Final Chapter! So Clopin has returned and told Narinella about his past. Now they search of Thalia but will she find them first and will Phoebus ever find Esmerelda? I do not own Hunchback of Notre Dame. Enjoy and don't forget to review.
The next day Clopin and Narinella woke early. Clopin went from house to house in his small village and told everyone there would be a meeting. Everyone slowly emerged into the square around Clopin.
"Shouldn't we go get the others? We've never had a meeting without them" one of the gypsies said.
Clopin knew they were right, but he wanted to get on his way to look for Thalia.
But after a few more protests, " Alright we'll go"
Clopin and Narinella led the way down the streets to the other gypsy village not far from theirs. The figure with the white cat saw this group of gypsies go by and silently followed them. If the person she was searching for was here these gypies might know. She kept out of sight as the gypsies from the other village started to gather in the square. She saw a figure step up onto a platform. The figure was a young man wearing a purple mask that covered most of his face.
"My fellow gypsies I am announcing that I must leave here, not permanentely. There is something I must do" the man spoke.
Shouts of outrage and anger followed his words. The girl next to the man silenced them.
"Who are you to order us around? You are not one of us" one of the gypsies said to the girl.
"Why just because she is white and not dark skinned like us. Did you forget that Esmerelda is married to a white person?" the man said.
"I'm...I'm sorry Clopin I... I didn't know... I only meant..." the gypsy stumbled.
"I know well what you meant Feron don't try to say differently. Look I know this is the first time I have left you, but I won't be gone long" the man said.
"It is not! You disappeared yesterday and now you are going to leave us again? What kind of a leader are you Clopin?" a women shouted and some others echoed her anger.
The figure's watching this heart seemed to do a flip. Had she really heard the name? Was this man in the mask the one she was looking for?
Meanwhile the man had silenced the crowd. He looked frightening behind his mask as he glared down at all the gypsies.
"So Zelena isn't the only one who feels I haven't done good for everyone? Then who amongst you would take my place? Did any of you ever stand up to Frollo? Huh? No! Esmerelda and I were the only ones. I don't think any of you realize how hard it is to be the leader. You get criticized by your people, you always are thinking about what is best for everyone, and sometimes you get tortued for information because you are the leader" Clopin said and slapped his hand over his mouth after the last sentence.
"What?"
"You were tortured?"
"By who?"
"When did this happen?"
Clopin quieted them down before he spoke.
"Yes I was tortued...by Frollo but I told him no more than I am the head gypsy" he said.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Feron asked.
"Because if I showed weakness in a time of trouble you wouldn't listen to me anymore. If you don't believe what I have told you come ask me and I will show you the marks on my back from the whip Frollo used. Now having said all that will you allow me to go?" Clopin asked.
Every head nodded and Zelena spoke up again, "I'm sorry Clopin we have never questioned your leadership and we shouldn't start now. You are the best leader we have had and I have forgotten that. Could you ever forgive me?"
"Of course Zelena you are forgiven" Clopin said.
"I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but can we see the whip marks? I don't think any of us really believe that something that horrible could have happened to you until we actually see the proof" Zelena said.
"I understand what you mean Zelena" Clopin said taking off his shirt and showing them the long lines running all around his back.
Everyone gasped in shock. Clopin let them look for a few more moments before he put his shirt back on.
"I know it's shocking, but it did happen. But I promise you that this did not and will never affect my leadership. Now I promise I won't be gone long and when I return I think we should all move to another village where we can all be together again" Clopin said and cheers greeted his words as he went through the crowd with Narinella at his side.
The figure watching knew this was her chance. She followed them slowly making sure not to be seen, but after a while Clopin felt he was being followed.
"I think someone is following us. Don't turn around. We will turn the corner and I want you to go to another corner and when the person comes you walk around the corner. I will catch the person as they walk by" Clopin whispered to Narinella and she gave a slight nod.
When they turned the corner Clopin hid in the shadows while Narinella went to another corner and started walking just as the figure came around the corner. Once they were passing the place where Clopin hid he grabbed them from behind. The stranger struggled in his grip, but he held tightly. Narinella came back when she heard struggling.
"Who are you? Why are you following us?" Clopin questioned.
"You certainly know how to treat a lady" said the figure and Clopin froze. He had heard that once before, but wasn't sure if this stranger could be who he thought it was. The figure's cat jumped up and dug it's claws into Clopin's arm. He cried out in pain and let go of the figure who didn't make any attempt to escape. They turned to face Clopin instead. Clopin gazed at the figure's wrists and found what he was looking for, the object that would prove his theory, a gold bead bracelet with hand carved suns on them. Clopin stared at the person as they let the hood of their cloak fall. There standing in front of him was a beautiful young women with long flowing black hair and gentle amber eyes.
