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Description

The next day was just as bright as the day before, and Belle kept all the windows and the shop door open the entire time she was working there. Surely there was no place more bright and beautiful than Paris on a day like this? Belle felt like the luckiest woman in the world to live there.

As the last customers of the day picked up their books and left, Belle did likewise, her mind on tonight’s dinner. Tiana and Naveen always made such lovely meals and she was just dreaming of the delicious onion soup with cheese-covered bread that they the pair had promised that morning when a voice said “Excuse me, Madame.”

Belle turned, surprised because she was rarely accosted by strangers on the street, unless it was to ask for directions. She’d got to know pretty much everyone in the surrounding area in the years she’d lived at Notre Dame and considered them all very good friends. The man who had hailed her stepped into the light and she blinked. It was Sarousch.

“May I help you?” Belle asked, a little warily, hoping that he was only going to ask her for directions. If Clopin said he wasn’t to be trusted, then she didn’t really want to have anything to do with him, but she could at least be polite.

“It’s Belle, isn’t it?” Sarousch smiled in an oily sort of way. “I’m an old friend of your husband’s. We used to work the streets together-”

“Yes, Clopin’s told me all about you.” Belle smiled though kept her tone pointed. “From he’s said, I gather he doesn’t value your friendship much anymore.”

“Oh, is he still gnawing at that old bone?” Sarousch chuckled. “Dear old Clopin, he had such morals back in the day. Me, I knew that to survive on the streets, you had to do whatever it took to survive.”

“And that included stealing from innocent people?” Belle tried to sound like she was teasing, fully intending to make her escape as soon as she saw an opening. She had already taken several steps back away from him and opened her book, hoping he would take the hint.

Sarousch laughed again. “Madame, you’ve heard the story of Robin Hood, haven’t you? Whom did he steal from? Why, the rich, of course. And whom did he give it to? The poor. Did Clopin tell you that I kept it all for myself, when there were fellow homeless urchins badly in need of food and new clothing?”

Belle hesitated. It was possible that perhaps Clopin had merely assumed that Sarousch had been keeping everything he stole for himself. Maybe he hadn’t known that Sarousch had actually been helping people with his thievery, maybe he had done it in secret. But then, Belle reflected too, her husband rarely made mistakes, and there was something about Sarousch that she just didn’t like. She thought about how she thought he reminded her of Frollo and decided it was something about his eyes. They seemed to gleam with the same air of wickedness, a reflection of a man who genuinely believed anything evil he did was “for the greater good.”

“Well, I take it that all of that “Robin Hood-ing” must have paid off, then,” she said, finally. “You’ve made a successful circus now, if last night’s crowds were anything to go by.”

“Oh, yes, and all my performers have come from the streets too,” Sarousch agreed, falling, much to her dismay, into step beside her. “Or come from orphanages, like those two children who walk the tightropes.”

Belle nodded. “I see. Well, I’m afraid I have to-”

“You must know Paris almost as well as Clopin,” Sarousch continued. “I confess, I’ve travelled so much I’ve almost forgotten my way.”

“Well, I’ve lived here nearly all my life,” Belle agreed. “I grew up in Notre Dame for most of it and-”

“Really?” Sarousch interrupted, with interest. “Tell me, is it true what they say, that there’s a bell filled with wondrous jewels? La Fidel, isn’t it?”

He was taking far too much of an interest in her beloved cathedral than Belle liked. She feigned a laugh of her own. “Of course not! It’s just a legend! However would anyone ever be able to ring a bell filled inside with jewels? It would be much too heavy! Now, if you’ll excuse me please, Monsieur, I have things to be getting on with.”

She pretended to bury her nose in her book and walked quickly on, easily getting lost from his eyes in the crowds of traders who all knew her name and greeted her as she passed. Sarousch scowled after her. Perhaps Clopin’s wife wasn’t going to be as easy to fool as he assumed. He wondered...

