I will try to love you
Authors note: Hello, this little thing, story, idea came into my mind when listening to Bastille in my bedroom and they're song Haunt came on. So you know… I thought write it down see how it is and if it is good enough. E/OC pairing
Disclaimer: If I owned Les Mis do you seriously think I would be writing this? And you call yourself smart….
You make up agreements
About where to meet
And I'll leave you in the doorway.
The cold evening aches
As it leaves in the wake
Are memories from the day
When questioning wise
You look to the skies
That is cloudless above our heads
And thoughts come to mind
Are sure little lies
That show the path they will tread
That they tread
I'll come back to haunt you
Memories will taunt you
And I will try to love you
It's not like I'm not above you
Haunt by Bastille
Cécile's p.o.v (Starts in 1822)
"Cécile get here now!" Screeched my mother down the hall. "Yes Maman." The women huffed. "Don't remind me that. Now go you need to go and get us some money. And remember what will happen if you don't!" She snapped pushing me into the bustling streets of Paris. Many times I thought to run away. But who would help a nine year old gamine. Yet being at home is probably worse than streets. Finding unsuspecting bourgeois man who wasn't paying attention and stole 3 francs and 2 sous, going on to the next person. I know that stealing's bad and all. But it is the only way to eat around here.
The rest of the day was spent trying to ignore the gnawing ache in my stomach and blanking out the horrors of the poor. Still better than home. Tonight I'm not going to go home. I'll use this money to buy some food. At least there will be no more beatings and pain-staking memories of a happy past. Back when Maman cared enough to love me. Back when I didn't have to fight to survive. When my ebony hair wasn't in knots that will never unknot. When I wore pretty dresses and had unmarked skin. It is hard to think how much has changed in two years. It is the wheel of fortune. You rise and fall. And you have to handle the cards life deals you.
Making as much ground away from the hell hole as possible before nightfall and hiding in a safe spot till morning and try a somehow eat. That is how I live through the few weeks after leaving. But the warm fall days and nights. Turn into harsh winter ones. Wondering into an unknown area of Paris. The rain fell harder. I could barely stand now after not eating for the last four days. I sat in a doorway, not caring that it was bourgeois' home. But the door opened. "Mon Dieu. " A man said. Why was I so stupid and laid here? "Odile, come here." The man shouted into the house. "What's wrong mon amour?" A soft voice said coming towards me. "Oh, Henri who is this?" she asked horror evident. "I opened the door and she was there. Poor thing." He said. Suddenly picking me up and bringing me into the warm house. "What are we going to do with her? She obviously can't go out there now." The man called Henri said. "We could look after her. We always wanted a child." Odile said. "We'll see in the morning. First let's get this petite ange fed and bathed." I felt confused at the sudden kindness of these strangers. "What is your name?" Odile said. "My name is Cécile."
I was placed gently on the floor when the women came up to me and led me to the kitchen. Odile had caramel colour hair and deep grey eyes. She held an air of kindness and grace that put me at ease. "Madame, who is this?" Said a large women with a red face. Obviously the cook. "This is Cécilia, who we are going to look after. Will you please make some food for her?" Odile said pulling out a chair for me. It took all my will power to not fall asleep. The cook warmed up some stew and past be a couple of bread rolls. "Merci." I said to the women. Remembering my manners. I ate the food and Odile had a maid make a bath for me. And she looked for some clean clothes. She then sent me for a bath. She had found a nightgown for me that was way too big. But I didn't care as it was clean and warm. "Now I think we should get you to bed ma Chérie." Odile led me up the marble steps and to a beautiful room. "Faites se beaux rêves." She said before leaving my room. I fell asleep instantly.
*Next day*
I slept in until mid-morning and Odile came up with Henri and a maid carrying a tray of food. "Bonjour Cécile. Did you sleep well?" The maid came other to me a gently placed the tray. I started to eat it when Odile started talking to me. "Cécile, we were talking last night. What happened?" She sat down on the edge of my bed. "I ran away from home." I said quietly. "Why?" She asked. "Because no one cared about me. Only how much money I could get home." I told them and a small tear betrayed me. "So would you mind staying with us?" Henri asked me. My eyes widening. "Would you do that Monsieur?" They both laughed at this. "Of course Cécile. We want to treat you as our own child. As we can't have any." Odile said smiling. "Thank you Maman." I said quietly. Odile looked like she was going to cry from happiness.