"It's me Clopin, Thalia" the women said.
It took a second for Clopin to recover, but once he had he ran forward and hugged his sister. Tears of joy ran down both their cheeks as they held onto each other tightly. No words were spoken for a few moments as the two embraced each other trying to figure out if it was all real. Thalia pulled back slightly to look up at her big brother.
"I can't believe I found you. After all these years of searching I have found you" she said putting a hand on his cheek.
"I can't believe it either, but I can't say the same for searching for you" Clopin said not meeting her eyes, "For a long time I feared that you were dead and I might come across your corpse, but one day didn't go by that you weren't in my thoughts. I always hoped that somehow you were alive and that we would be together again. I blame myself for the soldiers taking you. If I had only been stronger..."
Thalia put a hand to his lips and gazed into his black eyes, "Don't blame yourself Clopin. It wasn't your fault. There were five of them and only two of us. As soon as I got away from them I came to find you, but over the years I have missed you many times until now. I see you have had a pretty good life here, Head Gypsy"
"You...you were listening to me talking to the gypsies? Then you know..." Clopin trailed off.
"Yes I heard about that. Your as stubborn and strong as ever, but that's what I've always liked about you. You have dad's stubbornness and mom's strong heart. Your the only one that is the most like them" Thalia said.
"Your lucky you can just bring up mom and dad like they were still living" Clopin said.
"I can't it hurts me too. I just don't show my feeling a lot of the time" Thalia said.
They smiled at each other.
"Do you need a place to stay?" Clopin asked suddenly.
"Yes, would you allow your little sis to move in?" She asked.
"Of course Thalia. Out of all my siblings you were always my favorite. I felt protective over you and I knew no one could replace you once I lost you and now you will get to be by my side and I will never let you slip through my fingers like that again" Clopin said and Thalia hugged him tighter, "Come and meet your people"
Clopin took Thalia's hand and led her back the way they had come. Narinella walked beside Clopin and smiled.
"I almost forgot Narinella this Thalia, Thalia this is my girl Narinella" Clopin said.
Both girls smiled at each other.
"Your lucky to have my brother as a lover. He was always sweet to me. I'm sure he has been good to you" Thalia said and Narinella nodded.
When the three of them got back to the village all the gypsies were still in one village. For the first time in a long time Clopin bounced around like his old self and surprised the gypsies.
"Im back and I have someone I want you all to meet come on" Clopin said.
"You look more like your old self again Clopin" one of the gypsies said.
"Thank you Gail. I feel more like my old self too" Clopin said hopping up on the platform, "Gypsies I have returned. Yes it was a short trip, but the person I was seeking found me first. We have a new gypsy joining us today. This is Thalia my little sister. I hope you will all make her feel welcomed"
Thalia had come up on the platform next to her brother and was smiling.
"And as promised I will start looking for a village that all of us can move in to" Clopin said and jumped down from the platform.
Suddenly all went silent. Clopin looked up to see Esmerelda walking slowly through the crowd of surprised gypsies. Her eyes were downcast and tears fell down her cheeks.
"Esmerelda..." Clopin started but she stopped him and pointed to her house. He understood that this was a privat matter and he turned to the gypsies, "Esmerelda only wants to speak to me. Any of you try and listen in, well lets just say you will wish you hadn't"
Clopin was accompinied by his sister and Narinella but no one else. Esmerelda shut the door behind them and turned to Clopin.
"Esmerelda what's wrong?" He asked.
"Frollo's dead" Esmerelda said and she fell into his arms. Clopin hugged Esmerlda close and comforted her the best he could.
"Who?" Clopin asked.
"Phoebus, he came in and he and Frollo fought. Then Phoebus stabbed Frollo in the side. I went to Frollo as he was dying and he told me one thing, 'I love you.' Then he died. I was mad at Phoebus. I still am. How could he possibly have found out?" Esmerelda cried.
"I didn't tell him Esmerelda I swear it. I don't know how he could have found out" Clopin said hugging her shaking body closer, "But he will always be remembered not as the monster that he was, but the man he became"
And... scene. Wow I know depressing ending but I think that was the best way to end my story so tell me what you thought of it. Is there anything I could improve on? What did you like or hate about it? I would like to hear your opions. If you liked this story read my other story sorcerers apprentice What next and the sequal What now.