Chapter 65: The Bond

Elaine worried about Quasimodo. Right now was their usual time for breakfast, and he was late. Someone else had been sent up to ring the bells earlier, since Quasimodo had apparently stayed the night at the Palace of Justice. It made Elaine wonder what had happened after she left. Had Quasimodo finally had that long-awaited conversation with his adoptive father? Were they both okay? And what about Esmeralda? It was all stressful to think about.

Thankfully, Quasimodo was only a few minutes late to meet Elaine. He arrived in the belltower with an overwhelmed expression that Elaine had never seen before.

"You're back!" Elaine exclaimed. "What happened?"

"A lot..." Quasimodo replied.

"Did you... Talk to him?" Elaine asked.

Quasimodo nodded.

"I don't think I can repeat what he said. But everything makes sense now. I totally understand him..."

"Really? Does that mean you're... Good?"

"...I'm not sure. I thought we were good. I forgave him. We fell asleep hugging last night..."

"Really?! Quasi, that's amazing!"

"Yeah, but... Now he's giving me the cold shoulder. He hardly talked to me this morning. He hardly even looked at me..."

"Oh..."

Quasimodo sat at the table, slumped over and unhappy.

"I wonder if he's mad at me for starting that conversation..." He speculated.

"Maybe he's not." Elaine suggested. "Maybe he's just in a bad mood right now."

"Maybe. Esmeralda did say I should give him time."

"Speaking of Esmeralda, how is she doing?"

"She's in a lot of pain. I said I'd be back later, but I wish there was something more I could do."

Elaine shivered at the idea of how painful a stab wound must be. She wondered what could possibly comfort someone healing from such an injury. An idea struck her.

"I know something we could do."


Esmeralda was awake by midday. At that point, Claude informed her that Phoebus would be stopping by.

That was a relief. Since Esmeralda had spent the last few days with Phoebus and Annette, it was good to know that they were aware of her condition. More importantly, it was a good thing that Phoebus would see her so he wouldn't have to worry about what state she was in.

He arrived that afternoon with a blanket, which he laid over Esmeralda.

"Annette made these blankets for patients at the hospital." Phoebus explained. "She wanted you to have one."

Esmeralda felt the soft texture of the blanket. It was well made.

"Tell her I love it." She said gratefully.

"I will." Phoebus promised. "She would have come here with me, but she thought it would be better not to crowd you."

Phoebus pulled up a chair next to the side of the bed and sat down.

"How are you feeling?" He asked.

"Pathetic." Esmeralda replied. "I've never been so weak."

"You'll feel stronger than ever once you're healed." Phoebus promised. "I know from experience."

The thought of the violence he must have experienced at war made Esmeralda glad that Phoebus wasn't a soldier anymore. Perhaps losing his hand had actually saved his life, as ridiculous as that was.

Phoebus suddenly noticed the garment Esmeralda wore. He touched one of the sleeves curiously.

"Is this..."

Esmeralda remembered what she was wearing.

"Oh, yes. It's Claude's."

Phoebus looked at his friend strangely, but then forced a smile.

"Well, that sure progressed quickly." He jested. "Came to talk to him, and now you're wearing his shirt. It must have gone well last night!"

Esmeralda was not amused. She let out a disapproving sigh.

"I was just trying to cheer you up..." Phoebus explained.

"It's really not the time for a joke like that." Esmeralda said as firmly as she could manage.

She was still struggling with her feelings about Claude. Jokes about that matter would not be appreciated.

"Sorry..." Phoebus apologized.

An awkward silence started. Phoebus tried to end it.

"That was a pretty brave thing you did." He praised.

"I'm surprised you think so." Esmeralda confessed.

"Well, I wish you hadn't been hurt, of course. But I have to respect the courage."

Phoebus was always terrible at hiding his mood. Esmeralda found it easy to read him. He wasn't saying what he really wanted to say. Part of him obviously wanted to say that he wished Esmeralda hadn't done the brave thing. That she shouldn't have risked her life like that. That Claude wasn't worth dying for.

Esmeralda frowned.

"I love him, Phoebus." She sighed. "You know that."

Phoebus looked at her blankly.

"Yeah, I know..." He replied abruptly.

"You're disappointed in me." Esmeralda asserted. "Aren't you?"

"No! I just... Wish you wouldn't put yourself in danger."

