Learn to be lonely: A bellringers early life

[Quasimodo]

The soothing melody of a psalm rang throughout the halls of the magnificent cathedral.
The audience`s eyes rested on the prest before them as they put their very hearts into the song, the very depths of their spirits praying for their wishes and hopes of life to come true through god`s blessing.

Not a single soul was aware of the pair of soft blue eyes watching them from above, not a single pair of eyes would be able to spot the form of the little boy hidden in deep shadows; the only place he could feel completely safe.

His little sigh as he once again caught himself wishing to be one of them, to roam freely,playing with the other kids he observed from his hideaway every day, drowned in the beautiful music.

For little Quasimodo the Sunday noons was the best day of the week.
The one time he was somewhat related to the people out there.
His frightful appeance would forever put him apart from other human beings, forcing him to live his life alone,hidden in shadows.
But those moments they were all united, even him. After all they were humming the same psalms, praying to the same god.
Though he suspiced his prayers was slightly different than theirs..

Quasi`s wandering thoughts came to a sudden halt as a small noise nearby caught his attention, the sound of footsteps.
For a moment he`d been so foccused on his own little prayer that he hadn`t noticed the little kid slipping away from his mother before he almost stood right beside him,
Hastily the hunchback retreated deeper into the shadows of the complicated ornamented statue he was hiding behind, studying the newcomer who seemed to be about his age.

The small sound of his footsteps echoed throughout the enormous cathedral as his eyes darted around, filling the young boy with awe for the magnificent splendour around him.
A secret smile formed upon his lips at the thought of how he`d just managed to slip away from his mother`s watchful eye and her never ending restrictions. Her always sounding "Pete here, and Pete there."

With a frown he shoved the unpleasant thoughts out of his mind, this short moment the world was his alone, a world that went far and wide inside the walls of Notre Dame.
His mother`s reactions when she realized he was gone was a worry for another time.

The little runaway stopped short as he in that moment cathced a movement out of the corner of his eye.
As courageus as the knights in the tales he wirled around on the spot sword in hand.
..At least in his mind. His mother had strictly stripped him for his little wooden sword before they went to church.
He rolled his eyes inwardly, "don`t expect a woman to understand the true art of a knight," as his father always said.

Oh well, he still had a sword..sort of.
Surrender, foul beast, he demanded, swinging his silver blade. Why off course no one could fail to notice the bravery of his act and the sparkling shine of his magnificent sword, now vould they?
The puzzled tone in the long delayed responce caught the brave little warrior off guard; What are you doing?
Defending my kingdom against intruders and thieves, "Sir" pete replied, composing himself and again putting his mind into the role.

The light chuckle sounding from the shadows confused him, his oponent should be trembling with fear by now, preferably even beg for mercy; which he would eventually be given after a pause of dramatic silence to consider the question.
I`m afraid you`re mistaken, humor was still present in the bodyless voice as it spoke again. This is my kingdom.
Then who are you? the young knight questioned, his honor somewhat shattered by the information that his shapeless rival was this kingdom`s true ruler.

Quasi, came the simple reply. Quasi what? Pete insisted.
The shape in the shadows sighed deeply, as in defeat. Quasimodo, he finally spoke, his voice lower now, as if he were confessing a sin.
Pete tilted his head slightly in wonderment of the fellow`s odd name, though he couldn`t see anything sinful by having an unusual name.
The boy bit back the question "why?" which rose as he recalled endless hours of lessons of higly appreciated things, as literature and latin, with his teacher. Though by the thought of the punishment he knew would follow if his parents found out about such rudeness he restrained himself.

May i ask your name in return, noble knight? the voice again rang out from it`s shadowy hideaway.
Pete.. i mean Sir Pete, dear king, he responded.

Welcome to my kingdom sir Pete, Quasi greeted like a true king, highly amused by the little game they`d formed.However, the noble, young knight was intregued by this mysterious being, only visible in form of a voice, and curiousity started to get the better of the boy.
I have to admit, not once have i met a king so mysterious, he started, speaking what was on his mind as politely as he could. It would be an honor knowing the noble king i am to serve.

