After I finished eating, I slept a little more. I've been feeling so terribly tired lately... It must have something to do with the whole situation. My psyche was simply overwhelmed with it. I didn't know how long I had slept when I was awakened by a knock. I sat up, startled, which was also associated with some pain, and called out: "Come in!"
"Come in" came Raphael. He paused in the doorway, bowed briefly, I could already see a familiar hump looming behind him, and then Raphael said, "I've brought you someone."
Raphael stepped aside to reveal Quasimodo, who looked at me in shock at first, but then happily.
Then the ringer rushed up to me and hugged me a little too hard, making me gasp. I pinched his upper arm to get him to let go of me.
"What happened?" Quasimodo then asked me.
"Long story...I'm afraid...I can't go back to Notre Dame." I said, hanging my head. Saying this sentence was so incredibly difficult for me.
"Why?" Quasimodo asked me naively.
"Brother Martin... he has something against me. I don't know what, but he wanted to get rid of me. And not just once," I said.
"What? No, impossible," Quasimodo said, shaking his head.
"Nothing is impossible. Frollo is the best example," I replied.
Quasimodo hung his head: "But why?"
"He thinks I'm a witch. Remember when he was injured in the belfry? He wanted to kill me because I'm a witch and I would give birth to a witch child. After he was unsuccessful, he hired a mercenary to take me to the Bastille. I was there I don't know how long until said mercenary helped me escape. It was Raphael, the man who brought you here.", I said and looked at the door, which Raphael closed had after stepping out again.
"He kidnapped you... and freed you?" Quasimodo asked confused, "Why?"
"I don't know. But... the whole thing wasn't without consequences... Unfortunately.", I said and my eyes filled with tears.
Quasimodo looked at me in shock and put his hand on mine.
"I lost our child... On the run," I said after a long pause.
Quasimodo hung his head, then said, "It's not your fault. That happens a lot around here."
"I know," I said, sighing heavily.
"I'm sure it will work next time." Quasimodo said, nodding at me. I looked at him speechless. I hadn't expected that dry reply from him. But as he said, during that time it happened a lot. Only rarely did children survive birth in the Middle Ages. The mothers often died as well. Luckily I was spared that. Quasimodo sat next to me on the bed and put an arm around me.
"What do you want to do now?" Quasimodo asked.
"I don't know," I replied, "Right now I don't have enough strength to run, and even if I could: I'm wanted. If I step outside and a soldier sees me, I'll be back faster in the Bastille than I'd like," I said.
"And if you...leave Paris?" Quasimodo asked.
Raphael rose from the stairs. He had waited long enough. He no longer wanted to be locked out of his own room, which he was paying for! He went back up the steps and listened at the door. Then he heard Regina shout in horror: "Leave Paris?! Never in my life!"
Raphael knocked on the door and entered.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
Regina looked very excited and scolded: "Oh yes! My husband wants to get rid of me!"
Quasimodo looked embarrassed at the man who had brought him here. The sight was too delicious if the situation were not so serious.
"I doubt that he wants to get rid of you.", said Raphael soothingly, "He wants to help you. You can't stay here forever, you know that as well as I do.
"And where should I go please?" Regina continued to curse.
"To Reims," Quasimodo said instantly.
"To Reims?!" Regina asked helplessly.
"Reims? Why Reims?" asked Raphael.
"My parents live there, they know you. They would definitely take you in," Quasimodo said.
"And I'm safe from the... Inquisition?" Regina asked intimidated.
"Probably not.", said Raphael, "But with a different identity, grass could grow over it and someday you might even be able to return."
"And how am I supposed to get to Reims unrecognized?" asked Regina.
Quasimodo seemed to be thinking, while Raphael said, "We'll think of something. You can't get up just yet anyway."
Raphael approached Quasimodo: "You could contact your parents that they will have a visitor soon. But don't mention who it is in the letter. Otherwise our plan could be jeopardized."
The bell ringer nodded to him. Then Quasimodo kissed Regina on the cheek and left the room in no time.
"Why are you doing this?" Regina asked Raphael.
"... I don't know for sure myself.", the mercenary replied thoughtfully.
