- Are you okay? - Frollo asked with a scratchy voice, but he didn't look at her. His eyes were fixed on Lefebvre's body, though he didn't seem to be seeing it either.
- Yes. - Esmeralda whispered, almost inaudibly.
She moved carefully to get up from the bed without touching the minister's legs. Her body was sore from the fight, now that the adrenaline was slowly decreasing inside her veins. Her hands were shaking, and she felt like she was about to pass out. She grabbed the bed post to support herself and prevent her knees from bending.
- Claude… - she called, but Frollo wasn't moving.
He was obviously in shock. His hand was still holding the dagger so tight that his knuckles were white. His face looked gray, and he was so still that he looked as if he had turned to stone.
- Claude. - she insisted, a little louder. Though she was still shocked herself, she was starting to understand what had just happened. And she knew they couldn't stay there much longer.
- I killed him. - Frollo stated, with a tone totally devoid of emotion.
- You saved me. - Esmeralda replied, reaching for his arm.
When her palm touched his robe, he finally reacted. He looked at her, and his hand let go of the dagger, which fell to the ground with a metallic sound.
- You are okay? - he asked again, in disbelief.
- I am. - she assured, watching his face contorting in a gesture of sorrow. - I am.
Frollo threw his arms around her and pressed her against his chest. She was suddenly blinded by his dark clothes all around her, as her face sunk into the folds of his robe. Her body was still involuntarily defensive to touch, but once she inhaled deeply and Frollo's smell filled her lungs for the first time in a month, she broke down crying. She stood there, shaking violently, as Frollo held her with all his strength, though his arms were also trembling.
He had killed many men before. But never like this. There had always been an execution, or at least a fight, some kind of battle, or duel.
But Lefebvre hadn't even seen him coming. He had just stabbed him in the back, using his knowledge on human anatomy to go right through his heart at the first and only try.
It had been plain murder. But what else was he supposed to do? If he had tried to stop him any other way, maybe Lefebvre would have had time to call for help, warn his soldiers, or hurt Esmeralda. The minute he realized what the minister was doing, he acted on instinct.
But now the Minister of Justice was dead and he was a murderer. There was no going back. And even worse… there was no way to prove what had happened, that he was trying to defend her. There were no other witnesses, and no one would believe them.
- Esmeralda, we need to go. - he urged her, gently grabbing her shoulders.
- Where? - she asked, her cheeks still wet with tears, that were washing down the blood in her face and neck. She looked at the door, wondering what the best way out would be. And then she noticed something. Something obvious; the door was open. - Wait. How did you get in? - she asked, puzzled. - The door was locked!
- I kept a master key of the Palace when I handed Lefebvre the Minister stuff. I thought it might be useful. - Frollo explained, grateful to his past self for his precautions.
- But how did you know I was here? - she inquired.
Frollo hesitated for a second, his expression suddenly became darker, and he looked away.
- I… I waited for you. At the stables.
- I'm so sorry! I got caught up with Gaspard and then the guard wouldn't fall asleep and then…
- I figured. - Frollo interrupted her.
- But? - she asked, sensing the information he was trying to keep from her.
- But eventually I decided to leave.
- Well, of course you did! You weren't going to stay up all night, I imagined you would be going to bed at some… wait. - she paused, when she saw his face. - When you say leave… You don't mean just leaving the stables do you?
- No. - Frollo confirmed with a low tone. - I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't know… I'm sorry.
- But you didn't. Leave. - she replied, staring into his eyes looking for answers. - Why?
- It's hard to explain. I had made my decision… I waited 'til midnight, when the bells rang. And just when I was about to get on Snowball's saddle, I… I felt something.
- What?
- I heard you, Esmeralda… not with my ears, but … inside. - he took his palm to his chest, his eyes low with embarrassment. - And I didn't hear a word, it was more as if you were silently saying my name... Reminding me that we are one. It was just an instant but it stopped me on my tracks. And the moment I decided to trust it, a wave of paralyzing fear crashed over me and I knew you were in trouble.
- Oh God...- she whispered, covering her mouth.