A brief silence occured, while Quasi considered his options, indeed playing games would be a lot easier if he didn`t have to do it from behind a gargoyle.
Bit weren`t it a too huge risk to take? Letting his friend to be know what monster who posed as king of the cathedral.
Truly a friendship between a knight and a beast wouldn`t work out very well.
You`re better off not knowing, he finally spoke. Sometimes it best to let thing stay where they are.
I dare you! came the quick, insisting reply. Or are you a coward? Pete added challenging, awaiting the responce.

Quasi sank down in thoughts again, knowing his new knight soon would loose his respect for his king if said king showed to be nothing but a shameless coward.
It was true his master Frollo had been kind enough to warn him about common people`s opinion of creatures like him, and the consuquences if he were to wander about them. he send a grateful thought to his guardian that was kind enough to raise him and protect him from the hatred from other people, despite his hideousness.
Still, maybe, just maybe he for once could have just one single friend beside Frollo and the gargoyles. A playmate about his own age. if he could convince the other boy that despite his monstrous apearance he had no harmful intentions.
Remember, you asked for it, brave sir Pete, he spoke out loud, warning him he might need all his bravery as a knight to face what was coming.

Srill hesitant, the hunchback stepped out of the shadows behind the huge stone statue and into the light, the world his new friend belonged in. At least he hoped he`d be a friend, puting on his softest and warmest smile.

Now he ould really use his wooden sword, or better yet, a real one, pete thought desperately, as his eyes fell upon whatever it was who stepped out of his hiding place.
Taking in the creature`s appearance he stepped backwards, was THIS the source of the voice he`d heard. No wonder why the fellow was hiding, Was that thing even human? or had the devil taken over the church, a house of god? In that case he was sure hell would be loose very soon, he gulped.
Knowing he was the only one who knew, Pete again stepped forward, remembering his duty as a knight.
En garde! he challenged the foul creature.

Quasi facepalmed mentally as he noticed the fear in pete`s eyes. He bowed his head slightly in shame, his heart ached of pain of meeting the hatred and fear he`d been warned of a thousand times.
Easy now, he spoke softly, I have a sword no more than you, he pointed out, considering the game to be over for his part.

The now former knight gulped again, figuring the creature was right, he was completely at it`s mercy. if it had such a thing.

Suddenly being at a loss of words, both boys stared at each other awaiting. One in fear, the other feeling his heart shatter of lost hopes, cursing himself for destroying his chances. he deserved the punishment he knew would be coming.
With a deep sigh the hunchback turned to leave, no longer wishing to vallow in other peoples fear. he was better of alone.

So that`s what you think? he heard a voice behind him speak with mixed confusion and determination.
Quasi turned in surprise, to see the other boy tugging on the closest tall candelabras, trying to bend it ovet
Though the overgrown candlelight was everything but easy to handle, Pete had succeded in capturing the creature.. boy`s..? attention the only way he could think of. The strange boy, as he`d come to it had to be after all, acted in no way he`d expected from any beast he`d ever heard of.
The two boys stood quiet for a moment, studying each other curiously, trying to come to terms with the other.
Though just before they could come to an understandment, a shrill shriek pierced the air, causing them both to jump ten feet at the least.
An elegant, strict looking noblewoman grabbed her young son by the arm, and dragged him away from the candelabra, and the monster whom she was sure had been about to attack.
But mom.. Pete protested faintly, only to be strictly hushed down by his mother, who assured him his little runaway would have qonsuquenses.
The candelabra fell heavily to the floor as the boy lost his grip on it, and the echo of the sound as it hit the floor echoed in Quasi`s heart.
The young bellringer could hear the woman`s frightened and indignant voice ring throughout the cathedral long after she had disappeared, spreading panic among the others present

A silent tear pricked down his cheek as he turned to let shadows and darkness swallow him once again.
The tipped candelabra ws the only sign that the meeting had taken place at all, and the mysterious bellringer forgot ll about his nerly found friend as time went by, Only the pain of broken dreams was left to sting his lonely heart

( More various scenes from Quasi\s childhood is coming soon to a computer near you XDD)

[somechick]

Nani: Quasimodo is not a sin! HOLD ME BACK! HOLD ME BACK! LET ME AT ÉM!
Me: NO, NANI, YOU ALREADY HAD CLOP HOSPITALIZED..AND HE WASN'T EVEN IN THIS CHAPTER!
Nani: RAAUUGGH! -FOAMS-

Oh my God I'm so depressed! :/ Please post more!
You write magnificently, and in no way does this display crappiness.
I like you usage of details and you're just....

