| The Two Rivals By Sonja Chapter 2 The community of the Court of Miracles rejoiced when seeing Ad�le and Christine. "A miracle indeed!" exclaimed Clopin, and he snatched the little one in his arms. Christine, in turn, looked around the hideout with interest. She had never before seen so many Gypsies in their colourful clothes at the same time. She was also amazed to see the disabled inhabitants of the Court. "In Sarousch�s company, there are no people like that," she whispered to her mother. "Were you sometimes on the stage during his performances?" Ad�le asked. "He would have liked to show me to the people," told Christine, "but when Madellaine saw they laughed at me she didn�t let him do that." Ad�le shuddered with anger at the thought her daughter could have become a sideshow object. "This is where you belong, and here, people will be very kind to you," she promised. Indeed, many Gypsies hugged Christine and babbled to her - but some children did also mock her. Clopin told them to be quiet. Meanwhile, Quasimodo had left the belltower, encouraged by the gargoyles to join Esmeralda, Phoebus and Zephyr, who were going to the circus. The bellringer was wearing all new, extravagant purple clothes and a funny hat. Phoebus hardly recognized him in these clothes, but Esmeralda assured him he looked dashing. The dancer and the Captain had heard rumours of Madellaine visiting the belltower. Phoebus was suspicious, for he remembered well how desperately his friends had grieved at having lost their child. Now, he was greatly wondering about how cheerful Quasi looked and warned Zephyr to stay close. "I don�t want to lose you! I don�t trust these people," he added quietly to Esmeralda. "What does that mean?" she asked. "They stole Christine!" remarked Phoebus, "besides - well, look at them - they travel from town to town like�like�" "Gypsies?" Esmeralda was a bit annoyed. The Captain tried to correct his inconsiderate remark and grimaced at Quasi: "Where is this Madellaine of yours?" "I don�t know," the bellringer answered as carelessly as possible, "but I think she�ll be out soon!" In the Court, Ad�le had told Mirette she didn�t trust Madellaine, and asked her to go to see the performance and try to find out if Madellaine had some intentions towards Quasi. So, Mirette had returned to the city and sneaked near the tents and caravans of the circus company. She heard the alarmed voice of a girl from one of the caravans: "You don�t understand! You didn�t see him! I don�t want to be a part of this anymore!" Oh, dear! That stupid wench didn�t like Quasimodo! True, Mirette wasn�t too attracted to his appearance herself either, but she had always liked him because of his warm heart and also felt deep sympathy for him as well as for her sister after the baby had been stolen. And what on earth did Madellaine mean by "being a part of this"? Now, the ringmaster replied to her impatiently: "You should have thought of that before you stole from me!" Madellaine continued: "But I was only six years old!" "And you were starving - and it was only a few coins." Mirette sneaked at the caravan, opened the curtain a little and saw some of Sarousch�s comrades help him to dress in his performance clothes. What an incredibly vain man! "I made a mistake," sighed Madellaine. "Yes," Sarousch smiled nastily while his comrade was putting a wig on his head, "and did I turn you over to the authorities?" "No," Madellaine said quietly. "Or the work house?" asked the ringmaster. "No," sighed the girl. "And who took you in - looked after you like a true friend?" "You did." Madellaine looked depressed. Sarousch was content. "Yes�All you need to do is to look pretty for him, and he�ll tell you what I need to know." My goodness! thought Mirette, there is something familiar in his way of talking to that girl! She glanced at Madellaine and saw her get startled - namely, one of Sarousch�s companions was just opening a box and pressing a pin inside it, and suddenly, the whole caravan got full of mirrors! Sarousch smiled conceitedly at his reflection, after which he threw Madellaine a short red dress. "Come, trinket! We�re on!" Mirette hastened away so that those people wouldn�t notice her. She hid among the crowd and waited in excitement for the performance to begin. Sarousch did impressive tricks, and particularly children were fascinated. Madellaine appeared from under the stage and tried to draw the attention of the audience. Mirette saw Quasimodo smile happily when looking at her�Was that because he had got Christine back, or�? But at the same time, she also noticed something else: the circus people were lurking among the spectators and stealing their money and