- I just knew where to find you. And when I saw the door locked I knew you were inside. Then… Then I heard you for real. - he said, and his voice cracked at the end of the sentence.
- And you saved me. - she intervened, trying to remind him that his actions had been justified.
Frollo shook his head, not very convinced.
- He deserved it, Claude! You know what he would have done if you hadn't come in!
- Don't… don't say it, please. - he begged her. - I can't even… What if I hadn't…
- You did. - she stated firmly. - But now we have to go, before…
- Someone finds you? - a dark voice said from the door.
Frollo instinctively hid Esmeralda behind his back, though it was evident from Gérard Lefebvre's position that he had been there for a while, for he was leaning against the door. He seemed unnaturally relaxed for someone who has just walked in on his murdered brother.
- It was me. - Frollo declared immediately, trying to protect Esmeralda, but she quickly released herself from his arm.
- Your brother was a monster! He attacked me! Frollo was just trying to defend…
- I don't care. - the Captain interrupted her coldly.
She looked at Frollo, unsure of what that meant.
Lefebvre walked slowly towards them, looking intermittently at the dead body on the bed and the two figures standing beside it.
- I knew you were lying. - he told Esmeralda, with a head gesture that indicated their previous encounter. - But I didn't think you'd be stupid enough to reveal the true place of your planned encounter. I guess I overestimated you. - he said with a shrug.
Esmeralda bit her lip, fighting the urge to respond.
- So I decided to check the judge's chambers downstairs… And surprisingly enough, he wasn't there. I checked the other Palace guest chambers, but they were also empty.
- Did you hear me? - Esmeralda asked out of the blue.
- What?
- You were inside the Palace. Everyone else is sleeping, but you were awake. Did you hear me? Screaming? - she asked, and her tone was filled with accusation and fury.
- Whatever my brother and his fiancee do in their privacy is none of my business.
- You bastard! - Esmeralda yelled, her eyes tearing up again with rage, and taking a step towards Lefebvre. But Frollo reacted quickly and he grabbed her arm. Fighting him now would only make things worse.
- I don't see the problem, gypsy. - Gérard commented, pointing to Frollo. - You got your knight in shining armor after all, to save you from the big bad wolf.
She would have replied but the lightness in which Lefebvre was talking about the murdering of his brother made her realize it was useless. The man didn't care at all. At least his now dead brother, as much as he was a monster, had shown signs of feelings, of emotion. But the Captain was different. There was something really wrong with him.
- So you're aware it was self-defense. - Frollo intervened, trying to use Gérard's admission of hearing her as a defense argument.
- As I said before… I don't care. - Lefebvre repeated.
- How can you not care? - Esmeralda whispered, in disbelief.
- Dead is dead. - the man answered simply. - You murdered the Minister of Justice. You stabbed him in the back, in the privacy of his own bed at night. There's not much to discuss here, is there?
- So what now? - Frollo asked cautiously.
- Well, in the unfortunate absence of the former Minister, the job goes temporarily to his Captain of the guard.
- Isn't that unfortunate. - Esmeralda muttered sarcastically with a hateful look.
- I personally don't see the need in engaging in long, complicated trials when the evidence is so overwhelming. - Gérard continued, with his lips curving in a subtle, but blood-curdling smile.
- The King will want a trial. - Frollo replied, trying to sound confident to hide the desperation in his voice.
- Maybe he will. But by the time he hears about this, four or five days from now… You will already be dead. - he explained, and he did so with such calm and certainty that both Frollo and Esmeralda realized there was no possible argument. This was not a man they could negotiate with, or persuade, or even beg for mercy. His mind was made, and he visibly took pleasure in pronouncing his next words. - As the new Minister of Justice, I now hold the authority to sentence you to death. Say your goodbyes. You will both die at the pyre tomorrow.
.
When Gaspard Lefebvre had been named the new Minister of Justice, and in turn, he had named his brother the Captain of the Guard, the former captain had been degraded to just a regular soldier. However, the rest of the soldiers still treated him with special respect and obedience, for he had been a good, just leader for them for the short time he had held that position.
