Thanks to the one review I got---thanks, MoonEy! Hope ya'll like this one!
Disclaimer: I, sadly, DO NOT own HoND (Disney or Victor Hugo) or any of its characters. I do own Marianne and the other made-up characters that come along!
Seven Years Later…
"Blessed Christ!"
A woman yelled out from the middle of the square. Thirteen year old Clopin Trouillefou ran through the crowds of gypsies heckling with each other and selling goods. He ran directly into a petite woman ready to buy some pots, knocking her to the ground in a heap.
"Terribly sorry, Madame Kalle!" Clopin shouted as he slammed his way through more people.
Before he could get a few feet further, though, a meaty hand wrapped around his forearm. He turned around and groaned when he saw Madame LaFua looking sternly at him. He laughed nervously as the woman scrutinized him with distain.
"Good morning, Madame!" He said, hoping his usual charm would work. "How are you today?"
"Clopin Trouillefou," she said sternly. So much for the charm… "Just what in heaven's name are you doing?"
"Well, you see, Marianne is out and about and I am to keep an eye on her and you know that she likes to play games, and that she can be rather tricky--"
"You lost track of your sister, didn't you?"
"No! Why would you think that? I was only…" he trailed off.
"Flirting with more girls? Let me see, I believe today I saw you with Lena Lemont by her tent. Oh, and she is two years your younger, try to at least flirt with girls your age. And, oh, right, Marianne was not with you. Hmmm, what on Earth could this mean?"
"That Lena is much to talkative?"
"Don't give me that cheek, young Prince."
"Madame, please do not call me "Prince" it is quite regal and snobby." He scrunched up his nose with annoyance.
"Clopin, we have been over this time and time again. You are a Pri--"
"Clopy! Clopy!" A high voice cut off Madame LaFua's lecture. "Where are you slowpoke?" Marianne giggled and then suddenly snatched his over-sized purple hat off his head, running off.
Clopin rolled his eyes. "Do you see what I mean? Now, Marianne, get back here with my hat! Hey, don't--no--put that down, Mari, come now…AH! Why you little…"
Marianne was rolling on the ground laughing, now wearing Clopin's hat, when he returned to her, dripping wet. He glared at the giggling girl, trying to remain angry, but was failing.
"Alright, you," He pulled the girl up, brushing her chestnut hair out of her tan face. "I believe this is mine," he grabbed the hat and neatly placed it on his head. "And I believe you are coming home."
"Aw, but the hat looks better on me! And I want to stay here, it's more fun, and Esmeralda is going to dance with me later!"
"I don't think so, chere fille. I will not be dragged around by silly girls all day."
"Yes, yes you will, Clopy. And I am not silly." She demanded.
He huffed. "Mari, follow my finger." He waved his gloved finger in her face and she watched it intently. Without warning, he slapped her lightly on the face with the other hand, making her jump back in surprise. "I don't think so. And yes, you are silly."
She pouted. "But Papa said you have to watch me today, and that means going with me wherever I go."
"Or, it means I can take you back to the tent and you can play with the puppets!" He said, trying to make her come with him.
"Nope." He rolled his eyes.
"Alright, chere fille, what is it you wish to do?"
"Dance with Esmeralda!" She clapped her hands.
"And you say you are not silly?" He tapped her nose. In return, she tried to throw a punch at him, but missed and he put his hand out to push against her head as she attempted to charge him. "You are not able to beat me, and I don't think you ever will. I am just to quick!"
"You are not. You couldn't catch me today. And you never will, because I am to quick! Your name shouldn't be Clopin, it should be Slowpin!" She taunted him playfully.
"Hmmm, I believe now is story time…" Marianne smiled as he began to tell his story.
"Once there was a girl who lived with her brother. She was very silly and very saucy. Her brother was brave and very, very handsome. One day, the little girl wanted to be sneaky and run away from her brother. But her brother was smarter and, as I said before, much better looking. So, he decided to beat her and run away first. Do you know what happened?" Marianne shook her head. "He ran!" Clopin was off in a dash, leaving Marianne behind.
"Hey! That's not fair!" She began to chase him.
They both ran threw the streets of the Court of Miracles, bumping into people, tripping over stones, but still laughing the entire time. Clopin received very disgusted looks from the elderly women he almost toppled over and Marianne just about hit a man carrying chickens. When both children reached Esmeralda's tent, it was found empty. A small note was left at the base of a pole.
Dear Marianne,
So sorry, but I can't teach you any new dances today. My auntie needed me to help her today up above. Tomorrow, though, we will dance until our feet cannot dance any more. I promise you!
~Esmeralda
"Aw, well it seems that today, we get to do what I want to do! Isn't that wonderful?" Clopin exclaimed.
"Yes, wonderful," Marianne muttered.
"So, let's see, I have to go up and earn some money today…" He watched Marianne for her reaction.
"We get to go into town! Really?"
"Of course, but I do need some help. I am going to be playing some music, but I need a dancer…where shall I find one?"
"Clopin, I can dance! I am very good at dancing! Please, please take me to town with you!"
"Ah, Mari, well, since you asked I suppose it could not hurt."
"Yay! Thank you Clopy!" She hugged him tightly and was very difficult to remove from his waist.
When both children reached the city, the bells of Notre Dame were ringing loudly and Marianne looked up in wonder at the large cathedral. The bells continued ringing and the little girl stayed rooted where she stood, mesmerized by their chiming and booming.
