I don't own the lyrics to Sweeney Todd. Oh and by the way, if anyone reading this also likes the movie Santa Clause 3, I suggest my "A Frosty Summer" story. Anyway, on with the show!
"Lavender!" Claude Frollo shouted in annoyance and anger. "Get back here at once you infuriating girl!"
I laughed out loud as I turned my head away from him. Kicking the horse lightly, we raced off at such an amazing speed that I thought I'd fall. "Try to catch me!" I cried out, my laughter echoing loudly through the path to the outskirts of town.
We had just been on our daily ride when I felt boredom overtake me. That was quickly put to rest when a crazy idea possessed me; a race. Frollo, being only thirty or so but looking to be forty, would never agree. So…I'd have to make him play along.
My jet black hair was now just a few inches above my waist and flew wildly in the wind. Claude had ordered me to put it in a bun as a 'proper lady' would do when in public. I did…but I took it out as soon as I stepped into the sun. My violet eyes were like owls, sparkling with happiness as I flew by people. I had grown a lot, being only a few inches from Frollo's chin. My leg, sadly, was never the same.
Five years ago I had scraped my knee…well…skinned it sounded more accurate. I found out a year later that my father was dead. Well anyway, I had skinned it by trying to visit him…when I found out about Clopin the King of Gypsies. I went looking for him in sewage and…well, messed up my knee even more. It healed, yes, but I now walked with a limp.
My horse, a pretty white one named 'Flower', neighed as I slowed it down. We were on the outside of town, in the country side. I smiled, loving the view of it all. Closing my eyes, I allowed the wind to take my hair and caress my face, my skin. The dress and corset I wore choked the hell out of me but the way the wind snuck into my cloak, making it fly…I smiled.
The sounds of Frollo's horse slamming its hooves on the ground echoed loudly. They slowed down the louder they got. Smiling weakly, I turned to look at Frollo who was behind me. I jumped a bit.
"You fool, what were you doing?! You need to learn to obey…" He started his usual rant. To shut him up, I let the back of my smooth hand touch his cheek lovingly. Smirking, I winked.
"I'm sorry Claude but I'm a free spirit…come on, I'll walk with you back to the Palace; no race this time, I promise." I said softly, my smile shutting him up and stopping the ability for him to think.
I had the affect on him, I noticed lately. Weird how a woman can seduce and melt a man with one look and yet, we obey them like dogs. Our horses walked side by side, obviously tired from the sudden run. Claude's red ribbon on his hat floated in the air as my hair did.
"Claude…" I spoke softly, entering the city once more. "Do you think I can go see Phoebus for a while tomorrow? He promised me another lesson on horse riding." The truth was, he was planning on letting me watch him men train. I hated the mere thought of touching a sword, especially after father died, but I loved to see the soldiers fight.
"Perhaps…" He said distantly.
When we entered the Palace, I stretched. Ever since that day at the market, Phoebus and I had become good friends. He was like a brother to me actually; goofy beyond belief but trustworthy, just like Claude had said the first time we met. I still teased him about how he had to carry me, insisting that a light girl like myself was too heavy for him. He would counter by saying that 'light' was the last word he could use to describe me.
Frollo took my hand, helping me down from Flower. I winced when my right leg touched the ground; my weigh resting on it was very…unfamiliar at first. That was probably the only reason why I hated riding a horse.
"I think I'll read a little before dinner. Is that alright Claude?" I asked casually, hoping to read a novel I bought for myself. He always assumed I was reading the Bible…ironic actually. A maturing girl like myself…well, the novel I bought was full of…fiery romance. If he ever found out…
"Yes, that's fine. Just change and put your hair up, please." He said softly, looking around with another distant look on his face.
Walking into a very old looking bookstore, I wondered if people even came here. I wondered if someone actually worked here! After all, how many people read in this city?
In the back of the room, my 14 year old self was searching for a gift to…myself actually. I was searching for an adventure, a silly sappy story of a girl finding love. I found the love part…a very detailed love part.
Hiding it under my cloak after paying for it, I hugged it to my bosom. Making sure no one would see, servant or maid, I hid it under my pillow.
