Arthur watched Francis walk out of the church and close the door behind him. He ran forward and stopped in front of the closed door. He peeked out and saw Francis talking to Alfred. Alfred turned to the guards, "Post a guard at every door!"
Francis looked back at Arthur and smiled. He got in his carriage and gave a small wave as it pulled away from the church.
"Hell!" Arthur growled to himself and sunk down to the floor.
"Don't do anything rash, child," The archdeacon warned appearing beside Arthur. "You created quite a stir at the festival. It would be unwise to arouse Francis' anger further."
"You saw that?" Arthur laughed.
"Yes," the Archdeacon smiled as he started to light the candles. Arthur gave the man an odd look. "I was returning from visiting my grandsons when I saw the guard harassing Matthew."
"He allows them do whatever they want! All but torturing my people and others the deem different," Arthur sighed. "What do they have against people who are different?"
"You can't right all the wrongs in this world by yourself."
"No one out there's going to help, that's for sure," Arthur retorted.
"Perhaps there's someone in here who can," The archdeacon blew out the candle he was holding and left the younger man alone.
Arthur slowly stood up and went deeper into the nave of the cathedral. "I don't know if You can hear me or if You're even there. I don't know if You would listen to a gypsy's prayer." He paused in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. "Yes, I know I'm just an outcast I shouldn't speak to you. Still I see Your face and wonder: were You once an outcast too?"
"God help the outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy they don't find on earth. God help my people we look to You still. God help the outcasts or nobody will," Arthur moved through the rows of candles, the flames casting shadows over his face. He stopped when he saw parishioners walk by.
"I ask for wealth." "I ask for fame." "I ask for glory to shine on my name." "I ask for love I can possess." "I ask for God and His angels to bless me." Arthur felt slightly disgusted at their selfish requests.
"I ask for nothing I can get by but I know so many less lucky than I," His thoughts went back to Peter and Michelle. Both had lost their parents and fought hard on the streets for their rights and places in the guild. He was sad that he hadn't been able to help them earlier. "Please help my people, the poor and downtrod. I thought we all were the children of God. God help the outcasts: Children of God."
"You! Bell ringer! What are you doing down here!" Someone yelled breaking Arthur from his trance. He turned to see Matthew dashing up a set of stairs. He ran after him, calling his name.
"Matthew, stop!" Arthur yelled as he followed the boy up the stairs and into the bell tower. Matthew disappeared and Arthur looked around the boy's home. He was astonished by how clean it was and the huge bells that hung overhead. He walked farther into the tower and bright pieces of fabric caught his eyes.
Dolls sat in rows of three and looked so lifelike despite their small stature. Arthur reached out and picked up one that looked incredibly like one of the lieutenants. "Please be careful! Gilbert would be furious if it broke!" Matthew yelled and came running out from behind one of the bells.
"Gilbert Bieschmeldt?" Arthur looked at it shocked. Matthew nodded. "He sure has changed."
"You know him?" Matthew looked curious.
"And his brothers. These are amazing, by the way," Arthur set the 'Gilbert' doll down and ran his fingers over the others; a few dolls, he realized, were other people from the guild.
"Not really," Arthur stopped at one of Judge Francis. He frowned. "If I could do this you wouldn't see me dancing in the street for coins."
"Why do you do that?"
"Help provide."
"For who?"
"My children."
"You have children? How many?" Matthew froze. Arthur was so young!
"Seven," Arthur smiled and leaned against one of the wooden beams. "Once in a while some more will pop up and I will raise them for a while."
"Oh," Matthew looked away from Arthur, embarrassed. Arthur smirked.
"None of them are actually mine. I just take them in and raise them," He laughed. "Most of them are around seven so I would've have to been sixteen and sired them."
Now Matthew was really embarrassed: how could he have thought that about Arthur! "I'm sorry for assuming that-"
"Shush," Arthur put a finger to his mouth. "It's okay."
"Kay," Matthew blushed. "Why are you here?"
"Incident with Francis," Arthur all but growled.
"Papa? What he do?" Matthew looked worried.
"Him and 'Captain' Alfred trapped me here," Arthur scowled. Matthew bit his lip. "I quote 'Set one foot outside and you're mine!', and there are guards at every door so I can't even sneak out."
Matthew put a hand on Arthur's arm. "Do you want me to help you out?"
A/N
Long wait is over!
Please enjoy and review.
