Half an hour passed and the two were almost finished cooking when Esmeralda turned to Florika. She didn't expect Florika and Jehan to be so kind, at first Esmeralda assumed the two would be like the Archdeacon. But after cooking with Florika, Esmeralda started to feel safe around her. Esmeralda began to inhale deeply and began to speak
"So how did you meet Jehan?" She asked with a shy smile.
"I met him at a brothel in Paris a couple years back" Florika replied as she started to get plates and cutlery. "We started chatting and eventually got into a relationship," Florika said, chuckling as she started to set the table.
"What do you think about the Archdeacon?" Esmeralda said with an embarrassed tone.
"Oh Claude? He's a strange man, very passionate about his religion and can get caught up in it" Florika started as she turned to face Esmeralda after finishing setting the table. "But he means well, he didn't have the greatest childhood, nor did Jehan but at least they had each other. The priests that took them in at Notre dame tried to force the religion on them extensively." Florika answered as she picked up the pot of cooked vegetables and started to put them on the plates. "I suppose that's the reason he acts the way he does, he doesn't know how to interact with people who aren't priests"
"When did you meet him?" Esmeralda said as she helped Florika put food on the plates
"I met him a few weeks after I met Jehan, he introduced me to Claude on his birthday." Florika replied, finishing putting the remaining food on the last plates. "He didn't approve of us at first but slowly warmed up to me over time" She said chuckling "Maybe he thought I was some sort of gypsy witch" Esmeralda averted her gaze from Florika, 'so the archdeacon really hates gypsies that much' she thought. Noticing that Esmeralda was looking away from her Florika started to speak again
"Well I think we're done setting up, we should probably call the men inside" Florika gestured for Esmeralda to follow her towards the front door of the house.
When they reached the door the two could see Claude and Jehan talking about something at the entrance. Jehan was the first to notice the two and gave a smile to them. Claude followed Jehans gaze and noticed the two standing in the corridor.
"It's good to see you again Florika" Claude said flatly as he and Jehan walked towards the two.
"You don't seem awfully happy to see me" Forika said in a mocking tone "Dinners ready boys, why don't we talk over the meal?" Florika and Esmeralda led the two men into the kitchen where they sat down at the table. Jehan, Esmeralda and Florika had all picked up their forks and started to eat when they heard Claude start praying in a foreign language. "Benedic, Domine, nos et haec tua dona quae de tua largitate sumus sumpturi, per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen" He then picked up a knife and fork and started eating.
"How have you been, brother?" Jehan said with a mouth full of food "You finally sick of the priests at Notre dame?"
Claude rolled his eyes and began speaking "I thank you for letting us stay brother"
"Oh don't mention it, that's what family does" Jehan said laughing. "So how long do you two intend to stay?"
"I'm not sure right now, perhaps a few weeks" Claude replied with a grumble as he continued to eat.
"Well you both can stay here as long as you want" Florika said with a smile "It gets lonely with just the two of us, it would be nice to have more faces around" Esmeralda smiled warmly at Florika after hearing her words and returned to eating.
"I hope my brother isn't boring you to death Esmeralda" Jehan said laughing again "He doesn't know how to have fun"
Esmeralda laughed at this statement and replied "no, not yet", Claude rolled his eyes again in disdain and continued to eat.
During the course of the meal everyone except Claude were chatting and laughing, Esmeralda started to feel comfortable around Florika and Jehan, the two made her feel at home, she felt safe. She even managed to forget for a moment why she was there in the first place. A few minutes later everyone had finished their meals, Florika and Esmeralda helped gather all the plates and cutlery to wash up, while Jehan and Claude dusted the table off.
"You don't have to help me do the washing up, you must be tired from your journey, Jehan can show you to the guest bedroom" Florika said as she started washing up. Esmeralda nodded, turning her attention to Jehan who started to lead her to the bedroom, Jehan opened the door and let Esmeralda walk in. The room was small but cosy, there was a double bed on the right side of the room and a small writing desk situated next to it. On the left side stood a large shelf filled with books and a candle. "You two will be staying in here" Jehan said warmly, Esmeralda shuddered at the realisation that she would be spending the night with the archdeacon but before she could say anything Claude spoke up behind them.
"I'll sleep in the lounge room to give Esmeralda space" He said coldly, then turning his attention to Jehan "Do you have any spare clothes for us brother?"
Esmeralda began to turn a shade of crimson as she remembered that she was dressed in a white prison gown. Her mind was so busy having fun with Florika and Jehan that she had completely forgotten about the fact she was dressed in such a thin fabric because.
Jehan thought for a moment then spoke "The clothing we have wouldn't fit you Claude, while Florika may have some spare clothes that would fit Esmeralda but we can however make you some, Florika is an excellent seamstress and we have all the materials" Claude nodded approvingly and started heading down stairs, Jehan then turned his attention back to Esmeralda, "It's getting late so why don't you go have a bath?" He said warmly "Nothing like a good bath to relax your muscles and soothe the mind"
"I'd love to" Esmeralda said smiling as Jehan led her to the washroom, he handed her a towel and a night gown before he drew her a bath. When the tub was full Jehan turned the tap off and left to give Esmeralda her privacy. She took off her clothes and touched the water with her toe, checking to see how hot the water was. She was satisfied with the temperature and began to climb into the bath. When Esmeralda was sitting fully in the bathtub she started relaxing feeling the warm water cover her body like a blanket, even letting herself forget everything that had happened to her.
After about half an hour she got out and dressed, she carefully started walking back to her room and climbed into bed. She let herself lay there for a few minutes relishing in the softness of the sheets before she rolled onto her side and fell into a dreamless sleep.