For the same reason, he respected Frollo even if the judge was no longer the Minister, meaning he owed him no obedience. Frollo had trusted him twice when he was unable to fulfill his duties as Minister, and the soldier appreciated his trust in giving him that opportunity.
That's why he was so disappointed when one of his soldiers woke him up in the middle of the night, informing him that the new Captain requested his presence in the dungeons, only to find out that it was Frollo who was being held captive.
- What happened?- he inquired, raising an eyebrow towards Lefebvre.
- The judge and his accomplice just murdered the Minister of Justice. - Gérard said plainly.
- What? - the soldier asked in disbelief. He knew Frollo enough to know there had to be more to the story.
- Are you deaf? - Lefebvre asked irritated. - They have confessed to the murder of my brother. I myself saw the corpse and the murder weapon. He's still upstairs if you take me for a liar. - he said, menacingly.
- No, of course I don't, forgive me Captain. - the soldier responded, lowering his gaze to the ground in a submissive manner.
- They will be executed for treason to the crown tomorrow at sunset.
- Hanged? - he asked tentatively, knowing that was the established punishment for treason.
- Burned at the stake. - Gérard informed, and the soldier could clearly perceive certain pleasure hidden in his words. He had by now noticed Lefebvre's fondness for cruelty, but delighting himself in the execution of two prisoners who were still present right there was sickening. - Anyway, I want you to guard their cells until then. Do it personally. I don't want any other stupid soldiers failing on their duties. - he stated harshly, referring to the young guard Esmeralda had managed to drug.
- Yes, Captain. - the soldier nodded.
- Good. - Lefebvre also nodded, and he walked to the stairs without giving his prisoners one single glance.
There was a moment of thick silence.
The former captain looked at Frollo, hesitant. He didn't like the idea of locking him up, but if Lefebvre was right, he was a murderer.
- It's alright. - Frollo said, before he could ponder any longer. - You must fulfill your duty. I won't hold it against you. - he comforted him.
Esmeralda looked at him, astonished. Who was this calm, comforting man standing beside her?
- Sir… I'm sorry. - the soldier said, embarrassed, as he got closer to them, taking out the cell keys from his pocket.
- However… if there is still some trace of respect for me left in you… - Frollo said carefully. - Or at least, if you can find it in your heart to show some mercy for a dying man… I must ask something of you.
The soldier stared at him, intrigued. He didn't know if he could trust them. What if they were trying to trick him, like they had done with the other guard? What if they were still armed?
But the look on Frollo's face was genuine. And, even though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he was secretly glad that Gaspard Lefebvre was gone. He had always liked Frollo better.
- What is it? - he asked, hesitant.
- Please… - Frollo pleaded, taking a step forward. The guard immediately reacted defensively, reaching for his sword, but Frollo quickly raised his palms in a pacifying gesture. - Allow us to be on the same cell. - he said, pointing to Esmeralda.- I committed a crime and I know I must pay for it. But she didn't do anything wrong. If she's to die because of me tomorrow, at least let me spend the last hours of our lives trying to make up for it.
The soldier watched bewildered how the cold, aloof judge's eyes were bright with tears. The shock of seeing him so vulnerable, so human, was so intense that he didn't have to think about it.
- Of course. - he murmured, still baffled. - I will make sure no one comes down here and watch the dungeon door myself.
- God bless you. - Frollo said, closing his eyes and slowly shaking his head.
- But I must… - the soldier hesitated again.
- Yes. Yes. Go ahead. - Frollo agreed, getting out of the way so the soldier could open the cell door. Though it wasn't protocol, he also gave them a torch so they would be able to see each other in the darkness of the cell once the door was closed and locked.
- Thank you. - Esmeralda said warmly, which only made the soldier feel more guilty.
- Again, I'm so sorry… - he apologized, and he closed the door, turning the key in the lock.
They heard his footsteps walking away, and soon there was a dense silence, where only the sound of water drops falling from the humid ceiling was heard. Esmeralda couldn't help recalling her first night there. The darkness, the humidity, the smell… everything was exactly the same, but also everything had changed. She smiled sadly in the dark. The story had begun that night at the cell… and now, in a beautifully ironic turn of events, it would end the same way.