Oh my, I am a horrible person. I am so sorry it took me this long to update. I hope I haven't lost any readers. And after I was getting a few more too! I guess that's what I deserve. I must also apoligize for this somewhat dull chapter. But the next one will be great! I promise. Gringoire is in this one though!...briefly... hides For anyone who cares, I am gonna just updates on my author page thingy that will have me checking in and putting up the progress of the next chapters and possible estimated dates of publishing. I wanna speed this story up before I loose readers and I loose interest (thats happens...)
"Celeste, Celeste dear wake up." Celeste groaned in her sleep in turned on her side. "What has gotten into you? The day will laugh at you, now get up you have to go to the well for me today." Her mother said then left the room. Celeste slowly sat up groaning again. The sun blinded her for a moment and she threw her hand in from of her eyes still not awake enough to comprehend it was morning.
"Celeste!" A higher pitched voice screamed happily. Into the room came running little Ninette, her ebony curls bouncing up and down. She pounced onto Celeste's bed which startled her. "Its late sis. Are you feeling well?" The little girl asked, concern in her glistening green eyes. It always made Celeste smile.
"I'm fine Ninette. Rough night sleeping." She responded patting her little sister's head. She was finally becoming aware of her surroundings and her memory returned to her.
"I helped make breakfast! Hurry and come down before it gets cold."
"That sounds wonderful Ninette. I'll be down in a moment."
"Hurry slow poke!" Her sister said as she dashed out the room. Celeste smile still had not faded. She glanced outside. It was a cloudless winter day and the sun was shinning brightly. Hard to believe after the cold foggy night. Looking down Celeste saw the old brown cloak sticking out of he mattress where she had hidden it. Seeing it gave her mixed feelings. She felt strange having the property of the beggar in her home, under her bed. Almost like betrayal. But also she felt indebted to him. Which only reminded her of his words, "I hate you just as much as you hate me." Hearing this Celeste felt a new found respect for Clopin, and thought maybe it wouldn't hurt to start using his name.
After eating her breakfast Celeste grabbed her cloak and headed out with a bucket to the well. The town was rather lively that day. Celeste still felt rather tired and was staring off as she stood in line at the well. She was aroused when she heard cheerful music near by. Looking up she saw a gypsy band that was drawing a small crowd. The music reminded her of Clopin. The image of him in the moonlight with that all knowing smile and the calming smell of incense came to her mind. The image drew a smile to her lips. But then she gasped. The thought of Clopin made her smile, and she couldn't understand why.
"For the final time, I said no!" The voice of an irritated Gringoire met her hears and she turned in the direction it came from.
"Just one interpretation and analysis. Come on Pierre, for a friend please." Jehan was trailing behind him begging.
"No beggar is a friend of mine."
"I find little truth in that statement." Celeste smirked. Gringoire at first was surprised to see her but then laugh.
"Well what I mean to say is, selfish beggars like this slacker who is trying to get me to do his university work."
"But there is a celebration occurring tonight at Apple of Eve's pub that I will regret missing and this assignment is due tomorrow. And Pierre here refuses to help out an old bosom buddy."
"Tell me, where was I when I agreed to be your bosom buddy!"
Celeste chuckled. "Now here is a stranger I don't see often." Jehan smiled at her. "Maybe you can join me at my little celebration. Maybe a drink will loosen you up."
"I am not that kind of girl Jehan. I am a lady."
"One that prefers dressing in slacks rather than skirts."
"Those days are over."
"A shame. I enjoyed that unique quality about you. Oh, I see another university student. Perhaps I can persuade him to do my assignment. I'll be off now friends. Pleasure seeing you." Jehan than dashed off into the crowd.
"Celeste, you look slightly paler, are you ill?" Gringoire asked sounding worried.
"Lack of sleep is all, I sure you Gringoire. No need to worry. But who is the gypsy life treating you?"
"I tell you this because I trust you ask my closest friend." He lowered his voice and put his hands on her shoulders. "I have been rather busy hiding my dear Esmeralda."
