tworivals6

The Two Rivals
By Sonja

Chapter 6

It was difficult for the vagabonds to accept Madellaine as a member of their community. The Gypsies compared her with Ad�le, and the rest of the inhabitants of the Court hardly ever talked to her. Only Esmeralda and Zephyr were kind to her, and Phoebus tried to support her, but because of his job, he was bound to spend most of his time in the city.

Quasimodo met Ad�le and Christine every day either in the belltower or in the workshop. The townspeople laughed at the bellringer�s woman dilemma, and many women particularly showed their sympathy to Ad�le. They even mocked Quasimodo and refused to buy the products of the workshop if he was present. One day, Madellaine left the Court in Quasi�s company, for she wanted to see Christine. In their way to the workshop, townswomen threw cold water on her and shouted: "There goes the strumpet who stole Ad�le�s child and then seduced her husband! And the hunchback thinks he can have two women!"

"Stop mocking Quasi!" exclaimed Madellaine. "Don�t interfere in things you don�t know anything about!"

"He is a fool, and you are a strumpet!" the women shouted.

In the workshop, Christine greeted Madellaine, rejoicing. Quasi told Ad�le about the mockery, and she said: "This is unfair both to Madellaine and me!"

"Ad�le, our friends treat Madellaine like an outsider, and she is depressed," said the young man, "I�m doing my best to support her, but I can�t be present all the time because you and Christine need me as well. Please, could you do something for Madellaine�s good?"

"Quasi, you are asking for a little too much," Ad�le sighed, "if I helped her I would also help you to start an affair with another woman�but I can agree to let Christine spend some time with you and our relatives in the Court - for example every two weeks."

"That�s very kind of you!" exclaimed Madellaine, and Quasimodo hugged Ad�le. "That�s a good solution! Our friends will surely be proud of you."

Madellaine was jealous, for although many Gypsies were kinder to her because Ad�le let Christine see her, they all continually praised Ad�le. To crown the lot, Christine talked about her mother every time Quasimodo brought her to the hideout. Madellaine said to him: "I�m tired of hearing about Ad�le! Can�t you tell the community I am your wife now?"

At the same time, she diligently practiced tight-rope walking to be able to provide for herself in the future. Clopin supported her. Christine also started to think about her future, and one day, she said to Ad�le: "What will I do when I�ve grown up? Can I become a bellringer like Daddy?"

Ad�le laughed a little and squeezed her. "Would you like to ring the bells? You should be enormously strong to be able to do that."

"Madellaine is going to become a tight-rope walker," said Christine, "and you and Daddy have the workshop."

"Maybe you could also work there when you are bigger," said Ad�le, "but first, you need to learn to sew."

"And to make food, Mirette says," added Christine. "Yes, that�s right," smiled Ad�le.

Quasimodo was delighted when he heard about the discussion. "It�s just that I�m afraid Christine can�t inherit the workshop," he said to Ad�le, "for many people don�t want to trade with a hump-backed woman."

"That�s very regrettable, but I guess you are right," Ad�le sighed. "In any case, we�ll need to secure her future somehow�Actually, she said she would like to become a bellringer!"

Quasimodo smiled. "There�s an idea - but one can�t provide for oneself only by ringing bells�What about if she became a nun? Then she would be safe from mockers and could have a long life."

"You are right! But we have to guide her in devotions, and if she has other interests we�ll take them into account."

The next day, the parents took Christine to meet the archdeacon.

"Your Eminence, we have been deliberating Christine�s future," Ad�le told him, "and we are thinking about raising her for the life of a nun, for we want her to live long and happily."

"What would I do if I was a nun?" Christine asked.

"Darling, you would spend your life praying and doing acts of charity," answered Quasi, patting her.

"That�s an excellent plan," smiled the archdeacon, "you will be blessed for raising your daughter for devotion and humility."

"As long as she is small she needs to be guided for her future little by little," noted Quasimodo. "We would be delighted if you, Your Eminence, could teach her."

