Chapter XXVI ~ Fate at the Ledge

 She had taken the weak blue strand of yarn from her wrist and took an end of her silvery blue cloak and began to work on something tender. Right above Jiminy’s parasol, she took a piece of pine needle and formed it into a sort of sewing needle and began to knit the yarn into it, into the shape of a tear. 

“How dare you ~” Odette uttered to herself. “… you were turning me against everything and everyone, turning me into an ornament. Stealing my dreams away, my love… my father away. The mirror was always where it came from. It was why I was losing my mind, my name… His name… You were trying to take him away from me again. We’re not for you, we were never for you. I hate her so much…” Odette whispered, partially speaking to the precious Diamond by her chest, her thoughts darkening toward the creator of all this pain. Maleficent and the Mad Queen. “Dear Jiminy, he is alive. Richard ~ daddy, you’re alive… I know you can hear me, somehow. She always loved us, the Good magic always loved us, Dad. She saved you just as she saved me and all of our friends…” she prayed deep as she worked on the cloak still. “… she is keeping her vows and she is fighting for us…”

Odette was able to feel the tender glow of the stone underneath the soft velvet of the fabric. A watery smile appeared on her face, reaching her eyes.

“A day is going to come, Dad. It’s going to come and we’re all going to be together. The dark emerald in our lives will be burned away forever,” she promised as she finished her work on the tear drops with her small yarn in it. While she studied it, she soothed her fingers around the Rosary that stayed tucked under her wools. After an eternal moment of clarity, Odette closed her eyes as soon as she was glad of the sewn piece. Deeply, she began to hum a silvery little tune…

Sweet Northern Star…

~Who brings to those who love~

A sweet fullfillment

A secret Longing…

Soaring out with the Swans tonight

You and I will soar without a care

And All will be Fair~

Through the storm as this lovely song was sung, the beautiful and delightful dove with her precious cargo soared protectively over the snowed down forests. She lowered and lowered deligently, with grace and poise. Jiminy pressed his body down against her, guarded by her starlit feathers to protect himself from the strikes of chill. He was trusting and full of faith, healed like the Diamond’s light. He peered out as he felt her lower downward, his heart striking high when he began to hear a voice singing in the storm.

Odette was wrapped in her cloak as she knew she had to wait for the dawn now, pained though as the clouds hid the sky currently. Although, she thought she heard a flutter from somewhere out there in the snow. She peered up, in hope… and her red rimmed brown eyes saw a tiny gentleman gingerly clamber his way into the hallow. Odette gasped as unshed tears overcame her eyes.

“Jiminy!”

His body hitched at the sound of her voice. He held his hat but then he dropped it down as he gazed up at her as she shuffled to him… His face was on the brink of contorting as she scooped him into her gloves… He felt her body shiver with joy, he listened to her voice choke up and weep as she pressed him gently against the wool to keep him warm.

“… hon… oh my stars, you-you’re here ~” Odette heard him cry. She soothed her thumb over his back.

“… sir, stay warm… I’ve got you.” she reassured, wiping her tears as she settled back deeper into the hallow.

Jiminy sighed, feeling her warmth and the warmth of the Diamond near him, and softly settled into the soft wool for a moment, needing to settle his thoughts.

“You’re all right, you’re alive…” Odette tearfully spoke, lovingly looking down at him. He soon opened his eyes, as there was so much to relay to her, so much to reassure.

“By her hand, ma’am…” he began. “… I would not be able to be here in your hands, right now.”

“We thought we lost you, Jiminy…” she sobbed.

“A-and I thought the worst for you, our family, I thought the worst - It was so just like how home became -“

“Jiminy…”

“She took me there, ‘Ette. She took to me that place. The home where it smells of books and wood, and old coffee…” he softly smirked as her face fell with wonder. “I-I saw him, hon…”

The breath she had been holding for days seemed to leave her in one long, trembling shudder. To hear Jiminy describe the specific scent of her old life—the sensory details she had only just begun to piece back together in the dark. Jiminy clutched the edge of her glove, his voice small but ringing with the authority and knowledge. 