"You have?" He nodded. "Then you know where she is?"
"Yes, I have been taking care of her. She has been hiding from place to place. It has been getting harder with Frollo chasing after her." Celeste looked down with concern. "Do you not approve of what I am doing? I ask since you are the daughter of a royal guard member."
"No, of course I approve. If anything I have become a supporter of this Esmeralda."
"Really? Why is that?"
"Well, I suppose I respect her for doing what I could never do at the Festival of Fools. It seems like ages ago. But also when she began on the run at the same time I started having disagreements with my father. I guess I am living rebelliously through her, running away from the guards that my father symbolizes."
"That's very touching Celeste. I promise I'll let you meet her some day."
"Really? That would be wonderful!"
"Gringoire, I had no idea you were aquatinted with Celeste." Another person entered the conversation."
"Bonjour Clopin." Gringoire greeted.
"Bonjour Gringoire, Celeste..."
"Huh? Gringoire, you know him?" Celeste asked.
"Of course. He rules the Court of Miracle. That and he tried to hang me when I first stumbled into the court."
"You did that!?" Celeste scolded at Clopin.
He only shrugged. "He was an intruder. Can't be too careful with how many people try to kill us gypsies."
"Why you..."
"Celeste, it's alright. It was understandable. And Clopin is actually a kind person."
Celeste began to blush. It seemed understandable. Yet again she was jumping to conclusions.
"I see..."
"Celeste! Gringoire!" The familiar sound of Gabriella screaming coming closer toward them. She was holding a bucket and Marquel was behind her with a basket of fish.
"Gringoire, I haven't seen you in a while." Marquel said. "We've just come to drop off some fish at the market." He struggled to hold the heavy basket. Gringoire ran to help him carry it.
"Might I assist you?" He asked.
"That would be most helpful, thank you."
"I need to help them too, but I also was supposed to get water from the well." Gabriella said. "Celeste, would you be a dear and fill this bucket for me before the line gets too long?"
"Well er..." Gabriella shoved pale into her hands and ran after the other two.
"Merci Celeste!" She left her standing there with the two buckets and her mouth open in confusion. She sighed. "How am I going to carry to buckets of water?"
"I'll help you." Celeste had forgotten Clopin was still there smirking.
"No thank you, I can do it myself. She headed for the end of the line. He began to fallow her.
"But you'll be carrying two heavy pales yourself."
"I believe I can manage it."
He walked right in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. He held out his gloved hand with a sincere smile. There was nothing but kindness in his eyes. This surprised her. "Please, as a gentleman. Let me assist a lady in need."
Celeste was so lost in his intentions, and his dark eyes. The surprise disabled her movements. One of the buckets in her grasped slipped away. She realized he had taken it and was standing in line with her. She only looked forward and stayed silent. The line was rather long. It looked like there was around ten others in front of them. They took a step forward.
"So, those two, the lady and the gentleman. They are your friends no?"
She nodded. "Yes. About my only ones aside from Gringoire."
"I assume you all are close."
"I suppose. I've known them since I moved here seven years ago."
"From where?"
"Tuscany. In Italy."
"Ah, so you are Italian. So tell me, why would you move from the country side of Tuscany to urban Paris."
"My father's work."
"I do recall you mentioning him being a respectable person. What does he do?"
With a smug look she replied, "He is a member of the royal guard."
Clopin, however, didn't look threatened at all. "Well, that would certainly explain your distrust of gypsies." The line progressed.
"It's part of it."
"Oh, so there is another reason?" She remained silent. "Won't you share with me?"
"It is none of your concern."
"I was simply curious. It makes for good conversation." She still did not even look at him. "Come now, what am I going to do with a secret like that? Think of it as a question from a concerned friend, after all I've done for you."
This surprised Celeste. Of all the things he could ask for in return for saving her life and allowing her his cloak, he asks for a story. But she did feel indebted to him. And if she shared with him her reason, then they would be even and she would not have to worry about paying him back. It seemed like a good deal.