"Mari, come along, we must go. It is getting late in the afternoon." Clopin began pulling her further into the city, but she remained looking at the bell tower. "Mari, hello?" She looked at him suddenly and blinked. "You looked like you were in a trance," he laughed, making her blush. "Come, we must earn a few coins today."
Clopin pulled out a flute, playing it lightly, while Marianne began to dance. A small sack was placed on the ground for coins. After a few minutes of performing, several coins had been thrown into the sack. Marianne smiled with pride as Clopin began playing faster, and she picked up the beat of her dancing. She was so happy that she did not see the guards coming towards her, hands on their swords. Luckily, Clopin noticed them and grabbed the sack and his sister and ran from the square.
"Hey, you!" A guard yelled. Marianne risked a glance back and saw one of them looking…at her.
The man was looking at her with shock and interest, but remained chasing her and Clopin. The guard watching Marianne had a small brown, slightly graying beard, and was big, very tall and had a lot of armor. She gasped in fear as they closed in on her and ran faster.
They eventually lost both soldiers running down an alley and hiding behind barrels of ale. Clopin decided to take Marianne back to the Court of Miracles. She argued, but he remained firm.
"I think we have had enough excitement for one day," he told her. "And it's almost supper time. We had fun today, yes?" She nodded, her blue eyes sparkling. "And now it's time to settle down a bit."
They returned home, and had their dinner. Their father was out in the catacombs tonight, making sure no one who stumbled upon the Court would leave unscathed. When Clopin was telling stories with the puppets to Marianne, a loud cheering erupted from outside. Clopin walked out to see what the commotion was when he heard the famous words spoken.
"Justice is swift in the Court of Miracles, I am your Judge and shall execute you as well. Trials are useless and the sentence is the most fun! Tonight you will hang!" He had to remind his father to make this speech more exciting and appealing to everyone.
"Mari, come! There is a hanging! Let's go see!"
They both pushed their way through the crowd and to the front and saw three guards standing on the platform with nooses around their necks. Marianne smiled when she saw King Reginald slightly taunting the men ready to die.
"Well, well, well. Look who's on the other side of the law now, boys! You did not think it would end this way, did you? Ha! You thought wrong, oh innocent servants of Judge Frollo and God…"
"Ah, Clopin. I do not think Marianne should be here." Madame LaFua pulled him aside.
"Why ever not? She has never attended a hanging before!"
"Clopin, do you see that man up there? That man in the middle?" Clopin looked up at the stage to see a man standing there, coldness and pride in his face and eyes.
"Yes, what of him?"
"That man ready to die was in search of the Court, obviously, but I believe that he was in search of someone hiding out in this court."
"And who is he looking for?"
"A certain woman hiding herself and a gypsy love-child." She raised her eyebrow.
It took a moment before this registered with Clopin. His eyes widened and he ran back to his sister.
"They know?"
"I believe so…This is not for your young ears. Your father can handle things, but you do know how rumors and stories start, if her real father knew about this…" She let the sentence hang, refusing to say anything else.
"I see, alright, we'll leave." Clopin turned back to his sister, who was smiling and standing on her toes to get a better view.
"Mari, I do not think you should be here now. It is very late, and I wish to show you something."
"Clopin, This is my first hanging. I want to watch." She resumed watching as the King began to pull the lever. Clopin winced as Marianne watched with wonder while he tired to stay calm, now knowing that the guards knew about Marianne's mother.
It was then that the lever was pulled. The men hung, each neck breaking, no one having to suffer any longer. Marianne clapped and cheered with the rest of the crowd while Clopin grimaced.
Clopin quietly led Marianne back to the tent as soon as the crowds began to clear. There was no need to stay any longer. Once they reached the tent he put on a smile for the small girl.
"Alright," he said, "that was an exciting day, huh?"
"Sure, sure…It was fun…" Marianne yawned.
"And now I think it's time for bed."
"No. I'm not sleepy." She rubbed her eyes.
"Oh, really? Is that so?" She nodded. "Than why, chere fille, are you yawning?"
"I don't know." She shrugged. "That sort of thing is common."
"I am sure. Now get ready for bed." She pouted, but went and grabbed a nightgown and left to put it on. When she returned, her hair was tied up and she plopped down on the bed next to Clopin.
"What do you want to do now?" she said, playing with the loose ends of her hair.
"Well, because there won't be an obvious answer to that," he said sarcastically.
She simply shrugged again and yawned. Clopin smiled and pulled her close. He began singing softly into her ear.
Little child, sitting here, stay silent, now, don't cry. Rest your little head on my shoulder, I shall keep you safe.
Small child, do not be afraid; do not be scared, I will be here.
You will always be safe when I'm around, I will hug you close. Now rest your tired little head on my shoulder and I shall sing you to sleep, little child.
Dear girl, you are so kind and good. I shall keep you safe.
Small child, do not be afraid; do not be scared, I will be here.
Kind girl, rest now, child, I will be with you, you have nothing to fear.
Marianne's eyes grew heavy and she yawned again, leaning into her brother. He rocked her gently and continued singing. She looked up at him through bleary blue eyes.
"I'm…not…sleepy."
He smiled, "I know, Mari, I know."
She sighed and put her head on his chest. "I love you, Clopin." She mumbled.
"I love you too, Mari. Good night, chere fille."
"Hey," she said, "not…sleepy…nope…"
He laughed to himself as she closed her eyes and fell asleep. He did not move, though, he stayed and hummed to her that night, as he did many nights. Just as he did the first night he met his little sister.