"He was right there, Odette. Lying in the big bed under the soft covers," Jiminy whispered. "He looks peaceful, like he's just waiting for a long winter to pass. And the silver key... the one around his neck... it was warm. It was glowing because of you.” he gave, slowly sniffling his tears back before he fully realized the fact that she was entirely alone. The woman who held him tenderly, pressed her fingers to her lips to keep herself steady, realizing that her faith was true and the journey so far was no mere dream, no mere lie as she previously feared. 

“… the Diamond, Odette - where is…?” she heard him asking.

“It’s in Quasi’s pouch,” she enlightened, motioning to the warmth by him. “We were separated…” she began, choked but her mind was sound. “… ever since the visions from the caves, it’s gotten harder.”

“Odette~ Quasimodo. Where is Quasimodo…?” Jiminy found himself fearfully asking.

“He told me to go and find Frollo when I have the chance, but we need to wait for dawn.” she told him. “We exchanged vows, Jiminy…” she shared a watery smile. “… it’s all been true all along. He knew someone was following and so he went to head them off -“

Jiminy placed his hand against the pouch, feeling the unique pulse of warmth beneath ~ a heartbeat. “Odette, the Blue Lady had told me that our enemy intends more harm. Harm against Quasimodo… Hon, we have to find him…” he told her tightly. “There’s a shadow out there — the very one she intends to use against him.”

Odette shuddered, fully realizing that Quasimodo was the next target and she gazed out at the storm as Jiminy’s grip tightened on the wool. “She intends to shatter the Vow, Odette…” Jiminy continued. “If she can’t hurt you anymore, she intends to hurt him next~”

“Then we can’t stay here,” her voice shook with anger as she stood tall, finally.

*

His vow to Odette so greatly determined him, because he knew that she had been gotten stronger since the visions at the crystal caverns. While scouting through the storm, Quasimodo needed a moment beside a tree lost in his own thoughts, just like she was. This was no time for tears, but this storm alone did not feel natural against his sore body. Either it was unwellness from lacking a meal or water, but his gut felt sharp and heavy. Jiminy had not appeared for a while, which was worrisome adding to Odette and the girl’s desperation as the dawn was still far off. 

The night was becoming freezing… The fellowship’s parting during this blindness was devastating, and no matter how high he climbed, all Quasimodo saw was more accursed black brambles. Soon, Quasimodo found someone coming to his side as he was considering with his gaze still locked onto the misty woods off to the west side. 

“Quasimodo!” Doc cried out, trying to keep his voice above the strengthening wind. Quasimodo was surprised and turned towards the struggling Dwarf. He reached down to him and took Doc’s lost hand to bring him upward towards him upon the mound.

“Doc~ where have you come from? The storm’s growing more dangerous, but aren’t you a sight for sore eyes! I fear something m-may have —” he spoke, as though tearfully. “Odette - “ Quasimodo had oddly trailed off, to Doc’s surprise.

“Wha’s gone on?” Doc asked, worry etching around his eyes. “There are tears in your eyes. Where is she -? Odette~!”

“I am scouting out for her,” Quasimodo spoke between breaths as he looked out from where they were. In his distress, he finally lowered himself, not feeling well. His way of rushing his hand briskly through his hair was an indicator that he was upset to Doc. “Something is - is thoroughly wrong - tonight.” Quasimodo spoke, as if in fragments as he fought against an old stammer. He breathed his tears away before he fell quiet again for a long aching moment. “She holds the Diamond still, she is safe…”

“She - what? But you both are preparate - Separated!”

“We exchanged vows tonight,” Quasimodo finally softened as he said those words. He needed to say them. “She remembers her life now, she is stronger - as strong as this storm. There is someone out here, searching for her…”

Doc watched Quasimodo’s face tense up with emotion before he rested it against his firm palm, fighting all of it at once. “I love her so much…” Doc heard this young man express. “I will do anything to see her free, anything… I just — I need to see her free and back home. I do not care how.” Quasimodo fell coherent once more and soon rose his face to refocus himself. Fighting a breakdown, he kept taking deep breaths as he got the inclination that something was thick and poisoning the air around them. There was a soul wandering in these trees somewhere ~ a dangerous one he should keep away. Doc tried to look at where he was focusing on, confused and scared.

“As she is loved, so are you, Quasimodo ~ no-no doubt about that.” Doc’s voice shook from the chill of the air. “You can’t possibly think~”

Quasimodo sorrowfully and lovingly gazed at Doc, allowing those words to heal him a mite. “… may I ask something of you?” he then asked.

