorry, sir. She claims sanctuary. There's nothing I can do.
Frollo was just about to order the Captain to drag Esmeralda outside when the archdeacon entered the hall.
Archdeacon Francis had been praying for Claude Frollo's soul ever since they met twenty years before, and Frollo was deemed guilty for the death of Quasimodo's own mother…
"Frollo! You will not touch her!"
He glared at the Minister as he addressed the young maiden.
"Don't worry. Minister Frollo learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the church."
Scowling at the archdeacon, Frollo left obediently.
Frollo walked on with the soldiers, then ducked around a pillar and doubled back. As the crowd passed, including the archdeacon, Frollo jumped
out, grabbed Esmeralda's arm and lightly held her wrist behind her back.
He had no intent to harm her, but he could still feel the gypsy girl jump.
He smirked and purred in her ear.
"You think you've outwitted me, but I am a patient man. Hear me well and remember… gypsies don't do well inside stone walls…"
Frollo paused, then breathing deeply, smelled Esmeralda's hair.
Mmm freesia and cinnamon, and something else the judge couldn't name...
He released her arm to touch her shoulders...
Esmeralda's expression was angry, though she was rather alarmed. "What are you doing?"
Frollo's grin would have seemed lazy and flirtatious if his thoughts weren't bordering on creepy…
"I was just imagining a rope around that beautiful neck."
Frollo caressed her neck, but she pulled away.
The judge didn't miss the dark flush upon the maiden's features. He grinned with delight.
Esmeralda scowled at the judge, scandalized. If they weren't in the church, she knew where to place a well directed kick…
"I know what you were imagining!" she hissed.
She sounded angry, but there was fear in her eyes as well as something else... curiosity? Allurement?
Masculine pride crept its way into Claude's veins.
Every second spent in this girl's company increased his longing and desire for her.
Despite his longing and ever growing lust, another part of him screamed at the vile distasteful act of them ever coming together...
She was a gypsy!
Frollo chuckled darkly.
"Ahh… Such a clever witch. So typical of your kind, to twist the truth to cloud the mind with unholy thoughts…"
It was more the truth that his mind had gone down that path of destruction far sooner than hers had, he just felt better blaming his thoughts on her initiation...
"Well, no matter…" He turned to leave.
"Set one foot outside, and you're mine!"
He winked at her, grinning wolfishly before descending into maniacal laughter.
He exited the church, pulling the door shut behind him.
Esmeralda for her part had to catch her breath as the willies soon overcame her.
Judge Claude Frollo was a vile, evil man only seeking power and dominance over her people through intimidation.
Despite his gentle handling of her wrist and caress of her throat, (could he have meant to touch her cheek instead as most men do?), Esmeralda felt the raw power that such an individual as he was born with-
His words... did he truly mean her harm, or was he only trying to intimidate her?
Esmeralda felt herself flushing either way.
Phoebus was handsome in his own way, yes... but there was something about Claude Frollo that aroused her curiosity. Had he ever loved? Been loved?
Esmeralda was nervous with the unknown answer to a serious question.
What was Claude Frollo after?
And how soon would he aim to achieve it?
She looked at her faithful companion, a goat she'd named Djali.
"One thing, Djali-if Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he's wrong." she scowled after the judge's retreating form.
Djali bleated in agreement and curiosity.
Esmeralda suddenly swung around as she heard someone behind her.
It was the Archdeacon.
"Don't act rashly, child." he said mildly. "You created quite a stir at the festival. It would be unwise to arouse Frollo's anger further."
He raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile.
Esme blushed. It was as if the Archdeacon could sense what she was feeling.
Esmeralda frowned.
"You saw what he did out there, letting the crowd torture that poor boy. I thought if just one person could stand up to him, then..." she sighed, looking down at the nearly empty square.
"What do they have against people who are different, anyway?"
The Archdeacon sighed, placing a fatherly hand upon the girl's shoulder.
"You can't right all the wrongs in this world by yourself."
Esme scowled outside of the church.
"No one out there's going to help, that's for sure."
She wanted to go back out there, to fight for the injustice of her people, but at what end?
The Archdeacon smiled knowingly.
"Perhaps there's Someone in here who can."
Esmeralda's voice lifted in song, wondering if He indeed could hear her.
