A/N Please R&R

After the initial crisis was over and after Esmeralda felt that Claude was stable enough; she started moving about the various rooms gathering more things to use. Water was carried from the kitchens through many buckets and poured into her own personal cauldron. She had taken it with her during her move to the Palace of Justice and it always came in handy.

She had noticed another smaller fireplace located in his bedroom along the left wall, on the other side of his bed when she entered. The medium pot fit perfectly, she hung it over the flames with the handle by a hook and brought the water to a boil. She wanted to have the water on hand, just in case he was thirsty when he woke up and she knew having extra clean water to wash wounds would be a good thing to have. Starting the fire in the first place was a good idea altogether, for it was getting colder outside as the night went on.

After all was done, after making a small checklist of all she gathered, her curiosity got the better of her and she wanted to explore around the vast hall. At that point, all she could do was wait and she couldn't resist looking around. Even though this place had frightened her before at one time, it always intrigued her and she couldn't resist a free chance to see where Claude resided. Besides, she could pop in and check on him from time to time while she explored. She figured he would be out for the rest of the night.

She had dressed his back well enough so he could lie comfortably however he wanted and not be in pain whilst sleeping. He was currently on his left side and facing her towards the front of the room. She stood there for a minute and just studied his sleeping form. She decided to cover him a bit more, just in case he got cold. Without breaking her sight from him, she backed away slowly and with one more glance, she turned away quietly and moved through the small arch doorway and had to stop and take in the actual differences of the two rooms. It wasn't just the sizes in general, it was the completely opposite ambiance they both held. One was small and humble, the other, more majestic and royal.

"Just like the man himself." She spoke under her breath as she slowly moved towards the tall double doors at the end of the great room. In her slow stroll, she looked to her left and followed the row of benches along the wall. Her eyes glanced up to adore the tall diamond cut windows above. She stopped, after she had pasted the benches and moved toward the last few. She leaned in, rubbed the condensation off the cold glass and peered through.

The window brought the singing cathedral into clear view, just across the low Paris homes below. The two buildings couldn't have been more different from each other. It was always strange, but she always felt as if the two structures were in a continuous battle with one another, always had their own idea of morality and they seemed to always release this tension that affected all that lived between them.

One emanated an idea of total dominance and intimidation that demanded respect. Bringing forth laws that told the fate of all who inhabited the city. It was a place where the scales were tipped, either in your favor or not.

For its occupants, including the great judge, it was believed to be the foundation of Paris' survival. To Esmeralda, the other sent a much more softer message, one that she could support much easier. This place brought forth the sense of safety, peace and shelter. Promises that never were broken to her or her people, once they crossed the threshold, or even when standing on it's very steps. Even though she knew blood had been spilled on them many times prior.

But the difference was the actions that were taken. All that inhabited the sainted walls felt the weight of consequence for each act and let all offenders know that their actions came with a price. A price that could cost them their very soul to damnation. She herself didn't believe in all the folly that was thrown back and forth of course. All Esmeralda needed was the simple reassurance that whatever was threatened to these deadly men, kept them superstitious enough not to harm her once she flew through the doors.

"Justice of the peace verses just peace." She spoke lucidly to the cold glass. Her warm breath fogging the window, giving the illusion that Notre Dame was held by a heavenly cloud. She couldn't help but chuckle as she broke herself away and turned her back to the panes.

Looking above, she followed the bowed ceiling from left to right and eventually reached the gigantic crucifix adorned the empty hearth. With the gigantic man hung upon it in full detail. She made an uneasy face as she stayed glued to her spot, just leering at the relic. Her imagination got the better of her, as she pictured the battered deity jumping off the cross and crushing her under his wide, splintered wooden foot. She tore her gaze away in a rapid turn of the head, as if it just offended her and she came to the realization on how much it really did.

She never understood the fixation and never obtained any peace of what it stood for. She was quickly understanding why Claude was the way he was and it opened up this new resentment in her. It made her stomach turn and it set her nerves on edge.

Thinking of him being taught to remind himself of his daily sins was almost a sick joke. Turning his body into a gory canvas with markings, due to his maladjustments. In reality, it was impossible to keep all that in check, to avoid reprimand and the thought of him bearing it as a small child made her eyes fill to the brim with hot tears. It was inconceivable, it was cruel and it proved to be an insatiable demand from an unforgiving god.

It was clear to her, that he experienced horrors that NO child should ever have to witness, stresses that NO child should have to suffer and responsibilities that NO child should have to worry themselves with. It was abuse at its finest, tied in a fancy, fraudulent, manipulating bow and it made her blood boil. It infuriated her to think they got away with it. Only because it was the norm in their way of life.

She refused to give the thing anymore of her attention, it was hard enough not to act on impulse and burn it in effigy. So she directed her attention towards his desk across the room and could see his clothing was slumped to the ground from where she stood. She could see they had fallen from a small stool next to his high back wooden chair. When she got closer to the rosewood desk, his chaperone came into view. It was sitting over many scribes and scrolls that were in a disheveled manner on top of his desk. Next to many pardons was his regal chalice and it looked to be half full of wine. Most papers looked like they were still awaiting to be signed for his approval. While she was snooping at the many legal documents, she slowly picked up the dark crystal glass, absentmindedly sniffed the dark red contents, drew the glass away from her nostrils and wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Ugh…a bitter drink for a bitter man, I suppose." She stopped at that remark and automatically felt bad for making it. Old habits of biting remarks die hard she thought. She had to stop with the old and start looking at their relationship differently now. She had to except that there was going to be a huge shift in their dynamics and she had to be the one to open up a conversation. She knew it wasn't going to be easy gaining Claude Frollo's trust, but she was a determined soul. The good thing was, Frollo knew this as much as she did.

She found herself staring at the doorway leading to Claude's room still in deep thought and still gripping the glass. She looked down, watched the remaining wine swirl around and before she knew it, she downed the liquid in three huge gulps. She began picking up his amice, robes, hose, shoes and his chaperone at a fast pace. She felt this urge to want to be by his side, like something was calling for her attention from a far. It echoed in her ears and deep in her inner conscience.

Once she had all articles of clothing balanced in her arms, all was dropped to the floor by the time she entered his room. Her eyes went wide with shock and concern filled her features. His belongings were soon trampled on. Esmeralda crossed the room to his bedside in a frantic rush.