jewelry! The climax of the performance was the vanishing of the huge elephant that was on the stage with Madellaine. Sarousch read a spell, and the elephant disappeared mysteriously in front of the cheering audience. Little Zephyr, who was sitting on Quasimodo�s shoulders, rejoiced more than ever. The bellringer looked at nothing else but Madellaine until Zephyr started to wave his hands in front of his face. "Zephyr!" "I thought you forgot about me!" said the little boy. Quasimodo assured him he would always stay near him, and those two returned to Phoebus and Esmeralda, cheerfully playing. Madellaine came out of her tent and saw Quasi and Zephyr together. She was touched by how much they seemed to like each other, and above all, she understood she had been wrong. The bellringer wasn�t to be feared - actually, he wasn�t even very ugly but kind and lovable. When he had left Zephyr to his parents Madellaine greeted him, saying: "You have a way with kids." Quasimodo got embarrassed. He had hoped to meet the girl to thank her for taking good care of Christine, but now, he was suddenly too shy. Anyway, they started to talk and walk together. Mirette didn�t know what to think. Now, she found it best to hasten back to the Court of Miracles. Ad�le got agitated when Mirette told her the news. "How can Quasi be so attracted to that bitch who stole our baby?! And I should have guessed they can steal goods as well!" "Maybe he just wants to thank her," noted Mirette, "besides, I almost had sympathy for her when Sarousch said she must work for him because he has looked after her since she was a starving child who stole some coins from him." Ad�le was startled unintentionally. "I guessed already when I first met her that she had something in common with my Quasi! But think about if Sarousch wants to have Christine back! I will rather die than give her to anyone!" Then, she took the child with her and left the Court to find out if Quasi really was with Madellaine. One may guess how stupefied she was to see those two walking around in the streets - Quasimodo was showing Paris to his new crush. Christine exclaimed: "Madellaine!" "Hush! Those people are thieves," whispered Ad�le. A while later, Phoebus rode towards them. He looked confused. "Wait a minute," Ad�le heard him mumble, "a string of robberies begins the moment a circus comes to town�coincidence? I don�t think so. How many times have I ever been wrong?" Achilles started to lift his foot up to count, but Phoebus said: "That was a rhetorical question!" Ad�le told the Captain how Mirette had seen the circus people rob the spectators during the performance. "I suppose Quasi has no idea of that, for right now, he is spending time with Madellaine!" Phoebus was amazed. "Indeed, he seemed to be fascinated when looking at her on the stage. I wonder if that was only because he was happy about getting Christine back�" Ad�le turned pale. She thought: What on earth does Quasi see in Madellaine he can�t see in me?! She is frightened and insecure, and besides, she didn�t even dare look at his face when first meeting him! Does Quasi really find a thin, short-haired blonde more beautiful than me with my wonderful curls and dashing Gypsy clothes? Phoebus guessed what she was thinking about. "I�m sure it�s not because of Madellaine�s prettiness�At least, I think you are much more attractive. Maybe Sarousch wants her to befriend Quasi to get something from him?" Ad�le was startled. "Mirette told me she had heard Madellaine say: �I don�t want to be a part of this any more�! What if I tried to have a word with her?" "I think you�d best stay away from her - but you can talk to Quasi tonight when she has returned to the circus." Phoebus knew Ad�le�s feelings for Madellaine were hostile. Ad�le said nothing, but she had made her decision. She took Christine to Notre Dame where they climbed to the north tower. "Will Daddy and Madellaine come there, too?" asked the little girl. "Hopefully," said Ad�le. "Now we�ll hide in here and wait for them. But you must keep quiet if they come." Christine rushed enthusiastically to say hello to the gargoyles. Ad�le, in turn, had a look at the figurines on the table and was startled to see the Madellaine doll. Quickly, she hid under the table. Meanwhile, Quasimodo and Madellaine had a good time as they acquainted with new places in the city and walked on the festival garlands. Even a sudden thunderstorm didn�t disturb them, but they joined the other couples who went to dance in the rain. The Parisians watched them curiously; it seemed to them Quasi had fallen in love again, and many of them were wondering what Ad�le would think about his behaviour - for although the