"Why don't you want to leave?!" A man with a dark brown beard questioned, slamming his open palm on the table. He had green eyes that glowed with rage, his hair which was the color of a new pecan tree swished back and forth just above his shoulders. His voice was loud yet hushed at the same time.

I watched from the hall, my mouth hanging open. It was two months after my eight birthday and I heard my father was about to leave for some war thing. A woman sitting in a chair had her ocean blue eyes focusing on a cloth in her hand while she sewed. Her fluffy jet black hair fell across her dark face when she spoke, "Husband, I can't. If something were to happen to you or me, Heaven Forbid, the King would take care of Lavender." Although my mother's tone was calm and quiet, it shut my father up.


It was a dream. A memory dream…damn I hate those! Usually I get them when I'm trying to remember something important or it deals with the current events. That's right, I remember now; my father told me to get help from the King. My parents had spoken about it before…if they died, he would look after me. Who was he? He had to be living in the Court of Miracles near that graveyard.

Wait, where was I? Sitting up, I realized I was in a bed covered with purple silk covers. Carefully getting out of bed, noting that it was morning, I shivered when my bare feet touched the cold stone floors. This wasn't my house…where was I?

The doors creaked slightly when I walked out and as I searched the hallways, I passed a window. It took me a moment to register there was a window there and I could have sworn I saw hundreds of little houses underneath me. Walking backwards to the window, I gasped to see the beautiful scenery of the Notre Dame. People walked and ran through the little village they had, some danced. They were gypsies.

A hand slithered on my shoulder, making me yelp and turn, expecting to see the worst. "Claude?!" I exclaimed, my eyes huge. "What am I doing here? Is this the Palace of Justice?" I remembered last night with the graveyard. "Where is my father?!"

Since I had turned eight, father used to take me to the Notre Dame to talk to the Judge or sometimes when it was pretty outside, we'd walk around the market. I never knew why I had to keep these meetings secret, especially from mother, and it disturbed me. Still, Claude was a decent man who made me smile.

"I see you're awake. Don't you remember last night?" Frollo started after seeing me nod, "Your father was arrested for harming and endangering you, dear Lavender. And as much as it saddens me to inform you, he's tied up in the dungeons. Don't worry, girl, you'll see him soon."

I stared at him, not sure whether to believe him or not. "But…yes Claude."

"Come, let's go eat lunch." He said as he walked away, knowing I'd follow. The dining room was huge! It had a long table that stretched at least a mile! We sat at the end and I smiled at the servants that served us food. "Lavender, what exactly were you and your father doing in the graveyard so late at night?" Frollo asked while sipping wine.

What were we doing there? Probably to find the King…would that mean he was dead? Why would father put me in the care of a dead man? Or perhaps he was living there in a hidden place! That's right; I had seen, or thought I had seen, a man with a hat when we left. Looking up at him, knowing he was studying me to see if I lied, I answered casually, "I wanted to see my mothers' grave."

Frollo stayed silent for a moment, watching me eat. Apparently having to believe me, he snapped, "Don't place your elbows on the table, girl. Don't you have any manners?"

I frowned, "Of course I do but I'm not one of those prissy ladies." He chuckled and continued eating in silence. When would I be able to see my father? Would he be freed? Would I stay here forever? Who was the King? Where was he? What is the Court of Miracles?

"Don't stare off into space with your mouth full, Lavender." His cold voice snapped me out of my musings. The way he looked at me with such annoyance made me look down in shame.

Brushing a strand of hair behind my ear, I muttered, "I'm only ten, I'm supposed to act childish." He raised an eyebrow at my half heard grumble but didn't say anything about it.

A few hours passed and it was starting to grow dark outside. I sat at the window, staring out towards Notre Dame. The bells ringing were faint yet crisp, some strong as thunder while others soft as cotton. Suddenly I heard a chirping. Glancing around, I gasped to see a little baby bird in a nest, dangling on the edge of the building dangerously. The nest looked like it was ready to fall apart at the slightest breeze and as the baby bird struggled to fly at such a young age, the mother did not come.

Without realizing what I was doing, I got on the edge of the window and inched my way slowly to the poor creature. It chirped louder when it saw me. I was merely a few inches away when I slowly slid down the window; holding onto the ledge with was covering with spider webs. Shuddering, I made a mental note to shower later.

As soon as I put my hand out, the nest gave away and the bird fell into my hand. Smiling, I twisted slightly to place it safely inside the building. I stood up to inch my way back to the window which I came from but felt something crawl over my bare foot. Hating my curiosity, I glance down and screamed when I saw a huge hairy spider! When I kicked it away, I lost my footing. I fell with a silent scream that didn't dare leave my lips, my hands furiously trying to find something to grab onto.


Cliffhanger! Reviews please.