The King's palace was bigger than she had ever expected.
In comparison, the palace of Justice in Paris looked like on of the humble inns they had been staying at during the journey. She stared in awe at the beautiful white majestic walls, the tall windows with stained glass like those of Notre Dame.
The huge doors opened as they approached the main entrance. Soldiers from the King's guard promptly formed two rows to escort them as they rode inside, through the entrance hall into the big courtyard, where the stable workers were already awaiting them.
Esmeralda's mouth was dry as she looked up to the ceiling of the passage, which was painted with beautiful scenes. The walls were home to human size sculptures of previous monarchs, kings and their queens, that observed them silently. She began to fear how she would manage to fit in enough to not raise suspicions. Maybe Frollo was right… maybe she shouldn't have come in the first place. But it was too late now for those kinds of considerations, so she raised her chin up and prepared herself to face whatever came her way.
By her side, Frollo looked much more like he belonged there. His expression was calm and sober, though it was only a mask. She knew him well enough to see the restlessness in which his fingers clenched at Snowball's reins, whitening his knuckles.
However, when they arrived at the courtyard, his scrutinizing eyes filled with horror. Esmeralda followed his gaze, wondering what could possibly had caused such reaction. She looked at the several faces of palace servants and soldiers that stood in the courtyard, all of them apparently expectant but nothing seemed odd… Until she recognized one of the faces.
His blonde hair had been cut short, and his beard was shaved, so it took her a second to figure out where had she seen him before. The Sun god displayed a cruel, vengeful smile as he patiently waited for her reaction. He wanted to make sure she had recognized him before his next move.
When her mouth opened with disbelief, Phoebus knew his time had come. With a swift move, he reached behind his golden armor, under the blue cape, and took out a loaded crossbow.
- I believe I still owed you this! - he proclaimed, and without hesitation he shoot.
The arrow traveled faster in the air than Esmeralda's scream. By the time she heard her own gut-wrenching voice, Frollo's body had already dropped dead by her side.
.
- I can't believe it! - the older woman exclaimed out loud, throwing a meaningful glance to her sister. - Again?
Her sister shrugged, as she continued to knead the bread for the day. She was single, so she wouldn't know why her sister found it so outrageous.
- Are you jealous? - she inquired casually, with a crooked smile.
- Jealous? - the woman repeated, scandalized. - Of course not! I am a married woman and I'm perfectly satisfied with my duties as such… But this is sinful!
- She was wearing a ring on her finger last night. - her sister pointed out, as she introduced the bread into the oven for baking.
- It doesn't matter… that amount of screaming, that can't come from something christian! - the woman replied, shaking her head vigorously, as she removed the kettle from the fire.
- Sounds like jealous to me. - her sister murmured with a chuckle.
- Not if that was it. - the woman replied, giving in with a mischievous smile, pointing to the ceiling and listening to the restored silence.
A few minutes later, the strange couple entered the dining room. The tall, elegant man, seemed to be in a much better mood than the night before, though her dark-haired companion looked grim, and her eyes were reddened.
- I guess they'll be needing a full breakfast. - the younger sister commented in a meaningful tone.
The inn keeper hit her ribs with her elbow, in an attempt to shut her mouth so their customers wouldn't hear.
- What can I get you? - she asked instead, coming closer to the table by the window where they had chosen to sit.
- Please, give us some of everything you have prepared. - the man asked politely, curious about the quiet chuckle that he heard behind the counter.
- Yes, Sir, right away. - the woman nodded, and rushed inside the kitchen, throwing her sister a killing glance.
She prepared two plates with some scrambled eggs, sausages and toasted bread, and two large cups of steaming tea she had just brewed. When she came back to their table, she noticed the way in which the man was holding the woman's hand, in such a tender and reassuring way.
- It was just a nightmare. - she overheard him say. - Once you eat you will feel better. - he added, pointing towards her as she approached them with the food.
The young woman smiled at her with gratitude, though her eyes were still wet.
- What is wrong with her? - her sister asked, once she was back behind the counter.
- I don't know! - the inn keeper replied, lowering her tone. - I'm not a gossip, and neither should you be!
- Come on! Who would be so sad after such a passionate night? - her sister insisted, raising her eyebrows.
- I told you, it was sinful. Apparently God punished her with nightmares after that. That must have been why she was screaming earlier - the woman responded, quickly discarding all her intentions of discretion.
