Chapter 62: The Reconciliation

Stabbed...

It was a terrifying word. A word no one wanted to hear associated with someone they loved. Quasimodo didn't know how to handle it. He didn't want to believe it had happened. But the urgency in the guards' voices told him how serious this was.

Esmeralda had been stabbed, and they didn't know if she would survive.

Dozens of panicked thoughts went through the bell ringer's head. How had this happened? Who had dared to harm Esmeralda?! Was she going to die? And if she was, would Quasimodo even get a chance to say goodbye to his friend? Did she even count him as a friend at this point?

He wished he hadn't lashed out at her. Quasimodo was devastated when he realized that Esmeralda's final memory of him could be of someone who hated her over who she loved. He prayed that wouldn't be it, that he would get a chance to apologize, but there was no telling if that would be possible.

Quasimodo started to cry in a panic as soon as he went away with the guards. Luckily, Elaine went with him, since she was the only person who could really support him at this time. On the way to the palace, the guards explained how Esmeralda had been hurt.

The story was shocking, but even more shocking was what Quasimodo saw after entering the Palace of Justice. After the guards led him and Elaine into a corridor, they saw something incredible.

Claude Frollo sat against the stone wall. He was bare to the waist, covered in blood, and sobbing loudly.

The group of four stopped in the middle of the corridor.

"We'd better leave you to it." One of the guards said before walking away with the other.

Quasimodo stared in shock at the sobbing figure of Frollo. He knew from the guards' story that the blood all over the judge had to be Esmeralda's, which was a horrifying implication. And if he was crying like this...

The bell ringer struggled to bring himself to approach Frollo. He was all but sure that Esmeralda was dead now, but he told himself he had to make sure. He made his way toward the judge with fear and dread of what he would learn, eventually stopping in front of him, but not finding it in him to speak.

Claude looked up when he realized someone was in front of him. His tearful eyes met those of Quasimodo, who looked almost as devastated and panicked as he was. Claude didn't know whether to be glad to see him or not.

"Esmeralda..." Quasimodo started. "Is she... Dead?"

"I don't know..." Claude replied. "The doctor is in there. I tried to save her..."

He didn't manage to say anymore before he choked on a sob, another wave of tears leaving his eyes.

Quasimodo stared silently as his own tears continued to flow. He worried about Esmeralda, but he was also captivated by the sight of the Minister of Justice in this state.

It was no wonder Esmeralda had risked her life to save this man. He loved her...

Elaine quietly watched from a distance, worrying. She felt like she should go over there and do something to comfort Quasimodo, but what could she possibly do right now?

Suddenly, the door on the other side of the corridor opened. The doctor emerged from it.

"She's awake." He announced.

Claude stood up urgently.

"She's alright?" He asked.

"I wouldn't say that." The doctor replied. "But she's going to live."

Claude breathed a loud sigh of relief, as did Quasimodo.

"You saved her life." The doctor said to Claude. "She definitely would have died if you hadn't stopped the bleeding."

Claude was glad his efforts had worked, although it didn't feel like enough. He felt that he should have done more than save her. He should have been able to prevent her getting hurt at all. But now wasn't the time to worry about that.

"Can I see her?" Claude asked.

"Yes." The doctor replied. "But you should probably clean up first. Wouldn't want to scare her."

Claude remembered the blood and looked down at himself. He nodded. It would be better not to see Esmeralda like this.

"Can I see her?" Quasimodo asked. "I'm her friend."

"You may." The doctor agreed. "But be calm when you go in. She's very weak right now."

Quasimodo went into the room. The doctor approached Claude with instructions.

"Make sure she gets plenty of rest. She'll need it. Change the bandage in a few days, and try to make her comfortable. I'm afraid she'll be in pain for a little while."

Claude nodded.

The doctor left, now that his work was done. Claude held up his blood-covered hands and stared at them. He thought of the violent events that had occurred this evening. It pained him to remember how Esmeralda had been hurt. The sight of her blood haunted him. Claude felt responsible for it in a way, since Esmeralda had been hurt while saving him. This shouldn't have happened...

A gentle hand touched Claude's shoulder. He saw Elaine, who looked at him with a sad yet caring expression.