"I will be very pleased to do that when she is a little older," said the priest.

"Will you teach me to read and write?" asked Christine.

"Hmmm�maybe, if your parents agree," replied the archdeacon, "some nuns have been highly educated." Then he turned to Quasi and said seriously: "My friend, I am very sorry to tell you that the townspeople are gossipping about you and the circus assistant. I hope you remember that you are the bellringer of Notre Dame and the father of a little girl, and that you have lived and worked with this young woman for several years. Your responsibility is to take care of your family."

"Your Eminence," said the young man, "Madellaine doesn�t have anyone to take care of her since the ringmaster was arrested. She has decided not to return to the circus anymore, and I�m doing my best to help her to adapt herself to the lifestyle of the Court of Miracles, especially since Ad�le and I are forever grateful to her�Without her we would never have got Christine back."

"My friend, it�s right that you show her your gratitude," answered the archdeacon, "but it would be better if she was taken care by someone else, for the townspeople easily have wrong ideas about relationships between men and women - especially since Madellaine was your partner at the Festival of Love. She needs a guardian, and because her relatives are unknown it is my task to find someone to protect her."

Ad�le glanced at Quasimodo. "You are right, Your Eminence," she said, "I will send her to meet you as soon as possible."

"Your Eminence, she loves Christine and is very affected with me." The bellringer was embarrassed. "I don�t think she is willing to leave the Court."

"I can�t make any decisions before I have met her," noted the archdeacon, "it�s best if you send her here tomorrow."

At the same time, Madellaine thought about Quasimodo�s relationship with her and Ad�le, and her jealousy increased. Ad�le had played with Quasi as a child, she had been imprisoned because of him, and Quasi had fallen in love with her at first sight when they had met each other after sixteen years! Not to mention that they had lived together, made love and had a child - a child who continually talked about her mother to her, Madellaine! The circus assistant looked at the doll she had preserved for Christine�She wasn�t going to bear it any longer! As long as Quasi would see it every day he would think about Ad�le even when he was away from her. Furiously, Madellaine threw the doll towards the fireplace and plunged out of the dwelling. She run to Clopin�s caravan and said to him in agitation: "If Quasi doesn�t leave that strumpet I�ll quit this place forever!"

"Madellaine, my daughter is not a strumpet!" Clopin exclaimed. "You made a serious mistake by starting to flirt with a married man."

Madellaine almost cried. "Sarousch forced me to seduce Quasi so that he could steal La Fid�le! All I wanted to do was to take Christine back to her parents - but I fell in love! Is that such a big crime? Don�t I have the right to love and be loved in return?!"

"Yes, definitely you do," Clopin patted her, "but it�s not the right way to win Quasi�s affection to intrigue against the mother of his child. Tell him you need love, not gratitude, but don�t let him know I�ve advised you."

When Quasimodo and Christine had returned to the Court the little one hastened to the dwelling, and the bellringer told Clopin and Madellaine about the plans for her future. Madellaine was indifferent, for she was too aware of Ad�le�s part in the discussion.

A moment later, Christine dashed back to them and asked: "Madellaine, where is my Ad�le doll?"

Madellaine got furious. "If you still talk about that woman you and your father will never see me again!" She detached herself from Christine�s hold and rushed to the entrance with her eyes full of tears. Quasimodo ran after her. "Madellaine, Christine wasn�t talking about a woman but a doll, and you can�t say such a thing to a little child!"

"This is enough!" Madellaine screamed. "Your precious doll no longer exists, and I�ll take care of that you�ll never return to that woman!"

"WHAT!" shouted Quasimodo, "did you destroy Christine�s doll to separate me from Ad�le?"

"If you had seen it here every day you would have missed her all the time!"

"It was Christine�s doll," said the bellringer quietly, and his eyes were filled with tears.

"It represented my rival." Madellaine�s voice was chilling.