Belle thought about what he had said as she turned once more to check she wasn’t being followed (she wasn’t) and made her way into the Court of Miracles. It was true, both she and her husband knew their way around the city, although no one knew the ins and outs of Paris better than Esmeralda. But why would Sarousch need to know his way around the city he had been born in? He ought to be able to remember his way vaguely if not completely. Something struck her as off about their encounter. She was glad that she had lied about La Fidel, although she couldn’t imagine that it would be possible to steal something as big and heavy as a cathedral bell, and besides which, it would be impossible to get into the cathedral and out again without anyone noticing you were carrying the thing. The only way in was through the front door. Well, no, that wasn’t the only way, Belle noted, there was the secret way she had once helped Clopin escape through after they’d first met, but they were the only two people who knew about that.

At least, that was what Belle thought.

When she got to the kitchen, Tiana was hurrying around trying to stop several pots from boiling over at once whilst Naveen seemed to be tearing apart the cupboard trying to find something. “What’s happening?” Belle asked.

“I can’t find any gruyere cheese,” Tiana sighed, “or garlic, and the recipe needs both. It would taste much too bland otherwise.”

“It’s no good,” sighed Naveen. “We seem to be out of both.”

Belle turned in time to see Melody skipping in and quickly held out her basket to her. “Melody can run out and get you some quickly, can’t you, Melody?”

Melody blinked, not really wanting to go out again after she had just come in. But Tiana was looking at her hopefully and didn’t want to disappoint her. “Of course, Maman. I’ll be right back.” And after all, Melody thought to herself, maybe she’d see that young blonde boy and his friends again. She hurried out to the marketplace, disappointed that all the traders were shutting up shop for the evening, but lightened when she saw that grocer’s stall was still opened, as was the cheese shop. The grocer smiled at her.

“Hello, young Melody, you’re out rather later than usual, aren’t you?”

“Tiana sent me to get garlic,” Melody explained, glancing around hopefully as she paid. It would be nice if those children could see her buying the groceries, see how grow up and mature she was. But they weren’t anywhere in sight. They were probably eating their own dinner at wherever they were staying. Shrugging, Melody put the garlic in her basket and hurried over to the cheese shop. They had one lump of gruyere left, which was a relief, and she was on her way back out when something barged hard into her and knocked the basket out of her hands. Melody gasped as she fell on her hands and knees and looked up to see several young boys rushing away after a ball, not showing any concern that they had just knocked her flying.

“Oh dear, are you alright, my child?” said a familiar voice, picking her up again. Melody looked up and recognised the circus owner Sarousch. She scrabbled for the cheese, which luckily was wrapped in paper so hadn’t been spoiled. Sarousch picked up the cloves of garlic and put them back in her basket.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Melody replied, finding her voice. She hesitated. She hadn’t forgotten that conversation between him and Peter and Jane, although she still couldn’t work out what it had meant. They had looked terrified, but perhaps Master Sarousch was just a very stern teacher, or perhaps he had threatened to turn them out onto the streets if they still didn’t get what he was teaching them.

“No need to be afraid,” Sarousch smiled. “It’s Melody, isn’t it? I know your father of old.”

“Oh.” Melody relaxed. “Well, that’s alright, then. I’m sure Papa will be glad to hear you helped me just now. Maybe you should come back home with me and see him again.”

“I’d love to, but not today, sadly, too much to do.” Sarousch smiled. “Did you enjoy the circus last night?”

“Oh, yes! I’d love to be able to perform like that!” Melody’s eyes were shining. “I’m quite a good acrobat, but Papa doesn’t want our family travelling all over the world! I’d love to perform in other places, like you do! And the tightrope walkers were incredible! I wish I could keep my balance like that!”

Sarousch’s smile widened. “Well, maybe when you’re a bit older, you can join my circus, if it’s alright with your parents, of course. I’d never want you to go against their wishes.” He eyes Melody up and down. She was young and fresh, she might make a welcome change from Jane and Peter. After all, Peter was on the verge of getting older now, soon he’d be fourteen. He hadn’t quite decided what he’d do with him once he got too old.

“Really?” Melody looked at him eagerly. I’d love that! I met Jane and Peter earlier, maybe they can teach me some of their tricks!”

“Tell you what,” Sarousch mused, one finger scratching his chin thoughtfully. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow, during the day, and see if they can’t give you a few starter points? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

“Oh, thank you!” Melody exclaimed. “I have to get going now. See you tomorrow!”