“Aye, yeah?”

“Stay by her side,” was the odd request that came out almost carried away by the wind. “Just in case anything happens. I have a terrible feeling about tonight. I-… I know I can trust you and your brothers with this.” he told him, straight and true. “Be with her, no matter what? I have her settled in a hallow in one of the trees. Follow the broken bark…”

“Oh, uh-er, always, Quasimodo…” Doc promised, not liking where this was going. “Who are ya~? What are ya doin’?” he asked while watching Quasimodo standing. He caught onto the brave Woodsman eyeing those trees from afar. “You’re not ~”

"I must. Find her and return her to the fellowship~" he protectively told Doc who was prone to following, but he stopped. “And do not follow me~ do not let anyone follow me —”

“Quasimodo. B-but… what’f your father~!”

“He knows very well how I am.” Quasimodo found his determination right quick, sharing one last glance at Doc who then tearfully began his trek back down to the path.

As soon as Quasimodo was sure Doc did not turn around, he soon took a leap down the opposite way. Afterward, Quasimodo was very still as he kept his focus on the distant glen as rain was mixing with snow, whitening the ground with grace. He was suffering a foreboding emotion that all only brought ill into his heart, which was another issue he could hardly explain for even himself. Putting his stealth to good use, Quasimodo pressed on, if their love was truly this strong, presently, he only could hope that it would mark a path for her, trusting that her fellow Maidens to do the same. However, his keeping his post here for the Knighthood to gather would provide Claude some time of preparation of what was to come. By how his intuition was prodding at him, it was not boding well. 

*

Deep in those trees though, only beyond the snow covered paths, was a shadow - indeed. A grave man with dark onyx hair and sharpened dulled green eyes staring on, wide and sharp. As if he was on the trail of something ~ or someone… He wore lush green attire beneath a tremendous fur of wolf and bear combined, which gave him an even more brutish shadow. 

His glare looked predatory… 

It marked Death.

Quasimodo picked up on something tracked in the snow, and had to be sure to hide himself well. Despite his vision being eternally obcured in his left eye, he had to focus his better eye directly on where he suspected this stalker. The farther away he went, the better on this front. As soon as Frollo heard tell of this, the better because Quasimodo had no telling of what the result of facing this man would be. He had trust in his strength, however… but even during this season of war, hand in hand combat proved difficult at times. His way was defensive, and that was prone to prolonging a fight. Praying harshly, Quasimodo took slowing breaths, finding that he was breathing too narrowly again. He had to be careful. Odette’s brown eyes and his father’s had just magically appeared in his mind’s eye as he waited for the precise moment. He thought of her, and their newfound family… Jiminy’s life ~ their love. Her past — If it meant anything thus far…

In his gentle way, Quasimodo edged himself out of his hiding place, prepared in his favored left hand ~ his dagger. This was the one thing he solidly ever used was for chipping wood… As this dread was trying to leak into his heart, he had to look before he was discovered by this mysterious shadow. Keeping the knife hidden behind in his good left hand, Quasimodo froze up like a caught buck when a set of eyes had spotted him.

“There he is.” came a shocking inhumane voice, erupted through the air as sharp as a needle. “The Beast that dared to see what he was forbidden to see.”

“Forbidden…?” Quasimodo kept his tone quieted, yet sharp enough to pierce back. “… forbidden by whom?”

However, he took a few careful steps back, whilst slowly rising to face this man. The dagger in the man’s hand glinted at his better eye and thus he locked onto it.

“One of us will not survive the night~ She deems you a threat to her rule.”

“Who i-is she…?” Quasimodo countered back, knowing who he was referring to. “I do not wish to fight…” he told him, not wishing to resort to anything rash.

“You will.” the man stated, fully revealing his likeness to the Woodsman. Quasimodo saw how glazed his eyes were, which clued him in that enchantment was still at play here. “Or are you a coward…?”

The victimized women, and all the people who had their homes stolen and destroyed, his own home overrun. The sights of the Lady of Paris surrounded by flame and rage was the imagery of his nightmares for nights on end. Esmeralda had fled to defend her people, and had begged him to accompany her. If his training with Pheobus held any merit at all, he was about to truly show it. 

