SOUL ALCHEMY. PART 3.
(Chapter 43 ; The Summon)
- Your Honor! - a weak, scratchy voice called.
Judge Frollo turned around impatiently. The daily hearing for the common people of Paris had run longer than he expected, and he was eager to get to the dining room already. Also, it was a Wednesday, the day he usually had lunch with Quasimodo. After years of doing so, this was the first Wednesday that he would miss their appointment, not for work or health reasons, but because he was no longer welcomed there. Since he had realized that, upon waking up that morning, he had been feeling a heavy weight on his stomach, and couldn't wait to meet Esmeralda and light up his mood a little.
But when Frollo saw who was calling him, his expression softened a little. It was an old woman whose case he had just solved. Her husband had died all of a sudden, leaving her with almost nothing. However, there were two brothers to whom he had lent some money in the past, and they hadn't paid him back by the time of his death, and now they refused to pay his widow. Frollo had made sure the debt was repaid, and scolded the two men for their lack of honor. He had also decreed that they should provide at least one hot meal a week for the old widow, given how much time they had taken to pay back the money. The brothers had agreed to it, glad that they weren't forced to pay any interests. A hot meal a week was nothing in comparison, but it guaranteed that the widow was attended regularly.
- What is the matter? - he asked gently, as the old woman approached him slowly.
- I wanted to thank you. - the woman said, in a low, tired tone.
- I'm just fulfilling my duty, madame. - Frollo replied with a single nod, preparing to leave.
- It was more than that. - she refuted, shaking her head softly.
Frollo looked at her again, intrigued. It was rare to commoners to approach him like that, with such confidence, and let alone talk back to him.
- I didn't think you would even listen to an old widow's case like mine. My best hopes were that you would get them to repay my husband's loan. But you also made sure that I don't starve to death, which was none of your business.
Frollo was speechless, not sure what the woman wanted from him, or what she was trying to prove. He felt shocked at the colloquial language she was using, though her tone was respectful.
The woman raised her head to look him in the eye. Her curved spine made the height difference between them even bigger. She scrutinized his face, as if she was evaluating whether she should say her next words or not. Frollo felt stupid when he realized he was holding his breath, nervous, as if he was passing some kind of test. Finally, the woman spoke again.
- I had never seen you before, not like this. - she explained, lowering her tone as if she was making a confession. - I saw you in mass, and sometimes on the streets… but this is my first time near the palace. I don't go out much, you see. - she clarified. - But my husband used to say you were the cruelest man in Paris. He was terrified of you, and so was I, for I trusted his word.
Frollo felt his throat tightening in an uncomfortable knot of embarrassment.
- He was friends with the miller too.- she continued, narrowing her eyes as she noticed his discomfort. The judge stiffened. He wasn't used to being the one judged, and he for sure wasn't liking any of it. - When you burned the mill he comanded me to stay clear of any gypsies, so we would never have to deal with you.
- I really should get going. - Frollo interrupted her, anxious to get out of her reach.
But the woman continued as if she hadn't heard him.
- So you can imagine my dread when I decided to come in today to present my case. My fear was only overcome by my desperation.
- Well, it is solved now, so you can go home reassured. - Frollo nodded again, with a tense smile, dying to end the conversation already.
- You proved my Gellert wrong. - the woman said then, reaching for Frollo's arm and grabbing his wrist firmly. The man flinched at her sudden contact, and stared at her astonished. - I don't know many things, but I know this. What I saw today was definitely not a cruel man. It was kindness. Gellert was a smart man, God bless him, but he was wrong about you. And today, I am grateful for that. - she stated, patting Frollo's wrist warmly.
The judge stood still as the woman slowly walked away. The repetitive sound of her cane reverberated on the empty Palace hall, as her crooked silhouette moved towards the open door. When the guards closed the door behind her, and the hall was once again dark, Frollo remained on his spot, blinking stunned.
- I'm starving, you know? - Esmeralda's voice broke the silence, as she emerged from the dining room door, where she had been waiting for him for a while now.
However, she immediately noticed the awkwardness in Frollo's face.
- Did you see a ghost? - she asked jokingly.
- Sort of. - Frollo murmured, getting out of his trance.
- What happened? - Esmeralda asked, intrigued.
- Hmm... I'm not sure. This woman just came and… - his sentence was interrupted by a knock on the door. Frollo turned towards it, wondering if the old lady had forgotten to say something else.
But when the guards opened the door, the silhouette standing in the light was a different one.
- Good afternoon, Minister. - a young man greeted him with a small bow.
- Good afternoon. - Frollo responded, puzzled by the sequence of unexpected events.
- I come in behalf of Our Majesty, the King. I'm here to deliver a message.
- What is it? - the judge asked cautiously.
- He is requesting your honor's presence at his royal palace on Sunday.
- What? - Frollo exclaimed with disbelief. - Sunday? That's five days from now. I would have to leave immediately to get there on time.
- That's what Our Majesty expected you to do. - the messenger confirmed.
- Did he say why? Is there any urgent matter he needs my assistance with?
- He didn't say, your honor. - the man replied calmly. - He just wanted to make sure you would accept his invitation.
- Sounds more like a summoning to me. - Frollo protested, frowning.
The messenger remained silent, as he had already delivered all his information.
- Alright - Frollo yielded reluctantly, visibly annoyed.- I will get my things ready and leave with you after lunch.
- No, sir. I must continue my journey north. There are more messages I'm expected to deliver. - the messenger replied, and with another bow, he disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.
- What's going on? - Esmeralda inquired, reminding Frollo of her presence behind him.
- I don't know. - the judge responded, concerned. - Usually the King's invitations come with a much wider margin to prepare a journey there. He knows I can't just leave my position without further notice.
