So Clopin has revealed a secret to Esmerelda. How will she ever look at Frollo the same way and what will happen when Clopin enters Frollo's house? I do not own Hunchback of Notre Dame. Enjoy and don't forget to review.
Esmerelda came to the house out in the country side and stopped before they went to it.
"Now you remember what I said you have to wait outside until I call you in" Esmerelda said and Clopin nodded. Now that they had arrived he looked nervous to see Frollo again. He hid out of sight as Esmerelda went inside.
"Ah there you are. How did it go?" Frollo greeted.
"Good. Clopin misses me too and Phoebus is out looking for me like crazy, but Clopin told me something interesting" Esmerelda said.
"And what was that?" Frollo asked.
"Well I think it would be best..." She said opening the door and waving her hand for Clopin to come forward, "If he told you himself" She said as Clopin came to stand beside her.
Frollo's eyes lit up with rage.
"I told you not to tell him. You gave me your word that you wouldn't!" Frollo yelled.
"Hold on I haven't explained yet. Please just let me explain. He already knew about you because Phoebus told him about you so I thought there was no point in keeping it from him. He won't say anything" Esmerelda said.
Frollo took a deep breath and looked at Clopin, "I'm not too pleased to see you here, but as long as you keep your mouth shut I can't complain."
"Well he told me this story..." Esmerelda started.
"About the night you tortured me for information" Clopin finished.
Frollo looked at him, "I thought you would have told everyone the next morning."
"No I never told anyone about it. I'm suppose to be the leader and if my people saw that I was weakened they might not listen to me. You see then why I was reluctant about coming here" Clopin said.
"Well those days are over it may surprise you to know that what you tell me makes me feel guilty" Frollo said turning away from him.
"What happened that you changed to such a different person?" Clopin asked.
"This" Frollo said showing both sides of his face to Clopin and Clopin gasped.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to make it sound like I was terrified it's just when Esmerelda told me one side of your face was burned I didn't think it was that bad" Clopin said looking away.
"I'm used to it by now. Why did you come here Clopin?" Frollo asked.
"To be honest I've been asking myself the same question" Clopin said, "Esmerelda said that I should come back with her so I did but I won't trust you so easily"
"Which is understood. Tell me something Clopin, how come you were never afraid of me?" Frollo asked.
"You never scared me, nothing you did could frighten me" Clopin replied.
"I see, but I frightened you the night I took you away from the others?" Frollo asked.
"Yes that night you finally scared me because I didn't know someone could be so evil" Clopin said.
Frollo only nodded.
"Clopin why don't you stay" Esmerelda said.
"Why?" Clopin asked.
"I agree with Esmerelda you should stay. I don't entirely trust you with keeping my hide out a secret" Frollo said.
"Fine I'll stay, but not because of you" Clopin said to Frollo.
"Frollo can I sleep out here with Clopin just for tonight?" Esmerelda asked and after some hesitation Frollo nodded.
"Thank you" Esmerelda said and did something that surprised him. She gave him a small kiss on the cheek.
Esmerelda and Clopin had laid out blankets on the floor and they laid down side by side. Later that night Esmerelda awoke and saw Clopin was at the window.
"Clopin where are you going?" Esmerelda asked when she came to the window he had just gone through.
"Esmerelda...I thought you were asleep. I can't stay I have to...Uh" Clopin hesitated not meeting her eyes.
"Clopin, this wouldn't have anything to do with a girl would it?" Esmerelda asked.
"What? A girl? Please, me in love..."
"Clopin" Esmerelda said seeing right through her best friend's lie.
"Alright yes it's true I have met a girl and she is the most beautiful women in the world" Clopin said sighing.
"What does she look like?"
"She has long golden brown hair that moves in ripples when she walks and blue eyes as mysterious and wild as the sea itself and her face, is like an angel's"
"Is she a gypsy?"
"No and she doesn't look at me and think of me as a gypsy"
"What is her name?"
"Narinella"
"How pretty. I'm so happy for you Clopin where did you two meet?"
Flashback
Clopin is walking down the street talking to some of the gypsies about where they should go live when from around the corner a women comes running and crashes right into Clopin.
"I...I'm sorry...I...wasn't watching where I was going" the women apologized looking away from him, still sitting on the ground.
"How dare you..." one of the gypsies started but Clopin stopped them. He knelt down to her and turned her face toward him but was stopped by her beauty. The two sat staring at each other for a few moments but were quickly interrupted by a shout.
"You wretched girl I'll teach you to steal from me!" shouted the baker.
The women scrambled backwards and Clopin stepped in front of her.
"Move out of the way gypsy I'm going to teach this girl a lesson for stealing from me" the baker said angrily.
"You will do no such thing sir baker. All this girl wanted was a piece of bread. She is probably very hungry like many of us. Give her a break and if you are so focused on getting money... here take the money I have earned to make up for it" Clopin said tossing a small bag of coins at the baker's feet. After a couple moments hesitation the baker picked up the bag then left and Clopin helped the women to her feet.
"Thank you...I never expected..." She stumbled.
"A gypsy to be so nice?" Clopin suggested.
"No I hardly noticed that actually. What I was going to say was I never expected a stranger to be so nice to a thief" she said.
"I know what it's like to go through hard times so I understand your situation. I'm Clopin by the way" he said smiling.
"I'm Narinella, it means of the sea in Italian" she said.
"Beautiful" Clopin said gazing at her.
"You wouldn't happen to be The Clopin, leader of the gypsies, would you?" Narinella asked.
"I am indeed why do you ask?"
"I have heard stories of you and your bravery. My parents like your kind and always told me that one day there would be gypsies that would make themselves equal with everyone else. They told me what they had seen when you and the other girl stood up against Frollo. I never thought I'd get to meet you"
"Well I'm glad someone is on our side. Some people like Frollo believe we are vermin just because we are gypsies"
"I see much more then your heritage"
The two sat staring at each other for a moment longer before one of the gypsies cleared their throat loudly.
"Oh right...I should be going. Can I see you again?"
"Where and when"
End Flashback
"And that's how it started. That was three weeks ago and I have seen her five times since. She is so down to earth and makes me laugh all the time. I think I might even love her" Clopin said.
"Clopin that's wonderful, but don't you think Frollo will be angry when he finds out you have run away?" Esmerelda said.
"Yes, but what would Narinella do if she found out I was missing?" he asked.
"You should at least talk to Frollo about this in the morning I don't want you to get in any trouble" Esmerelda said.
Clopin sighed and looked over his shoulder at the dark plains for a long time before climbing back in the way he had come.
"Alright. Tomorrow, but no later I must get back to Narinella" he said and settled down next to Esmerelda.
Clopin had never thought of being with Esmerelda. To him Esmerelda was like a sister, but he also felt protective over her. All their lives Esmerelda and Clopin protected each other when Esmerelda's family couldn't. Clopin had been taken in by her family because he didn't have one. Now he was torn between staying with Esmerelda and making sure she was safe or running to Narinella, the girl he was falling for. How would he ever choose?
Awww so Clopin has a girl and he is torn between Esmerelda and Narinella. What will happen if he chooses to go back. To be continued...