couple hadn�t lived together for a year, they had continued working in their workshop, and neither of them had had any affairs after the separation. The gargoyles were also observing the bellringer and Madellaine, and they were glad for their friend. Ad�le saw them rejoicing and felt depressed - but at the same time, she swore in her mind that the kidnapper would never ever have her beloved. When it was still raining, Quasi brought Madellaine to the belltower and asked her to warm herself up behind the curtain. The gargoyles teased him, and it was hard work for Ad�le to control herself. To crown the lot, Hugo even talked to Madellaine, but Laverne and Victor hushed him up. Next, Quasimodo stepped to La Fid�le, and Madellaine exclaimed: "Oh! It�s beautiful!" The bellringer answered: "Yes, you are�I mean�yes, she is�La Fid�le�that is�that�s her name, La Fid�le, the Faithful One." Ad�le couldn�t believe her own ears. "Yes, you are!" She crushed Christine to herself. Quasi continued: "But she is still more beautiful on the inside. I�ll show you!" He swang the bell, and Madellaine stepped inside it. She saw her own reflection on the jewels. "Oh�It must be worth of a fortune!" Then, suddenly, she remembered why she had come - why she had been here already three years ago - and for a minute, she imagined she saw the reflection of Sarousch inside the bell. Depression filled her mind. Quasi noticed she was embarrassed, touched her gently and said: "You should get warm." When they left the bell Ad�le jumped forth from under the table and stood in front of them with fiery eyes, squeezing Christine in her arms. Quasimodo was startled and flushed. "Ad�le! I�m amazed to see you here," he finally said. Then he patted Christine. "Daddy�s little one!" Ad�le addressed him chillingly. "It seems to me beautiful Madellaine has come to see our La Fid�le!" Quasimodo didn�t know what to say. Madellaine, in turn, quivered and turned pale. If only she could tell those two what Sarousch had forced her to do! She looked at Christine, sighed and said: "Ad�le, I totally understand why you hate me. Listen to me. I know I don�t deserve Quasimodo�s kindness after having stolen your child, but the truth is that I was forced to take her! Let God be my witness, I did not do that of my own accord. All these years, I've been suffering from pricks of conscience, and I never stopped saying to Christine that you were her real parents and that I would take her back to you as soon as I could!" Quasimodo said to her: "I wanted to meet you to thank you for bringing our beloved daughter back to us. We have also suffered for three long years, missed Christine and been so worried about her! So, we are enormously grateful that you have been taking good care of her." Ad�le�s eyes were full of tears. "If only you knew how we have suffered! Christine was so sweet as a baby�and we were so worried about how she would manage with her back when bigger�and then you came and indifferently took her away! I was so despaired that I was bound to take a separation from Quasi, although I adored him�I would never even have thought about leaving him, had our little darling not been taken from us!" Sobbing, she embraced her child, then put her down and put her arms round Quasi. Christine was confused. She went to Madellaine and asked: "Did you steal me?" Her adoptive mother got tears in her eyes. "Darling, I didn�t want you to hear it like this. It�s true - when you were a baby I met your mother here in Paris, and then, Sarousch forced me to take you from your parents�I tried to say to him I couldn�t do that, but you know what he is like�" "He is hideous!" exclaimed the little one, "and Mummy and Daddy promised I don�t need to go back to him." "No, you don�t - now you are where you belong," said Madellaine, hugging her. Ad�le was abated that Madellaine had confessed the truth. Still, she was restless - Quasi had called Madellaine beautiful. Should she be regarded as a rival? "Quasi, what did you mean by Madellaine being beautiful?" she asked, looking hard at the bellringer. The circus performer flushed, and Quasi looked embarrassed. "Of course, I needed to be polite to her," he said. "I just hope you remember whom you promised to be faithful to!" remarked Ad�le in a low voice, glancing at La Fid�le. "Ad�le, let�s not talk about that right now." Quasimodo was almost annoyed. "I�ll return to the Court for the night." "Madellaine, I think you�d best return to the circus company - it�s late already," Ad�le turned to the younger girl. "I would like to stay here for a while - you are so kind, Quasimodo," said Madellaine. "Yes, of course you may stay," replied the bellringer, "Ad�le, I�ll