When this other rose his right high with that glinting weapon, Quasimodo had to prepare his stronger left to snatch the wrist of the man as he tried hard downward at his chest. Through grit, he was able to shove his enemy’s arm aside, almost throwing him off balance. It was barely enough for Quasimodo to reclaim his footing, using the force of his upper body to keep himself up when the other recovered to try another attempt at his life. 

This Hunstman swiped the blade so frighteningly close to his throat ~ Quasimodo bounded back, daring to never turn his back. The two were nearing a slant off the path, closing in on some rocky terrain. With a feirce lunge, Quasimodo felt a sharp jab into his forearm, and a chill ran through it when he pulled back — He winced before his attacker lunged again, even stronger this time. 

~ He drew first blood ~

His very own, and he had to make sure this battle wouldn’t end in death. He winced even when as he gazed upward at his enemy to regain his footing. He clasped the other’s wrist when they clashed against him. Honing his legs, along with his blessed monstrous grasp, Quasimodo was able to spare his jugular from the blade. As he had a firm hold on his right wrist with his left, Quasimodo had the Huntsman’s right pinned against his chest plate, closing up to the under arm. Soon he had to grasp the shoulder as they pressed viciously and harshly to weaken his resolve. 

In mental anguish, Quasimodo decided to give a strong thrust to throw them off, but could only bring the man into a rough roll, to where he was able to kick him aside just enough to dislodge him. The strength of that kick was enough to stun the man, granting Quasimodo a chance of regain more footing. 

“Strength of ten men as it was told…” he hardly heard this man whisper as he recovered himself. “This is a first…”

Quasimodo kept his eyes fixed on his every move~ with a fixed brow and pupils shrunken, Quasimodo held himself close to the ground, crouched and ready to bound. 

“That, which is mine, it is never without reason… Not for you ~” was the confounding statement that made Humbert seethe with hatred. 

All it took was one thrown dagger, which Quasimodo had to dodge, yet his loss of footing on the edge was unavoidable! He had fallen off and yet he was able to latch a strong hand onto a sharp edge on one of the rocks, not without pain although. As he tried to regain his grip, his wrist was nearly caught by his enemy’s knife —Yelping out, he sacrificed some blood in order to shove himself back up. 

Strength was among one of his own virtues, and was able to slip before the bottom of his tunic would be torn from another attempt to gash him. 

“You shall bow to your Queen!” came the unhinged demand that did not belong in this man’s mouth. “The Vow Shall Break!”

Quasimodo recieved a horrible punch to his left cheek but it wasn’t enough to weaken his hold, and finally caved in to throw the man over his shoulder with one swoop to get him off of him. Although, he did not expected to hear the man yelp out in terror when he had rolled off over a ledge. Quasimodo found blood seeping through his vest and soon realized he had been stabbed again during the fray. That cry though immediately grabbed at him before he could consider anything else.

In spite of the pain — In spite of the terror — Quasimodo willed himself the remainder of the strength he had to leap towards that unseen ledge. He was there quickly, only the find this Huntsman grasping onto the rock with all he had left, with barely enough stone to grasp with his fingers. The change in the man was uncanny, as though he had not a clue of where he was! Gasping, wet from chilled sweat as the snow mixed with rain became sharp against his face and eyes, Humbert gazed above him to find the shadow of the Woodsman nearing the edge under the sheer moon’s light —Both have failed to see the shadow that flew across it, leaving a trail of pitch black in its wake.

“I AM TO FALL - I CANNOT —”

His fingers were slipping quickly, and only seconds were passing by when he knew he could no longer hold on.

HELP!!

A titan grip latched around the thick of his right arm, just as his fingers lost their strength. The grab hurt, but he did not fall. He strained and blinked his eyes to see who it was who spared his sorrowful life.

It was Quasimodo. 

It was he who bounded over, latching a hand to the ledge above while having snatched him with his other. Humbert hung and tried to dig his boots into the rock to try and push himself up. Quasimodo gave it all he had, but it was clear to the awoken Huntsman that he was suffering tremendous agony. Wind whipped about them, threatening their holds, and tears fell as Quasimodo willed himself to pull himself and Humbert back onto firm ground. 

His face was a hellish grimace as he did so, and soon both men were back onto the ledge that overlooked an even rockier crevice below that was home to death if one of them had fallen.

