Out of the blue, a splashing sound was shortly followed by a hiss and the room was suddenly dark.
- The cauldron! - Frollo exclaimed, realizing he had completely forgotten about the boiling mixture, which must have overflowed and fallen upon the burning wood beneath it, soaking it and turning off the fire.
- What do I do? - Esmeralda asked quickly, amused by the sudden drastic change in their mood.
- Get a torch, from the hallway! - Frollo instructed, as the splashing continued, and he frantically searched for the handle of the small cauldron.
Esmeralda was not familiarized with the disposition of that room, for she had only been there once before, so in her attempt to reach the door, she bumped into the big table. She heard clinking noises from the bottles and jars that rested upon it, and also a heavy object falling down.
- Sorry!- she said with a wince, as she felt the edge of the table with her hands to avoid bumping into it twice.
She finally reached the door handle, and opened it, allowing the light from the closest torch to slightly illuminate the room. She grabbed it and turned back.
- Here. - Frollo indicated, pointing towards a metal hanger in the wall so she could place it there.
He was kneeling beside the fireplace, with the cauldron by his side. The stone floor around him was splattered with liquid.
- Let me help you clean it up. - Esmeralda offered, ready to get on her knees as well.
- I've got it. - Frollo refused, stopping her with a hand gesture. He seemed upset, so she figured it was best not to argue.
She watched him get a piece of cloth from a shelf, and begin to soak up the antidote mixture from the floor, as he cursed internally at his lack of attention. Now he would have to prepare another dose of antidote from scratch.
Esmeralda turned around, looking for some candles to light so they could see better. There were a couple across the room, on a high shelf, so she walked over there, almost stepping on a book on her way.
- Oh, this was it. - she murmured to herself, remembering the falling sound from before.
She bent down to grab it. It was heavier than she had expected, and its covers were thick and looked really old. She placed it carefully on the table again, and couldn't contain her curiosity. Her fingers traced the unknown symbols carved on the garnet cover. She threw Frollo a quick glance, but the man was still focused on his cleaning task, so she resolved to take a peak and carefully opened the book on a random page. She narrowed her eyes and leaned closer, trying to discern the small handwriting. She was able to recognize most of the letters, however the language was foreign. Though, trying to pronounce the words in her mind, it sounded quite similar to what she had heard on mass before.
- Is this Latin? - she asked, unable to restrain herself.
- What? - Frollo asked, looking at her over his shoulder, still from the ground.
He finished cleaning the last remnants of liquid from the floor and got up slowly, leaving the wet cloth hanging on the metal bar over the damp fireplace.
He walked towards her, while drying his hands on his robe.
- What are you doing? - he asked cautiously.
- I knocked this book from the table and I just picked it up – Esmeralda explained with an innocent smile. - It looks so mysterious… - she said, mesmerized.
- It is Latin.- Frollo confirmed, attempting to get the book, but she grabbed it first.
- Wait! - she protested. - What is it about? - she inquired curious.
Frollo seemed suddenly uncomfortable. He cleared his throat, trying to find the right words.
- It's complicated. Basically, it's chemistry…- he said, but his restlessness only made Esmeralda more intrigued.
- Chemistry? As in healing mixtures like that? - she asked, pointing towards the cauldron.
- Well, not exactly… - Frollo answered, looking away.
- Then what? - she insisted eagerly.
Suddenly, she remembered a conversation they had had long ago, and her intuition kicked in.
- Is this why people thought you were a sorcerer? - she asked, narrowing her eyes.
The quick nervous glance that Frollo threw her way confirmed her suspicions.
- So that's why it's here, and not in the library. - she deducted.
Now the book was much more appealing. She looked down at it again, her fingers delicately
turning the pages. Frollo made a small protesting grunt.
- Tell me about it. - she begged.
Frollo sighed, yielding.
- Alright... It's an alchemy compendium.
- A what? - Esmeralda repeated, frowning.
- Have you ever heard of alchemy? - Frollo asked.
