Mira took me through the woods, all the while giving me tips about Paris.
"Notre Dame," Mira told me, "Make sure you get to Notre Dame before anything else. If something goes wrong, you can claim sanctuary so no one can harm you until the problem is solved." I nodded; I had always wanted to see Notre Dame. When Mira mentioned it aloud, it made my spine quiver.
"I will," I said, "What else?" Mira thought for a moment.
"The gypsies," she reminded me, "Look among the gypsies." I pondered this thought for a moment until I realized what Mira was telling me.
"My mother is a gypsy?!" I cried softly. Mira nodded.
"I feel certain that your mother would want to explain the marriage," she mused, "But yes, your mother is a gypsy." I shook my head. It felt so surreal.
"It's getting dark," Mira said, "And cold. We need to go back." I nodded, and we began to head to the mansion.
"Why did you tell me all of this out here?" I wondered. "Why not at the mansion?" Mira shrugged.
"The walls have ears," she said simply. I knew why she was afraid; someone would overhear us and report back to my father and we would be found out. I felt something similar to ice run through my veins. Mira had told me that the plan was much more complicated in reality than it is on paper; she was right.
As the days went by, I grew more and more anxious. Finally, the set day arrived when I was to leave for Paris.
"Where is Notre Dame exactly?" I asked. I was filling a rough cloth sack with some provisions for the road. The kitchen staff assumed I was going on a picnic with Mira.
"Follow the bells," Mira said. "The way you will be going, you should be going toward Notre Dame. If you do get lost, be careful of whom you ask directions." I nodded. Gypsy was nearly ready. Mira would ride part of the way with me to avoid as much suspicion as possible. I was scared, very scared. All I knew of Notre Dame, and of Paris for that matter, was what I had read and what Mira had told me.
We rode out an hour later. As soon as we got to the crossroads, Mira dismounted and motioned for me to do the same. She handed me a bundle of boy's clothes.
"Stay disguised as a boy until you find your mother," Mira advised. "Things will be much easier." I nodded and went behind a large bush to change. When I came out, Mira was smiling.
"Well, my darling," she said, "I couldn't tell you from a country lad if I didn't know better!" I laughed, gave Mira my riding habit, and remounted.
"Don't forget this," Mira said as she handed me the unopened package from my mother. I took it gratefully and slipped it into my coat pocket.
"Thank you, Mira," I said. "For everything. I am eternally in your debt." Mira smiled and swung into her own saddle. She reached over and gave me a hug. I felt her tears in my hair.
"We will see each other again someday," I said to Mira. "I promise."
"Farewell, Alianore," Mira said. "I love you. Good luck!" I nodded and spurred Gypsy into a gallop towards Paris.
Several hours later, I stopped at a rest house thirty miles from Paris.
"How much is it for one night's stay and care for my horse?" I asked keeping my voice low. The innkeeper stared at me.
"Now why might a wee lad like you be traveling alone?" he asked. My mind raced.
"I'm actually eighteen, sir," I lied. "I'm a bit small for my age." The innkeeper laughed.
"That's fine, son," he said. "What's your name?" I thought quickly.
"Erik," I said. The innkeeper smiled.
"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Erik," he said. "It will cost twenty-five francs; ten for the room and fifteen for stabling your horse." I nodded and drew the money from my sack.
"Thank you, sir," I said. He smiled and motioned for the next customer. I went back outside and gave Gypsy to a stable boy. As he took the reins, I handed him two silver pieces.
"From one lad to another," I said with a smile. The boy laughed, thanked me, and walked away. I went up to my room and sat down. One thing Mira hadn't done was cut my hair. I was lucky I hadn't been required to take off my hat. I locked my door, shut my window, and took out my belt knife. This was going to be difficult.
About thirty minutes later, my reflection didn't show a girl of sixteen, but a sturdy boy of about eighteen. What I was going to do with my hair, I had no idea. I bound it up with string and put it back in my bag. I looked out the window; a full moon was beginning to peek over the horizon. I groaned, changed into my nightclothes, and went to sleep.
When I woke up in the morning, I went down to breakfast feeling slightly stiff. The mattress hadn't been extremely comfortable, but I suspected nothing I slept on would be too comfortable for the next few weeks. I ate while the stableboy brought Gypsy to the front. I handed him five copper pieces after I was mounted.
"Thank you," I said. "It takes a special hand to keep Gypsy calm." He laughed and said goodbye. I waved once before spurring Gypsy into an easy canter. As I rode through the rolling countryside, I thought hard. Where would I start looking? The only clue I had been given was Notre Dame. I hoped there would be someone there, anyone, who could help me.
The sky was just beginning to blush twilight when I rode into Paris. I didn't know where I was. I remembered Mira's warning about being careful of whom I asked directions. I went up to a flower seller and asked her in a low voice, "How often do they ring the bells of Notre Dame?" She looked at me as if I was daft.
"Every hour," she said, "So they should be ringing any minute now." I thanked her.
"If you're looking for it," she added, "It's in that direction." She pointed in the direction I had been going. I thanked her again and rode away. Five minutes later, I heard a sweet ringing on the air.
"Notre Dame," I breathed. "It's the bells of Notre Dame!" I went as fast as I dared, trying to avoid the people who were leaving the city. I turned a bend in the road and saw it. I pulled on the reins slowly, and Gypsy stopped.
Notre Dame rose, enormous and majestic, into the faintly purple sky. Two towers stood like guards over the doors. The rose windows I'd only ever been told of gleamed like rainbows in the fading sunlight. I was still a good 400 meters away, but that didn't lessen the effect at all.
"Incroyable," I breathed. I nudged Gypsy into a walk when a sudden shout made me yank on the reins.
"You there! Boy!" an authoritative voice screeched. I looked around; the voice must be talking to me. I whirled. It was a large, muscular man sitting on a white horse with several guards behind him.
"Yes?" I replied nervously. I did not like the looks on their faces.
"Where did you get that horse?" the man on the white horse demanded. I gasped; they thought I was a horse thief.
"She's mine!" I declared angrily. The men laughed.
"Really?" the man on the white horse said. He seemed to be their leader.
"Truly!" I shouted. "She is mine!" Gypsy began to prance beneath me.
"I don't believe you," the leader said. "A black horse was reported missing earlier today."
"What?!" I shrieked. "I didn't arrive here but ten minutes ago!" The guards still didn't believe me.
"Arrest him," the leader ordered. I screamed and took Gypsy at a wild canter through the streets. I could hear the men behind me. I was starting to panic; suddenly, Gypsy stopped. I flew over her neck and landed at the feet of a gypsy. She looked thoroughly confused.
"Are you hurt?" she asked. I looked behind me. The men were drawing closer.
"I'm fine," I insisted. "Could you please help me remount?" The woman cupped her hands obligingly and tossed me into the saddle.
"Are you running from the guards?" she demanded, casting an annoyed look at the guards.
"Yes," I said quickly before kicking Gypsy back into a canter. I went in back of Notre Dame and put Gypsy in what appeared to be a work shed.
"I'll be back later, I promise," I said quickly. I dashed outside and was greeted by the men ten meters away. I screamed and bolted for the front doors of Notre Dame. The bells stopped ringing. I scrambled up the stairs screaming, "Sanctuary!" I pounded the great oaken doors with all my might. The doors opened a few seconds later. I literally fell in and landed hard. A strange looking person was staring at me as if I were a lunatic.
"Sanctuary," I breathed. I kept repeating over and over before losing consciousness.