YAY! I would like to thank Sweet Valentine for reviewing! Thank you so much for the encouragement! Although, I think YOUR fic is better than mine. ENJOY EVERYONE!
Outcast
Chapter 2: Savior
"Damn," Laraine swore.
It was cold. Laraine had been traveling for almost two weeks in the cold, freezing. The only things she had for warmth were the clothes on her back and the black hooded cloak. Obviously, she was very warm. Laraine was starting to regret her decision of not staying with Lyra and her family. At least there she would be warm, not in this bone-chilling wind.
Laraine rubbed her hands together for warmth, blowing into them, then rubbing again. She was dreadfully cold – and alone. If only someone had survived from her camp. She would at least have someone to talk to.
She decided to find somewhere to stay and at least be warm – she couldn't travel like this. It was torture. Scanning the area, she found a small alleyway that gave some protection from the cold. She sat down and brought her arms in from the sleeves of the cloak and rubbed them together at her chest.
'I'll wait until this cold spell warms up, then I'll see if I can get a ride into Paris,' she thought.
Luckily for her, the cold spell did burn over. The following day was nice and sunny and beautiful. The birds were singing in the trees, the bees were buzzing and going from flower to flower, people were being kind and considerate. There was a pleasant breeze in the air, kissing gently against Laraine's cheeks. Everything today just seemed… happy, all except Laraine. She obviously wasn't in the best of moods. Hopefully, finding a new home would change that. Laraine didn't like very much the feeling of depression.
'I miss everyone,' she thought sadly. 'I even miss the people who shunned me for probably my whole life.' She looked at the clusters of people walking and laughing around her. Everyone had a family: a little red-haired boy with his parents, a nice looking couple and their three sons, and a brunette haired girl taking care of her little sister. Laraine sighed, seeing everyone so happy made her miss her family even more.
She told herself not to drown in her own misery and to get up and do something – preferably to get some breakfast. Not long after she decided this, she saw someone selling meat-filled pies around the corner and she decided to buy some. Their sweet aroma made her mouth water and when she put them in her mouth – they tasted nice. She was surprised to get such a nice treat from a vendor.
After a seemingly nice meal, Laraine decided to get to the task at hand – getting a ride to Paris. Laraine looked around her, making sure no one was watching her and then slipped silently under to the bleak darkness of the sewers. Not before long, she spotted a small little man with a boat looking around for people to catch a ride (illegally, obviously.) He spotted her and smirked, "An' where do you wan' me ta take ya, mademoiselle?"
She looked at him from under her black hood, "How much for a safe passage to Paris?" She emphasized on safe, gaining a laugh from the petite little man.
He smirked at her, showing missing and decaying teeth, "I don't know, mademoiselle. How much do ya got?" He leaned closer to her so that she could smell his rancid breath of garbage and sewer stench, "Safe isn't always cheap, ya know?"
Laraine smirked underneath the hood, "What do you offer? And I'll see if I have it." She got out her purse and opened it, staring inside. "Come now, I don't have all day, name your offer." She got out a few coins and tossed them up and down in her hand.
The man laughed, "We got a smart one, eh? Well… ya sound like a nice lass, I'll say 'round… 20 gold pieces."
Laraine smiled at him, "Don't you think that's a little… much?" She angled her head so that he could catch a glimpse of her dark blue eyes. "Could you drop it…" She blinked her eyelashes and added for effect, "For little ol' me? I promise I'll be good." She winked.
The man bit his lip, trying to make up his mind. Finally, he gave in, "A'right, 15 gold pieces an' I'm not goin' any lower. I have a family ta think of, ya know!"
Laraine smiled, gave him the money and climbed inside, "Good."
The man picked up the oar and pushed off, "Gypsy no doubt, eh?"
Laraine laughed, "But of course, would anyone else be coming down here for a ride?"
He laughed, "True, true." He then gave her a serious look, "Although, in Paris there is a judge… one named Judge Claude Frollo. He hates your kind. Try not ta bump into him."
Laraine chuckled, "Will do, will do."
He continued, "There is also, I believe, a 'Court o' Miracles'. It's where all tha gypsies stay. It's quite safe, I've heard."
Laraine looked at him, quizzically, "And how does one like yourself know?"
He laughed, "Good ear. I'm one o' them, 'course." He looked at her, "Were ya from one of the bands that's home's were burned down not too long ago?"
She nodded, "Oui, I'm trying to find a new beginning."
The man smiled, "Then tha Court o' Miracles is a fine place. I hope ya make it there safely."
Laraine smiled, "As do I. I don't want to stir up anymore trouble than necessary." She listened to the soothing lullaby of the oar running through the water. She looked up and watched as they passed under small bridges.
The man looked at her and whispered, "Keep ya head down, I don't wan' anyone ta figure out who ya are."
Laraine obeyed, "How foolish of me, sorry."
He laughed, "'S'alrigh'. I can tell this is ya firs' time travelin' this way, eh?"
Laraine made a face – the stench of the sewers were finally getting to her, "Oui."
The man noticed her suffering, "You'll get use ta it after a while."
Laraine groaned, "I better."
Laraine lost track of time, but before she knew it, the two of them arrived under a particular bridge and the man stopped. He looked up and smiled, "Well, this is tha place. I can't guarantee wha' happens after this, though."
Laraine nodded, "I know, but thank you, anyway."
Just before Laraine got out, the man pulled on her cloak, causing her to come to a stop. He looked at her and said, "Be careful, mademoiselle."