- No. - she admitted, slightly embarrassed at her evident lack of knowledge in comparison to his.
- It's a very rare subject. - the judge explained, aware of her insecurity. - That's why it's misinterpreted as sorcery by the common people.
- What is it? - she asked, curious.
- Well… it's the science of transformation, so to speak. The knowledge of how to transmute certain elements into another ones. It studies the properties of matter in this universe, what is essential and what is susceptible to change.
Esmeralda was staring at him, completely lost and yet, mesmerized by the look on Frollo's face as he explained this to her. She had never seen him so fascinated about anything, not even his healing techniques or music.
- Tell me more. - she pleaded.
- Well… - Frollo began, encouraged by her enthusiasm. - From ancient times, the wisest men have attempted to unveil the mysteries of this universe we live in. It is believed that they found a way to reach the very essence that lies upon its core… and once they did, they were able to use that raw force to act upon the physical world, to change it at will.
- That sounds like magic. - she pointed out, cautiously.
- But it's not. - Frollo quickly clarified. - Sorcery is evil. This is just a deep study of the essential nature of God's creation.
- Alright. - she nodded, though secretly disagreeing. She knew that Frollo had strong prejudices against anything that the church or religion condemned. However, she herself had met a few people in her life, like an old palm reader that used to live in the Court of Miracles, who actually had some sort of magical connection to secret knowledge from past and future. And she knew for a fact that this lady wasn't evil at all. But she didn't feel like getting into a fight right now; she was too interested in what Frollo was saying.
- Anyway, they were known as alchemists… and it is said that they achieved two great accomplishments. First, they managed to find a way to turn coal into gold.
- What? That's impossible. - she replied, shaking her head.- Isn't it?
- Not according to them. - Frollo stated calmly.
- How do they do it then? - she inquired, skeptical.
- Well… it's a complex process, influenced by many factors… But, to sum it up, through fire. In alchemy, fire is known to be the most purifying element. It burns away all the impurities so the true golden essence that was contained in the coal all along can emerge.
- Hmm… - Esmeralda hummed, looking at the flames from the torch. Fire definitely had some magical quality to it, she admitted to herself. She had always been drawn to the flames, a fascination she knew the judge shared. - But doesn't the fire then burn the gold?
- Not this gold. - Frollo explained.- It the purest form of matter. Even fire can't destroy the purest things in this world.
- I see. - she murmured, finding comfort in his answer. - You said they achieved two things. What's the second one? - she asked, visibly intrigued.
- They created an elixir for eternal life. - the judge revealed.
Esmeralda widened her eyes in disbelief. If it had been any other person telling her this, she would have thought that they were trying to trick her, or else, she would have just assumed that they were crazy. But she knew Frollo well enough to be sure that if he considered the possibility of it being true, he did so after a long, meticulous research on the matter, and thorough rational analysis.
- Have you ever…? - she asked, embarrassed by her own naive question, but curious nevertheless.
- No. - Frollo replied, lowering his tone. - But I intend to keep trying.
The heaviness in his words revealed her that his search had probably gone on for a long time now. It came as a surprise for her, that he had been so invested in trying to accomplish such strange things.
- What are you thinking? - Frollo suddenly inquired, scrutinizing her facial expression.
- Nothing – she responded immediately, her cheeks blushing.
- Speak. - he ordered, taking a step towards her.
The sudden authority in his tone caught her off guard and for a second, she saw before her the mighty judge Frollo that had terrified her and her people for so long. Only now she was alone with him, in a dungeon, and she was unveiling his deepest secrets. For some reason, this realization turned her on a little.
- I was just thinking that you don't seem the kind of man that would try so hard to get some gold. - she explained, trying to discard her drifting thoughts.
- It is not because of the gold. - Frollo clarified, and she could see that he was slightly offended by her assumption. - The elixir, on the other hand, seems more appealing. - he confessed. - However, that's not what I'm after either. I have no interest in remaining in this world forever. - he stated, with a shiver.
