Disclaimer: I don't own Tale Of Two Cities
The doorbell rang frantically at 3 o'clock in the morning. Sydney Carton groaned. Who the hell could be bothering him at this hour?
"Hold your horses," he mumbled, "I'm coming"
He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and growled softly determined that whoever it was that was disturbing him would pay.
This had better be important, he thought to himself.
He went downstairs to open the door and thanked the Father in heaven that he wasn't drunk. Outside of his door was Lucie Mannette and her husband Charles, St. Evermond Darney Mannette. From the look on Lucie's face he could tell something was seriously wrong.
He stood aside to open the door for them. Lucie looked like she had been crying for quite some time. He hadn't seen her cry like that since her son died on Little Lucie's 5th birthday. He was 2 at the time. He would have been 6 now. Little Lucie was almost nine. She was also not with her parents. He instantly became concerned because they took her with them always.
"My sweet Lucie," Sydney asked, "and my dear friend (referring to Charles) what grieves you so?"
"Carton," Charles said holding a sobbing Lucie to his chest… how Sydney wished that chest was his own that provided a safe haven for Lucie, his arms clutching her body, but he knew it was never going to happen.
"We need you," Lucie added, "We cannot afford it at the moment but-"
"Never mind afford," Carton said, "Tell me what is going on"
"It's Little Lucie," Lucie sobbed, "She was… the guards broke in and took her off to La Force"
Sydney's heart pounded in his chest…a mix of fear and anger ripped through him. Why would Little Lucie be taken to La Force? It was sickening to him. He had to stay calm for Lucie's sake.
"Did they say what the charge is?"
"Charge?"
"The reason for her being-"
"They didn't say a thing… except they were carting her off to La Force. They had a sword to her neck so we couldn't object or they'd kill her"
Lucie was hardly capable of forming words. She was distraught.
"What are we going to do," she asked.
"Well first let me tell you what we're not going to do," Sydney replied, "We are not going to panic. That is just about the worst thing you can do. They will not let her out tonight. I am going to ride up to La Force and find out what the charge is."
"But she's all alone and she must be frightened out of her mind," Charles said, "Can't you get her out of La Force? Can't you get us to be allowed to stay with her at the very least?"
"I will get her out," Sydney promised, "But there is no way they would allow for you to stay with her though I may be able to. I will contact you as soon as I possibly can. Listen, you NEED to remain calm. I want you to stay right here. Do not go anywhere. Pretend her life depends on it!"
"We will obey you Sydney for we know you are the one who knows best"
Sydney got onto his horse and charged him into a gallop. He had a 3 hour ride to get to La Force and he prayed to make it there soon. He had a nearly impossible task set before him. The republic could be harsh at best and downright cruel at worst and he would have to face a harsh advisory… Madame Defarge. She hated Little Lucie's family and would do anything to torment them. That included guillotining Little Lucie never mind that she was only a child.
He reached La Force at six o'clock in the morning.
"Sydney Carton," he said to the guard, "Advocate here to see the tribunaral"
"I'm thrilled," the guard said sarcastically rolling his eyes, "You will follow me please"
Sydney followed him down the stairs into a room where the tribunaral of judges were sitting.
"Sydney Carton," he said
"Don't care," one of the judge, Crownswelline by name replied.
"Crownswelline be polite," CJ (another judge) admonished him.
He then turned to Carton.
"State your business here"
Sydney bit back a sarcastic remark.
"I am the advocate of Little Lucie Darney Mannette. Please to tell me the charge"
CJ looked up the file for Little Lucie.
"She is the daughter of a St. Evermond"
"And for this she should be punished," Sydney asked, "For something she cannot control?"
"She is the daughter of a St. Evermond. Her grandfather and great uncle where the most hated men in France"
"And she's no older then eight. She is an innocent child. How can you punish her for something she has no control of?"
CJ put an arm around Sydney.
"I understand how you feel but we don't have control of such things. The best you can do is prepare for her trial"
"Is she in secret or not?"
"She isin Secret. She is being held at the North Tower… 105"
Sydney closed his eyes.
"Please to let me in to stay with her. She is but a child and she must be quite frightened."
The panel of judges whispered among themselves.
"You may stay with her from the toll of the hour bell to the 3rd toll of the new hour. You may only stay with her on alternate days. She is after all a prisoner and cannot be granted too much leniency."
Sydney rolled his eyes in disgust but the tribunal chose to ignore it. CJ, the kindest of the judges let him to the prison room that Little Lucie was being held in. He unlocked the door and escorted Sydney in.
Sydney saw that the little girl was shivering not from cold, as it was extremely hot in the prison room but from fear.
"Oh little one," he said
She ran to him and he picked her up into his big strong arms.
"Sydney what did I do to make them so angry," she asked
"You didn't do anything," Sydney said, "They are just unable to understand certain things."
He chose his words carefully.
"What is going to happen to me," she asked
"Come now," he said, "Do you really imagine I would let anything happen to you. You are my little one and I'm not going to let any harm be brought to you"