“Oh, Melody?” Sarousch called her back with a smile. “Maybe it’s best you keep it a surprise for your parents? Until you’re fully trained. I’d love to see their faces when they see what you can do.”

Melody nodded and ran back in the direction of the Court of Miracles. Sarousch grinned, fiddling with his suit cuffs. He’d just known that Melody, being as young as she was, would be easy to manipulate. It would take a bit of time to get what he wanted to know out of her, but he was confident he could get it.

“Hey, Monsieur!” He looked down. The boys who had knocked Melody down had returned, the ball tucked under one of their arms. One held out has hand impatiently. “We did what you said! We knocked the girl down! Now where’s what you promised us?”

Sarousch tossed a bag of gold carelessly into his hand. “Now, be gone with you, before the ghosts and goblins come after you!”

Back at the circus, Peter was washing his hands in a small bowl of soapy water that served as a sink. Jane watched him, biting her lip. “Peter, you’ve been doing that for half an hour now.”

“I know, but I still don’t feel clean.” Peter eventually shook his hands and reached for a towel. “I can’t take much more of this, Jane! We need to get out of here!”

“But where can we go?” Jane was generally brave by nature, but even she wasn’t certain about a future on the streets of Paris. “Even if we could find some kind of work, somewhere, and I don’t see how because we’re so young, where would we live?”

“I’ve heard there’s some place around here where people with nowhere else to go are welcomed,” Peter said, turning to face her. “If we could find it, we could have a whole new life away from Sarousch and all the things he makes us do!” Jane giggled. “We could be just and me in a whole new world!” Peter snatched up a crown from the costume box and put it on his head, striking a dashing pose. “King and Queen of our own fate, what do you say? You with me, Jane?”

Jane flung her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m with you, Peter! I just hope you’re right about that place.”

[[Note: Just to clarify, there is no such thing as pixie dust or being able to fly for real in this story, so Peter can’t just fly them out of there like he would in a Peter Pan story, okay? Just wanted to make that clear.]]

Description

The next day was just as bright as the day before, and Belle kept all the windows and the shop door open the entire time she was working there. Surely there was no place more bright and beautiful than Paris on a day like this? Belle felt like the luckiest woman in the world to live there.

As the last customers of the day picked up their books and left, Belle did likewise, her mind on tonight’s dinner. Tiana and Naveen always made such lovely meals and she was just dreaming of the delicious onion soup with cheese-covered bread that they the pair had promised that morning when a voice said “Excuse me, Madame.”

Belle turned, surprised because she was rarely accosted by strangers on the street, unless it was to ask for directions. She’d got to know pretty much everyone in the surrounding area in the years she’d lived at Notre Dame and considered them all very good friends. The man who had hailed her stepped into the light and she blinked. It was Sarousch.

“May I help you?” Belle asked, a little warily, hoping that he was only going to ask her for directions. If Clopin said he wasn’t to be trusted, then she didn’t really want to have anything to do with him, but she could at least be polite.

“It’s Belle, isn’t it?” Sarousch smiled in an oily sort of way. “I’m an old friend of your husband’s. We used to work the streets together-”

“Yes, Clopin’s told me all about you.” Belle smiled though kept her tone pointed. “From he’s said, I gather he doesn’t value your friendship much anymore.”

“Oh, is he still gnawing at that old bone?” Sarousch chuckled. “Dear old Clopin, he had such morals back in the day. Me, I knew that to survive on the streets, you had to do whatever it took to survive.”

“And that included stealing from innocent people?” Belle tried to sound like she was teasing, fully intending to make her escape as soon as she saw an opening. She had already taken several steps back away from him and opened her book, hoping he would take the hint.

Sarousch laughed again. “Madame, you’ve heard the story of Robin Hood, haven’t you? Whom did he steal from? Why, the rich, of course. And whom did he give it to? The poor. Did Clopin tell you that I kept it all for myself, when there were fellow homeless urchins badly in need of food and new clothing?”

