1831,
Lithuanian Partition of Poland
Feuilly was exhausted after beginning the most ambitious journey of his life- a trip to Poland. Impossible? maybe- it seemed that way for the young orphan with very little money. He decided he just had to do, Feuilly illegally slept aboard a ship heading to Klaipeda, Russia which lay within the Polish partitions. After that he was on an odyssey to join the Polish rebels. After walking on foot for weeks, Feuilly found the army.
Feuilly was given an extra sword, and was very grateful. Most of the troops were peasants with war scythes, and there was one rebel in particular who caught Feuilly's eyes. Blond hair was cut short under a cap, her nasal voice was very unique and something about her seemed recognizable. Plater- who else? That young countess who toured France so many years ago. Feuilly shaking approached her "Well, and if it is not our French fugitive?" Emily said with a sassy smirk
"fugitive?"
"welcome to Poland" Plater extended her hand, Feuilly took it- before he knew it though
"The Russians!"
The soldiers went to their places, smoke filling the air faster than anything else. Shots fired, blood pooling in mini rivers and lakes across
"Retreat!" a general with a mustache ordered
"Never!" Emily snapped back
"you are in harm's way!" the general said "you have no chance Plater, our cause is lost? why don't you choose to live?"
"What have I to live for other than Poland? plus, if I die i'll be in Christ's arms- a much better place than the oppression of Russia!"
The general rolled his eyes, and galloped away with his troops following. Only a small little section remained; Emily, a girl with chestnut brown hair and a tall, lanky man with black hair.
"General Chlapowski, you coward! betraying Poland!" Plater fired, but her shout went unheard it seemed by the general.
"Well Feuilly, I suppose I should introduce you to the loyal true Poles who did not retreat like the cowards we just saw. This girl right here is my dear friend Mary, and this boy is my cousin Cezary. This is my French friend Feuilly" Plater explained
Feuilly shook their hands "where off to now?"
Plater smiled "to Warsaw to continue the rebellion, where else?"
"Cousin, you are not doing well- your heart"
"Oh relax Cezary! it is nothing!"
"but cousin"
Plater gave a glare with her blue eyes to rival Enjolras' "the answer is no."
The ragged group started walking, it seemed like deeper into the thick forests of Lithuania- however, they were still going in the direction of Warsaw.
"Emilia, what happened to your brother who you said accompanied you to France?"
Plater's blue eyes looked down "He was captured and forced to join the Russian army after celebrating our Constitution."
Feuilly's eyes widened "is this why you fight so hard?"
"one of the many reasons, besides the fact that Poland is my love. When I was a child, I grew up in isolation. All I had was Polish history books, and my mother. After she died, all I had was my history. I wanted so badly to make Poland free again, to make my Patria a place of liberty.." Plater clenched her heart "not again.." she muttered
"Emily!" the group huddled to her "I'm fine, just fine!" Plater said before she blacked out.
Her eyes woke up in a peasant's forest hut, her friend circled around her "the Ablamowicz's house in down the road, good friends of ours" Cezary interjected, "perhaps we can take her there" Maria smiled "good idea"
"go to Warsaw Cesary, please" Emily pleaded
"I can't leave you cousin"
"I'll be in good hands, it will be in my honor if you go."
Cesary felt conflicted, he loved his cousin and wanted to stay-however she was right, Poland was in great need- Cesary bent down and kissed her on the forehead "farewell Emy"
Emily smiled "please, fight for Poland my good cousin"
Emily did not noticed Feuilly on her other side "you are still here, go to Warsaw"
"Emily, somebody needs to take you to the Ablamowicz's, you clearly cannot move by yourself"
"yes I can!"
"Emily" Maria and Feuilly both took Plater's body into a bundle and dredged down the road in the sleeting rain outside.
"This must be it" said Maria, as they knocked on the door. Mr. Ablamowicz opened it "oh dear, please come inside."
Plater was laid on the bed and attended to, a cold cloth across her head "Poland... do not... fall" she muttered, as her fever was consuming her.
Feuilly and Maria stayed by Plater's side
Mary hugged Emily "Don't leave me! My friend, please you will pull through this disease"
Emily let a wary smile "I'm not afraid of death my friends, after all this happens in revolutions. True, I was not expecting my disease to consume me, I may have exhausted my strength but Poland is greater."
Feuilly felt a burning tear streak out of his gentle hazelish grey eye.
"Polen will someday make the world grow" Emily said with a smile, "its the German word for Polska, and sounds like the English word for pollen- stuff that comes from flowers"
Feuilly smiled at the pun
"As a young girl, I learned many different languages" Plater said, "Oh one thing Maria- can you make sure I'm buried with my weapons, thanks!"
Emily managed a burning smile "the revolution will go on, I believe God is impatient to have me home at this time, don't you see him over there Feuilly? He has the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's flag held out for me! don't you see him?" Plater was gleeful, Feuilly hugged her "Oh Emily, the people will rise soon, Emily you will see them rise again"
Emily grabbed Feuilly and Maria's hands and prayed
"Dear Jesus, let the people rise and someday make us free again soon...rzeczpospolita republique, shall liberty reign" Plater fell limp.
"Emily?" Feuilly broke down crying, as did Maria, Maria carefully took the sword that Plater carried into battle and placed it on her body
"we shall remember you" Feuilly whispered.
Maria and Feuilly embraced each other and streams of tears came down, enough to water the meadows the former lands of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth it seemed.
The next day was the funeral. It was cold and snowing outside like it was the day Plater died. Plater's body lay in the simple wooden coffin in front of the small church in Kapciamiestis. Plater's expression was perfectly peaceful across her pale face, blond hair outlining her head as though she was angel. The battle gear was still within her arms. Although her physical heart was weak, her heart for Poland and liberty was strong.
"Goodbye my dear friend" Maria teared up after delivering an eulogy.
"Goodbye to the sister I never had, to the girl who touched my heart so very long ago on the night in Paris at the Cafe Musain." Feuilly said as the coffin was nailed shut. As the coffin was placed into the dirt, the sun came out- almost as though Plater was smiling at them from beyond the barricade of life.