- Then…? - she asked, baffled. - Why are you so interested in alchemy?
- Well, it's the functioning behind it that intrigues me. - he answered honestly. - All the books and texts I have read seem to have something in common… that there is an unknown, almighty force that surrounds and contains all that exists… and at the same time is found inside every single thing or living being. Does that ring a bell for you?
- God? - she guessed tentatively.
- That's what I thought. They don't speak of God Himself, but what else could it be? - he asked, and she shrugged, confused. - That's what I would like to figure out. - he concluded.
- I see… - she said absently, lowering her gaze to the incomprehensible texts and symbols on the pages.
Suddenly, something caught her attention. Her fingertips traced a circle over one particular drawing. She looked at it closely, and then let out a small chuckle.
- What is it? - Frollo asked, intrigued.
- Oh, it's nothing. It's silly. -she shook her head, trying to change the subject.
But the judge threw her an inquiring look, raising an eyebrow, and she smiled nervously.
- It was just a random thought, I don't want you thinking I'm stupid. - she confessed.
- Try me. - Frollo suggested with an inviting gesture.
- Alright... - she yielded. - You see this symbol here? - she said, pointing towards the end of the page.
- Yes… - Frollo nodded, leaning closer with curiosity. She was referring to a circular drawing divided in two halves, one black and the other white. Each half had another circle inside, of the opposite color.
- Well, I have no idea of what is it or what it means…
- It's an oriental symbol. - he couldn't help clarifying. - It comes from ancient Far East philosophies. Forgive me. Go on. - he apologized for his interruption.
- Nevermind.- she quickly refused, once more embarrassed by her lack of worldly culture.
- Please. - he begged with a velvety voice that she couldn't resist.
- Damn it, Claude. - she cursed, yielding once again. - I just thought for a second that it looked like us. I told you it was stupid.
- Like us? - Frollo repeated, puzzled.
- Yes… - she said, blushing under his inquiring look.- You see the way this part is all black… with the white circle. And then the other part is all white… with the black circle. Look at me right now. - she said, gesturing towards the simple white linen dress she was wearing. - I'm all dressed in white but I have dark hair and skin… and then you…. - she added, pointing at him. - You're all dressed in black, and you have… lighter skin and hair. - she said, carefully choosing her words so he wouldn't take them as an offense. - So I just thought it was funny the way we resembled the colors. That's it. - she concluded, crossing her arms slightly bothered that she had been forced to say it out loud.
Frollo was trying to keep a straight face, for he was pretty sure that any reaction on his side would make her feel worse. So he avoided eye contact and he looked down on the drawing, pretending to analyze it thoughtfully.
After a few seconds of silence, Esmeralda looked at him, getting more restless by his silence than by any possible response he could have given her.
- Oh, never mind, just keep telling me your story.- she said, trying to leave the awkwardness behind.
But the judge hushed her with a gesture. He now seemed genuinely focused on something. She watched his face shifting from concentration, to pondering, to true astonishment.
- What now? - she asked, confused.
- I think you're right. - Frollo mumbled, still in shock.
- Okay… - she said, finding the way he seemed to be so impacted by such a silly comparison really strange.
- I can't believe this! - Frollo exclaimed all of a sudden, grabbing the book, and furiously turning its pages, tracing the words with his finger in a frantic search for something.
Esmeralda knew better than to try to have a conversation with him while he was in that state. He had been visibly plunged into his inner world, and she had probably become invisible. So she walked to the fireplace, to replace the wet trunks with dry ones from a small pile beside it, giving him some space. She changed the trunks and then grabbed the torch to light the fireplace. The flames grew quickly, and soon the room was better illuminated and warmer.
She rubbed her hands next to the heat, and threw Frollo another glance. He was still submerged inside the book, with utter amazement written all over his face. It was really hard for her to contain her eagerness to ask, but she trusted he would tell her when he was ready to communicate.
Eventually, the judge raised his eyes from the pages and stared at her with such intensity it made her shiver.