Belle hesitated. It was possible that perhaps Clopin had merely assumed that Sarousch had been keeping everything he stole for himself. Maybe he hadn’t known that Sarousch had actually been helping people with his thievery, maybe he had done it in secret. But then, Belle reflected too, her husband rarely made mistakes, and there was something about Sarousch that she just didn’t like. She thought about how she thought he reminded her of Frollo and decided it was something about his eyes. They seemed to gleam with the same air of wickedness, a reflection of a man who genuinely believed anything evil he did was “for the greater good.”

“Well, I take it that all of that “Robin Hood-ing” must have paid off, then,” she said, finally. “You’ve made a successful circus now, if last night’s crowds were anything to go by.”

“Oh, yes, and all my performers have come from the streets too,” Sarousch agreed, falling, much to her dismay, into step beside her. “Or come from orphanages, like those two children who walk the tightropes.”

Belle nodded. “I see. Well, I’m afraid I have to-”

“You must know Paris almost as well as Clopin,” Sarousch continued. “I confess, I’ve travelled so much I’ve almost forgotten my way.”

“Well, I’ve lived here nearly all my life,” Belle agreed. “I grew up in Notre Dame for most of it and-”

“Really?” Sarousch interrupted, with interest. “Tell me, is it true what they say, that there’s a bell filled with wondrous jewels? La Fidel, isn’t it?”

He was taking far too much of an interest in her beloved cathedral than Belle liked. She feigned a laugh of her own. “Of course not! It’s just a legend! However would anyone ever be able to ring a bell filled inside with jewels? It would be much too heavy! Now, if you’ll excuse me please, Monsieur, I have things to be getting on with.”

She pretended to bury her nose in her book and walked quickly on, easily getting lost from his eyes in the crowds of traders who all knew her name and greeted her as she passed. Sarousch scowled after her. Perhaps Clopin’s wife wasn’t going to be as easy to fool as he assumed. He wondered...

Belle thought about what he had said as she turned once more to check she wasn’t being followed (she wasn’t) and made her way into the Court of Miracles. It was true, both she and her husband knew their way around the city, although no one knew the ins and outs of Paris better than Esmeralda. But why would Sarousch need to know his way around the city he had been born in? He ought to be able to remember his way vaguely if not completely. Something struck her as off about their encounter. She was glad that she had lied about La Fidel, although she couldn’t imagine that it would be possible to steal something as big and heavy as a cathedral bell, and besides which, it would be impossible to get into the cathedral and out again without anyone noticing you were carrying the thing. The only way in was through the front door. Well, no, that wasn’t the only way, Belle noted, there was the secret way she had once helped Clopin escape through after they’d first met, but they were the only two people who knew about that.

At least, that was what Belle thought.

When she got to the kitchen, Tiana was hurrying around trying to stop several pots from boiling over at once whilst Naveen seemed to be tearing apart the cupboard trying to find something. “What’s happening?” Belle asked.

“I can’t find any gruyere cheese,” Tiana sighed, “or garlic, and the recipe needs both. It would taste much too bland otherwise.”

“It’s no good,” sighed Naveen. “We seem to be out of both.”

Belle turned in time to see Melody skipping in and quickly held out her basket to her. “Melody can run out and get you some quickly, can’t you, Melody?”

Melody blinked, not really wanting to go out again after she had just come in. But Tiana was looking at her hopefully and didn’t want to disappoint her. “Of course, Maman. I’ll be right back.” And after all, Melody thought to herself, maybe she’d see that young blonde boy and his friends again. She hurried out to the marketplace, disappointed that all the traders were shutting up shop for the evening, but lightened when she saw that grocer’s stall was still opened, as was the cheese shop. The grocer smiled at her.

“Hello, young Melody, you’re out rather later than usual, aren’t you?”

“Tiana sent me to get garlic,” Melody explained, glancing around hopefully as she paid. It would be nice if those children could see her buying the groceries, see how grow up and mature she was. But they weren’t anywhere in sight. They were probably eating their own dinner at wherever they were staying. Shrugging, Melody put the garlic in her basket and hurried over to the cheese shop. They had one lump of gruyere left, which was a relief, and she was on her way back out when something barged hard into her and knocked the basket out of her hands. Melody gasped as she fell on her hands and knees and looked up to see several young boys rushing away after a ball, not showing any concern that they had just knocked her flying.

