| �Second Chances�
By Christy Chapter 15 �Home, Esmeralda,� Phoebus whispered into his wife�s ear as they passed through the gates of Paris. �Finally home.� He planted a small kiss on her earlobe. Esmeralda gently brushed her husband�s hand away. �We don�t really have a home yet.� �That can be fixed,� Phoebus reminded her. �Now getting enough money for it, that may be a problem.� Esmeralda smiled at him, trying not to let the subject of money dampen either of their spirits. �Well until then, you�re welcome to live among the gypsies, you know that.� Phoebus smiled back at her. �I know.� They walked a bit further, giving little notice to their hometown, instead distracted by each other. In fact, the only thing capable of distracting them was their friend�s voice calling out their names. �Quasimodo � they both exclaimed at once. Quasimodo ran up to the couple, nearly knocking over a few passerby. The instant he reached the couple, he threw his large arms around both of them, squeezing them in an embrace so tight that he might have broken their ribs if he were less careful. �So how was your honeymoon?� Quasimodo asked after he finally let them go. �Wonderful,� they both said in unison, each one feeling slightly silly at saying the same thing as their spouse, and thus each one started laughing a bit. Quasimodo smiled at them. �It certainly sounds like you had a good time.� �We did,� said Esmeralda, ruffling the bell-ringer�s hair. �You should travel sometime, Quasi.� �So where�s Minerva?� Phoebus asked. �Now that I�m married, I think it might be time to move out of that tiny room.� A dark shadow seemed to fall across Quasimodo�s face. He gazed at the ground, seeming to be making a point to not look either of them in the eye. �I-I . . . I don�t know how to explain it.� �What do you mean?� asked Esmeralda, worry filling her eyes. The bell-ringer swallowed. �Well . . . maybe I should take you to see her.� - - - - - - - - - - - Everyone was quiet as Quasimodo led the newlyweds up to the tower. The bell-ringer was thankful for how narrow the stairwell was � that meant he didn�t have to look his friends in the eyes. He still didn�t have the slightest idea how to tell them about what had happened to Minerva. Should he prepare them for what they would see, or would the story be better coming from Minerva herself? He didn�t have time to make a decision � they reached the top all too quickly. His hands instinctively pressed against the walls, creating a barrier that blocked the couple from going any further. �S-s-something happened to Minerva while you were gone,� he said in a low whisper. �S-s-something bad . . .� Without waiting for their answer, he sprinted toward the bed where Minerva still lay. �Oh God . . .� Phoebus muttered, rushing up to his sister�s side. �Minerva, what happened?? Can you hear me??� Minerva�s reddened eyes slightly opened. �Phoebus . . .?� �Yes Minerva,� Phoebus whispered, placing his hand on her sweaty forehead. �I�m here.� �Phoebus . . .� Minerva repeated in a faint voice, �. . . why are you here?� Phoebus sounded like he was struggling to keep his breath steady. �We�re back, we�ve returned from our honeymoon. What happened to you?� Minerva breathed heavily, nearly gasping for air. �Soldiers . . .� �What??� Esmeralda exclaimed. �Why would soldiers be after you??� Phoebus said through a gasp. Quasimodo gulped. �It�s a long story . . .� His eyes shifted over to the barely-conscious Minerva. �A-am I allowed to tell them?� He wasn�t sure if the wounded woman quite understood his question, but she struggled to give a small nod. Still he hesitated, knowing that if she were completely conscious she might not give the same answer. �Well?� Esmeralda said with impatience. �What�s all this about?� Quasimodo sighed, briefly glancing back at Minerva before speaking. �All right . . .� he said, �. . . I�ll tell you . . .� - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Neither Esmeralda nor Phoebus spoke while Quasimodo told them Minerva�s story. The three of them were now seated at the table, pushed close to each other, the husband and wife scarcely blinking, the bell-ringer feeling more and more exhausted with every word he uttered. Phoebus kept looking down at his knuckles, as if they had special powers that gave him the strength to listen. After Quasimodo finished the story, no one said anything for what seemed to be a long time. �Minerva . . .� Phoebus finally whispered, blinking rapidly, �. . . she�s a murderer . . .� �Don�t say that,� Quasimodo reflexively hissed. �Just . . . don�t . . .� Esmeralda was running her hand over the table, refusing to look up. �Frederich . . .� she mumbled. �. . . I think I might have known him.� �What?� Quasimodo and Phoebus reacted together. Esmeralda kept looking down. �I didn�t know him well . . . I just saw him around. I remember him and his sister performing their act. And then . . . then I remember him bringing a strange woman to the Court. I never knew her name, but I saw her.� She pounded the table with her fist. �I knew Minerva looked familiar when she came here, but I didn�t fully recognize her until now.� She sighed loudly. �Then soon after that he was hanged. I never knew why � I just assumed it was one of Frollo�s gypsy executions based on false charges. I never thought . . .� She trailed off. �Why didn�t you ever tell us that you knew her before?� Phoebus asked with a hint of anger in his voice. �I didn�t think much of it,� said Esmeralda. �Like I said, she looked familiar, but I didn�t know where I�d seen her before." �A-anyway,� Quasimodo said between gulps, �her wound will heal . . . I think.� �Well that�s good, at least,� Phoebus grumbled. �Now what are we going to do after she recovers?� �She has sanctuary,� Quasimodo said, his voice little more than a whisper. �Well she can�t stay here forever,� said Esmeralda. �I know . . . I know . . .� Quasimodo said, raising his hands and curling his fingers to discourage argument. Phoebus stared at the bell-ringer, his face pale, redness at the edges of his eyes. �You helped Esmeralda get out once . . .� he mumbled. �You can do it again.� Quasimodo knew what he meant. It had been relatively easy to help Esmeralda escape the cathedral � and Minerva wasn�t even as closely guarded as Esmeralda had been. Yet when he thought about helping Minerva escape in that same way, a strange hesitance filled him. Once she was out, she was in danger again. Something was screaming inside him, telling him to protect her, to keep her here where he knew she was safe, even though he knew it would be wrong to impose on her freedom. How strange love was. Go to Chapter 16 Back to Fanfic Back to Index |