- Well, I wouldn't mind a nightmare of two if I could…
- Shut up! Go back to your bread – the inn keeper hushed her, covering her ears, and turning her back at her sister.
However, when an hour later she saw the weird couple on the front door, securing their luggage on their horses backs and smiling at each other, she couldn't help but to pause and look through the window. There was something about them, about the way they looked at each other, that made her secretly admit, if only to herself, that she was indeed... jealous.
- The King would never allow that. - Frollo stated for the third time, as their horses hooves raised some dust from the rustic path.
- You promise? - Esmeralda asked, still not convinced.
- I swear. That's not how things are done in court. - the judge insisted. - Even if there is a problem, there would be a fair trial awaiting us, not just some random soldier executing a sentence we didn't even hear!
Esmeralda nodded absently, glad that she had fought the urge to tell him that the random soldier in her nightmare wasn't actually so, but his former Captain of the guard, and her former love interest. She had thought it was an unnecessary detail and that it would only worry him now that he was finally looking more optimistic. However, her stomach was still wrenched with the secret fear of finding out that Phoebus was indeed waiting for them at the Palace, for some unknown cruel joke of destiny.
On the other hand, Frollo was feeling better than he had since they left Paris. Yes, the King was only a few hours away, but it was a beautiful morning, and most importantly, Esmeralda and him had solved their differences… and how had they solved them. With humor, he reminded himself that moments before she had entered the room last night, he had been praying for release… and release was exactly what they had both achieved… multiple times.
- Why are you so happy? - Esmeralda inquired, watching the involuntary smile showing up in his face.
- I'm just reminiscing. - he replied with a proud tone.
She couldn't help to smile back, despite her worries were still nudging at the back of her mind.
- I'm glad you liked at least one of my ideas these days. - she pointed out, acidly.
Frollo looked at her, unsure if she was trying to bring something up again, but the look on her face was of complicity, so he relaxed.
- Speaking of which… - he remembered, after a couple seconds. - Once we arrive at the top of the mount we will become visible from the palace. I don't think anyone will be vigilant from such a distance but still…
- I will change. - she quickly reassured him.- I have my clean dress right here in my bag. And I will sit like a proper lady, sideways on my mare. - she promised, though her tone barely concealed her mockery.
- Thank you. - he responded with a gentle nod.
An hour later they were at the top, and the palace became visible for them. They stopped their horses and descended to stretch their limbs. Esmeralda found some high bushes, and she hid among them for her change of clothes.
- Ta-daaa! - she announced theatrically, when she emerged in her blue dress.
- Wow! - Frollo pretended to be surprised. - Who are you and what have you done with the young lad that was accompanying me?
- You idiot! - she scolded him, hitting his arm as she laughed. - I told you you could trust me to behave and dress properly!
- You did. - he nodded, putting his arms around her. - You know everyone is going to fall in love with you, right? - he asked, and though he intended to sound light and humorous, his voice revealed true concern.
- That's their problem. - she affirmed plainly. - Listen to me… You can untie the rope from my hands, but no one will ever untie me from you. I belong with you. And you belong with me. Are we clear?
- Crystal. - he confirmed, and leaned on to kiss her. He was surprised by the sudden desperation of her mouth. - Hey...- he murmured, pulling away.
- And if someone even attempts to hurt you I will kill them. - Esmeralda added, with a dark dormant fury in her eyes.
Frollo laughed nervously, flattered but also worried about her unpredictable temper.
- Let's hope it doesn't come to that.
- Are you ready? - Frollo asked in a quiet tone once they arrived close enough.
They were still among the trees, and in front of them there was a plain field where a few soldier tents stood. Probably they were the ones in charge of guarding the palace during the nighttime. Though Frollo was sure they had already spotted them coming for a while now, the doors remained still closed, and there was no sign of life from inside the building.
Esmeralda did her best to appear confident as she nodded firmly. Frollo cleared his throat, concerned.
- Remember…
- Yes, never speak to him directly unless he speaks to me, bow every time, got it. - she repeated the instructions he had given beforehand.
- Very well. - Frollo encouraged her.
- Let's go. We don't wanna be late. - she urged him, anxious to get moving.
She was in no hurry to get to the palace and leave their safe privacy behind… But she didn't want him to look at her any second longer.
She was afraid he might discover her increasing anguish, as she realized that the palace she had never visited before looked exactly as the one from her dream.