One: Preface

Eponine

The street was alive with the sounds of death and violence and the fear of the unknown was a constant presence among the rest of us. The other students hadn't realised I was here, they had fallen for my disguise and believed I was a random boy wanted to fight for freedom.

The true reason I was here was to protect Marius from coming to any harm. Even though he never saw me as nothing more than a friend, my heart truly belonged to him and I was completely in love with him. He never spoke of me though, those nights while he took watch on the barricade he never spoke of the girl Eponine, only of Cosette… the woman he truly loves. Why regret what could not be? His heart will never feel this way and he will never love me, but he is the only good thing in my life and I was not going to lose him.

The night my life truly changed was the night the guards attacked with full force and were showing no mercy, we were no match

"Marius, no!" someone screamed and I looked up in horror as my Marius stood with a torch and held it dangerously close to the bomb on the top of the pile of rubbish that was our shield against our enemies.

"Call off the attack!" Marius yelled at the guard closest, glaring fiercely at him "or I'll blow the barricade!"

"Along with you?" the guard hissed, believing Marius' words to be a bluff.

"Along with me!" Marius said firmly and I could tell he was not bluffing, he was going to die to save the rest of us.

Another guard must have known that too, because he raised his gun and aimed it directly at Marius.

"Marius!" I yelled and suddenly I was sprinting to my beloved, all rational thought gone from my mind.

My body and my mind were not one of the same: my mind was still shocked that Marius was about to die or be murdered in front of my eyes, but my body knew I had to act now to save him before it was too late. I ran towards the barricade, leaping in between Marius and the pistol and not caring what the consequences of my actions my be.

BANG!

Pain shot through my chest as I collapsed onto the cold stone pavement, gasping in pain. I held my hand over my chest, only vaguely aware it was seeping with red blood. My blood.

Marius? Where was Marius?"

"CALL OFF THE ATTACK!" a male voice yelled and I sighed with utter relief, momentarily forgetting the pain from the bullet. The guards were leaving, we were safe now. I could hear the students speaking, but they sounded miles away and I only caught a few of their words.

"Who is the girl?"

"Wait a moment, that's Eponine!"

"Oh God, she's been injured. They shot her!"

"Marius, come quick!"

I closed my eyes, feeling water droplets splash against my face. It had started to rain. My hair was mixed with blood and rain, but I did not care. I had saved Marius, he was not hurt.

Strong arms scooped me up and cradled me protectively against a warm chest, when I opened my eyes I saw Marius' clear blue ones staring at me tearfully.

"Eponine, what have you done?" he asked hoarsely.

I stared up at him, knowing my time was short now and I needed his forgiveness for the wrong I had done to him weeks ago. I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out Cosette's letter I had stolen from her garden that was meant for Marius and I past the envelope to him with a shaking hand.

"I'm so sorry," I told him weakly, my eyes now brimming with tears "I kept it from you…"

"Oh Eponine, don't worry" Marius said gently "we'll help you, you're going to be fine. We should get her out of the rain."

I smiled up at him, the pain in my chest easing away and the rain soothing my skin. I leaned my head against Marius' chest and closed my eyes, feeling at peace as his gently hand stroked the hair from my face. A little fall of rain can hardly hurt me now

"Don't fret, Marius. I don't feel any pain…" I whispered, then opened my eyes and looked at him with sincerity "you're here, that's all I need to know…"

He will keep me safe, he will keep me close and rain will make the flowers grow…

"But you will live, 'Ponine," Marius said gently, cupping my face in his hands and looking at me with those caring eyes I'd loved so much "if I could heal your wounds with words of love…"

"Just hold me now and let it be," I said, my eyes closing and my body feeling weaker and weaker by the passing minutes.

Shelter me, comfort me.

"I'm here," Marius said shakily, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

That's all I need to know.

Marius may not love me as I loved him, but he did love me as his friend and that love is better than leaving this world and not knowing any kind of love at all. My heart was filled with complete peace and I rested against Marius, closing my eyes and falling into peaceful darkness.


Author's Note: Okay, I have watched Les Miserables (the film version) and I LOVE IT! Eponine (portrayed by the amazingly talented Samantha Barks) is one of my favourite characters and I was inspired to write this scene from the musical.

This is also going to be a crossover with Doctor Who and Mickey Smith will be a main character and Eponine's love interest, but he will not make an apperance until the next chapter.

If you like, make sure you leave a review and let me know what you think.

Thanks :)