Chapter 35:
The trio remained up in the bell tower, resting to recover both from their wounds and the night's horrors. Quasimodo was more than happy to cede his usual bed to his friends who were both suffering from physical injuries, especially since caring for them helped distract him from what had just happened.
Esmeralda could see it in his eyes, something he was just barely holding back.
"Y-You're married now so it's all right," he said, patting Esmeralda's hand gently as if he were some monk caring for an invalid.
He really may as well be.
Phoebus was beside her with his arms firmly locked there, and he instructed Quasimodo in bandaging and splinting her foot, a task for which Quasimodo was grateful.
"You know, what you did was brave," Esmeralda wheezed softly, hoping if she spoke quietly enough, nobody would notice how her voice was choked.
Quasimodo looked quietly at her, then said, "He was my master…"
"He was cruel, and wanted to kill you both and anyone else who got in his way," Phoebus said. "Now you're free."
Quasimodo looked down, and after a moment said, "But I killed him."
"Before he could kill me, which would have killed you," Esmeralda said. "I think even God would approve of that."
"You think?" Quasimodo asked, and his one good eye widened at her.
"I know," Esmeralda said, and gestured for him to come and take another hug. "Tomorrow, we'll all go down to the city and we'll tell everyone what happened."
"I claimed sanctuary for you, if anyone tries to arrest you, you stay."
"Thank you, my friend," Esmeralda said, but that was when they heard footsteps approaching.
Phoebus placed a hand over her head, and Quasimodo whirled around to menace the door.
"Esme!" Clopin wheezed, and then Esmeralda heard Djali bleat at her. The two of them ran up to Esmeralda, and she showered them in kisses while Clopin held her firmly in a hug.
"You're bleeding…" she noted, but Clopin waved a dismissive hand.
"I had to leave my scythe downstairs, but I've never felt more alive!" Clopin said, and flexed one skinny arm. "I thought I would never see you again…" he cast a sharp glance at Phoebus. "I'm going to watch you, Captain. You had better do right by Esme."
"You can count on me," Phoebus rumbled.
Esmeralda was smiling up at Clopin and then she noticed a figure behind him, in a blood spattered monk's robe. "Pierre… have you taken a vow of silence?"
Clopin clasped his hands and looked upward. "Oh, thank you!" he cried dramatically.
"Not quite, I'm afraid," Pierre said, walking into the room, and giving Quasimodo a shake of the hand. "Your performance last night was marvelous! Would you permit me to write a play about it?"
Quasimodo's mouth dropped open. "Oh, oh no, sir, I couldn't—"
"What if you got to play yourself?" Pierre asked. "We could split the profits!"
"If we're splitting profits, I want in," Clopin said.
"Ah, take that talk elsewhere," Phoebus said. "Esme and I could use some rest and relaxation.
"Oh, right!" Quasimodo cleared his throat. "Everyone out, let our friends sleep." He cast a smile over his shoulder as he ushered the others out, and winked with his good eye.
"Think that counts as his blessing?" Phoebus asked.
"If it is, we're infinitely blessed, now."
"Yes… seems to me your 'someday' has already come… now lets' rest, and enjoy it."
Later that day, the Archdeacon of Notre Dame announced to the Parisians in the square that not only were Quasimodo, Esmeralda and Phoebus alive, but the King himself had pardoned them of all wrongdoings.
It took some months before Esmeralda's feet had healed enough just to walk without help, and still longer before she could dance.
Soon after the events of that January, Phoebus received a letter from his parents, which chastised him for dissolving the marriage arrangements with the Gondelaurier family. He then had to reply that he had married Esmeralda, and that was the end of it.
"It isn't really the end," Esmeralda said when he had dictated it out to her. "They won't accept me."
"Not without some prodding," Phoebus said thoughtfully, then quickly wrote out an addendum at the end of the letter. "That's why we'll have to go convince them to."
Author's Note: For those of you who have enjoyed this little romp, I hope you will be inspired to read my professional novels, but even if you aren't, stay tuned to see the sequel forthcoming to this piece.