Much later, it was the very same God she called upon as she witnessed the errant judge trip and fall upon the terrace of the cathedral, then catch himself before slipping quickly off of it.
He wasn't strong enough to hold his own weight, and it counted against him most disastrously.
With a fearful scream, Frollo let go as his very life flashed before his eyes...
AEAEAEAE
Kembleford, Gloucester, England
28,9,1954(3)
Adrián LeJuge had exited the Kembleford Market Square when a girl he'd never seen before, stole his horse!
"GET BACK HERE YOU GYPSY WITCH" Msr. LeJuge yelled as the girl, a dark haired Spanish beauty with deep green eyes, laughed back at him.
"Atrápame si puedes!"
Growling in anger, the former judge turned cleric, (who had no idea how he had changed vocations), ran after the errant thief, bound and determined to capture her, vowing to himself he'd make her pay...
Suddenly he froze in mid step, hearing a woman's voice in his mind.
Do not think you will be able to change the future Judge Claude Frollo... your journey here lies from within...only through repentance do you have a hope of redeeming yourself, by witnessing the fate of another...
Frollo tried shaking his head, wanting to rid himself of the voice of a woman in his head. In his mind, he could see her, plain as day... alabaster skin, earth shade eyes that bored into his soul, making him shiver, and auburn curls, surrounded by light— he wanted to shield his eyes, but found he couldn't...
Frollo found himself in a small office with large ornate furniture, piles of papers and unbound books lay upon the desk, haphazardly tossed and unkept.
The former judge picked one up, noticing a title, From Whence Love Cometh. Scanning through it, Frollo's face became hot, his stomach roiling in uncomfortable embarrassment and regret...
The script was about a man who falls in love with a woman, whom she does not know, and thus engages to another, unaware of the man's violently ardent passion for her.
Not able to take it any longer, and extremely jealous of her lover, the man craftily devises a scheme to make her his.
As he continues to read, Frollo cannot begin to understand how his life's story became printed on a page so eloquently.
Wanting to know if the woman denied her lover and turned to her admirer, the former judge found that the manuscript had ended... the author had not continued.
Somewhat pleased and yet irritated, Frollo wondered if he would ever find out the ending to the story... little did he know, he'd find out more than he ever intended...
Frollo then moved from the manuscript to an embellished black book. He opened it, skimmed through the pages with long, bony fingers, and noticed an entry dated two years before...
28,9,1950
From the moment I met him, I, Bishop Claude Octavius Maximillian Johan Tolbot, have always hated Father Nathan Alexander Brown. I cannot place my finger on to my distaste; perhaps it is the fact that he never follows orders- never has, even when we were in Seminary together, Bishop Palfreyman always giving him an excuse to miss vespers, or being given an excuse to enter the hall late during lectures, particularly when I, yes I was the one lecturing!
But perhaps the reason I most despised Brown, was that he had everything and nothing. I, whom had been born with a silver spoon in my mouth and had risen to Vicar when he was still a postulate, had achieved everything in life, admiration, respect, nobility... all!
Except... love.
Not that I hadn't tipped my hat to ladies I took a fancy to... mmmm... such a fine form our Lord created the female with...
Despite all my triumphs, no one I took an interest in, returned to me! They all happened to notice when he entered, however, fawning over him, seeking him as a part of their daily service, and he! What had he ever done except to blush like a ninny and deny their interest!
I was angry, and yes, jealous! How dare this interloper destroy my life!
So I'd found ways to antagonize him, picking on him and his friends, making mischief, challenging him of knowing anything about love... ha!
It rattled me that day, the haunted look he'd given when he mentioned knowing more about love than I could even think to imagine... to this day I still wonder what caused the limp he carries...
Time went on and I rose in the ranks in the Catholic church; eventually I forgot about Brown, until he became my subordinate.
Great just absolutely blooming perfect!
Twenty years have gone by since that time until today that I sit writing this, and not once has Brown done what I have asked him to do! Yes there was a time eighteen years ago when he started, he was so depressed that he did anything I asked, but now?!
Saints above!
Every time I turn around he is getting himself in some kind of trouble!
After a bit, I quit caring. If Brown wanted to go off on a tangent and get himself killed, there was no reason to come to me!
Except for the time after
she came...