- You're a genius. - he said with profound reverence.
- I am? - she asked, amused and baffled. - How is that?
- Look. - he said, walking towards her, with the book still open in his hands. - This symbol, you were right. It looks like us. Or rather, we look like it.
- Aha… - she nodded, not truly following.
- I told you it's an oriental symbol. - Frollo explained. - It's supposed to represent balance between the two dual forces of the universe. Light and dark, day and night, good and evil… Masculine and feminine, and so on. Together, those forces join as one, they complete each other to form that basic, essential creative force that the alchemists described.
- Okay. - she nodded again, understanding his explanation but still unsure of where he was headed.
- I knew that already… - he kept going. - But it always seemed too abstract. I mean… how does it apply to our lives? And then you gave me the answer.
- I did? - she asked, surprised.
- Yes, my beautiful gypsy. - he said, euphoric. - This doesn't apply to us… this is us.- he stated, hitting the symbol with his index finger repeatedly.
Esmeralda shook her head, confused.
- It's not just the color resemblance, though I have to admit you had a point there. - he said with a crooked smile. - But think of what it represents. You're so full of light, of kindness and compassion and understanding…. Of joy and life. This is you. - he said, pointing to the white half of the circle. - And me… well… You know how my life has been. You know my darkness better than anyone. This is me. - he explained, slowly tracing the remaining black half.
Esmeralda looked at the drawing again, fascinated. Now she was finally grasping the meaning of his words. It all looked crystal clear all of a sudden.
- And this – she said then, pointing towards the black circle inside the white half. - That is my darkness. The anger and selfishness that I have always tried to hide away from the world. And that – she added, touching the white circle inside the black half. - That is your light. The loving, caring side of you that you hide away from the world. They are both locked there in the deepest part of ourselves… but real and alive.
- Exactly. - Frollo nodded solemnly, utterly delighted that she had caught up to him so fast. - This symbol is supposed to represent balance. - he repeated. - It tells us that there is a pit of darkness in the brightest of lights, and a beam of light in the thickest darkness. And when both are reunited, they join to become one single, balanced reality.
- So that means… we were meant to come together? - she asked, fascinated.
- That's precisely what I think it means. - he confirmed, satisfied. - That would explain why we were attracted to each other in the first place. When we met… I had never seen someone so full of light, of life, and love… I immediately felt like I was in desperate need of you, of that.
- So… it had nothing to do with my dancing? - she asked, pretending to be disappointed.
- Oh, the dancing didn't hurt. - Frollo replied with a devilish grin.
Esmeralda threw him a crooked, playful smile. However, the importance of their discovery quickly plunged her back into their conversation.
- I think you're right. - she said, thoughtful. - As I said that night at the library… it was indeed the darkness I saw in your eyes what made me feel that magnetic pull towards you. Though it was getting to know the light inside which made me love you.
- And it was witnessing your deepest darkness what made me madly in love with you. - Frollo confessed, lowering his gaze. - It was that night that I understood you would be the only person in this world with whom I could truly risk being myself.
She couldn't hold herself any longer. She walked to him and took the book from his hands, placing it carefully on the table. Then she turned away and threw herself in his arms, kissing him deeply.
Frollo moaned in her mouth with surprise, but immediately responded. She felt a new kind of passion coming from him, as if his whole body was being driven by the euphoria of his newly found knowledge. Her lips curved in a smile, realizing that this unusual man was actually turned on by wisdom. Frollo noticed her smiling and pulled away slightly to look at her. Her eyes were gloaming with desire, and in that moment he felt the most lucky man in the entire universe.
But when he leaned on to resume the kiss, she gasped loudly, and pulled away to look at him in bewilderment.
- There's something else! - she said, suddenly remembering. - There's something I haven't told you.
- What? - he asked, intrigued.
- I just remembered, when you looked at me like that… - she said, walking away and pacing nervously.
- Tell me – he begged.
- Okay. But it may sound weird. - she warned him.