- Maybe it's urgent, as you said. - she tried to soothe his worry. - That doesn't mean it's bad news. Maybe you're the only one he trusts to help him. You told me he had a great esteem for you, right?
- Right. At least, he did. - Frollo pointed out, darkly.
- What do you mean?
- I'm sensing Lefebvre's hand in all this. - he confessed.
- Lefebvre. - Esmeralda repeated, frowning as well. She had forgotten all about the emissary ever since he had left Paris. She had had much more important things to think about for the past two weeks. - Well, he's got nothing on you, remember? We convinced him pretty well.
- Did we? - Frollo replied, as he felt a growing anxiety in his stomach.
- Yes! And I'm sure we'll convince the king as well. - Esmeralda reassured him.
- We? - the judge repeated, surprised.
- Well… of course! I'm coming with you. Isn't it obvious? - she said, slightly irritated.
- But that's not… I mean… You can't! - Frollo mumbled, shaking his head.
- Why the hell not? - Esmeralda protested.
- Why the hell not, is one of the reasons. - he repeated, throwing her a meaningful look.
- Come on, we've been through this. I will behave in perfect politeness, your honor. - she replied, with a mocking bow.
- It's not the only reason. - Frollo said, ignoring her teasing. - The palace is five days away by horse. If you were to come, we would need the carriage and that would slow us down.
- Then, I'll ride a horse too. - she resolved without second thought.
- You can't ride a horse. - Frollo pointed out, lifting his eyebrows.
- I can learn. - she stated, crossing her arms.
- Not in an hour. - the judge replied with a sigh of exasperation.
- Fine! Then I'll ride with you. I bet Snowball can take us both. - she said, purposefully stinging Frollo's ego about his powerful animal.
- Of course he can. - Frollo took the bait. - But are you sure you're willing to share a ride for so many hours, for five days? It's not a comfortable armchair, you know? - he asked her skeptically.
- Hmm… - Esmeralda hummed, thoughtful.
Then, without previous notice, she grabbed his hands and pulled from him, turning around so her back would be against his chest. She wrapped herself in his arms, placing his hands on her waist, and mischievously pressing her bottom against his hips. Frollo gasped loudly at her sudden proximity.
- Hmm… -she hummed again, laying her head back, exposing her neck and cleavage to his eyes above. - Yes, you're right, maybe it wouldn't be comfortable for you, having to hold me like this for hours… - she teased him with a devilish grin.
Frollo mumbled inaudibly, all his attention suddenly focused on her curves.
Esmeralda laughed, and she moved away from him to face him again.
- I don't mind how uncomfortable it gets, Claude! I've lived in the streets for God's sake. I'm coming with you. - she changed her tone to a more serious, firm one. - Also, if you're right and this is Lefebvre's doing, wouldn't it look suspicious if you left your diplomatic agent behind? If I come, it will give us a better chance to convince the King that we're working together.
- Hmm… I suppose you're right. - Frollo agreed, still struggling to concentrate after the sudden wave of heat that she had awakened within him.
- So that's it! - she celebrated happily, before he could regret his words. - Let's eat something and be on our way.
They ate quickly, pondering out loud what the King could want from Frollo. The judge was pessimistic by nature, but Esmeralda kept throwing optimism his way. She was excited by the journey, for it was her first real chance at seeing the world, which she had always wanted to do. Also, the emissary's depictions of the Royal palace and its gatherings had fascinated her, and she was eager to see them with her own eyes.
- We'll take two horses. - Frollo announced, finishing his glass of wine.
- But you said it yourself, I can't… - Esmeralda hesitated, feeling embarrassed.
- Maybe I can teach you on the way. It's not so hard, you know? You will only be riding it, no extra skills needed.
- But what if I fall? - she asked fearful.
- I won't let that happen. We'll take my best mare, she's very meek. I'm sure she will like you.
- Alright. - she agreed at last, though she was still restless about it.
- Gather your things, and meet me at the courtyard. - Frollo instructed.
- What should I bring? - Esmeralda asked, suddenly worried. - How long will we be there?
- I don't know. - Frollo answered, absently. - This is all so sudden, I have no clue for how long the King will request our presence. But don't take much. We'll carry it on the other horse while you're not riding it.
Esmeralda nodded, and rushed upstairs to prepare her things.
Meanwhile, Frollo instructed his captain of the guard, who had already filled in for him successfully when he had been sick, to take care of his urgent business until he returned.
As he gathered his most solemn robes from his chamber, he found himself feeling glad that he had gotten to hear the old widow's case before leaving, so she could be tended during his absence. This foreign thought surprised him, for he usually forgot the commoners issues as soon as he got out of the court room. But her warm, grateful words had left an impact on him. This had been the first time in all his career in which someone had thanked him from the heart, and not because of fear or due respect. For a moment, it had reminded him of why he had been interested in being a judge in the first place. To be able to make a difference, to bring rightful justice to people's lives.
He felt as if life was giving him a second chance. Now that his worst sins had been let out in the open, maybe he could begin to leave his past behind, and focus towards a better future, with Esmeralda by his side. That perspective was certainly pleasant. This matter with the King now was the only thing that stood in his way between that past and future. But once they came back, whenever that was, he would resume his duties and he would try to reconnect with the people in his city. Who knows, maybe the old widow had been the first of many to change their minds about him.
If only fate wasn't about to rip that chance from his hands forever.
A/N: Thus beginning the third and last part of this story... ;) Originally, I never intended it to be so long hahah But I just got deep into it, and now I feel it deserves a proper ending.
I once again want to thank you for your reviews, they are very encouraging! Feel free to keep them coming, I will appreciate it! And I hope you enjoy reading this last part at least half of what I'm enjoying writing it ;P Thank you! :)