Falling
"No!" I yell and pull the barrel of the musket to my chest instead of his. The pain doubles me over. I fall back, crawling down the barricade, and I curl up at its base. I clutch my hat over my wound, and watch. The only thing I can do now, watch.
"Back! Back!" he yells, wacking a soldier with a torch. "Back, or I'll blow the barricade!" The leader of the soldiers is in shock. Many of the Revolutionaries look at Marius with awe and respect. The captain finally finds his tongue.
"Blow it up and take yourself with it!"
Marius has an insane look in his eyes I have never seen before.
"And myself with it." He lowers the torch toward the powder barrel.
The captain desperately yells, "Back! Back!" And the army retreats. A wave of pain washes though me and tears start rolling down my cheeks with the rain.
"Eponine?" I look up to see Marius. "What are you doing here?"
I hand him the letter from Cosette.
"It's from Cosette." I look up at him, the one I have loved, drinking in the sight like the air I breathed.
"I kept it from you. I'm sorry." He takes the letter, and then looks concerned.
"What have you done?" He moves the hat from my chest and I can make out his gasp of oh God. Then he gently takes me into his arms.
I know I'm dying. Nothing can stop that now. But they couldn't take him. They couldn't take sweet, sweet Marius. I couldn't let them. The rain falls harder, but I don't notice anything accept Marius as he realizes the severity of the wound.
I tease him. "Don't fret Monsieur, I don't feel any pain. A little fall of rain, can't hurt me now."
He looks right into my eyes and I see my own tears reflected in his. I smile and touch his face.
"You're here. That's all I need to know." I move closer to him.
"And you will keep me safe. And you will keep me close."
Tears are rolling down his cheeks. I curl into his shoulder.
"And rain, will make the flowers grow." He seems desperate now.
"But you will live 'Ponine, dear God above." He shakes me slightly.
"If I could close your wounds with words of love." I try to smile through the pain for him.
"Just hold me now. And let it be." I touch my wound. "Shelter me, comfort me."
He looks at me and makes sure I look him in the eyes.
"You would live a hundred years, if I could show you how." He grips my hand tight.
"I won't desert you now." I smile.
"Rain can't hurt me now." I gasp at a sudden shock of pain. He pulls me closer.
"A breath away, from where you are." Another gasp. "I've come home, from so far."
I almost double over with the next wave of intense pain that washes over me.
Realization dawns in his eyes, and I almost would have laughed, if not for the crushing pain.
Oh Marius. You have been so blind.
I whisper to myself. "This rain, will wash away what's past."
I double over again, and he grips me tighter in his arms. Tears are pouring down both our cheeks. I reach up and brush a hair from his face, and we speak together.
"Now don't you fret,"
"Now hush-a-bye,"
"Monsieur Marius,"
"Dear Eponine,"
"I don't feel any pain,"
"Don't feel any pain,"
"A little fall of rain,"
"A little fall of rain,"
"Can hardly hurt me now."
"Can hardly hurt you now."
I gasp with pain again. He brings me closer and rests his chin on the crown of my head. The end is close now.
"I'm here."
I drink in his scent and look in his tear filled eyes, his beautiful eyes.
"That's all I need to know."
I'm so cold now, and he is so warm, so alive. Cosette is the luckiest girl in the world. I have a silent prayer. Take care of him. Please Cosette, please take care of him.
"And you will keep me safe,"
"And I will stay with you,"
"And you will keep me close."
"Until you are sleeping."
I touch his face to memorize his features, the feel of his skin.
"And rain."
I am slipping away into darkness. I hold onto the light awhile longer.
"And rain."
His choked reply is getting fainter.
"Will make the flowers."
I am leaving him. I am leaving the world where no one was kind, but him.
"Will make the flowers."
My eyes slowly close and I slip into the place between life and death.
In that moment, my senses are heightened, as I hear a choked voice reply. And then a gentle kiss on my forehead.
Then nothingness.
Since this is my first Fan Fic, I greatly appreciate all feedback so please review!