Chapter 28

A new love puts to flight an old one.

His trusted men guarded those who had entered Paris, his city. These visitors had declared themselves to be friends. However, like the Trojan Horse which Troy had mistaken for a trophy, they had turned out to have insidious plans with devastatingly detrimental effects, and Frollo itched to destroy them, but they were not his priority at this moment.

A single woe, a single desire, propelled him to the only place he wanted to be.

Frollo prayed to his God that He would have mercy on him and he would not be too late. By the time Frollo arrived at the square with Quasimodo and Phoebus on horseback, the masses surrounding the breaking wheel numbered nearly a thousand. The guards who followed on foot quickly made a path for them, and Frollo charged ahead, but it was Quasimodo who leapt to the platform first as Frollo dismounted. Seeing the Minister of Justice and not the Grand Master, the executioner and the guards did not obstruct the bellringer.

In a reversal of roles since the Festival of Fools, Quasimodo ripped apart the ropes holding Esmeralda to the pillar using his bare hands and both he and Frollo supported Esmeralda, as she slid down.

"Quasi?" Esmeralda's eyelids flickered as she recognised her friend's voice calling her name anxiously.

"Esmeralda! Are you hurt? Did they hurt you?"

Shaking her head weakly, she felt secure arms holding her. She did not know they were Claude's, for he did not speak, and only stared. Delirium was catching up with her and she murmured softly.

"Is Claude coming?"

Frollo's heart broke.

"Esmeralda, I'm here." But it was no longer clear whether she was lucid, for she did not respond and her eyes were shut. "Get the doctor to the Palace." Frollo ordered and though no one could rival Quasimodo's strength, he carried Esmeralda on his own. In only two days, she had lost weight, the shift hanging loose on her body. Her face was pale, her lips were dry, her body was burning.

Fevers could kill even the fittest man, and Frollo fought to suppress his panic.

-0-

"The fever has gripped her worse than I would presume. I have done all I can."

"All you can? You barely did anything!"

"I let out some blood Minister. But she is frail and I dare not do more. I will stay here tonight, if you allow me. The servant girls will press cold compresses to bring her temperature down throughout the night. But whether the fever breaks is up to her now. This is a test."

Throughout the night, Frollo kept vigil by Esmeralda's side while the doctor tended to her. Quasimodo had to return to Notre Dame to ring the bells and as he did he sent prayer after prayer. So did Myriel, as he carried out his duties as Archdeacon. Phoebus had remained in the streets and was patrolling the city, dispersing the crowds and making sure there were no dangerous elements in the streets who could start a riot while the Minister was distracted. Clopin helped put his restless people at bay, knowing many remained disapproving of Esmeralda marrying Frollo, and were itching for a fight.

The Palace of Justice was still except for servants going in and out of Frollo's bed chambers, and updating those who could not sleep. Dawn was approaching and there was no change in Esmeralda's condition. The doctor felt the pressure mounting. The flush had left Esmeralda's face, making it pale. But she did not wake. She was not even stirring as she had during the night. The final burst of life had left before an endless sleep would settle. The doctor could not pretend to be hopeful, but he was afraid of asking Frollo to prepare himself.

"I will return shortly."

Frollo's face was stone.

When a servant entered with more water, Frollo stood up and everyone turned to look at him.

"Get out. All of you."

The servants obeyed without hesitation.

He stood over Esmeralda's unconscious, motionless form and did not touch her. For some time, he gazed on her serene face, and wondered if she was now free.

"So… this is how you plan to take your revenge." Frollo whispered calmly.

Suddenly, his voice cracked, and he choked on his own words.

"You married me against your will, you forced my eyes open, you drowned me with your love so I could never return to myself as I was before. Now you will leave me alone, cold and friendless, to mourn forever my mistake for leaving you to the ravenous beasts, for not protecting you as a husband should. You will laugh at me from afar."

It seemed her fever had spread to him, and he began to speak like a man who had lost his sanity, his compass. He wanted to laugh, but instead sobs were wrenched out of him, and his thoughts were terrible and dangerous.

"I will follow you Esmeralda. If you are in hell, I will have Lucifer as my lord if he will give you to me. If you are in heaven… I will let Saint Michael strike me again and again, but it will not stop me from breaking those gates which deny this sinner entrance and finding you. You see? You cannot escape me."

He did not hear the doctor enter, bringing those who cared for her. Clopin, who knew Esmeralda the longest, saw her on the bed, and his heart sank. He had seen many of his people die, but though he appeared stoic, he remained affected by each death. And although they had often argued, Esmeralda was the sister he never had, and he felt the loss more acutely.