"Don�t you understand it�s despicable to show jealousy by destroying a child�s toys?" Quasimodo shuddered of anger. "I had an Esmeralda doll when my guardian was still alive, and he burned it! True, I was already grown-up then, but Christine is only three years old!"

The little girl ran to them and grasped Madellaine�s waist. "Where did you take my doll?"

"It no longer exists," Madellaine said coldly, "and if Quasi makes a new one I won�t look at it for one moment!"

"You won�t take anything more from Christine!" snapped Quasi. "Ad�le will be furious when she hears about this!"

"You and your Ad�le! I want your love!" shouted Madellaine. "All right, I admit I made a mistake when burning the doll�"

Christine burst into tears. "Did you burn my doll? It wasn�t the real Ad�le!" She pressed her face to Quasi�s chest, sobbing.

"Darling, I promise I�ll make a new one for you." Quasimodo hugged and patted her. Then he said to Madellaine: "We also talked about you to the archdeacon. He says you need a guardian other than me because the townspeople are gossipping about us. We promised him you would go to meet him tomorrow."

"I will tell him that you lied to me to start a physical affair!" snapped the girl.

"No, I didn�t! I am attracted to you, but I hurt Ad�le badly by proclaiming that to you in her presence. Besides, Ad�le and I have experienced so much together that I don�t think I ever can leave her ultimately."

"I said I can�t be only your mistress!" Madellaine exclaimed. "I want to get accepted here!"

Esmeralda had joined the arguers without them noticing her. Madellaine�s words upset her. So, she couldn�t help exclaiming: "Quasimodo! Can this be true? I would never have believed you could take an interest in anyone because of physical attraction!"

Quasi was so ashamed that he got tears in his eyes. "I didn�t want you to know this and think I�m as despicable as Frollo! I have wishes for Madellaine only because Ad�le and I haven�t had love life for more than two years�"

"Dear friend, I would never compare you with HIM," comforted Esmeralda, and Madellaine exclaimed: "Quasi, of course you can have me! I know you would never do anyone harm like your guardian tried to, and I don�t want you to be unhappy!"

"My goodness, no, that�s not right," the Gypsy woman exclaimed, "Quasi, if I�m allowed to give advice I urge you to return to Ad�le, for she knows you and is surely ready to take you back, but Madellaine is too inexperienced only to fulfill your wishes."

The young man sighed. "I�m sorry, Madellaine - I meant I�ve thought about you physically because Ad�le left me�I would never spend a night with you only because of my own needs. I am very fond of you, and I will find someone to take care of you, for I am responsible for you."

"I still would like to stay here," said Madellaine, "for if these people really see you have real feelings for me they can accept me more easily."

"But you must promise you�ll never more take away Christine�s toys for jealousy of Ad�le," the bellringer reminded, "for you won�t win my affection by doing such a thing."

Madellaine hugged Christine. "I promise. Forgive me, little one."

Quasimodo went to Clopin and said to him: "It�s best that I return to Ad�le for now. The conflicts between the girls and me are too disturbing, and the townspeople have been unkind to Madellaine. But the archdeacon says Madellaine needs a guardian because she doesn�t have relatives in Paris. Could you please try to find someone to take care of her?"

Clopin was abated. "I knew you would do your responsibility. In fact, I could myself think about taking Madellaine into my care, for like me, she is interested in providing for herself by public performances, and our community would respect her being under my patronage."

At first, the bellringer found this an excellent solution, but then he remembered Clopin was interested in affairs with much younger women. "I hope you would treat Madellaine kindly and respectfully," he said, "she told me she longs for love."

"I understand, Quasi," noted the Gypsy leader, "actually, Madellaine has talked about her wishes to me as well. I�ll need to ask her opinion of this, and then, she can go to meet the archdeacon."

He asked the young woman to his caravan. "Madellaine, could it be possible for you to move to live with me?" he asked. "I know you love Quasimodo, but his wife and little daughter need him. I�m also sure that your life in our community would be easier if I supported you."