Mmm by "she" I mean our newest persona de femme, Lady Felicia Montague...
CFCFCFCFCFCF
Frollo was confused, not quite understanding what the apparition wanted from him... what was he meant to see?
The man whose name was Claude Tolbot, looked exactly like Frollo's deceased brother, Johan. What was he doing here and what was he planning to do?
If this man was indeed his descendant, what was he doing? What was he up to?
Events of the future cannot be changed by those of the past; however, one may be able to right his own wrongs if given the correct example...
Spirit, Apparition or whatever you are! I see this now!
The case of this unhappy
man who may die a solitary, lonesome death might be my own.
My life tends that way now.
Esmerelda flashed in Frollo's mind for a moment, and Frollo felt almost like stirring to life!
However, that familiar seed of dread in the pot of his stomach began to grow a small bit...
who was this man, and what was he intending with this... Lady Felicia?
LFLFLFLFLFLF
Claude Tolbot remembered seeing her recently- she was hostess for the Medical Benefit of something-or-other, and as he watched her, he grew to wonder how Lord Montague had become so damned lucky! Though in her early forties, Felicia was fit, trim, cultured, and the life of any and every party she hosted.
Claude began to wonder just how long Lord Montague would be away... what he wouldn't give to have Lady Felicia on his arm...
Mmm how delicious and enticing the thought was, especially since she did not have any children...
He noticed a newspaperman take Felicia's picture with some of the other members of the benefit, one of them being a doctor from London, who gave Claude an intimidating, suspicious glare...
Claude ignored him, keeping his eye solely on Felicia. He was enamoured by her, and he would do anything in his power to make her his own...
Lady Felicia Montague, recently renamed as Head Nurse Felicity Vivian Marsberg, tried to listen carefully and intently to what Dr. Michael Khan Sherwin was telling her.
Apparently there was a man of the church eyeing her very inappropriately. Casting her thought of Nathan Brown off as rubbish, she looked around, and caught the eye of none other than Bishop Tolbot.
Flushing madly, Felicia wondered what on earth the Bishop would be doing at such a private event, and why was he looking at her so oddly.
She asked to be excused, making her way over to the elderly bishop, intending to find out why was there...
CFCFCFCFCFCF
As he watched a beautiful fair lady walk over to man who seemed to have the air of an archdeacon or Bishop, Frollo couldn't help but wonder why the man was eyeing her so violently. Lust seemed to be oozing from every pore of the man's body, and every instinct told Frollo to shout out to the woman: "Get away from him! Can you not see how dangerous he is?!"
As he made to do so however, he found he had no voice. He was reminded of the woman's warning.
You will neither speak to or interact with the beings you notice. You are to watch and learn; may God have pity upon you...
As if touching glass, Frollo raised his hand, wondering just how to gain the woman's attention, and how to get her away from that man...
If she did not tread cautiously, he would most certainly lead her to her downfall...
CFCFCFCFCFCF
(Two weeks after events of False Accusations)
"Bishop Tolbot..."
Elated she was coming over to him, he grinned widely and grasped her hand.
"Lady Felicia..." he fawned, just about to lay a kiss on her hand when she gracefully grasped it away.
After endless scrubbing upon completion of the benefit set up, it would not do to have her sanitized hands smelling of dead and rotting fish...
Claude Tolbot frowned, while behind the lady, the bishop's ancestral uncle chuckled.
Like Esmerelda, this woman knew herself and her mind... she would not be hampered upon, and forced to change herself.
"May I ask, Bishop Tolbot, by what invitation brings you here to this Benefit? It was not widely known or spoken of."
Claude raised an eyebrow, both to her tone of speech, and to her words, as if he were unwelcome.
"Well, seeing as this land is owned by the Church, I plan to speak to the hosts to be sure they had received the sanctity and blessing of the Church for such a gathering."
Felicia and essentially Frollo, raised surprised eyebrows. Both knew he had just lied and made that excuse up to gain entry to the benefit, but the question was, why?
"You are looking at her" Felicia said. "And last time I checked the Kembleford Charter, this land belonged to the Sacred Trinity Protestant Church, unaffiliated with the Roman Catholic Church branched here in Kembleford."
Tolbot was caught by surprise. Damn. Feisty and well informed...