"Master?" Quasimodo was the first to speak. Frollo did not respond.

"Minister?" The doctor ventured, "Let me… Let me check her."

"She is not dead."

"Y- Yes Minister. Of course Minister."

"Claude." Myriel stepped closer.

"I told the servants not to be disturbed."

"We have to perform the last Rites." Myriel said softly.

"No."

Everyone including Clopin and Phoebus flinched as Frollo turned to face them and drew his sword. Frollo did not seem to realize what he had done. His eyes were sunken. He looked like the dead himself.

"Claude, calm yourself!" Myriel's voice increased in alarm, "You will only hurt yourself."

"No one can hurt me. Only Esmeralda can… And she's gone…"

Frollo's eyes began to blur, as the truth sank in. He had committed so many cardinal sins. His lust, his pride, his jealousy, his wrath, all had precipitated Esmeralda's death. Her friends believed her. He did not, even though he was her husband. He had only himself to blame but how could he atone for his sins now that Esmeralda was gone? God did not answer his prayers, because he did not deserve it. He was being punished, and God would take his beloved to heaven where she would be happy. Unthinking, Frollo raised his sword to his neck. They were cries and pleas but they did not stop him.

All it took, in the end, was the lightest brush against his fingers.

Frollo gasped and turned to the bed. Phoebus, seizing the opportunity, stepped forward to pry the sword away from Frollo's hand.

"Esmeralda?" Frollo's voice was strangled.

Esmeralda's eyes were half open and she was breathing heavily due to her exertion to push herself up. All she managed was to raise her hand to touch him, to let him know that she was here. That was enough, she fell back and her eyes closed again.

The doctor rushed forward to Esmeralda and checked her vitals. He heaved a sigh of relief.

"Her pulse is steady. She will live."

-0-

The doctor had advised Frollo to rest for he had not slept all night, but Frollo knew he had pushed aside other matters which needed taking care of. Assured that Esmeralda was safe, and knowing that the servants and her friends were looking after her, Frollo went to his office and summoned Antoine.

"My men are kinder to you than yours were to my wife," he observed with a sneer as Antoine stood in front of him, looking as though he had stepped out of a fresh bath. Food and wine had been accorded to him, and Antoine did not suffer at all from the confinement.

Antoine took in Frollo's demeanour and commented sanguinely in return.

"I suppose you worked everything out?"

Anger flared within Frollo for Antoine's composure. He was beginning to see what Esmeralda had meant about Antoine being cold. Nothing fazed him, he was untouchable.

"I consider you my friend Antoine."

"And I consider you mine Claude."

"Yes," Frollo snapped bitterly, "So much so that you come here to wreck havoc in my city and my life."

"You must understand it was nothing personal."

Several minutes passed before Frollo spoke again.

"I know what you did, who helped you. Perhaps I should not care at all, perhaps I should simply report you to the king for this unprovoked treachery, but we both know the king does not care for either of our affairs unless they reduce his coffers. And to not know all the facts is to risk not being prepared for the future. Tell me why Antoine. Tell me why you spent so much effort to get rid of Esmeralda. She means nothing to you."

"But everything to you, Claude."

Frollo froze.

Antoine sighed. He gestured to a nearby chair, and without waiting for Frollo's permission, he sat down. He appeared to ponder what he should say, but Frollo felt that Antoine had come prepared and was only giving the illusion of hesitation.

"Kings," Antoine began, "They love to think themselves immortal, until old age creeps up on them. And they love to think their empire will last forever, that God favours them, but history… History teaches us otherwise. And the people who serve them can swept up in the tide, however prosperous they might be once. You know what happened to me. After his father died, Louis confiscated all my property. It was many years before I returned to power and had my property restored to me. I have learnt from both kings that it is imperative to look to the future to secure your place. Louis is a narrow-minded doddering fool who only cares for his life and purses. Which holds dominion no one knows. But anyone can see that he is nearing the end. A new regime is imminent."

Frollo's eyes narrowed. He was unsure where Antoine was going with this, and what this had to do with Esmeralda. But Antoine did not waste words and he knew there had to be sense in all this.

"You are concerned about power shifts? Antoine, surely you have no longer have need to fear. You have friends in high places. I shall remain Minister of Justice."

"Not high enough, Claude. Even you can be stripped of your title and your property. It is a treacherous world we live in, Claude. I am not talking about retaining your position, Claude. I am talking about ascending to the regency."

