Chapter 4: City streets

"We'll I hope you enjoyed our little visit with the hunchback never mind his hideous misshapen form I hope you weren't frightened", "We'll at first I was" Belle admitted "But he's very kind, gentle, and sweet it doesn't matter to me what someone looks like on the outside its more important what's on the inside", "Yes but I'm afraid the world doesn't share the same opinion as you like I told Quasimodo the world is cruel and wicked and its my duty to God to get rid of all its wickedness but no matter why don't you run along see the sights of the city I have some things I need to do at the Palace of Justice before my new captain arrives this afternoon", "Of course I understand do you happen to know where a bookshop is?", "Yes just at the end of this street its a large building with a sign attached above the entrance", "Thank you Judge Frollo", "Your welcome Belle enjoy your stroll" he said as he rode off in his carriage.

Belle walked down to the end of the street and found the bookshop right where Frollo said it would be it was incredibly large compared to the small one back in her little town it looked like it was two stories and was made of beautiful rock like a cottage with the sign attacked above the entrance that said bookshop. When she walked in a little bell dinged that was above the dark wooden door "Good afternoon Mademoiselle can I help you find anything?" asked the bookkeeper an elderly man with white hair on the back end of his head bald in the front and wore round glasses quite short to "No I'm fine thank you I just came to look around", "Well if you need help finding anything just let me know we also have more books on the second story everything is arranged by genera children's books, historical records, newspapers, and school books are on the this floor and Shakespeare, mystery, fantasy, and romance books are on the second floor up the staircase", "Thank you" she headed upstairs to checkout the romance and fantasy section she loved those kind of books the most because she loved to use her imagination and picture herself in the story in those magical and mystical places the authors created.
Upstairs it was nothing but walls full of books Belle had never seen so many in her life there was also a large windows on either side that showed a different view of square. Each section had a sign above it making it easy to find in such a big place Belle grabbed a ladder and placed it between romance and fantasy then climbed up onto the first two steps and moved her finger across the rows if she ended up seeing a title she sounded interesting she'd grab the book and start reading the first couple of pages and if she got into it she would place it in her pile on the floor. After awhile she found quite a few books almost two piles full she was just about to place it on the second pile when she noticed the bookkeeper "Oh Monsieur you scared me!", "Oh I'm sorry I didn't mean to startle you I just came to see how you were doing my it looks like you've found quite a few books Mademoiselle anyone in particular interest you?", "This one actually" handing him the book he placed on his glasses and held the book a few inches in front of him "Aww Beauty and the Beast such a beautiful, romantic story one of my favorites", "So you recommend it then", "Oh yes! It has everything far off places, magic spells, a prince in disguise, and true love its said that this book is more than just a fantasy it actually happened to the young prince that wrote it but he didn't want anyone to know so he put himself down as anonymous", "How interesting I'll take it I just need to put these other books away first", "Oh no leave it I'll clean it up later", "Oh please I made the mess the least I can put them away", "No its fine honestly it gives me something to do instead of sitting around all day come along let's get you checked out".

They went back down stairs and the bookkeeper went behind his desk to grab a pen and paper "Now your name please", "Belle", "Belle what a beautiful name it means beauty right?", "Yes", "Well that's very fitting for such a fine young lady you'll have to excuse me if I don't write who has which book I can't keep track of all of them all", "Oh no that's totally fine I don't blame you I don't know what I'd do if I had all these books beside reading every single one", "Haha yes I agree I've read almost every single book in this place its nice to have an enthusiastic reader no ones come around this old bookshop for quite awhile now", "Oh I'm so sorry", "Aww its alright I'm getting older and people aren't into reading as much as they use to be hmm I remember the days when this place used to packed with folks and even little children those were the days he stood there for a moment then shook his head "Oh well um there you are Ms.Belle I hope to see you again soon", "Your certainly will thank you Monsieur" placing the book in her basket "Your quite welcome my dear happy reading" he said as she walked out the door.