Both men were as still as the storm seemed to worsen, opening the clouds to reveal a starry sky, the other unharmed and the deformed one agonized… 

Dazed and confused about where he was, Humbert rose his head to see a body shrewn afar. It happened to be his rescuer, as still as death, as cold as ice.

Humbert gasped at the sight. Terror filled his eyes as he shakily stood.

“I- what have I done…?” he uttered in sheer horror, as he strained against the blizzard to approach the unconscious Woodsman who was lying on his side in a mound onto the chilled rock, slowly but surely getting speckled in new falling snow and rain. The bloodied dagger laid bare by the edge, blood dripped.

Had he been forced to murder under her name…? He recalled the anguish he felt, the stabbing in his heart at the glow of the Mirror, and anything after that remained in the dark in his mind. Thunder rumbled in the moving thick clouds, at once blocking the moon, thus darkening his straining eyes even more. He had just been saved from a terrible death, and inched closer to the mound that laid still before him. He remembered seeing a man pull him gruffly upward to safety but he was still dulled from the trance he was viciously awoken from. 

Soon, Humbert was able to approach the body of his rescuer… Something was amiss in this moment. 

Had I not sworn to Punish those who dare to oppose me?
Had I not warned you…?
Now look before you, Huntsman!
See where you have led him~ Behold what you have done.

Humbert’s heart fell into despair at once when he saw the truth after he expected to touch a chilled hand.  What he actually touched was a patch of thick bristles. What he had touched was not the hand of the fellow man who had just spared his pathetic life ~ His life that was used to ruin the life of these precious lovers. His head pounded as a great cackle coincided with the wind as the clouds parted above them. 

*

Odette had tucked Jiminy safely with the Diamond to keep him warm. In this state of the land, with him being so mild and small, he would not last the night out here. There was a rumble of thunder and a sickening strike in her stomach as she patrolled through the snow. As she took strong steps, she would try to peer up to see the black thorned trees that created walls all around the forest, having transformed it into a prison. 

“Damned coward,” she seethed through her teeth as she stopped to listen through the wind.

“Odette, please…” Jiminy trembled. “Keep heart, keep heart…”

“She is keeping us caged.” she whispered down into her cloak before she gripped the side of another tree and pinned herself right when she heard the shriek of a frightened horse. Her thoughts ran right to Quasimodo as she pressed her hands to her chest. Should she dare to look and see for herself… Was it him?

When she did, with all the courage she could muster, Odette saw a line tied around one of the wide trees that bound the head of Fidele, the loyal one. He was pawing, and clawing at the bark, trying to yank himself free from the rope, but to no prevail. Odette gasped, finding her love’s loyal friend to be condemned like this, by whom? Fidele was so loyal, he was never tied. Ever… Her mouth ran dry as she then faced away and forward while she realized this may have been a trap.

“Jim - it’s - it’s Fidele.” she whispered to her heart. He peered from out of the ledge, still sheltered by the cloak. “He’s tied to the tree…”

“Don’t go out just yet, hon… It’s exactly what she expects.” Jiminy whispered in return. Odette closed her eyes as her thoughts began to whirl. 

Quasimodo was never far away from Fidele, even on this front, although being tied may have meant to keep the horse from finding him, or from leading her to him. The last word he gave her was to locate Claude Frollo and the men. Her heart was hurting, the warmth of the Diamond was strong though, something was intact even though her eyes were deceiving her right now.

“If it is what I think this is, Quasimodo is in great trouble. Fidele knows… He knows something’s wrong, Jiminy. Something happened… I have to — We’ve got to free him.”

“Don’t —“ Jiminy’s voice was cracked but firm. “I know you want to - I want to — Remember what he told you… You hold the Diamond, Odette~ Before we touch that rope, we have to find the Knighthood first.” he told her, firmly. He saw her tears as he gazed up at her.

Even though her beautiful brown eyes were glistening, and tears fell, the woman drew in a deep breath and nodded. Her love led her this far, their love was as strong as stone, as she could feel the life in the Diamond warming her and the gentleman, and keeping her father safe, even now. She gazed down at Jiminy, nodding in agreement. They had to be just as crafty as the enemy, and so she turned her cheek to Fidele one last time, making a silent promise that she will return for him. For now, the family needed to be reunited once more if they were ever to escape this thorn prison.