*Ten years later… 1832 if you hadn't noticed.*
"Happy Birthday Cécile!" said my nana. "Thank you Juliette." I smiled as she placed my dress for the day down. It was a pale blue that had an intricate lace detail. Once dressed she did my hair in an elegant twist. "Thank you." She smiled back at me. "Will you be going out today?" She whispered. I nodded. "I have to, I have to help the poor." I said back. Nana just nodded. "Go to breakfast now darling." She said ushering me out of the room.
"Good morning Cécile. Happy Birthday." Papa said as I sat down. "Thank you Papa. Good Morning maman." I said as a maid placed my breakfast. "Merci beaucoup." I say politely. "What are you doing today?" Papa asked me. "I'm going to go and walk in the gardens, I think." I say. I hate lying to my parents but they are so over protective of me. They nod before Papa says "remember to take Juliette with you." I finish my mouthful and say. "Yes papa." I ate my breakfast and went to nana. "Ready to go Cécile?" Nana said as I put on my cloak and got a basket to fill with food and blankets. Walking down the slums, we pass out the food and blankets. When it started to snow heavily. Making it harder to keep balance. So I slipped falling into a young man with golden blonde curls and a vibrant red coat. "Do you mind mademoiselle." He snapped as I got up. "Pardon monsieur!" I said helping him pick up his paper work. "He left but his companion smiled and bowed. "Sorry about my friend there. He is a little scared of women. Never mind such a beautiful one." I blushed but smiled. "Thank you monsieur…" I said. "Monsieur Courfeyrac at your service. Please call me Courfeyrac. Now what is your name mademoiselle?" He asked, flashing a brilliant smile. "My name is Cécile D'Aquitaine." My nana gave me a disapproving look. "Lovely to meet you monsieur but mademoiselle must leave to go home." With that he bowed in a grand fashion and said. "Au revoir mademoiselle Cécile. I hope to make your acquaintance again." He then left to go inside the same building as his friend.
"Cécile, you must be careful. Not every young man in Paris will be as kind as Monsieur Courfeyrac." I roll my eyes. "But nana, he was just being a gentlemen." She scoffed. "Monsieur Courfeyrac is well-known skirt chaser. His family are quite well off and your parents know him." She said I raised my eyebrow. "So what was wrong with speaking with him?" I chuckled. "You were un-lady like and should have left after falling on his friend." I sighed. Still embarrassed by that. "I didn't mean to do that." I muttered. We entered the house where a servant told me to go to my father's office. I gulped, the only times I was sent in there was when I was in trouble.
"Yes papa." I said while stand in his office, where my mother was also in. "Today you have come to the age were you will be wed. So we have arranged a marriage with one of the most prestigious families in the whole of France." I gasped, horrified. "Papa! I cannot marry a man I don't know, never less don't love." I said close to tears. "You are and you will. Sorry mon petite ange. But we have to think of your future and safety." He said my mother taking his hand. "But you will meet him tonight. We have invited his family to your birthday dinner." My mother looked as upset as me. "May you excuse me mon pére et ma mére." They nodded and I ran out of the room and to my bedroom.
Authors note: Sorry for this boring as chapter but I needed to start of somewhere. It will pick up though. And I wonder who she is going to marry ;) Anyway R&R as you know…. It would be nice.
Translations… for those of us who don't speak French
Mon Dieu- My God
Petite Ange- Little Angel
Chérie- Sweetheart or Beloved
Faites se beaux rêves- Sweet dreams
Merci- I would like to think you now this but if you don't it means thank you
Beaucoup- Very much
Pardon- Sorry
Au revoir- Seriously you don't know what this means? It means goodbye…
Pére et mére- Father and mother