Frollo glared at the lecherous grin his descended nephew sent the woman. Where was the physician she had been speaking to? She should really not be unchaperoned when it came to the likes of Claude Tolbot.
"Be that as it may, I would still hope to impart upon you the Church's blessing, dear lady"
With an unchecked glint in his eye, he grasped for her hand, placing an inappropriate kiss on the back of it, making the woman's skin crawl.
Frollo glared at his nephew... something had to be done before this woman was harmed in any way...
Fortunately she was able to get away quickly, thanks to the doctor that had joined her side, but Claude Frollo was unable to see, or speak as visions whirred around him...
The same woman, Lady Felicia, was with another man, younger than his nephew, taller, handsome, and with less weight. He was blonde with blue eyes, aided by spectacles.
They both were happy and in love.
Then the vision changed:
The Lady and her lover were in front of a tombstone marked BROWN,
LYDIA GRACE. The woman was strumming a rather large mandolin,
singing softly in a different language as they both stood together, crying...
Finally, Claude heard rather than saw his final vision...
His nephew was talking, the woman responded, when she plummeted to the floor...
Later, the woman was in an inn. Again Frollo could see and hear, but not speak to them.
Felicia, he remembered her name, was screaming and crying as the second man, Frollo thought his name was Nathan, held her close to him.
"He will pay for this" Nathan was growling, tears streaming down his face. "As the Lord is my witness, he will pay for what he has done!"
Frollo's heart was torn and broken.
Felicia was devastated, fear ravaged her haunted features; Nathan was furious...
He held her tightly, their matching wedding bands glowing in the moonlight, streaming into the darkened room.
Seeing no more, Frollo was terrified. What had his nephew done?!
CFCFCFCFCFCF
Frollo decided to address his pseudo captor in one last act of desperation...
Spirit...
before you return to the time from whence you brought me, answer me one question!
Are these the shadows
of things that will be
or shadows of things that may be?
Men's courses in life
foreshadow certain ends.
But if these courses are departed from,
these ends will change. isn't that so?
The woman lifted the rose she had used as his hourglass, as if sending him to the fiery banister that spelt his doom...
No. No!
Is that man a spawn of my brother's loins?!
She lifted the rose again
No. Spirit, hear me!
I'm not the man I was!
Why show me this if I'm past all hope?
The woman's hand began to bend down as if prepared to send Claude Ignatius Frollo plummeting to his fiery death.
Spirit!
Spirit, assure me that I may change
these shadows you've shown me!
Change them by an altered life!
The aura in which he was in started to spin, he was once again on the ledge of the catwalk of the church, the woman, changing from his specter to that of Esmeralda...
Frollo was beginning to lose his grip again, falling, falling...
Spirit, I will honour Esmerelda as my bride, to cherish her as Christ cherishes His very church! I am an example of this from Him I now know, she is a gift, as her people, as life itself is a gift!
I will not shut out the lessons
of the past, nor present, nor future.
Oh, please, spirit,
tell me I may sponge away
the very error of my descendants sin by living as his correct example!
FEFEFEFEFEFE
"Esme?" the dark woman looked up, behind her as her relative, Clopin entered with Phobias, Captain of the Guard.
"He is still weak. I believe he is with fever" she answered, placing a cool, dark hand on the ailing judge's forehead.
Clopin nodded. "I have what you asked for" he said, giving her the small pouch in which their grandmother had kept her healing herbs.
"I need fresh water, and lots of it" the girl said.
Clopin nodded, rushing to do as his little sister asked.
Esmeralda continued her task as Phobias merely watched her silently, amazed at how things had turned out in the span of only a few short hours.
Nice and gentle, Esme, not so much, dear...
Good!
Grandmother Faina grinned and praised a small Esmerelda for following directions as she created a small paste to aid the fever of a sick friend.
Your time will come, Esme, dear
Grandmama smiled knowingly as a teenage Esme looked out among her people, her very sisters even- everyone had someone to love them. The men were so gentle with their wives, bickering and fussing, and yet loving them gently and warmly, as they were.
The day will come when your husband will cherish you as the Queen of Sheba
Young Esme couldn't wait...
Now, Now Grandmama was gone. She had befriended Quasimodo, a young deformed bellringer, and Phobias, the striking, handsome Captain of the Guard.
