Quasimodo has just been made a spectacle of in the festival of fools only shortly after being crowned its king. Judge Frollo looks on without pity as Quasimodo is pelted with food and mocked publicly. The gypsy Esmeralda comes to him silencing the crowd.

Better To Ask Forgiveness than Permission

A fool, that's what he felt like. More than the outlandishly dressed ridiculous fools at the entire festival and more than even the fool Quasimodo had become in the center of the square.

Expectant faces turned to him, waiting for his decision-his judgment on the matter. Although he himself could not decide if he was flattered or insulted by what had just occurred. He took a deep breath in, but it did not help to clear his head on the matter.

The gypsy girl stood by the abomination at the center of the crowd, she had defied him.

"Get down from there at once!" he had yelled to the girl as she approached the creature. His commands lie deafly on her as she quickly cut the few ropes entangling the poor creature, then she did something unexpected. Before he could pour out his wrath on the gypsy girl for defying him-she kneeled and beseeched him.

"Please good Judge!" She cried out to him from across the crowd. "In your wisdom and mercy Judge Frollo, forgive me, your honor; I only wanted to free this suffering creature. As a great man of justice I know you must understand."

Frollo was taken aback by her humble gesture. Mercy? The word dripped with weakness for him, and yet she had addressed him with…respect? He had become almost numb to the despise that spewed from the public on a daily basis in regards from him and yet here was this gypsy calling him 'Good Judge' and regarding him with 'Wisdom'.

He wanted to have her arrested on the spot, but to arrest someone that had just regarded him with respect seemed…foolish.

The expectant faces still stared at him with wide eyes waiting for his response. The gypsy girl looked at him with pleading eyes as she knelt beside Quasimodo.

Frollo's mouth went dry suddenly.

That infernal woman!

Staring at him with eyes like gems he felt his heart skip a beat. Then he said words that surprised even him as he heard them.

"You should feel lucky gypsy that I am in a good mood for such defiance is not normally tolerated on my part. Be gone with both of you!" he said flicking his wrist and bony fingered hand.

The crowd cheered. Esmeralda bowed to him. "Thank you your honor!"

Her piercing green eyes dug into him like daggers, he almost felt wounded by them. He put his hand to his face and sat as he already regretted his decision to be lenient with her, he felt weak.

The festival droned on and the judge carried on watching with the droll festivities under his covered throne like chair. Although the recently crowned 'king of fools' Quasimodo had left limping back to the bell tower he himself felt like the king of fools sitting upon his chair and dully watching over the festival.

"I think you might be the only person here not enjoying himself, your honor." Frollo heard a voice from next to him. He was startled and looked down quickly to see the raven-haired gypsy girl kneeling next to his chair, her eyes shining up at him with a playful smile.

"Girl you best not tempt me to undo my decision from earlier." He warned her coldly, though secretly his heart fluttered at her presence.

"I wouldn't dream of it, your honor. I merely came to thank you for your forgiveness on the matter." She said while looking up at him.

Her words shocked him. He had surmised that she had come to gloat on his weakness, yet here she was thanking him of all things.

"I…" he stumbled in his words while looking down at her. "Yes of course." He nodded and offered her his hand. "You may kiss my ring."

Esmeralda looked confused as he offered his hand to her with its many golden rings beset by jewels adorning his bony fingers. She looked up to him and went past his rings and kissed him on the lips suddenly, pushing her warm red lips against his thin dark ones, his eyes snapped open with a startle. Before he could realize what exactly had happened she was gone in a whirl of red fabric only a flash of bright green eyes and a blushing smile remain in his memory. He blinked shocked by her actions. Sending the guards after her for her transgression seemed within possibility for a moment, and then he realized no one had seen her commit the act. It certainly didn't seem like a joke at his expense this time either because she had not smashed his hat onto his face afterwards. Quickly, he climbed down from his chair and looked around for her, but she was nowhere to be seen, she had vanished into the crowd.

"You there!" he shouted to his captain.

"Yes sir?" the captain responded from atop his horse.

"Where did she go, the gypsy girl?" He asked impatiently.

"Uh which one sir?" he asked looking around at the crowd.

"La Esmeralda you idiot!" he cried irritably.

"Are you alright sir?" The captain asked him as he realized the normal pale skin of the judge was beset with a blush.

"I'm fine… It's nothing…" he said putting a bony finger to his temple as he tried to calm himself.

"Sir, I've heard you can find Esmeralda performing at the Goat and Compass Tavern during the festival." He informed him.

"A lair for thieves and wickedness." Frollo scowled.