come soon." Ad�le was offended, but because she didn�t want to hurt Quasi�s feelings she reluctantly agreed to leave. Christine followed her, after hugging her Daddy and Madellaine. Madellaine was restless. She liked Quasimodo a lot, and she was sure Ad�le was jealous of her. She was abated because she had told them the truth about her part in the kidnapping, but she was still unaware of the bellringer�s feelings for her. "Do you really think there�s more to me than what you see - that I have something else to give?" She couldn�t help thinking about how Sarousch underestimated her. Quasimodo was surprised at the question. In his opinion, Madellaine was both very pretty and warm-hearted. Then he remembered what Ad�le had told him three years before - that Sarousch mistreated Madellaine. "I do," he said. Then he happened to think of how frightened Madellaine had been when seeing him in the morning. "I know I�m not much to look at," he added. Madellaine touched him gently. "I�ve never met anyone like you, Quasimodo," she said, "I mean, you understand the world better than anyone I�ve ever known." Quasi was touched. Ad�le wasn�t the only woman who liked him! For a moment, he thought he could tell Madellaine about his lonely and sad past that had made him what he was now - but then, he remembered what the ringmaster had done to his daughter�No, he couldn�t bear to think about Frollo at the moment! So, he just asked: "Do you really think so?" Madellaine smiled. "I do." The bellringer handed her the wooden figurine looking like her. "I made this for you - now you can always see yourself through my eyes." Madellaine was so flattered she didn�t know what to say. She felt stupid, but Quasi had said she wasn�t worthless. "Thank you," she smiled, kissing his forehead, "I�ll see you tomorrow." Then she left, happier than ever. Quasimodo was glad, too, but also confused: was Madellaine in love with him? That would bring difficulties, for Ad�le still loved him, and he wasn�t sure about his own feelings. It was clear he was fond of Madellaine, but admiration and gratitude weren't the same as love. He happened to think that maybe he had given the doll to Madellaine to prevent Ad�le from taking it away - she was jealous, no doubt. He left the tower and returned to the Court of Miracles. Clopin greeted him in embarrassment: he found it strange that Quasi had spent the whole evening with Madellaine and not with his daughter and her mother. "I came to see Ad�le and Christine," the bellringer said. "Is Madellaine a nice girl?" teased Clopin. "Yes, she is�" Quasimodo flushed, "but where are Ad�le and Christine?" "I�m not so sure what Ad�le will say to you," remarked Clopin - he didn�t know the women had met each other in the belltower. Quasi hastened towards his former dwelling and was delighted to see Ad�le at the door. She smiled triumphantly at him. "There you are!" "Is Christine sleeping?" asked the bellringer. Ad�le returned to the bed where the little girl slept happily. She knelt by the bed and put her arms round Christine. Quasimodo approached the bed almost shyly and bowed down to look at his child whom he had thought to have lost forever. At that moment, he realised what real love meant - no matter if he was attracted to Ad�le or Madellaine, still it was sure he loved Christine more than anything else in the world. "She is so sweet - she reminds me of you because she is kind to everyone, but there is also a bit of my headstrong nature in her," whispered Ad�le. "I think she likes being different from others," smiled Quasi. "Some children are awfully curious, they group themselves round her and ask her about where she came from," said Ad�le. "Tomorrow, we need to take her to see Zephyr." "I wonder if Madellaine is coming to meet me�us tomorrow," Quasi said. "Madellaine and Madellaine�why are you so interested in her?" Ad�le exclaimed, "I�m happy she has taken good care of our daughter, but I can�t completely trust her�what if Sarousch tells her to steal something now, like he did then?" "Maybe I could get her to believe more in herself," deliberated the young man, "Tonight, I thought about telling her about my past, but I couldn�t, because I remembered Sarousch had mistreated Christine." Ad�le kissed the child�s cheek. "Do you think you�ll ever tell our little one about Frollo? She already paid attention to all children calling their parents by their names, but I can�t imagine her calling you Quasimodo." "Nor can I! Maybe I�ll tell her one day - if I succeed to forget what that means. Madellaine has no idea of that." Ad�le put her arms round him. "It has been a long time since we were together!" Quasimodo hesitated. "Ad�le�it