The regency. Treacherous as it was to discuss such matters when Louis was still alive, it would not be long before Louis would pass away and anyone in Court could see that. But his son, Charles VIII, only twelve, was still much too young to be king, and would require a regent. Frollo's face blanched and he could not help expressing incredulity.

"You plan on having me become regent?"

"I have no claim to the lineage. But you, Claude, you do. And you are allied to me." Antoine shrugged, "I am an old man Claude. I have seen too many winters, and I do not have many springs left. With you as regent, my place for the remainder of my life will be secure."

These seditious plans Antoine had in mind threw Frollo off momentarily. To be regent was to practically be king until Charles VIII became of age, for the boy would rely heavily on his regent to advise him. The prospect of having so much power over the entire country and implementing any number of laws and policies was dizzying, and even Frollo – proud as he was of his virtues – was tempted.

But only for a while.

"I don't see what Esmeralda has to do with all this."

"Indeed, Claude? Yes, I see that you don't. Perhaps you are too involved. You ask why I wish to remove Esmeralda. It is so that my plans will not be interfered, it is so that you can obtain regency. Because, with Esmeralda around, she would have been enough."

And Frollo finally saw with clarity. Being a Minister of Justice in Paris was already a dicey affair; being right in the king's circle would prove precarious. In any power shift, there would be conflicts and chaos, and one's hands would never be clean if he became involved. Esmeralda would not want him to be that man in the fray, and Frollo realized that Antonine knew that. And knew as well that Frollo would never accept the offer if it displeased Esmeralda. Ambition, though still ingrained in him, would be kept in abeyance while he had her.

"She is more sagacious than you are, Claude. She saw what you did not. We are very different men, Claude. Very different. You believe there is right and wrong in this world. I see that this world… works on certain fundamental rules to hold things in balance. I like you Claude. As I said, it was nothing personal on my part. I trust you understand. I would not care that you married a harlot. But Esmeralda would have gotten in your way."

"She is not a harlot," Frollo immediately responded, "You do not care whether she is, but I do. And she is not to be sullied." His mind whirling, Frollo pressed for more answers. "Why did you not simply kill her then? Why go through such an elaborate scheme?"

"Surely you know."

Sighing, Frollo nodded. If Esmeralda were simply to be killed, he would be left devastated. Even in death, she would still have a hold on him and he would do anything to honor her. But if he thought that Esmeralda had betrayed him, he would condemn her. At least, that was Antoine's hope. Frollo would become even more cynical than he had been before Esmeralda came into his life, he might perhaps think more like Antoine even. And, ultimately, he would indeed gain more power.

Antoine reflected, "Being confined gives one a lot of time for introspection. When I came to Paris after I learnt about your marriage to Esmeralda, I was confident that I could still rely on you. In hindsight, after seeing your behavior with Esmeralda that evening, I should have known I had lost before I had even begun."

Frollo gazed at him. One year ago, he would approve of Antoine's plan, and be dazzled by the allure of more power. Now, it horrified and pained him. His passion to do what he believed was good would be corrupted if he became regent and had to struggle with the other lords to establish his rule. He loved his country, and he thought he loved Antoine before. Now, he knew what love truly meant.

"The servants will pack your belongings and Captain Phoebus and his men will escort you and your men out of Paris. You are the king's man, Antoine, I will not touch you. But as long as I am in command of this city, it will be wise for you not to step foot here again."

Antoine stood up and bowed, and walked away. Frollo would never see him again.

-0-

It was a week of rest that Esmeralda had. She was strong and she recovered quickly but paranoid, the doctor and servants persuaded her to stay in bed.

She had many visitors. Clopin and some of her people who dared to accompany him, Quasimodo of course, Phoebus and Fleur de Lys, the children, Myriel, and even concerned citizens who wanted to wish her well. The food stations continued to run in her name, and many were grateful to her for them.

There was however one visitor who was prominent in his absence.

Though she pestered everyone about Claude, they kept coming up with excuses that he was busy and needed to tend to the city's affairs and account to the king on the fiasco that had taken place which made Claude's enemies question his competency. Her friends had explained everything to her, so she knew Claude knew she was innocent.

Why then did he not see her?

She questioned the servants persistently until one confessed that he would come and see her when she was asleep. Frowning, she tried to think from Claude's point of view and came to the sad conclusion that Claude was ashamed to face her.

"Where is he now?" She demanded, flinging off the covers. The servant hurriedly came to her side to help her stand.

"He's in his office. But mistress, he'll be angry with me if I let you go to him."

"No he won't be." Esmeralda said firmly, and strode off to his office and entered after knocking the door a couple of times. "Claude." She announced herself, and saw her husband, who was bending over some papers, tense. When he looked up, she saw him try to repress his emotions.