She nodded, "Merci, I will." She carefully got out and watched the man row out of view. When she turned around, a hand went over her mouth. A man harshly whispered into her ear, "An' who is this? You don't look like you're from 'round here." He pulled her hood off of her head to reveal her face.
Another man whistled, "Pretty one, alright. An' what are you doin' here so late? Don't ya know tha' it's dangerous for young girls like ya'self to be out here… alone?" The two men laughed at her viciously.
'Bastards,' Laraine bit her captors hand, causing him to let go of her and wince in pain.
The man looked up at her, clutching his hand, "Why you little…"
She smirked, turned on her foot, and ran away.
"COME BACK HERE, GYPSY GIRL!" they shouted.
Laraine tripped on a bottle and fell to the floor. She tried to crawl away from them, swearing at herself for stupidly tripping, 'Why of all times did I have to trip on something! You are so stupid Laraine!'
The two of them surrounded her. One of them brought her up by the material of her cloak and inhaled her smell, "Heh, you smell nice, gypsy girl." He licked his lips, "You'll soon be mine."
She spat on him in the eye causing him to let go of her. She kicked him hard, sending him flying backwards and into the other guard. Laraine then turned and ran. She came to an alleyway and swore – dead end.
The man who she had earlier bitten snarled, "How dare you!" He approached her and slapped her cheek hard and held her by the throat, "Maybe I should kill you, my sweet? You're testin' me, you know!"
Laraine gasped, trying to yank the man's hands from her neck. The other man licked his lips and got closer to her. Laraine bit her lip, 'Stay away from me! Stay away from me! STAY AWAY!'
"Unhand that woman, you heathens!" rang a voice from above.
The men looked around, "Where did that voice come from?"
"Look up!" a man jumped down, getting out a sword. The man holding onto Laraine immediately let go, sending her to the floor. She looked up at her savior – it was a man possibly only two years older than herself. He was clad in purple with a golden fringe, black gloves, dark blue violet tights, and a magenta-purple tunic over his shirt. There was a golden earring dangling from his left ear and atop his head was a purple hat with a bright yellow feather. He smirked at him, waving his sword, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. And what are you men doing to such a delightfully beautiful young woman? You weren't going to do anything to her, now where you?"
The men shook their heads frantically, "N-no s-s-sir, we w-w-weren't."
The man smirked, stepping in front of them, "Good." He ran his fingers over his blade, "If you promise not to be seen with her again, I may not kill you." He looked up at them, his dark green-black eyes glaring at them, "Alright?" He then pointed the blade to them, "But then again, I'm not known to be… merciful." He advanced on the two men, backing themselves up against the wall, praying for the man not to strike them. The purple hat man looked at them and ordered, "Leave! Or I'll give you what you deserve! GO!"
The men nodded and nearly stumbled over each other trying to get away from the man who laughed at their foolishness, "Bunch of buffoons aren't they?" He turned to her and frowned. He crouched down and gave her a small smile, "Need a hand?"
Laraine gladly took it and brushed herself off, "Thank you, thank you so much."
The man bowed, "Not at all, I couldn't just stand there when a woman, such as yourself, is in dire need of help." He kissed her hand, "May I have the honor of learning your name?"
Laraine chuckled, watching the man who saved her trying to court her. Although, she had to say he was doing a good job at it, "Laraine Allaire, monsieur."
He smiled, "And a lovely name, indeed, for such a lovely girl. Tell me…" He gazed into her eyes. "How in the world did you get such lovely eyes?"
She smiled, witfully remarking, "My mother gave them to me."
He chuckled, "Ah, yes, I thought as much." He looked at her, "Say, would you like to go for a walk with me? I could show you around the city since you're… new."
Laraine smiled, "I would like that very much."
The man held her by the hand and dragged her with him. Laraine cried out – he was so fast! She was struggling to keep up with him. He then suddenly came to a halt, causing Laraine to bang into him with a tremendous force.
"Oh! Mademoiselle, are you alright?" he chuckled and apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I was going at such a fast pace that I-"
Laraine smiled, "It's alright. I'm fine."
He grinned, "And now with the tour!" He pointed up at the very large building and smiled, "This is the famous Notre Dame! Of course it's much more beautiful in the morning when you can listen to the bells ringing."
Laraine looked up at the vast building, "Wow."
He smiled, "Yes, yes, we have more places to see. MOVING ON!" He pulled her hand and showed her around, "That's the clothing shop, the Boulangerie, the hat shop, the flower shop, the…" He winced at a rather large-looking ash-colored building.
Laraine stared at the building curiously, "The…?"
He shook his head, "NOT IMPORTANT!" He whispered into her ear, "It's the Palace of Justice. Pray that you never go inside of it or you may never… come out."
Laraine winced.
He smiled, "But now is not the time to go on about such morbid things! WE HAVE A CITY TO SEE! MOVING ON!"
The man then led her into the countryside when they came upon a cemetery and a large tomb-like object.
"Where are we?"
He smirked, "We are going to… 'The Court of Miracles'. Follow me, and don't fall behind."
He opened the door and went in first, then holding out his hand for her to grab and daintily step inside. Laraine didn't loose sight of the man until they came into a place of marvelous color and sound.
She gasped, "It's beautiful!"
He smiled, "Why thank you, I am it's King, you know."
She looked at him and laughed, "You, a king? That's a laugh."
He smirked, "But I am, mademoiselle, I am the King of the Gypsies!"
Laraine looked up at him and smiled, "You never did tell me your name. What is it?"
He smiled, "My name? My name is a name and yet much more than a name, for I am… Clopin Trouillefou!"
Hopefully Clopin wasn't OOC, this IS my first time writing about him, you know.