As much as she enjoyed his company and conversation, despite how their first meeting went, she found that the slight admiration she felt had petered out... it had been just that, she realized, mere infatuation...
Alas, the man lying helpless before her had caused her no end of grief recently, causing her to fear for her own and her people's safety.
He had at first reminded her of Haman, the evil cortieur in the story of Queen Esther...
However, as she had seen Judge Claude Ignatius Frollo hanging on to the church banister for dear life, she decided that however much heartache she had felt towards him, that didn't mean she was meant to judge him by allowing him to die, even if it were accidentally by his own hands...
Her heart had sped up when she heard him yell out in desperation.
Despite Phobias' protests, she ordered him to help her assist the flailing judge. He had done so begrudgingly, and now she could feel his incredulity as he watched her care for the very enemy that had ordered her arrest.
"I just don't get it" he muttered.
"Get what?" Esme asked, soaking another towel into the healing herb mixture, praying to God that this was working.
"How you can get clean scott away for something you didn't even cause, and yet here you are caring for the very man who ordered your arrest"
Esme shrugged. "My Bible says to forgive your enemies, pray for those who harm you, and turn the other cheek"
"Yeah, turn the other cheek and slap it" Phobias muttered under his breath.
Esme heard it however and was not amused.
"What is your title, Phobias?"
"Captain" he said confused "why?"
"Does Captain spell Judge?"
Phobias looked at her oddly. "No,"
"Neither does Gypsy, so no buts allowed. if so, I'd turn mine around if I were you and get moving with that water!"
FEFEFEFEFEFE
Nathan had just solved another case. A maid had been jealous of her master and mistress and decided to get rid of her mistress to keep her master for herself.
Nathan had briefly wondered if the maid and Mrs. Agathe Windermere had ever known each other...
The man, a Mr. Chambers, had been shot in the shoulder by the maid Evelyn, who had set the barn on fire after she shot him. Mr. Chambers and the horses got out okay, but there was someone asleep in the hay of one of the stables...
|Apparition!|
The 'ghost' looked stoic.
|Apparition, do you not see what is happening?! She will die if left unattended!|
Then go and make things right...
Adrián LeJuge found himself coughing uncontrollably as heat and flames seeped out of the stable...
Eyes burning, he could hardly see, despite it being the middle of the day...
"Emiliña!" He roared over the flames. *cough cough cough* "Emiliña where are you?!" *cough cough cough* the smoke brought him to his knees where he was able to feel the slats of the stable floor.
To his right, in the corner of the last stable, he heard the coughing of another...
It was her! He found her! Adrián forced himself to open his eyes through the blackness of the soot.
It hurt and his eyes stung, but he had to get to the girl quickly and get her out of there before they both perished to their deaths...
"Emiliña, my name is Adrián, I'm going to help you get out of here, but I need you to trust me. Tú comprende?"
Emiliña nodded weakly and coughed. "Sí Señor... Gracia..."
She didn't finish her statement before falling limp in his arms, which with their rapidly declining strength, hoisted her unconscious form to his chest as he carried her out, just as the last of the burning cinders came down behind them.
Cool fresh air surrounded Frollo as he, with his sweet burden in his arms, grew dizzy and faint...
"-elp over here!" calls surrounded them as Frollo and Esmeralda, or Adrián LeJuge, and Emiliña Cortez, both surrendered to darkness, wrapped in the safety of the other's arms...
FEFEFEFEFEFE
"N-no... no...n-no...please... don't"
Esmeralda woke up at hearing the sound of moaning coming from Judge Frollo's cot.
"Esmer- alda... Esmeralda, please... help me!"
Esme quickly went over to the judge and filled the empty water glass by his bedside.
"Msr... msr, please... open your eyes..."
Frollo whimpered, sensing and hearing his beloved's voice, but too afraid to face what was to come...
"Claude... please... Claude... wake up!"
There was a sense of urgency in the voice now...
Claude struggled and then prayed for strength to open his eyes...
Esmeralda...
Sweet, beautiful, lovely, enchanting Esmeralda was here... at his bedside!
Was he dreaming?
Was he... dead?
"Esmeralda..." he sobbed.
"Shh... don't try to speak now, Claude...you're safe now..."