was a hard time for me when you had left me. Although we had difficulties after they took Christine away, I wouldn�t have wanted to lose you!" "Quasi dear, I�ve bitterly repented leaving you," Ad�le assured, "but each moment in your company reminded me of our baby, and I knew we wouldn�t have been able to forget our loss, no matter how content we had pretended to be." "However, it would have been easier to bear our grief together," said Quasimodo. "Now, I�m quite sure we can become happy again," Ad�le smiled and bowed down to pat Christine�s back, "for our little one has returned, alive and healthy." "I don�t think that�s so simple," admitted the young man, "I don�t get over my disappointment in you that easily." "Quasimodo, I LOVE you, and I never even thought about other men after leaving you�Some did try to make me take an interest in them, but I remained faithful," Ad�le exclaimed. "So, you thought about returning to me one day? Do you really think you would have returned even if Christine hadn�t been brought back?" "I don�t think I�d ever been able to forget," said Ad�le, "but, despite of that, I�m sure I wouldn�t have wanted to spend the rest of my life without you." Quasimodo smiled. "I feel much better now! In any case, Christine needs both of us, so I think we could return together, little by little." "I see�You mean we could have difficulties if we moved together again too soon," remarked Ad�le. She remembered how much they had argued after Christine had been taken away. "So, will she stay living with you or me?" "I can move back here if Clopin agrees," said the bellringer, "then we both can spend time with her." "I agree." Ad�le patted him. "But there is still that Madellaine�Christine is very fond of her, and besides�" She looked significantly at the bellringer. "It is true I like her", admitted Quasi, "and I�m ready to take Christine to see her or even invite her here - if that�s possible without Sarousch interfering." "I wouldn�t invite her here, for that would lead to rumours - after all, you spent the whole afternoon in her company." The bellringer flushed. "To be honest, I�m not even sure about what I think of her," he said. "From the first moment when I saw her I found her interesting, and I was really disappointed in her running away after seeing my face - but at the same time, I was incredibly happy about seeing Christine again�and since she returned I started to remember the time I had someone to love - I didn�t know you would come back to me�After the performance, I was thunderstruck by Madellaine joining me, and of course, I wanted to introduce Paris to her because she was nice." "I suppose you would have brought Christine here although I wouldn�t have come to the tower?" "Of course! But I don�t know what else would have happened," said Quasimodo. "Why did you make the Madellaine doll and give it to her?" Ad�le was still suspicious. "Because�I liked her," admitted the young man, "remember I made it before you came to see Christine - " "�and you!" Ad�le exclaimed, "do you think you want to meet Madellaine again?" "I don�t know - unless we�ll take Christine to see her." Quasi was uncertain. Ad�le looked tenderly at him. "My bellringer�Would you like to stay here for the night? It�s awfully late already." "Ad�le�I don�t know�" Quasi flushed. "I can sleep here, all right, but�we have lived separately for a whole year, and even before that we had problems with our love life." "Yes, we had, but now that we have Christine we could start that again as well." Ad�le patted him. "Maybe one day, but not now," said Quasimodo determinedly, "So much has happened today, and I don�t feel like making love�Like I said, I�m not sure about my feelings." Ad�le was convinced Quasi�s hesitation had something to do with Madellaine, but she hid her thoughts. "All right, then - but are you sure you want to stay here?" "I can stay, but if you don�t want me to, I�ll go elsewhere." "You may stay," Ad�le said, although she was disappointed. In the night, Quasimodo deliberated his feelings for both women. He didn�t believe he was in love with Madellaine, but he didn�t feel for Ad�le the same way as before either. Sometimes, he thought it would be best to keep separated from Ad�le and concentrate on getting to know Madellaine better, but occasionally, he was sure he would return to Ad�le - he never more wanted to keep apart from Christine. At times when he looked at his sleeping ex-girlfriend, he was convinced he was falling in love - but was it with Ad�le or Madellaine? He didn�t know. He should meet Madellaine again to find out the truth - and this time without Ad�le�s company. Go to Chapter 3 Back to Fanfic Back to Index |