- The last time you said that you unlocked one of the most important revelations of my life.- he encouraged her. - I'm all ears.
- Alright. - she said, nodding. - Remember our first night together?
- Hmm…. - Frollo hesitated, unsure of what she meant.
- Yes, I mean, together. - she confirmed.
- Well, how could I forget that? - he said, his cheeks slightly reddening.
- Something weird happened that night. I didn't tell you then, and I hadn't thought about it again until now. But there was this moment… when I looked at you and… it was just so weird, Claude! But your image changed in front of my eyes. - she murmured, trying to find the right words to describe it. - And I can't explain it but I felt as if I was gazing into your essence, way beyond who you are right now in flesh and bone. And… it felt so familiar! As if I had known it forever. As if … - she hesitated for a moment. Frollo was holding his breath.- it was my own. It doesn't make sense, you seemed like a very familiar person but also like myself. And something just fell into place in that moment and I knew we belonged together. - she concluded, her voice hoarse with emotion.
- How come you never told me this? - Frollo whispered, his voice also strangled.
Esmeralda shrugged, with an apologetic smile.
- I didn't think you would take it seriously. It doesn't make any sense. - she repeated.
- But don't you see it does? - he asked, getting excited again.
She shook her head weakly.
- Look at the fire, for instance. - he said then, pointing to the fireplace. - You just lit it with the fire from the torch. So the original flame divided into two separate fires… that now exist on their own. But at the same time, they come from the same original flame… they are the same fire, just circumstantially split.
- Yes… - she murmured, beginning to see his point. - So you're saying… we are like those two fires.
- Precisely. - Frollo nodded with a hand gesture. - Two people that originated from the same original essence. That unified force that was split in two symmetrical halves… dark and light… each one holding a remnant of the other, that inner light and darkness that you pointed out… All along, meant to find each other and reunite to achieve that balance, that unified force again. That's why you felt like I was so familiar, and also yourself at the same time. We are both things at once.
Esmeralda felt like her heart was about to pump out of her chest. But it wasn't because of the romanticism in that explanation. It was because she felt closer than ever to understanding who she was, and what her whole existence meant. Though she couldn't explain why, she knew, deep in her bones with absolute certainty, that everything Frollo was saying was absolutely true.
- And what would that unified force be? - she asked him, immediately figuring out the answer herself.
- Love. - they both said at once.
- But not only towards one another. - she said convincingly. - You made me feel in love with myself. In love with life itself.
- So did you. - Frollo agreed. - It all makes sense now. - he said, remembering his mother's words once again. - This, us coming together… that was the real plan all along. - he stated, and this time he knew for sure he was right. Their encounter hadn't been some sort of twisted strategy to torture or punish him, or test him in anyway. It had been a divine gift to reunite their essences for a bigger purpose.
He was so overwhelmed with emotion that he didn't noticed Esmeralda coming closer again, until she gently grabbed his arm. He looked at her, staring deeply into her eyes, and he wondered how on earth hadn't he seen from the start that she was the missing piece of his soul. But then he realized he had always known. He just didn't understood what he was feeling. But now he did. And he recognized her as more than just Esmeralda, the gypsy dancer that had turned his life upside down. He also saw her soul, her beautiful, intricate, luminous soul, which was just the other side of his own.
- I am yours. - he declared, surrendering all the last bits of his control and restraint.
- You are mine. - she repeated, with a seductive smile, shortening the distance between them. The sound of those words made her feel the most powerful woman to ever live. But there was nothing that she wished more than to share that power with the man in front of her. - And I am yours.
Frollo looked like he was about to spontaneously burst into flames. But before she could surrender herself to the burning desire that awaited her, there was one thing more she wanted to do.
- I recall you had something for me… - she whispered, throwing him a meaningful look.
Frollo immediately reached into his pocket and slowly took out his mother's ring.
- For I am yours, and you are mine. - he said, placing the ring on her finger.
- Forever. - she whispered, sealing their pact with a passionate kiss.