Chapter Eleven: The Court of Miracles

Eventually, Drew and Hiccup arrived at the graveyard, and Drew stopped in front of a large tomb with a cross on it.

"This looks like the symbol on the map." Drew observed.

"But what does it mean?" Hiccup asked.

"I'm not sure." Drew said as he held a torch Hiccup brought close to the tomb. "I can make out an inscription, but it's going to take a few minutes to translate it."

Heeding a sudden impulse, Hiccup shoved away the cover of the tomb to reveal a long dark stairway.

"Yeah well, or we could just go down those stairs." Drew said as they both looked down.

They walked down the stairs and ended up in a dank, dark sewer. The water was a murky green and skeletons framed the walls.

"Is this the Court of Miracles?" Hiccup asked.

"Off hand, I'd say this is the Court of Ankle-Deep Sewage." Drew said sarcastically. "We must be in the old catacombs." They walked through the sewage and looked at the skeletons. "Kinda makes you wish you got out more often, eh Hiccup?"

"Not me." Hiccup said as they walked through the sewer water. "I just want to warn Iris and get back to the Bell Tower before we get into anymore trouble."

"Speaking of trouble, we should have run into some by now." Drew said as he held the torch up.

"What do you mean?" Hiccup asked.

"You know a guard or a booby trap…" Suddenly, the torch Drew was holding went out. "Or an ambush."

Suddenly, several torches came on and several people in skeleton costumes jumped down and restrained the two as Trader Johann arrived, but he looked much darker than usual, as if he's either smeared himself with dirt or else he bathed himself in milk for when he went outside. He was now dressed in a long red cloak with blue pants.

"Well, well, well." Johann said with a sneer. "What have we here?

"Trespassers!" The gypsies called out as they removed their skull masks. "Spies!"

"We're not spies-!" Drew said before the gypsies gagged him.

"You've got to listen to-!" Hiccup tried to say before they gagged him as well.

"Don't interrupt me." Johann said with a dark smile. "You're very clever to have found our hideaway. Unfortunately, you won't live to tell the tale."

Maybe you've heard of a terrible place

Where the scoundrels of Paris collect and affair!

Maybe you've heard of that mythical place called the Court of Miracles!

"Hello, you're there." Johann said with a malicious grin.

Where the lame can walk,

And the blind can see.

"But the dead don't talk." Johann chuckled as Hiccup and Drew were tied up. "So you won't be around to reveal what you've found."

We have a method for spies and intruders

Rather like hornets protecting their hive!

Here in the Court of Miracles

Where it's a miracle if you get out alive!

Hiccup and Drew were brought out to a large room where several gypsy wagons and the like were. Near the entrance was a gallows.

"Gather around everybody!" Johann called out. "There's good noose tonight! It's a double header! A couple of Alvin's spies!"

The gypsies booed.

"And not just any spies." Johann continued. "It's the captain of the guard and his loyal bellowing henchman."

Justice is swift in the Court of Miracles.

I am the lawyers and judge all in one!

We like to get the trial over with quickly

Because it's the sentence that's really the fun!

"Any last words?" Johann asked.

All Hiccup and Drew could say were mumbled attempts at explanation.

"That's what they all say." Johann said with a smirk.

Now that we've seen all the evidence-

"Wait, I object!" Johann's young apprentice, Fishlegs called out.

"Overruled!" Johann called out.

"I object!" Fishlegs continued.

"Shut it!" Johann shouted.

"Dang." Fishlegs whimpered as he backed off.

We find you totally innocent,

Which is the worst crime of all.

So you're going to hang!

Before Johann could pull the lever and end Drew and Hiccup's lives, Iris ran out calling "STOP!"

Iris then climbed up and approached Johann.

"These men aren't spies. They're our friends."

"Well why didn't they say so?" Johann asked like a father to a daughter.

"WE DID SAY SO!" Drew and Hiccup replied angrily as Iris took the gags off.

"This is the soldier who saved the miller's family." Iris said as she untied Drew and then went to Hiccup. "And Hiccup helped me escape the cathedral."

"We came to warn you!" Drew cried out as he walked to the edge of the gallows. "Alvin is coming! He says he knows where you're hiding, and he's attacking at dawn with a thousand men!"

"Then let's waste no time." Iris said calmly. "We must leave immediately."

Everyone agreed and rushed to get their belongings.

"You took a terrible risk coming here." Iris said as she, Drew, and Hiccup came down. "It may not exactly show, but we're grateful."

Iris then hugged Drew as he smiled before Hiccup caught Drew looking at him and backed off and gently pushed Hiccup in front of Iris.

"Don't thank me." Drew said. "Thank Hiccup. Without his help, I would have never found my way here."

"Nor would I!" Alvin's voice ran out as he appeared on top of the gallows with several guards running down and capturing every gypsy, including Twilight, Drew, Iris, and Hiccup.

"After over 15 years of searching," Alvin said with relish. "The Court of Miracles is mine at last!"

Alvin then walked up to Hiccup and grinned in a way that made Hiccup uneasy.

"Dear Hiccup Haddock, I always knew you'd someday be of use to me." Alvin said his dark smile growing by the second.

"No." Hiccup whispered in fear.

"What are you talking about?" Iris asked angrily.

"Why the poor boy led me right to you, my dear." Alvin said with a smirk.

"You're a liar." Iris said.

"Oh, he didn't know he was leading me, my men and I were already ready, and we simply followed the two in." Alvin said. He then turned to Drew. "And look what else I've caught in my net. Captain Drew Knight back from the dead. Another "miracle" no doubt. I shall remedy that."

Alvin then turned to the whole crowd of captured gypsies.

"There'll be a little bonfire in the village square tomorrow, and you're all invited to attend." Alvin said with a widening smirk. "Lock them up."

"No." Hiccup begged as he knelt before his master's feet and held up his arms. "Please Master!"

Alvin simply looked down angrily at Hiccup, and Hiccup sobbed.

"Take him back to the bell tower." Alvin said as two guards picked Hiccup up, and he didn't fight them. "And make sure he stays there."

Chaos dose not own The Hunchback of Notre Dame or HTTYD but she owns Iris and Twilight the Snow Fury, Hikari belongs to WingBladeWeaver1357, and Drew belongs to RedDiEnd.