Author's Note:
Should you wish to know where this all came from, you'll find the answers to that in my profile. This is a sequel to "Always Aurelie", which can be found written by "Clearlylock". I had to create another account, as I was out of document space. Should you chose to go read it, you can find the story or my profile through a search.
In no way am I suggesting it's necessary to go back and read that, though I humbly say that it is quite good. It parallels the events of the barricade through Aurelie; the woman who completes Enjolras, mirroring him in strength and honor. The writing is stylistically emulating Hugo.
This should stand alone, however. It is 1847 and it is time to usher in a new world for France. I thank those who have stuck with me, and I thank those who decide to give this a chance. I hope you find it worthy of a good read, a follow and a favorite, and a review (positive or negative, don't be afraid).
Welcome to the banquet.
Prologue:
Borrowed Time
It would do no good to pick up where our story left off, as it is generally turmoil that weaves a tale. When every day is magnificent and two people are as much in love as Enjolras and Aurelie, what can be told? That every morning they awoke in the other's arms to sunny days even when the sun was not shining? That Enjolras would place a kiss upon the foreheads at the table for breakfast, then return from work for supper to receive his own? That while there was much wrong in the world, in the Enjolras household everything was right?
It would all repeat upon itself daily, though there were plenty of occasions, as in any story, where things inevitably went wrong. Humankind does like to torture itself. Men like to flog their backs when those they love are discontent, and women like to wring their hands with worry over their children. A late husband, an illness, an accidental mismanagement of funds, a fight at school, an all-consuming workload, a disagreement: These are all minor storms, easily weathered, and the sun eventually breaks through the clouds.
What can be said of the years that followed?
We can tell you that these four men: Alexandre Enjolras, Marius Pontmercy, Benoit Beaulieu and Theodore Dupont were dedicated to their families and to each other. The fight had not left them, which was ever apparent when they were together as they'd debate politics and history until they had to shrug and say, "My wife will skin me alive if I don't get home." These four men worked hard to provide for their families and still change the world through their chosen professions: two lawyers, a physician and a National Guardsman.
We can tell you that their wives: Aurelie Enjolras, Cosette Pontmercy, Pauline Beaulieu and Agnes Dupont affectionately referred to the years between 1832-1837 as the half-decade of babies.
As we have told the story of Enjolras and Aurelie, we expand upon these five years by telling that just over a year later, Aurelie gave birth to their second son, Nicodeme Jehan. Sixteen months later, they had twin daughters: Manon Rosaire and Margot Rosarie. All four children had gold crowns and were impossibly stalwart, just as Aurelie and Enjolras had been at their ages. They knew what they wanted, and if it was not given, they would work to earn it.
Marius and Cosette's first child was named Aurore, in honor of Aurelie. Their second, Jean, in honor of Jean Valjean, their third Leandre, meaning lion, whom they likened to Enjolras.
They were not the only ones to honor Aurelie and Enjolras; in fact it was Theodore and Agnes who birthed two children late in this span of five years, and these two were outright named Alexandre and Aurelie, though they were called Andre and Elie as to not confuse a room.
Benoit, whom had married Pauline the following year, and under very strange circumstances was returned his family title, had named their two children after his father and mother: Edmond and Claire.
Imagine a household when these four couples would dine together! They would often say while 'round the table, "Thank heavens for Madame Begue!" and "I do not know how we would survive without Madame Moubray!"; these being the children's nurses, and dependent on where the dinner was served, one poor woman was stuck entertaining eleven children while the other three women breathed easy having a night off.
Living in the Enjolras' household was Madame Moubray, whom had gained employment after the twins were born. Aurelie had been adamant when it came to taking care of her children alone until the birth of Manon and Margot, when Enjolras finally insisted one night upon seeing the dark circles under Aurelie's eyes that they would hire a nurse and a maid, and it would be done tomorrow. As Enjolras entertained men of status on a regular basis, a butler was hired soon after, and these employees made such evenings a blessing instead of a burden.
None of them lost any sort of fire or vigor; they still dreamed of a republic, still idealized those countries on the globe that were making progress. In 1838, Marius and Cosette took a trip to Britain and returned with tales of Chartism; a movement that had begun through the working class in regards to their laws for voting. As you may well know, every country in Western Europe around this time had citizens uprising to create a just world and reduce the distance between castes. England charged ten pounds for each vote, which meant the poor had no say in their parliament. The months that followed Marius' return incited Enjolras once more.
But he had learned timing. That changes were being made across the world, and with proper timing, they would be well met. His timing before had been proper, but a failure. He would not fail again, his battle would need to be chosen wisely. So he waited. Spoke enthusiastically of each bit of news that came from these countries, followed every move made by the people. He was very much ready in the way only a leader can be, and if people did not rise against injustice, nothing would ever change.
Europe was evolving, and Enjolras felt lucky to live in a time to see it.
He felt lucky to have lived through the last at all.
Yes, they were all very blessed, and that is no story at all.
But there is always another story. This story is the one Enjolras lived to tell. It was for this story that Enjolras had been spared. As he had been born to love Aurelie, born to love his children, born to love Patria, he had been born for this story, and if the beginning sounds innocuous, then they did their job well.
This story begins with a banquet.