What drew his attention then was not the worry in her sparkling green eyes, but the pressure with which she grasped his hand in both of her own.
"What...?" he began, bewildered by her very presence, let alone her very nearness.
Esmeralda herself shook her head in wonder.
"I have no idea how you came to be up there, but somehow you were on the battlements of the Palace, and you were struggling to keep your balance and not fall."
Tears formed in her eyes as she became overwhelmed, laying her head upon Frollo's weakened but white clothed chest, of which its owner was struggling to breathe for shock.
"Forgive me, Your Honor" she murmured meekly, rising and drying her eyes with her shawl.
Frollo shook his head in disbelief.
How had she gone from hating him to respecting him all in the span of a few hours?
"You let go" she said softly. "You lost your grip and let go... I-I don't know if you had given up, or..." she shook her head.
"I just knew that despite all the trouble between us, none of that mattered... I- I couldn't stand by and let you die... even by your own hand..."
Esmeralda sobbed again, the reality of nearly losing the errant judge overwhelming her.
"l'amour de mon cœur" he murmured. Esmeralda's head shot up.
Claude's eyes widened in realization that she was well versed in the French language.
He flushed, as did she.
"I am sorry, Esmeralda. I am deeply, truly, repentantly sorry for all I have done and caused to you and your people."
He had been about to add 'and to Paris' but didn't; this was about her right now.
Words failed both to the extent that the only response Esme could find to give, was to wrap the former judge into a gentle, loving embrace.(4)
No matter what happened now, between them, he had said he was sorry.
He had been close to death and would not likely return to the vile creature he had been.
"I am so-"
He placed a gentle finger to her lips.
"No, Esmeralda, that was my error also."
He sighed, his eyes filling with tears.
"Where is Quasimodo?"
Esme shrugged.
"I have not seen him since yesterday. I have been here" she flushed.
Claude flushed again. He would never cease to be amazed by this loving woman he did not deserve.
"What happens now?" Esmeralda asked.
Claude shook his head. He didn't want to think of the ramifications to his actions at the moment.
He reached for Esmeralda's hand, then stopped himself.
She smiled, the same glittering smile she'd kissed him with before, and took his long thin hand in her own youthful tiny one.
"I have no right to ask you this, but when all is said and done, would it be possible...?"
He shook his head a moment later.
Esmeralda squeezed his hand in encouragement.
"It's foolish... I suppose... for a man such as I... to deem himself worthy of your affection..."
Esmeralda blushed. He had that look in his eyes. the one Grandmama always talked about and hinted at...
"I don't know..."
Frollo raised an eyebrow...
"You think you could be happy… with me?"
Esme thought for a second, unable to hear the hammering of Claude's chest...
"Could anyone be happy... if they aren't free?"
Claude knew the implications behind her suggestion.
He sighed. It wouldn't be so easy, especially with his own freedom on the line, but if freedom for herself and her people via pardon was what she desired...
... then he would fight for that freedom tooth and claw...
That's been said before you know...
Frollo felt a bit frightened and embarrassed that she had heard him and his thoughts...
"Consider your wish my life's purpose mon amour" he murmured, delicately bringing her fingers to his lips, mirth and mischief twinkling like twins in his eyes.
Esmeralda flushed, this man of all men taking her breath away, and slowly stealing her heart...
As she had as a teenager, she couldn't wait to see what happened next...
CPCPCPCPCPCP
Outside the judge's chambers, a tall blond handsome man was waiting for Esmeralda to come away.
His attention was alerted when he heard Esmeralda gasp.
Drawing his sword, the Captain decided to investigate, but decided that he needed more evidence first.
In a crack in the door, Phoebus noticed Frollo take Esmeralda's fingers in his own and bring them to his lips.
Esmeralda gasped, causing a surge of jealousy to flint in the Captains eyes as the gypsy girl curled next to the judge on the too small cot, meeting his lips in a kiss...
Phoebus growled, not wanting to see anymore.
Esmeralda was lost to him, favoring the arms of the former minister of justice.
Feeling anger, betrayal, and heartbreak, Phoebus soon found himself at a writing desk, taking the quill and a paper, he thought of what to say, then began writing.
Lady Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier
My Dearest Wife...
That's all for now! Let me know what you think!