The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Heaven's Light

Rooftops

Esmeralda laid eyes on the girl Quasimodo coddled and she resembled just as it was said. As she came forward, Rose saw her and shied away, grabbing Quasi's attention.

"This is her, Quasimodo." the gypsy smiled kindly down at Rose who was still trying to hide behind Quasimodo's arm.

"Oh, yes. She is." Quasi smiled and urged the girl slightly towards the gypsy.

Esmeralda smiled down at her as she took the girl's hand. Rose had met a few women like her. There was a word for them and she wondered why they were called that. At Esmeralda, she shared a small smile.

"I chose...to call her Rose." Quasimodo enlightened.

"Oh, bless your heart. Who would dare try to hurt this child is beyond me." Esmeralda's voice deepened before speaking to Rose directly. "Rose. That is your name, isn't it?"

"My, that is a fair alternative." The Archdeacon smiled.

Rose managed a smile. The poor girl had never had many chances to have a moment of happiness. In truth, she was happy to be among these good people. But there was no more time to waste. They had to leave and being unseen turned out to be harder than what they thought of it. The city was mighty and the roads were uneven. Getting away was a threat to all of their lives. The western border was far off all the way at the other end from where they were and Quasimodo, of all people, hatched a near crazy option. They could journey there by rooftop. The weary Bishop wasn't so keen to such awkward transportation and such long distance.

"It's the only way, s-sir. I'm sorry." Quasi uneasily stuttered at the elder's disdain. "Perhaps, you can...well, wait here until I return for you?"

"Unless there's a better way, my boy, I prefer disguise, rather than to be up and...about where it's easy enough just to fall to our deaths."

"He will not let you fall, Father. I assure you." Esmeralda tried to bring ease to the Archdeacon's fear. "I've put all of my trust in him. So you can as well."

Quasimodo's cheeks blushed as he averted his gaze from her. The Archdeacon did trust the bell ringer. Putting his fear behind, he nodded at the two in agreement.

Rose trusted Quasimodo highly, yet she was nervous as well. She listened well and they were on their way up the dark inn. It was decided then. The way to the far western border was by rooftop.

Quasimodo may had been confident at one point, assisting Esmeralda, but, given the circumstances, he was terrified now.

"It's so far, Esmeralda. Are you so sure to be here by yourself?" Quasi nervously asked.

"We'll be all right, Quasi. Just go." Esmeralda told him.

The Hunchback, the Archdeacon, Esmeralda and the princess made it all the way up in the abandoned inn's attic nervously standing before a crumbling window sill. Quasimodo perched himself firmly on the sill after making sure no one below could spot them. The uncertain Priest was to be carried across first, despite his disdain toward the idea. Esmeralda gently held Rose to wait for their turn for the unpleasent escape attempt. For Quasimodo, it wasn't pleasant at the slightest. Esmeralda and Rose were where he couldn't protect them.

"Are you sure? I'll come back for you." he vowed, worried now, more than ever.

Esmeralda gave him a kind smile and shooed him off. "Go on, go."

"Please, no!" Rose worried, trying to reach out to him.

Fighting hard, she slipped from the gypsy's grasp and got to Quasimodo before he had a chance to get through the window. He didn't wish to leave her either, but it was only for a short while, hopefully. He held her close, tightening a little before gently pressing her back.