"I heard they have a great in-house draught too." The captain mused.

Frollo glared at the captain, who sheepishly smiled and cleared his throat.

Day turned to night as Frollo overstayed his requirement as a political official for the festival. He seemed more irritable than ever as he pushed through the peasants to get to his carriage. Secretly he had been yearning to see another glimpse of Esmeralda as he scanned the crowd for her. He was confused and irritated, why hadn't she just kissed his ring? That would've made things simpler, or rather why hadn't he just arrested her in the first place? That would've been the right thing to do he thought.

The darkness engulfed Frollo as he stepped into his carriage the world seemed darker and duller than ever. The music and feasting continued with the rumble of fireworks somewhere far off in the background. As the carriage pulled out of the square he watched dully out the window as the lights and shadows of the festival passed into the distance.

Sometime later they were passing the alleys on the way back to his home. They crossed over a bridge and Frollo watched the beautiful reflections of the lights of the town on the water. Though he only thought of the beauty of Esmeralda's dance as she came close to him, wrapping her sheer scarf around him and pulling him closer, he had no time to react before she had pecked a kiss onto his nose and shoved his hat into his face. He felt infuriated by her actions, yet she had humbled herself to him and stroked his ego in a way that no one had before, then when he had offered her his ring to kiss she had brazenly kissed him. Frollo felt himself become flushed thinking about it and shifted uncomfortably in the carriage, his heart had started beating faster with the mere thought of her. But the beautiful Esmeralda was gone now; he had no reason to believe he would see her again.

Frollo discreetly pulled the scarf from within his shirt and relished the scent of Esmeralda on it as he rubbed the silken fabric against his cheek.

"Stop Gypsy! I said stop!" he heard an angry yell from outside the carriage that jolted him from his fantasy. Angrily, Frollo peered out the window of the carriage to see a woman running from a soldier towards them. In an instant, Frollo recognized the woman's figure as the beauty he had been seeking all day.

"Stop the carriage!" Frollo commanded the driver excitedly. The clack of hoof beats against the street thundered to a halt as the driver stopped the horses. Before the driver could hop down to open the carriage the door flew open and Frollo's imposing figure and dark robes spilled out of the carriage. Esmeralda's eyes flashed in fear as she suddenly froze as she realized Judge Frollo stood before her. Frollo was ecstatic to see the gypsy girl once again, his lips quivered as he desperately wanted to smile, but he kept a straight face. The soldier caught up to them and stopped, realizing that Judge Frollo was looking over the girl he was trying to arrest.

"Your honor." She managed to say quickly before bowing her head.

"Judge Frollo!" the soldier exclaimed. "This girl has stolen money!" he accused.

"I implore you good judge, I have not stolen anything." She explained as she clutched a small bag.

Frollo looked over her; the torch-light casting dark shadows across his face as he did so making him look almost frightening.

"Let me see child." He said extending his hand out to her.

Hesitantly, Esmeralda handed him the small leather pouch. It jingled with coins; Frollo looked in it briefly and handed it back to her.

"I see nothing but a bag of worthless gypsy charms." Frollo said to the soldier with an unimpressed expression.

"But sir-" the soldier protested.

"-But nothing! Now go back to your post before I have you arrested for insubordination." He pointed angrily at him. The soldier frowned and quickly turned and left, his armor clanking noisily as he briskly walked back to his post.

"Judge Frollo…" Esmeralda started to say in shocked surprise and gratitude.

"You had best keep yourself out of trouble girl; I won't always be around to rule in your favor." He said quickly, snapping at her more than he meant to.

The girl was unabated by his cruel words. "You have spared my life twice, your honor. I am in your debt." She said bowing, the shiny metallic bangles she wore reflecting warm drops of torchlight as she did. "Please let me bring my troupe to your home so that we might entertain you, it is the least I could do." She smiled warmly.

Frollo was caught in her looks and smile placidly until he realized the question she had asked him.

Gypsies in his home? Deplorable! No!

"No!" he yelled as a kneejerk reaction. Esmeralda took a step backwards cautiously at his outburst. Frollo composed himself quickly.

"No." He said calmly. "I have a Godly home; it is no place for a troupe of Gypsies…or their entertainment." He said while smoothing the folds on his sleeves carefully.

"Well," she smirked slightly "If there is anything I can do for you…your honor." She said while fingering the fringe on her dress. Frollo's eyes drunkenly followed her fingers, and then he suddenly locked eyes with hers and felt a knot well up in his throat.

