The situation did not look good at all. Madellaine rushed down one of the stark, dimly lit hallways of Notre Dame to the small kitchen where Sister Rosemary was prepping dinner. Both Sister Ethel and Sister Maria were chatting away as they continued chopping up leeks and salted beef for a makeshift stew. Madellaine burst through the door, startling the nuns as she heaved trying to catch her breath. She failed miserably as she managed to rasp out,
"Quasimodo- very sick, get a bucket of hot water...BLANKETS quickly! They're back!"
Sister Rosemary clasped a hand over her mouth as Sister Ethel scrambled at getting the items.
It was a relief they hadn't started dinner as they scooped out a bucket of hot water from the lare cauldron as the four of them rushed down towards the prayer hall where a small circle gathered around the convulsing bellringer.
Esmeralda had barely arrived due to the commotion as she almost crashed into Sister Rosemary, spilling hot water onto the tile.
"Move girl!"
Esmeralda jumped back before laying her eyes on Quasimodo, his lips an unnatural blue. The sound of deep baritone pulled her away from Quasimodo's grim image.
"-I t-told the fool to stop but he wouldn't l-listen. He continued plowing until I noticed he began sweating. He removed his shirt to alleviate the m-moisture, but was determined to help and clear the passage before it became worse. B-bloody imb-becile, it'll cost him his life."
Esmeralda glared at the Judge, however noting how difficult it was for Frollo to speak let alone stand up. He kept teetering uncertainly before the monks and nuns tried their hardest to lift Quasimodo and take him to the closest cell.
Madellaine followed closely behind as the nuns set to work, assisting with whatever she could. Between the frustrated sighs of Rosemary and Ethel she realized she was getting in the way. The nuns dunked the bell ringers large feet into the bucket of hot water, hoping to get some blood flowing once again to his ice cold flesh. Brother Giovani attempted to place a piece of cloth in Quasimodo's mouth to prevent him from biting off his tongue which painfully resulted in Giovani getting a large bite on his hand as he howled in pain.
The bellringer continued to shake but with the amount of blankets Maria wrapped around him, he seemed to regain some consciousness.
"M-master?" He barely whispered.
Sister Rosemary gently caressed the shaking bellringer.
"Shh, close your eyes lad, don't you worry about your Master. He's safe, we are all safe."
Madellaine couldn't tell if he understood or not but his aquamarine eyes drifted shut after a few moments. Little by little, both the monks and nuns trickled out of the cloister cell, leaving Madellaine in the room with a shivering Quasimodo, feeling out of place and utterly helpless. Madellaine slowly tiptoed out of the room, promising herself she'd check up on Quasimodo as frequently as she could. After having such a miserable evening the night before, the last thing he needed was to endure the chills alone.
Back in the prayer hall, Esmeralda finally found it in herself to approach the pompous bastard as with each passing moment, it seemed Claude Frollo would likely collapse on himself. She huffed as she neared the Judge.
"I highly doubt you're going to be fine Minister, you've been swaying this entire time."
Jasper eyes met emerald as he suddenly reached out towards Esmeralda's shoulder. He shivered, both from the cold and from the sudden contact of his icy hand on her warm flesh. She felt even more tantalizing knowing how incredibly toasty she felt compared to how practically waterlogged he was.
Esmeralda eyed him warily as she helped give him some stability wrapping an arm around his waist, and the other grasping his arm around her shoulder as she attempted to escort him back to his cloister. With barely a step taken, Claude Frollo stumbled. His eyes widened in realization as his voice came out in a chattery whisper.
"Esmeralda...I can't f-feel my feet."
Frollo barely had time to register the entirety of the situation due to the attention given to the bellringer. The Gypsy woman's emerald pools grew into saucers.
Finding some sort of inner strength, it took all of Esmeralda's power to guide Frollo back to his chambers. He was pretty thin, but heavy as all hell. She settled him on his cot as she began to remove his wet tunic. In any other circumstance, Frollo would have allowed her to do as she pleased. But in his current state and lack of any mental preparedness, he managed to grab a wrist.
"What d-do you think you're d-doing?" He seethed, a dark puce tainting his cheeks.
"I'm helping you, that's what. If you don't get rid of your clothes you could get worse. I've seen this before when I traveled near the Vosges. We can work our differences later, but now I really need you to cooperate." Esmeralda's eyes searched his until he finally met her gaze, giving her a curt nod.
Esmeralda peeled off his black tunic, not having time to marvel at his lithe muscles but rather gaping at the scars that littered his chest. Claude Frollo instantly looked away, furrowing his brows humiliated. The absolute audacity of the woman.
"If I recall, 'helping' t-typically doesn't involve b-blatant staring you insolent wen-girl!"
The bite in his voice released Esmeralda from her reverie as she grabbed a towel and dried him as best she could before wrapping him in a large blanket. Turning her head away, she quickly made work shimmying down his drenched trousers leaving him wrapped in a cocoon of blankets thoroughly concealed. She fled the room to retrieve a bucket of hot water before returning to assess the damage to his feet. Claude Frollo shivered upon her arrival back to his cell as she kneeled before him, wordlessly removing his soggy leather shoes.
