Clopin was ready to kill Isiah when he saw the state his siblings where in when they returned to the centre.

It was only thanks to the twin's intervention, that he stayed his hand.

Isiah was on cleaning duty for two months though.

And Esme and Saphir were grounded until they were healed… plus more.

Sighing, he gave the court one last scan, thankful that festival seemed to have lifted everyone's spirits up, before heading back into the tent.

Whilst his siblings did have tents of their own, they usually chose one or the other to spend the day in.

"I don't know why were' getting punished for this." Esme immediately started to protest as Clopin entered the tent, the pair of them wearing one of his shirts each.

He was wondering where they'd gone to.

"You know full well why you're getting punished." He sighed, "You made the conscious choice to leave the safety of the group and try and slip your guard. You got hurt and made me sick with worry, so here we are."

Strangely enough, there were no more arguments.

"I need you two to listen to me about something." He sighed, taking a seat near them, waiting until their eyes were on him, "Maybe someday, when the world is older… life will be fairer. Someday, we won't have to fight to be accepted. We'll be able to stand in the sun and not have to look over our shoulders."

"Soon?"

Clopin winced at his brother's hopeful tone, "I don't know." He replied honestly, "But it'll happen one day, I swear to you."

It was clear that they didn't believe him.

Honestly, he wasn't sure he believed it himself…. But he wasn't going to admit that.

….Moses sermon

Alright, they were grounded.

But Esmerelda honestly couldn't remember the last time they'd listened to that. As soon as they were able to move without pain, they were sneaking out of the court and back out onto the streets of Paris.

"The Archdeacon should be holding some sermons outside." Saphir started to pull Esmerelda to the front of Notre Dame, "Come on! Come on!"

"We're free and you really want to just sit and listen to a boring sermon all day?"

"We're never going to be able to enter Notre Dame, not with all the snobs in there." Saphir argued, "This might be our only chance, and that's what the Archdeacon wants! He wants people like us to join him, to get this chance!"

"… So we're going to listen to a boring sermon?"

"I am. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to."

Esmerelda huffed, still following Saphir. "And let you get into some sort of trouble. No thanks. You're my little brother, remember?"

"We're twins!"

"I'm the older one though."

Saphir rolled his eyes, just as they reached the courtyard of Notre Dame, were the Archdeacon was standing right outside the doors.

"Hello, come forwards." The older man gave them a warm smile, "You're just in time."

Esmerelda knew her smile must looked forced, but Saphir eagerly bounded over, taking a seat right at the front.

"Today, I was going to speak about Moses." The Archdeacon announced to the small crowd that had gathered, his voice rising high above the hustle and bustle of the everyday going on's in the street, "Is everybody ready?!"

Esme tried not to roll her eyes as Saphir nodded eagerly.

This was going to be a long day.

…

"And then God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM'. This is what you are to say to the Israelites. 'I AM has sent me to you."

Esme hated to admit it, but she was enjoying this.

She would enjoy it more if they could actually experience a sermon in Notre Dame, but the chances of that happening were slim to none.

If it weren't for the disapproving look they would get from all the non-gypsies in the city and many of the monks, Esme was sure that the Archdeacon would take them inside.

"I think we will leave our sermon there." The Archdeacon finished just as Moses made the decision to go to Egypt and plead with the Pharaoh to let his people go, "Hopefully the weather will be pleasant enough tomorrow for us to continue this."

Esme wasn't going to admit it, but she hoped so too.

….

Later that evening, she wasn't surprised to see Saphir sitting by the fire, surrounded by dozens of children, who were all hooked on his every word.

"He had a certain talent for storytelling."

She turned to see Clopin watching the scene fondly.

"It's like he can remember every word."

"He can." She sighed, "All he has to do is read or listen to a story once, and it'll be added to his little puppet show."

She was a little envious really.

"he does have a remarkable memory." Clopin confirmed, "But... I can't help but feel like that isn't enough."

Huh?

Confused, Esmerelda looked over at him.

"The soldiers have become bolder in the past year." Clopin continued, "We've lost a lot of good people to Judge Frollo's cruelty, and I can't help but feel like I might be one of them soon."

"Clopin, you can't be- "

"- Esme." He gave her a soft look, "I'm not planning on throwing myself on the nearest sword that I can find, but eventually, Frollo may get the upper hand. It might be next week; it might be five years from now…. But it will happen, and I need to choose an heir."

"What? Giving up on the idea of finding a wife, making little mini Clopins'?"

Clopin chuckled, "I don't think marriage and all that is my thing… My choice is between you and Saphir."

"… And?"

"And I'm going to choose you."

Esmerelda looked over at him in shock, "What?"

"You have the leadership qualities that our family needs. Saphir has always been more of an advisor…. With his memory, he is in the perfect position to be your second-in-command. Whatever you might miss with all the responsibilities of being a leader, he won't." He beamed at her, "You'll be the perfect team."

Esmerelda turned her attention back to Saphir and the children. "Don't you think he'll be disappointed?"

"Esme… I think he's going to be thrilled."

…

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Esme watched her brother practically cartwheel around the tent.

"Told you." Clopin winked at her slyly, as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Wait, wait, wait!" She reached out to grab her brother's hand, stopping him mid-jump, "You're… happy about not being the leader in the future?"

"Of course I am!" Saphir beamed at her, "You deserve this."

"… and you don't want the responsibility."

"And I don't want the responsibility."