"Yes, let me take you-" Frollo blurted out quickly. Esmeralda's eyes went wide at his request. Frollo choked and cleared his throat quickly. "Let me take you, back to where you are staying." He recovered quickly. "It's my responsibility to make sure these streets are safe from gypsies and their tricks." He said.

"Where are you staying Gypsy?" he asked her.

Esmeralda fiddled with her fingers in front of her awkwardly. She didn't have an answer for him, at least not one she would willingly tell him.

Frollo put a hand to his face and let forth an annoyed sigh.

"Come," he said gesturing towards his carriage after a long moment.

"Judge Frollo I don't need—" she started to say.

"—I can't leave you out here tonight, unless you would like to tell me where I can take you." He said, hinting secretly at the Court of Miracles.

Esmeralda gave him a frightened look then smiled smugly under his stare.

"I'm but a gypsy your honor," she said with a slight bow of her head and open hands. "The streets are my home." She said playfully.

"Hmph." Frollo sneered. "Come then, my home will have to do for keeping you out of trouble for the night." He said opening the carriage door for her.

"I thought you said your home was no place for gypsies, your honor." She said with a hand on her hip.

"You should feel especially honored then, girl," he said looking down on her haughtily past his crooked nose. "You will be the first who has ever set foot there."

He held his hand out like a gentleman for her to take as she climbed in, but she ignored it completely as she easily climbed into the carriage. Frollo looked curiously at his empty hand and then after her as she did so, as he was looking forward to a quick embrace of hands between the two.

Frollo sat across from Esmeralda in the carriage as it started to move once again, he stared at her with his spider-like hands crossed in front of him reverently. It was taking an obscene amount of strength to hide his giddiness from her; his heart was beating so hard he could feel the blood pulsing in his ears. He wanted to leap across the seat and onto her feeling every inch of her bronze skin that mocked him. He locked eyes with her spontaneously and she glanced at his neck quickly then back up at him with a small playful smirk. Frollo looked down at his collar and realized the edge of the gypsies scarf was sticking out of his shirt and was visible to her. He paled in shock as he realized.

Damn!

How had he been so careless!? Frollo was now frozen in dread and embarrassment. Did she recognize it? He would be a fool to think she had not as the ridiculous scarf contrasted sharply with the rest of his attire. He looked away from her quickly and pursed his thin lips hoping that the beads of sweat starting to form on his brow were not visible to her. Suddenly he felt a shift in the carriage and looked back to see the girl sitting by his side, with a playful caution she reached for the purple star and moon adorned scarf sticking out of his collar.

"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" she said smiling playfully at him.

Frozen, and unable to respond he watched with wide eyes as she gently pulled the scarf out, the long purple silken fabric caressing his skin as she did so. As much as he tried Frollo could not repress the small whimpering moan of pleasure that escaped from his lips. The sound did not escape Esmeralda's ears, and she tilted her head playfully at him and blushed.

Somewhere he lay between the feelings of humiliated, angered, nervous, and absolutely burning with desire. Frollo could see nothing now but Esmeralda's eyes, staring him down as she was closer than ever to him in the carriage. She knew his secret, and she now twisted the scarf around her hands delicately and admired it.

Frollo waited for her mocking words, bracing in his humiliation, but she remained silent only quietly admiring the scarf. Reaching up with both her hands she placed the scarf around his neck with feathery movements letting the fabric slide along the skin of his neck delicately. Frollo's eyelids fluttered and his lips parted as he gasped in ecstasy.

Frollo shuddered, was she playing with him? Tempting him openly? Was this her game to tease him?

Frollo snatched her hand by the wrist and held it tightly.

"Brazen woman! Do you realize I'm one of the most powerful men in France!? Do not toy with me!" he said angrily. Esmeralda looked back at him in fear and a touch of guilt as she recoiled from his outburst. Frollo's expression softened somewhat when he saw the fear in her eyes as she looked back at him. He reached out with his bony hand adorned with his rings and touched the side of her face gently while still holding her wrist tightly with his other hand.

"Hmph, but what else should I expect from a gypsy cur such as you?" he said mockingly to her with a devious smile. Esmeralda blushed as he looked down at her piercing her with his eyes. Frollo released her hand and she pulled it back quickly and slipped back to the other side of the carriage all but plastering herself against the seat.

Frollo immediately regretted halting her actions and clenched his ringed fingers into a fist as he focused his attention out the window and tried not to look at her.

**"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" means "What's this?" in French. This is an obscure reference to Dr. LeQuack in Courage the Cowardly Dog and one of the few French lines I've heard.