"Do you want me to help?" She offered.

Claude was somewhat embarrassed, but Elaine was right in realizing that it wouldn't be easy for a man to wash his stabbed wife's blood off his body. Claude didn't think he could do it without breaking down.

"Yes..." He replied.

Esmeralda was surprised when she woke up in a bedroom. She felt weak and dizzy, but it was a wonder just to be alive. A simple blanket covered her and a doctor stood by the bed. She quickly asked what had happened, and the doctor explained. Esmeralda was relieved to hear that the fight had ended and Claude was okay. She asked to see him, and the doctor said he would pass on that she was awake.

She noticed the pain just after he left. The knife had wounded the lower left part of her abdomen, just above her pelvis. The wound ached sharply, but Esmeralda was shocked to be alive. She remembered bleeding and passing out in Claude's arms, thinking it would be the last time she saw him. Telling him she loved him had seemed like the last thing she could do before dying in his arms. But he must have managed to stop the bleeding after all. He'd saved her...

The door opened again. Esmeralda expected to see Claude, but instead she was met by a much less expected visitor. It was Quasimodo, whose face was wet with tears.

Quickly yet calmly, he made his way to her side.

"Quasimodo..." Esmeralda murmured in surprise.

"Esmeralda..." The bell ringer said sorrowfully. "I came as soon as I heard! Are you okay?"

"Not great..." Esmeralda replied weakly. "But... I'm glad you're here."

"I was so worried..." Quasimodo shared.

Esmeralda remembered that Claude was supposed to come in here.

"Claude..." She started before remembering who she was with.

"He's coming." Quasimodo assured. "Shortly..."

His tone sounded somewhat disappointed. Esmeralda felt bad for mentioning Claude. She'd only been concerned for him, but she didn't want Quasimodo to feel unappreciated.

"I was just a little worried about him." She explained. "But... I'm really glad you're here."

It was hard for Esmeralda to talk while she felt so weak, but a conversation with Quasimodo was much needed.

He looked at her sorrowfully.

"I'm so sorry this happened." Quasimodo said as he shed another tear. "I wish I'd been there to help. And I wish I hadn't been such a bad friend recently..."

"Quasi..."

"I was so mean to you... Frollo told me the truth. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you, and I'm sorry I lashed out, and... I'm sorry I made you feel like you couldn't be with the person you love."

Esmeralda was taken off guard. This was the last thing she'd expected to hear from Quasimodo after seeing him run from her and say he didn't want to see her anymore.

Even Quasimodo could hardly believe what he was saying. But something had been made clear to him when he'd seen Frollo breaking down in the hallway, and when he'd come in here to find Esmeralda in this state. She'd received this awful injury in the process of saving the man she loved, and she was only alive now thanks to his efforts to keep her from bleeding out.

"Esmeralda," Quasimodo said with some hesitation. "I want you to be with him."

Esmeralda stared at her friend in disbelief.

"You don't..."

"I mean it. He makes you happy and he loves you. He really loves you... You deserve that."

Esmeralda wondered how this had happened. If Quasimodo had come around to the idea of her and Claude being together, did that mean he wasn't feeling resentful anymore?

"Does that mean you... Feel better about him?" Esmeralda asked.

Quasimodo hesitated.

"I don't really know how I feel about him now." He confessed. "But I know he's a good man who loves you, and I want you to be happy."

Esmeralda felt a tear form in her eye.

"Thank you, Quasi..." She managed. "But... I still don't know if I can be with him. There was another reason..."

Quasimodo wanted to ask what the other reason was, but he thought it would be better not to question it right now. Esmeralda was in pain. She needed comfort more than a deep conversation about her love life.

"I'll support you no matter what." Quasimodo promised. "But whatever you do, do it for your happiness. Don't worry about me, okay?"

Esmeralda barely managed a smile as a tear slipped out of her eye.

"You're such a good friend, Quasimodo." She whispered.

Quasimodo smiled back under his drying tears.

"We're still friends?" He asked.

"Always." Esmeralda promised.

She touched the bell ringer's hand and he wrapped it around hers, holding onto her tightly.