Claude Frollo sighed.
"Just t-toss them in the bin, they're unsa-alvageable."
However Esmeralda was much too concerned over the swelling and unnatural reddish hue to his feet. Frollo looked down and grimaced.
"I s-should have g-gone and grabbed something more suitable, now I pay the p-price." He sighed heavily.
"It's a wonder you walked in the door in the first place! You're a fool to refuse help, but you're lucky." Esmeralda quipped.
"And why is that?" He quirked a brow.
"Because I'm going to help you."
Gingerly, the Gypsy placed his feet into the hot water as she began massaging them, attempting to get some more blood flow.
Frollo watched intently as her breasts bounced about merrily. However, despite such a mouthwatering view, he didn't find it quite as appealing to the fact she was actually helping him for the second time. Not only that, he couldn't see any treachery in the action, just genuine concern for him. He had warmed up considerably, and his shivering had mostly subsided. Watching her work away, he sighed.
"...Thank you...Esmeralda."
Esmeralda looked up surprised and met his eyes locking onto hers. Her breath hitched a bit at the intensity and the almost softness those slate eyes produced. She smiled briefly before getting back to work.
"...Um...do you feel anything?"
His gaze faltered. God, he could look at her all day.
"Hm, oh, no. Not really. But -uh, I believe it's best for you not to tire yourself…"
Esmeralda chuckled. "Hmm, I guess so. Here-" she placed a monk's habit onto the bed. "It's not quite what you would wear but, I believe it'll do." Causing a deep chuckle from Claude.
"I am well acquainted with monk habits actually."
"Oh?"
Claude Frollo rolled his eyes offering a bitter smile. "I attended the College of Torchi as a boy… My father believed a monk would be the best route to take", he sighed. "And so I attended, at about 8 years of age. I wore the traditional tonsure and I thrived there...It is also where I met Brother Giovani, regrettably, though he'd be more than happy to tell you my reason for departure."
Esmeralda laughed out loud, rousing Claude, causing him to hug the sheets closer to his body.
"You know, for once you've truly surprised me, I just might have to ask Giovani after all!" A wicked smile flashed across her face as she headed to the door.
Claude glowered a bit though he couldn't suppress the crooked grin that graced his face.
"Oh and Claude, I'll be back for supper. Is that alright?" Her emerald eyes looked at him inquisitively.
"Yes, that will suffice, thank you…"
"Wow, two 'thank you's' in less than an hour, are you sure you're the Claude Frollo Minister of Justice?" She chuckled as she sauntered out leaving Frollo once again speechless...and horny.
On the other side of the church, Madellaine prepared herself to enter back into the hunchback's cell. She gingerly knocked, before berating herself that he was still probably knocked out. A cheery 'Come in!' came from the other side.
Madellaine opened the door only to see Brother Giovani rubbing Quasimodo's legs and replacing the water for his feet. A tinge of color graced the bellringers face but nothing too drastic from his shivering state. The monk suddenly turned his attention to the blonde.
"Ah! You must be the other 'prisoner'. Claude does have a way with women. A very strange way indeed, I wasn't aware he liked blondes."
Madellaine looked baffled. "W-what? No...no I came here to claim sanctuary-on my own! I don't even know him...well I know of him, I just don't...never mind."
A pink blush graced her face embarrassedly.
"Don't worry lass, I got the gist of your rambling. Now, were you sent here by the nuns? Perhaps you can be of use."
Madellaine quickly nodded, anything she could do to help him she would offer. It was the least she could do after their painfully awkward introduction, regardless if he forgave her or not.
"I am almost finished but it seems he's stabilized. If you could place a hot towel over his eyes, and check him in about an hour I think he should soon recover.. He's cold to the touch, but the more warmth we can provide the better. I'm heading towards to kitchens, stay clear of Claude Frollo, although he can barely walk which may be easier than anticipated."
Her second warning to stay away from the Judge, 'He must be something else', she mused to herself. Giovani soon left leaving Madellaine alone with Quasimodo once more. This time she found the courage to sit next to him, adjusting the pillows behind him. Looking at his face she noticed his lips were no longer blue. She suddenly jumped back a bit when his eyes fluttered open. His teeth chattering incessantly.
"E-e-esmeralda?"
Madellaine's blue eyes rounded.
"Uh, no, not even close."
A/N: Oh lord! I'm so sorry for the long wait! I'd like to thank everyone that's been persistent and sending me messages to update! It's been a really hectic year and I think it's finally settled down. I've also hit one year since I've uploaded too! Happy Anniversary! I wanted to update on the exact date, but I never got around to finishing the chapter on time. I know it doesn't seem like much but it's a process, believe me.
Quick shout out to all the Guest Reviews that encouraged me to continue and update, specifically to the person ChicRockerGeek! Thanks so much! Also fellow Slytherin here! (hiss hiss!)
Like I wrote on my profile: I haven't abandoned this or considered too, life just got in the way. Hopefully you won't wait half a year next time as I got some funny shenanigans in store. Thanks again!
~owleyes