"You are right about that." noted Madellaine. "I can think about your suggestion if the archdeacon agrees - but is it sure I can trust you?"

Clopin looked at the young woman and felt restless for a moment. Madellaine was beautiful and innocent, and she would surely be grateful for tenderness. But she had already been disappointed in Quasi. Besides, Clopin couldn�t think about his own pleasure after having reminded the bellringer of his responsibilities towards his family - particularly since Madellaine had saved his grandchild! He dismissed the vexatious thoughts from his mind and answered the girl: "This won�t be quite easy, but I mean if for your best."

Ad�le spent the afternoon in the belltower, thinking about her family and Madellaine and talking to the gargoyles. She admitted to herself she was jealous - she was sure Quasi would ask Madellaine to sleep with him and that she wouldn�t hesitate to agree. She remembered that Quasi had confessed her his love only after they had slept together�maybe he loved Madellaine now and would confess that after the first lovemaking - AARRGH! She also remembered how she had defied Frollo for her beloved - shouldn�t Quasi be too grateful to her to dream of that delicate blonde, even though she had taken care of Christine - for without Ad�le and Charlotte, Quasi would hardly have been strong enough to secretly defy his guardian for all those years and finally fight for his freedom; not to mention how she had supported Quasi after he had been disappointed in Esmeralda! However, she felt pricks of conscience when remembering she had left her beloved a year and a half after they had lost their baby - the baby whom Madellaine had taken into her care�She burst into tears. Would she be punished for something she had done taken over by the deepest grief of her life?

Unexpectedly, the door was opened, and the bellringer stepped in. Christine had stayed in the Court for the night.

"QUASI!" Ad�le dashed to embrace her beloved. "I thought�How is Madellaine? Did she - agree?" She winked at Quasi and turned away, quickly.

"Ad�le, Madellaine is jealous of you and longs for love. It would definitely be wrong to sleep with her at this stage, as she would think my thoughts are with you all the time. Actually, Esmeralda advised me to return to you. Clopin himself suggested he would start Madellaine�s guardian, if only the archdeacon agrees."

"Darling Esmeralda!" exclaimed Ad�le, with her eyes sparkling. But then she smiled mischievously. "Clopin? I don�t think Madellaine wants to be his mistress."

"Ad�le, Clopin is your father," rebuked Quasi, "true, I�m a bit suspicious, too, but at least, he has authority in our community, so he can really protect Madellaine."

"Well�what about your wishes?" Ad�le winked again.

"Yes, I do have my needs." The bellringer blushed. "I came to ask if you could�maybe�spend this night with me�" He was embarrassed. "First, I�m awfully sorry about treating you unfairly, for after all, although you broke up with me then, you�ve never been unfaithful."

"Oh, my dear!" Ad�le rejoiced. "I also want to apologize to you for my unkindness."

"That�s all right," said the young man, "but still, my dear, I must be honest: my feelings for Madellaine still exist, and if I could I would like to�" He stopped, blushing, and lowered his head.

"�have both of us?" Ad�le continued. At first, she blushed of anger, but then, she burst into laughter. "Incredible! The bellringer of Notre Dame would like to have two wives! Indeed, it is good Clopin promised to take care of Madellaine, for the townspeople wouldn�t leave us alone for one moment if they knew about this!"

"You are right", sighed Quasimodo, "but now, Ad�le�" He put his arms round his sweetheart, she bowed to let him kiss her, and they squeezed each other passionately. But suddenly, Ad�le was startled. "Quasi, this is a sacred place, we can�t do that here!"

"Ah�darn it�Let�s go to the workshop, quickly! I can�t wait any longer!" The bellringer took her in his arms and hastened down the steps and out of the Cathedral. Finally, in the workshop, he put some clothes on the floor, put Ad�le down and started to caress her, impetuously. Happier than for a long time, Ad�le showed him her passion and tenderness, for she was sure Quasi would never stop loving her, despite Madellaine�s attractiveness.

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