“Oh dear, are you alright, my child?” said a familiar voice, picking her up again. Melody looked up and recognised the circus owner Sarousch. She scrabbled for the cheese, which luckily was wrapped in paper so hadn’t been spoiled. Sarousch picked up the cloves of garlic and put them back in her basket.

“I’m fine, thank you,” Melody replied, finding her voice. She hesitated. She hadn’t forgotten that conversation between him and Peter and Jane, although she still couldn’t work out what it had meant. They had looked terrified, but perhaps Master Sarousch was just a very stern teacher, or perhaps he had threatened to turn them out onto the streets if they still didn’t get what he was teaching them.

“No need to be afraid,” Sarousch smiled. “It’s Melody, isn’t it? I know your father of old.”

“Oh.” Melody relaxed. “Well, that’s alright, then. I’m sure Papa will be glad to hear you helped me just now. Maybe you should come back home with me and see him again.”

“I’d love to, but not today, sadly, too much to do.” Sarousch smiled. “Did you enjoy the circus last night?”

“Oh, yes! I’d love to be able to perform like that!” Melody’s eyes were shining. “I’m quite a good acrobat, but Papa doesn’t want our family travelling all over the world! I’d love to perform in other places, like you do! And the tightrope walkers were incredible! I wish I could keep my balance like that!”

Sarousch’s smile widened. “Well, maybe when you’re a bit older, you can join my circus, if it’s alright with your parents, of course. I’d never want you to go against their wishes.” He eyes Melody up and down. She was young and fresh, she might make a welcome change from Jane and Peter. After all, Peter was on the verge of getting older now, soon he’d be fourteen. He hadn’t quite decided what he’d do with him once he got too old.

“Really?” Melody looked at him eagerly. I’d love that! I met Jane and Peter earlier, maybe they can teach me some of their tricks!”

“Tell you what,” Sarousch mused, one finger scratching his chin thoughtfully. “Why don’t you come by tomorrow, during the day, and see if they can’t give you a few starter points? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind.”

“Oh, thank you!” Melody exclaimed. “I have to get going now. See you tomorrow!”

“Oh, Melody?” Sarousch called her back with a smile. “Maybe it’s best you keep it a surprise for your parents? Until you’re fully trained. I’d love to see their faces when they see what you can do.”

Melody nodded and ran back in the direction of the Court of Miracles. Sarousch grinned, fiddling with his suit cuffs. He’d just known that Melody, being as young as she was, would be easy to manipulate. It would take a bit of time to get what he wanted to know out of her, but he was confident he could get it.

“Hey, Monsieur!” He looked down. The boys who had knocked Melody down had returned, the ball tucked under one of their arms. One held out has hand impatiently. “We did what you said! We knocked the girl down! Now where’s what you promised us?”

Sarousch tossed a bag of gold carelessly into his hand. “Now, be gone with you, before the ghosts and goblins come after you!”

Back at the circus, Peter was washing his hands in a small bowl of soapy water that served as a sink. Jane watched him, biting her lip. “Peter, you’ve been doing that for half an hour now.”

“I know, but I still don’t feel clean.” Peter eventually shook his hands and reached for a towel. “I can’t take much more of this, Jane! We need to get out of here!”

“But where can we go?” Jane was generally brave by nature, but even she wasn’t certain about a future on the streets of Paris. “Even if we could find some kind of work, somewhere, and I don’t see how because we’re so young, where would we live?”

“I’ve heard there’s some place around here where people with nowhere else to go are welcomed,” Peter said, turning to face her. “If we could find it, we could have a whole new life away from Sarousch and all the things he makes us do!” Jane giggled. “We could be just and me in a whole new world!” Peter snatched up a crown from the costume box and put it on his head, striking a dashing pose. “King and Queen of our own fate, what do you say? You with me, Jane?”

Jane flung her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m with you, Peter! I just hope you’re right about that place.”

[[Note: Just to clarify, there is no such thing as pixie dust or being able to fly for real in this story, so Peter can’t just fly them out of there like he would in a Peter Pan story, okay? Just wanted to make that clear.]]