Frollo x Oc

Part 3: Gypsies

A few days later, Thalia prepares herself and dresses in her best dress but nothing too extravagant. She just wanted to look nice enough and fit in with the crowd. Frollo also promised Thalia that he would take her to a church and suggested she should pray while he attends "business." Thalia didn't know what he meant but she mostly was excited about the outing than anything else.

Thalia changes in her outing dress and brushes her hair while waiting for her escort. She wonders what the city was like and tries to imagine the people there. A knock was heard at the door and so Thalia jumps out of her seat and goes to answer it. She opens and smiles affectionately at Claude Frollo.

He returns the smile and offers his arm to her. "Shall we, my dear?"

"Yes, monsieur," replied Thalia as she takes his arm.

Frollo leads her to his horse and helps her on before himself. He takes the reigns and leads his horse back to the city. As they ride back to the city Thalia looks around curiously like a child. She turns back to Frollo and gave him an excited smile. Frollo returns the smile and looks ahead before glancing up at the skies.

Clouds are gathering but not too much at the moment. Perhaps it will rain today later, thought Frollo to himself as they continue the journey together. Thalia asks questions about Paris while Frollo answers her with an amusing smile.

~~~

Once they've reached Paris, Thalia's eyes widen, and gasps in awe. She has never seen Paris during the day before and now sees its wondrous glory. The bustling streets of Paris are exactly how she imagined: Morning in Paris, the city awakes, to the bells of Notre Dame; the fisherman fishes, the baker man bakes, to the bells of Notre Dame. Why did that image sound familiar to Thalia?

"Thalia," said Frollo. "You must keep your hood down at all times. If you don't, I will have to take drastic measures."

"Drastics measures for just taking down my hood? Why, master?" asked Thalia confused.

Frollo explains, "Because I don't want you to attract attention from these people. Who knows what they'll do to you if you show off your beauty."

"Master, don't you think that's taking it a bit too far?" asked Thalia. "Why should I hide my face? These people don't look like criminals to me."

"Trust me, Thalia. Everyone here is nothing but sinful liars and thieves, who are unworthy to walk the streets of Paris," said Frollo while Thalia looked doubtful.

They walk through the city while a few curious people glance at them. They had never seen a young, innocent girl ride with the cruel and merciless Judge Claude Frollo before. The people gossip under delicate whispers and take another look at the pretty young girl.

"Do you think . . . ?" asked one citizen.

"No! . . Maybe?" replied another.

"Poor child . . ." commented another.

Frollo stops at a fruit stand and helps Thalia off his horse. Frollo had a basket under his arm and goes to the shopkeeper to buy grapes while Thalia smiles seeing the variety of fruit. The shopkeeper glance at Thalia's features curiously and then looks back at Frollo suspiciously. The old minister narrows his eyes at the shopkeeper as if telling him to keep his lips shut. The poor shopkeeper swallows hard and gathers the grapes.

Thalia looks around when she spots a live gypsy performance lead none other than Clopin himself. The fool in gold and violet prances around telling stories with musicians behind him and passing children stop to listen.

"Gather. Listen." Clopin alluringly sets the mood. "Clopin has a sad story to tell you all! A tale of tragedy and of loss! This is the tale of the Lost Princess!"