"I had to. I had to because I love him. Don't you understand that?"

"I guess so. But I don't want you to risk your life like that. I just don't want you to die! You understand that, don't you?"

"Is it just because I risked my life, or is it who I risked my life for?"

"Esmeralda..."

"Just tell me the truth, Phoebus! I don't like it when you try to dance around what you really think!"

Phoebus hesitated. He was starting to feel intimidated by Esmeralda's ability to read him. Perhaps it was best just to be honest.

"Sometimes I just don't understand you." He shared. "I don't understand how you could fall in love with him, and I don't understand how you could take a stab for him. And maybe this is selfish, but I value your life much more than his! So yes, I wish you wouldn't risk your life for him!"

Esmeralda would have yelled, but she didn't have the energy for it. Instead, she whispered sharply.

"You'd do it for Annette, wouldn't you?" She asked.

"Well, of course! But-"

"Then don't judge me."

Phoebus finally started to feel guilty. Empathy hit him when he imagined his wife in danger. He lowered his head.

"I'm sorry..." He apologized.

He meant it, and Esmeralda could tell. But just as she was pondering how to respond, the door opened. Claude entered the room with an "official business" look.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything." He said coldly. "I need to change the bandage now. That was what the doctor said."

Phoebus looked at Esmeralda pitifully.

"Take care." He encouraged.

"You too..." Esmeralda returned.

Phoebus left and Claude took his place. Esmeralda looked at him confusedly.

"Do you really need to change it already?" She asked.

"No." Claude replied. "I noticed it was getting a little loud in here and thought you might need help getting rid of him."

Esmeralda barely chuckled.

"Might I ask what happened?" Claude asked hopefully.

"He apologized." Esmeralda assured. "It's really nothing to worry about."

"I certainly hope not." Claude said with concern.

He laid his hand over Esmeralda's. To his surprise, she laced her fingers through his tightly. Claude stared into Esmeralda's half-open eyes.

"Claude," She started. "I want you to know I don't regret it for a second. I'd go through last night all over again if I had to."

Claude didn't know what to say. He wouldn't have thought anyone could love him this much if he hadn't met Esmeralda.

"I'd do it for you too." He finally responded. "Any day I would..."

They went silent, hands locked together and eyes frozen on each other.

The moment was interrupted by a knock on the door. A guard announced the presence of two visitors: Quasimodo and Elaine.

"I'll be back." Claude promised before leaving the room.

Esmeralda was both relieved and hurt by the interruption. It was a relief because it kept her from being tempted to kiss Claude. But it was crushing for that same reason.


Quasimodo and Elaine came with hands full of colorful flowers. Claude was impressed. The duo had clearly gone out of their way for this.

They soon put all the flowers in a vase and Elaine carefully arranged them. Quasimodo then picked up the vase to take it to Esmeralda. Elaine would have accompanied him, but she needed to be leaving. She'd already taken enough time away from the church to pick those flowers, so she needed to return and finish her chores.

Claude saw her to the front door.

"Thank you for this." He said gratefully. "Esmeralda will appreciate the flowers."

"Of course!" Elaine replied.

She was smiling, but she soon lost her smile as she thought of the concerning matter at hand.

"Is something wrong?" Claude asked.

"Um..." Elaine started. "Quasimodo thinks you're mad at him..."

Claude frowned. He realized his earlier attitude had been taken personally.

"I'm not." He assured.

"Oh, I didn't think you were! I was just..."

"Don't worry. I'm going to talk it out with him."

"Oh, good!"

Claude started to wonder how this concern had arisen.

"Out of curiosity," He started. "What exactly did Quasimodo say to you?"

"Just that he talked to you and you made up, and that he thought you were ignoring him this morning..."

"But he didn't say what we talked about?"

"No, he didn't think it was his place."

"I see. Well, thank you for looking out for him."

Elaine nodded.

"You know," She started. "I'm really sorry about what happened to Esmeralda."

"So am I." Claude said regretfully.

"But I'm really glad you're okay after that fight, and I'm glad she's going to be okay. It's really amazing that you saved each other! I hope you and Esmeralda stick together. You really love each other."

Claude barely smiled. Elaine was right, and though Claude couldn't tell what his future would be at this point, he strongly felt that Esmeralda would be in it.

After that disaster, they surely would not drift apart again. The bond between them felt stronger than ever.