She continued walking down the street she could smell the freshly baked bread coming from the bakery, the sound of children laughing, and see nothing but crowds of people but that was to be expected in any town. As she was walking back to the Palace of Justice she heard the sound of music and a crowd of people as she made her way over she saw they were watching a beautiful dark skinned, black haired girl wearing a while blouse and purple skirt dancing with a tambourine in her hand Belle had danced a few times in her life but nothing like this she was so graceful as she moved her body every which way and her little goat danced beside her.
Belle was trying so hard to resist the urge to dance when the girl grabbed her hand "Dance with me" she said at first Belle was a little nervous but she just focused on the music and pretended like no one was watching "That's it" the girl said dancing next to her soon the crowed began to grow bigger as the two of them danced together.

It was catching everyone's attention including a young solider named Phebous he threw in a few coins into a purple hat and when he looked up he saw the most beautiful girl he had ever seen she had brown hair and brown eyes wearing a blue dress and bow in her hair suddenly there was a whistle and the music stopped a goat grabbed the hat with its mouth but as it ran money kept falling out the girl turned around and started picking up the coins Belle was helping when two guards out of no where.
"All right gypsy where did you get the money?" asked a the tall guard with a brown mustache "For your information I earned it", "Gypsy's don't earn money", "She probably stole it let's get her" said the shorter and chubbier guard they grabbed her she started kicking trying to get away "Excuse me gentlemen", they both stopped and looked at Belle "This young girl is telling the truth I've been with her this whole time she's a magnificent performer and deserves every coin you have no right to take her in she didn't do anything wrong", "I'm sorry Ms but under the jurisdiction of Judge Claude Frollo we must take in every gypsy that has committed a crime and this one he's been waiting for quite some time now come along oh quit fussing." Phebous quickly pulled his horse in front of them causing the taller one to fall and release the girl "Achilles sit" his white with some gray facial markings and a black tail and main sat on top of the him you could only see his upper body in the muddy, dirty water and hear the people laughing including Belle "Oh I'm sorry naughty horse naughty I swear I can't take him anywhere", "GET THIS THING OFF ME!" the guard whined the other grabbed his dagger "I'll so you you punk" Phebous quickly grabbed his sword from its halter pointing it straight at him "You were say Lieutenant" "Oh C C C Captain OW!" hitting his hand on his helmet as he saluted dropping his knife Phebous knelt down next the guard under Achilles and drove his sword into the street cutting off half of the guards mustache on his left side "Now I know you have a lot on your mind but the Palace of Justice", "Oh yes we'll take you just get this off of me please", "Very well Achilles up" he helped the guard to his feet then he walked toward Belle "Excuse me miss I um just wanted to say that I admired what you did for the gypsy girl", "Thank you", "Forgive me I'm Phebous it means sun god" he said proudly Belle chuckled sweetly "Its a pleasure to meet you Monsieur Phebous I'm Belle", "Belle beautiful name much better than Phebous anyway", "No its a wonderful name", "Thank you can I give you a ride anywhere? You just seem very tired from all that dancing", "I am but I don't have that very far to go I'm actually going to The Palace of Justice as well", "We'll all the more reason I should give you a ride please I insist", "Very well" she said with a smile. He placed his hands around her waist and lifted her onto the saddle she grabbed the horn for security "There you are I promise he won't give you any trouble will you boy" Achilles nodded Belle chuckled again bending down close to his ear "Don't worry I trust you" patting his neck.

" Are you ready Captain?" asked the tall guard "Yes lead the way men" he grabbed the reins walking beside Achilles leading the way behind the guards as they shouted "Make way for the Captain" when he and Belle noticed three coins had been left behind he picked them up and placed them the purple hat that belonged to the gypsy sitting on the street under a cape with her goat on top of her shoulders smoking a fake pipe "Come on boy". As they made there way to the palace Phebous helped Belle off Achilles "Thank you for letting me ride your horse it was very kind of you", "Your welcome it was our pleasure" Achilles nayed in a agreement she turned toward him and stroked his face "And thank you Achilles for taking such good care of me your a sweet" she kissed his forehead and he blushed Phebous laughed "Achilles I haven't seen you blush like that since that mare", "Mare oh Achilles did you have a crush?", "Yes he did remind me to tell you that story sometime" a man walked to them "Excuse me sir may I take your horse", "Yes of course take good care of him he's a solider after all", "Certainly sir and your horse is doing fine Ma'm
we didn't find any injuries", "Thank you" a man came up to them from the palace "Captain Phebous?" he asked "Yes I'm Captain Phebous" "Lord Frollo is expecting you follow me please."