With a heavy sigh, I put up the book and stood at the window. My lessons to sing lately had been boring…once again. Opening the music book with notes and lyrics, I frowned. Who in the world would actually give such lyrics about 'obeying' to a teenager?
Opening it to the last page, I smiled. I had written down a few words by myself, making a song out of it. Being trapped up in this Palace, I sat on the window bay and cleared my throat. Watching several birds fly by and make a nest near the window, I smiled. Looking back at the caged one, the one I had saved those years ago, the off spring of it…I smiled sadly.
"Green finch, and linnet bird,
Nightingale, blackbird,
How is it you sing?
How can you jubilate
sitting in cages
never taking wing?
Outside the sky waits
beckoning!
Beckoning!
Just beyond the bars...
How can you remain
staring at the rain
maddened by the stars?
How is it you sing
anything?
How is it you sing?
Green finch. and linnet bird,
nightingale, blackbird
How is it you sing?
Whence comes this melody
constantly floating?
Is it rejoicing or merely aloaming?
Are you discussing?
Or fussing?
Or simply dreaming?
Are you crowing?
Are you screaming?
Ringdove and robinet
is it for wages?
Singing to be sold?
Have you decided it's safer in cages
singing when you're told?
My cage has many rooms
damask and dark...
Nothing there sings,
not even my lark.
Larks never will, you know,
when they're captive.
Teach me to be more
adaptive.
Ah...
Green Finch, and Linnet Bird,
nightingale, blackbird,
teach me how to sing.
If I cannot fly...
Let me sing."
My voice, although not perfect, was soft and gentle, yet high at times. That's one of the things that made me laugh, the memory of me screaming high pitched when I saw the skeletons in the catacombs.
The song echoed far more than I meant for it to, probably reaching Frollo's ears. Ignoring it for now, I hit the song and stood before a mirror. Using a brush, I took out the tangles from the wind. Honestly…why women went through pain to look pretty…
Putting up my hair, I smiled. Frollo will be pleased, I'm sure.
As I walked to the dining room, I hesitated at a window. The sound of a faint tambourine made its way up to me, wrapping around my body and tempting it to dance like a puppet on strings. Biting my lips, I resisted and looked out. There on the corner was Esmeralda dancing. She was still beautiful as the day I saw her, the day she distracted the soldier from…There he was! Phoebus was watching!
Chuckling, I thought about what they would look like as a couple. There were times me and the blond would tease each other but never about gypsies. Sighing, I closed my eyes for a second. Clopin…
13 year old me chuckled as I hid from the King of Gypsies. I was in a barrel, thankfully one that was empty. All I needed to worry about was two things; hiding from Clopin and not getting rolled away.
I had told Claude that I was going to church and right after it ended, I "bumped" into Clopin. Well actually, I tackled him but that's beside the point. Several moments later, the lid opened and I looked up to see a smirking puppet master.
"Found you!" He stated the obvious.
I giggled and held out my hands, "Little help? I was a little gluttonous with the crème drops last night."
Clopin laughed at this, grabbing both my hands with his gloved ones and pulled me up. Seeing that I was unable to jump out of the tall barrel without harming my healing knee, he picked me up and I yelped. "Clopin! Don't hurt yourself, I'm heavy."
His laughter echoed like music as he held me, "Don't worry, my girl, you're as light as a sac of flour!"
"Thanks…wait, was that an insult?" I looked confused, making him chuckle. My arms were around his neck and…he was so…so warm. Unable to resist, I buried my face at the crook of his neck, hearing him inhale sharply.
"Lavender!" Claude's voice interrupted my flash back. "Lavender for the seventh time, get your head out of the…" He sounded angry.
Turning around, I softly placed my finger on his lips, silencing him. It was obvious how stunned he was at my put-up-hair. "Claude…please calm down. It's not good for your health if you grow angry at everything. Let's eat." I leaned forward as I whispered this and, what surprised me was that I actually…wanted to kiss him.
Next chapter: Feast of Fools; friendship with Phoebus; Frollo & Clopin. Review please