"Fine. But after this, we are even, on your request."
"Perfect."
Celeste sighed, then took a breath. "A few years ago, I accompanied my father on a long term trip. And while I was there I was rather taken by a young man who I became friendly with. After a while, I developed a deep trust for him, and deeper feelings as well. But then, one day, he stole all the possessions I had taken with me on the trip. But I saw him before I left. He never felt a thing for me. And the betrayal shattered me. In terms of trust, and it made me believe that no one will ever love me."
They took a few steps forward. Celeste only looked down and Clopin remained silent. But Celeste smirked. "When I came back, I found myself fancying Marquel. But at the same time, he and Gabriella got closer. And it seems they were truly meant for each other. That's when I truly gave up on the idea of find someone who would care for me."
Clopin looked up wisely. "I see. Heartbreak could make anyone feel the way you do."
"After that I believe most of what my parents told me about gypsies. All they do is steal and deceive. Something I learned from experience."
The line moved forward again. There was a chilling breeze that blew through her curly hair.
"May I tell you a story in return?"
She turned to him. 'I thought we agreed I would tell him in exchange for saving me at the bridge...' she thought.
"I am sure you are aware of the war that occurred a long time ago. It lasted a hundred years. Many lives were lost, but not near as many that would be ruined after words. When survivors came back, their towns and jobs were gone. But when they looked for work, no one would offer them any. They became wonderers and had to steal and use their skills to survive. Those wonderers became known as gypsies. Human's only trying to do what they must to live."
Celeste's jaw dropped. Never had she ever thought about the origin of gypsies. Or that the reason would be so cruel. Mindlessly she whispered, "I- I don't believe it."
"Believe what you will." He smiled. "But that is the sad truth of beggary."
They were now at the front of the line. Celeste went first and filled her bucket and then Clopin filled the second one. As they left the line, white flakes gracefully fell from the sky. The whole town looked up. "Ah, it's snowing." Celeste looked up and watched them fall from the bright clouds. It was rather peaceful. She glanced over at Clopin. He was looking up too with an outstretched hand and warm smile. She couldn't stop staring at him. For some reason seeing his warm face made her feel, happy.
"My, can you believe it?" Gabriella can back over looking at the snow smiling. Marquel and Gringoire were behind her. "I better get going before it gets colder. Oh, you got my water Celeste."
"Er, yes. Here you are." She handed her friend the bucket in her hand.
"I'll walk you home." Marquel said. They both waved good bye and left.
"I better be on my way too. Mother will worry."
"Your water then madam." Clopin handed her the bucket.
"Hope you don't mind me leaving. We hardly got to talk Gringoire."
"Nothing to worry about my dear. I will be off with my collogue Clopin here."
"Um, thank you Clopin." Celeste thanked him.
"Anytime Celeste." He smiled, and she headed off. Hearing him say her name like that. She felt that same joy she felt after seeing him smile.
She wiped her feet upon entering her house. "Celeste?" Her mother emerged from the kitchen. "Your wet."
"Yes, it started snowing."
"Snow!" Her little sister ran down the stairs. "It's snowing? Can I go play in it?"
Celeste chuckled. "I'm afraid it is not deep enough to do much in. If it keeps up, maybe later."
"Will you come out with me too?"
"Of course." Ninette smiled and trotted back up the stairs.
Celeste dropped the pale in the kitchen with her mother and went up the stairs herself until she had to assist with making the meal. After closing her door she went to take her shoes off by her bed. Looking down she remember the tattered old cloak of Clopin's under her mattress. She removed it and looked at it. It looked like it could be fixed with a bit of patch work and a needle and thread. Unsure of what was driving her, Celeste walked over to her dresser and took out her sowing kit. She sat in her rocking chair with the cloak and needle and got to work patching up the cloak until dinner.
I don't know if that gypsy story is entirly true. I got if off one of the old Hunchback movies. Sorry again for the slow updates... and rather slow plotline. But its speeds up in the next one! I'm excited to write it!