Javert had done it. He had changed, he knew it. He felt a warmness in his heart, a warmness he had never felt before. He loved it, the feeling of being free from the law, the law he had served for so long. He could almost dance. He was free! He knew now how Jean Valjean had felt when he had been released on parole, which he had neglected. Javert knew that Valjean was an honest man now, though. He had been mistaken in his hatred for him, this much he knew. He had no idea if he would ever see Valjean again, though somehow he expected so. For some reason, he found himself hoping that he did. The day he had met Valjean, all those years ago, was the day that his mindless obedience to the law had begun to unravel. He smiled, something he had not done for a long time, it feeling uneasy on his lips. He could feel again, too. He could feel pity and compassion for the men he had worked so hard, for so long that they just dropped.
He would not change his name, however much he wanted to be changed. His name was who he was and he wanted to make a new image for that name. Instead of it being an image of authority and threat, he wanted that face to be a friendly face, a helpful face. He knew that all of this would come with time and deeds. He looked around and smiled again, easier this time. There was a poor woman begging on the street. Days ago, he would have kicked the woman aside but now he felt pity for her. He gave her over a hundred francs, not bothering to count. He felt a warm feeling inside himself at this deed. The woman was thanking him, something no-one had ever done sincerely before. He could not help but smile all the way back to his lodging. He opened his door, lighting a lamp. He turned around, seeing the familiar face as he did. "Valjean..." He whispered. The man who had haunted him all those years looked at him, impassively. The man spoke, solemn. "I said I would return and I did." Javert felt a cool relief at this, believing the man there to kill him. "Days ago, I would have shackled you up and beat you but now, Valjean? Now I am a changed man, no longer duty-bound to the law." Valjean looked confused at this. "Surely not you Javert? The man who hunted me through all those long years. I believed you lost forever, inspector." Javert struggled to hold back another smile "Do not call me inspector, I no longer hold that title. I am a man such as you now, Valjean." The man looked at him suspiciously. "I am changed, Valjean. The law will continue looking for you but I shall not. I no longer believe in the corrupt ideals of the cause I once served. You may have stolen but you are not a bad man." He said, voicing the thought he had feared all of these years, that he was wrong, that he was not the righteous man he thought he was. Valjean nodded. "I am glad you have realised this, Javert. You were never a bad man, just a dutiful one and a mistaken one. We all make mistakes." He said, watching him. Javert nodded and sat down on a wooden chair, which creaked under his weight. He indicated another chair, saying "Sit, please." Valjean did as instructed, before Javert poured two glasses of red wine, sliding one to him. Javert took a sip, savouring the taste, Valjean seeming to do the same. "To freedom!" Javert said, raising his glass. Valjean did the same "However hard it may be to come across..."
