Princess and the Fool part 2

-Clopin's Point of View-

The words of 'Topsy Turvy' flew from my mouth as I led the celebration as I always had. It was a pleasure to me to even see some of the more stuck up people enjoy the merriment of the day and even better for the shy people to become more outgoing as the fun and alcohol set in. I sang and danced, prancing around carelessly and wherever I pleased until it was time to settle on the stage. "Dance La Camille Dance!" I screeched, throwing down some pellets that would shield me as I disappeared with smoke and was replaced with Camille.

She danced beautifully, drawing in the eyes of many of the men as she danced to the music. I settled behind one of the curtains onstage as I waited for her to be done. I quickly scanned the crowd, smiling as I found Belle and her father quickly. I remembered an older woman being with her a few years back but I figured she was too busy to attend so her father took her instead. To my disappointment, it seemed that Gaston would not be joining us for the festivities. He probably would have guessed I would try and make him the king of fools.

I continued the song about crowning the next king of fools and pulling people up on stage who was offered or willingly came up. The crowd voted and it was decided that one of the bartenders of the town was the king of fools. We continued having music played while I would sing along to some of the songs or let people dance to the other ones.

Camille was having a good time though she continued to hide behind me when the men became too flirtatious. I never flirted with Camille since she was a friend of mine and we never showed an interest in each other. We were more like siblings if anything. That thought triggered my mind and I looked over to Camille. "Where's Esmeralda?" Esmeralda was a little girl that we had found on our travels a few years ago. She was only a few days old when we found her abandoned in a crib. She was now a healthy gypsy girl at the age of six.

Camille smiled at me. "She's playing hide and seek in the town with her friends, Clopin. Just relax," she laughed. I was always very worried about Esmeralda. My family was the only family she had and I was  overprotective, just like I am with anyone who I'm close to. Camille was a perfect example since she always hid behind me from other men. I smiled back at her and got up once she decided to go talk to one of our men. I found Belle dancing with her father toward the side of the crowd.

Walking up hesitantly, I tapped her shoulder and they looked over at me. "May I have this dance, mademoiselle?" I asked, taking off my hat and bowing.

She laughed a little, looking to her father. "If Papa is willing to let me," she replied, looking at her father.

He laughed, motioning her towards me. "Go ahead. I need to take a break anyway." He looked over at me. "Hopefully your footwork is better than mine," he chuckled, walking away to sit down.

We danced to the soft, couple music that the band had switched to. We assumed the correct dancing position, a classic waltz position and proceeded to dance. Curious on the song change, I looked over to the band and saw Camille sitting beside them, waving at me with a smile. I smiled and shook my head at her. I gained Belle's curiosity and she looked over at Camille and laughed, understanding what happened.

"What's your name?" she asked abruptly, catching me off guard for a second which caused me to look at her with a dumb expression. "Well, I mean, I've seen you at this festival but I never knew your name. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she muttered, looking shy as she dipped her head.

I smiled at her. "My name is Clopin," I told her. She looked back up into my eyes and we continued to dance while chatting about unimportant topics. She would tell me about her favorite places here and I would tell her about Paris then she would tell me about books and I would tell her about puppets. Our interests varied but I suppose the classic saying 'opposites attract' was working here. I was always one to share and she seemed one of the nicer people of the lower class.

I began to talk roughly along the lines of my family. It mostly included my many siblings and Esmeralda. She talked about her father and some of her travels to get here. We both knew the other was holding back on speaking about dead relatives so we both brushed off the topic since it was sensitive to both of us. By the time the song stopped, we were at least very good acquaintances if not friends. Friends were easily made among my kind as well as enemies so I classified her as a friend for now.

Just as the next song was beginning, a child's wail was heard which caused the band to stop. They knew whose voice that belonged to though the crowd was confused on why one child's cry would stop everything. The square grew deathly silent as the townspeople focused on the noise. My heart sunk as I realized whose voice that was. "Esmeralda," I called out, pulling away from Belle as I tried to find where her voice was going from. Her small voice cried out again and again until I placed it. It got nearer until I saw her approaching, one of her friends having her arms wrapped around her. I was by her side in an instant. "What happened, Esme?"

She continued to cry but choked out. "I-I was playing hide an-and seek and th-there was a fire at the house," she cried. Many of the citizens grew concerned over which house it was.

Gaston came from nearly the same direction as Esmeralda did except from a different path that led to the same place. "Belle! Maurice! Your house is on fire! Please, someone help!" Many people rushed to help them while I scooped up Esmeralda in my arms and hurried back to the puppet cart. Esme had received a nasty burn on her hand. It was able to heal though it would be very painful for her. After it was properly bandaged, I gave her to Camille and went to see how much damage there was to Belle's house.

-Belle's Point of View-

Papa and I ran to our house to see what had become of it, worried for the animals and what was left of our things. After they had put out the fire, it seemed not much was left besides a few animals. It was only two chickens and our horse. They said it wasn't safe to enter so some of the men who knew more about fires entered carefully, bringing out anything that seemed in good enough shape. Luckily, some of Papa's inventions were able to be saved as well as a few pieces of furniture and some of our personal belongings.

There was only one thing that survived from my mother's things and that was a locket I had left on my side table in case the rumors were true and I got it stolen. A man handed me the little heart shaped locket with the picture of my mom, my dad, and I before my mother got sick. I didn't notice the tears going down my face until a gloved hand touched where they were falling. "I'm very sorry, mademoiselle. If there is anything I can do, let me know," Clopin told me, his eyes fixed on the damage of the house.

I sighed a little, looking to my father. "I don't think there is much left to do but gather up our things and find a place to stay."

Gaston looked over at me as he brought out a few books that were only burned around the edges. He walked over and Clopin kept his distance, though he was only a few feet away. "Belle, you and your father could stay with me at my parents' estate in Paris. They died awhile ago and I thought of using it soon. Maybe that time is now," he offered, a smile placed on his face.

I looked over at my father who was still looking heartbroken at the damage. "I suppose..."

Clopin seemed to almost speak up but Gaston cut in. "That's wonderful, then. I'll get your things and mine packed up and we will head to the estate immediately." He walked off, along with most of the crowd, as things began to settle down and the last of our salvageable things were brought out.

Clopin still remained near me as I ran my fingers over the locket. "You know he is just taking advantage of you, don't you?" I looked over at him. "It is quite obvious, mademoiselle. He is merely trying to win your affection by taking advantage of the situation."

I shook my head. "Gaston may be rude but he isn't that rude. I can't believe you're trying to even make me consider the idea. He's only being kind for once and I'll give him that. We have no where else to go and his parents' estate is the only place we can go that won't make us-"

"Gypsies," he suggested darkly, his eyes losing their fun nature and instead turned very enraged. "I should have guessed. You are just like the rest of them. 'Of course, I would do anything to help you'" he began in an imitating voice of a girl, " but when it all comes down to it, you sense you are higher and would rather spit in our faces than give us the time of day. Please, do not let me interfere with your life, your highness," he growled, bowing mockingly before walking away quickly before I could say another word.