"Esmeralda, I did not realize you could walk about."

"I wouldn't have to if you came to look for me." She said tartly, which made him tense again. He stood up, and walked to her, but he did not touch her. Nor did he look her in the eye.

"I apologize. I overlooked your determination to find me when I kept deferring my visits to you. That is wrong of me, I see it now. Please, let me escort you back to your room. You should be resting."

"Claude, don't be ridiculous." Esmeralda exclaimed impatiently, which made him shut his mouth. "Your formality is unnecessary."

Claude was silent for several moments.

"Esmeralda…" His voice was low, and betrayed his despair, "I nearly killed you."

It was Esmeralda's turn to be silent.

"It was Antoine who nearly killed me. Not you. No one seems to know… why. But you do, don't you?"

"Yes."

They stood apart as Claude explained. It did not take long, though Claude struggled with his words. He did not speak of emotion, let alone love, but the message was clear. Antoine saw her as an obstacle to Claude's supposed greatness. Just as Claude had once thought her as his downfall. Claude, she noted, did not disagree with Antoine's analysis.

She knew how profound his love for her was, did she not?

"Claude," Esmeralda whispered, "I have never asked you this. Do you regret knowing me?"

At her question, Claude's head jerked up and he finally stared at her. Nervous, but unable to resist, his hand came up to cup her face.

"I missed you." He finally admitted. "Whenever I watched you at night, I wished for these bright green eyes to open, and for you to be alive. But I … I am tormented by guilt." His face reflected his pain, "Things would be simpler without you, yes. I would be happy. At least, I would believe that I was happy. But if God asked if He should take you away… And have me forget you, I would say no. I will never want to forget you, Esmeralda, even if it costs me my soul."

Esmeralda's hand, much smaller than his, reached up to cover his. "You would have killed yourself if I was dead. You can't think like that Claude."

"I was not in the right frame of mind. Perhaps I am mad, Esmeralda. Madmen do not know whether they are mad. These past few days, I recalled everything that had happened since I met you, and all I can think of … is that you should be the one who should regret catching my attention. And it is in your best interests that you leave. But I am a selfish man and I cannot … do it, unless you tell me to let you go. And when you do, you will be free."

Esmeralda's lips parted in shock. She realized how much it was hurting for him to reach this decision, and still he would proceed if she said yes. "And you Claude, what will happen to you if I leave?"

He shuddered. "I promise you. I will live."

"Oh Claude." Eyes brimming with tears, she stepped forward to embrace him. "The thought of leaving did not cross my mind at all. It was a terrible thing that happened and it's not something I want to relive. But you must remember that Antoine did not cloud your judgment, and you trusted me in the end."

It was a very long time before Claude's arms came round her. When they did, they crushed her to him, and she did not mind.

"I don't deserve you."

She barely heard his words. She lifted her head to look at him. "Let me decide that." And she kissed him gently. It was a kiss which was one of love, of absolution, of a promise they would come out of this ordeal stronger for it and share a future together.

It was yet again a very long time before Claude spoke.

"Esmeralda, will you marry me?"

"I thought we were married."

"The circumstances we were married were deplorable. My actions… My actions were deplorable. And still, you forgive me. Again. And again. We must change that. We must marry under new terms."

"I am sure the archdeacon will help us renew our vows." Esmeralda whispered, "But what new terms do you mean?"

"During our marriage, I set out so many rules to make you obey me. If we are to marry again, I will obey you. You shall set the rules, you shall be the master of me." He, a man afraid to relinquish control, but even more afraid to lose her, would have her control him.

"It is a fair deal." Esmeralda commented solemnly, "I accept it Claude. And I know what my first rule will be."

They were both crying now, as she moved again to kiss him.

"No more rules."

-0-

Author's Note: It's been more than a year since this story has been updated. I'm so sorry to those who wanted to know how the story ended, and I'm ever grateful to the reviews that continued to come in leaving such kind words and asking whether there would be an update. Thank you so, so, so much for your interest, it was because of you that spurred me to wrap up this story. I always had this ending in mind even before I started writing this, but time got away from me. I finally got down to bringing this to fruition. It was unnerving to pick up the story again after such a long period, I can only hope that this is passable (/_\).

There will be an epilogue to this to wrap everything, with bits of history thrown in. To refresh the memory, Antoine is a real person in Louis's time, and what happened to him, and to Louis and his legacy in the end are matters of record and I feel it appropriate to bring them up and also show what happens to the couple as well to bring some closure.