POST MORE, FOOL! <3

[Quasimodo]

Aaaww *is a strawberry* thanks ;D *hulas*

Will start writing on the next later today ;D

[Quasimodo]

Centuries is a long time they say.Truth is they float by no slower than a river`s pace, none bringing much difference from the previous. There`s no beginning, nor is there an end.

Off course, living under such conditions, only watching the life pass by from a spectator`s view a few thousand years and you become stiff as stone, No pun intended. If thinking long and hard enough the faint glimpse of a memory, a chanting voice speaking about the gargoyles being the true and secret protectors of Notre Dame.

But years past, though they appeared as merely weeks, till they counted hundreds.. even thousands, and nothing happened.
And so the gargoyles of Notre Dame whittered into a state of death like sleep as they spirits died like a flickering candle light, until there was only three of us left.
Though time gradually felt heavier upon us as well, years could pass in the time it took to blink an eye, or lift our dusty heads to catch the sun`s warmth.

I fear our time would be up, and we`d sink into the same death state as our former allies and friends, if fate hadn`t taken a very unexpected twist.
I`ve living to see centuries pass, without many changing or dramatic events occur, and those who did took years to fulfill. Suddenly one single night were all it took to change fates dramatically, and one came, to bring new life into our monotone existence.
********************************

The balcony was probably not the best place to rest such a chill winter night, Laverne had to realize through her semi.conscious state of coma.
The eldest of all the gargoyles tucked her wings tighter around her as a cold breeze decided to blow their way, pulling tiny snow flakes along with it.

Stubbornly falling deeper into sleep, Laverne failed to notice the screams of a freezing little baby left to it`s own fate, at first. Though the shrill, blood curling sound eventually stirred her almost dead senses, giving her no peace to sleep the night away.
ENOUGH! she growled like a hungry demon as she finally snapped back to life fully. WHOEVER`S MAKING THAT DREADFUL NOISE, SHUT IT! SOMEONE`S TRYING TO SLEEP!
used as she was to the days passing eventless by like a flowing stream, the sudden, ear shattering sound had taken her by surprise. And irritation.

A scowl present on her face as she hopped down from her place, and hit the floor with a soft thud.
Those two imps Hugo and Victor better not have anything to do with this, she grumbled to herself as she went to investigate.
To her displeasure, she found the beforementioned gargoyles on the scene where thy crying seemed to have it`s source.
But she stopped short upon noticing the two males had puzzled looks on their faces that equaled her own, and it could appear like they were trying to figure out whatever this could be.

Hugo scratched his horned head with a tiny hoof as his eyes rested upon the baby. Hey look, it`s a pig, he guessed, grinning to his friend, who just rolled his eyes in return.
My simple friend, that is obviously not a pig, he spoke, studying the pink creature with the red hair\fur on it`s head.
Look at the tiny little hands and feet, and the round adorable eyes, the noble gargoyle cooed. It seem clear to me, this is a monkey!

Ha ha ha, Hugo "laughed" mockingly Even i know there`s no monkies in Paris.

Laverne sighed as he hopped up beside the "monkey`s" cradle where her fellow gargoyles were waiting.
The ladylike stone creature shook her head as he caught sight of the little child whose struggling while calling out in the darkness for company and love had freed him from his blanket`s comfortable warmth, thus leaving him without shelter from the deadly winter coldness.
Morons, she huffed. Can`t you see it`s a child?!

With a stern look she immediately shut off Hugo who just got a light bulb over his head, as if a smart remark was on his lips.
Laverne`s sour look melted away as she again turned her gaze at the disfigured little baby, and mildly she picked up the wiggling little body whose skin color started to get a blue shade of cold, and tucked him tightly in the blanket.
The remaining pair of the trio refused to believe their eyes as the grumpy old female gargoyle`s attitude changed dramatically, and she got something definitely motherly over her. Or grandmotherly, considering her age.

The pleasant warmth of the loving embrace, finally silenced the few weeks old infant, and his frown turned into a wide grin.
Whoever you are and whenever you came from, you`ll need someone to take care of you little one, Laverne cooed down to Quasi, getting a lot of baby babble in return, as if the little boy was answering her indirect questions.

A low grumble in the child`s stomach, accompanied by new unhappy whimpers brought Laverne back to reality.
Now don`t just stand there. the kid is hungry, make yourself useful, he ordered her two friends, waving them away with her hand as if they were flies.

Though she didn`t quite succeed in hiding her amusement of their slack jaws, before they pulled themselves together and dashed towards the basket of food, apparently supposed for the baby, yet placed on a table so far away from him.
What exactly do they eat at that age? Hugo muttered as they returned, getting nothing but a shrug from Victor in response.

Searching through the basket for suitable food, quickly brought the two males to another one of their notorious disagreements as Victor with much drama pulled an apple out of the mix.
To be or not to be, the angel.like gargoyle started, but before he could finish he was abruptly interrupted by his brother.
Yada yada.. get over with it and give him the apple already,Hugo spoke as he emerged from the depths of the basket, his hooves stuffed with grapes. Not that such a large piece would ever go into his little mouth, he added throwing a glance at both Quasi and the big, red apple. It`s bigger than his head.

True enough, Victor had to admit Your mouth however, he remarked with a side glance at his pig like friend, as he offered the apple to the toddler anyway.

..With the big apple in his mouth and his wide eyes from not being able to swallow it, made Quasi look more like a pig than ever before..

Now, stop suffocating the poor thing, Laverne said dryly as she returned the apple to Victor the hard way.
A loud, hollow noise sounded as the fruit hit the gargoyle`s head.

And yet you claim that Hugo has no brain..

HAH, Gotcha. You gotta give in to the ladies, Hugo stated while stuffing his mouth with grapes, rather pleased with himself.
Hey, you! Laverne exclaimed, slapping him over the head as soon as she noticed this. I didn`t say he was wrong, did i? Now stop eating the kid`s food.

Though apparently, for some odd reason the kid didn`t seem too pleased as all three gargoyles attempted to stuff his mouth with the small green fruits, and just to make it even worse, his coughs sent the grapes in express speed back were they came from not caring of any obstacle that might be in the way.

..Or in the eye.. as the trio soon learned.

Oblivious that he was the cause of the rain of grapes and the odd stone statues whimpering in pain and covering their eyes, Quasi giggled madly at their strange behavior, forgetting his hunger for a few slight seconds.
The newborn baby had been dropped back in the bed due to this, and now his longing eyes came to rest upon the basket beside him.

Remembering his hunger, he crawled quickly the few steps it took, and stretched out his tiny arms to grip the top of the basket.
The wight being too much, the basked tipped over, covering Quasi with fruits and cookies, and laid itself like a turtle shell over his back.

The poor baby`s struggling to get himself loose from the mess only resulted with banana squishing and gargoyles covered by by the inside consistence of said fruit.

Oooooh, the boy cooed, pleased with himself. He raised a tiny hand..

"splat splat splat splat"

The sound of amused baby giggle could be heard between the sound of splatted bananas

How elegant, victor muttered sarcastically under his breath.

But it does taste good, Hugo spoke muffled, licking his yellow self shamelessly.

Fortunately, Quasi had realized the same, and had already started the task of cleaning up the banana mess like a vacuum cleaner with tongue.
At least it seemed, he`d finally found the way to stifle the desperate grumbling deep within his stomach, and as he felt asleep there was no sign there had been any bananas on the first place, besides the countless peels which the baby fell asleep on; leaving Frollo and the archdeacon the unsolved mystery how a child his age could possibly manage to peel a banana.

And so, the boredom of centuries took a new turn, replacing the monotony with scenes and incidents like this daily as the boy grew up. But as all three of us should realize soon enough, those childhood years were but a mere beginning to a greater adventure.

[somechick]

Quasi, my heart just melted reading this one. Quasimodo was such a cute baby. Oh gosh, Laverne and Nani could so be sisters...

More, please!