This - means something in the past or someone's deep thoughts.

This * means an inner thought at that exact moment.

Story:

He stayed by her side for three days and three nights. Marius felt it was now his duty to protect Eponine since she protected him. He left her side only once for a short hour when they had been attacked. The small barricade was nearly over run, but Marius fought with extra courage. He wanted it to be over quickly so he could get back to Eponine. This inspired the others to fight hard and they drove back the enemy a second time. Marius was shot in the leg though, but it didn't hit anything major. He was simply wounded and left with a limp until it could get properly tended to, this was his second injury.

-Just before the attack Gavroche, Eponine's younger brother, had snuck through a small space in the barricade without telling the others. He went to retrieve some dry gunpowder and the muskets of the enemy that had climbed and died on the opposite side of the barricade. He sang and made fun of the enemy line and avoided a few close shots. But an unfortunate fate had been put upon Gavroche; he was shot near the heart. It was a lucky shot and the shooter felt guilty for hitting such a young, innocent looking boy. He did not die right away. He was rushed back to the small makeshift hospital in the café where he saw his sister and kissed Eponine's limp hand. He leaned close to her ear, and with his last breath whispered, "I am soon gone, now maybe you shall live. A life for a life. I will watch over you tonight, stay strong 'Ponine. Marius will need your guidance." And with that he let himself go.-

They were low on supplies now. They maybe had enough supplies, men, and morale for one more stand off. But it would have to be a short one at that.

Eponine was still not conscious, but she was stable. She remained in a deep sleep. They didn't have any clean bandages and Marius was afraid of infection, or at least that's what Joly had told him. Joly was in training to be a doctor and he told Marius if Eponine wanted to live, she should be taken to somewhere better and her wounds should be dressed properly. With Enjolras' permission Marius took Eponine away. Enjolras had seen Eponine around, he felt sorry for her poor soul, she amused him, and by delivering Marius' letters for him it meant Marius could attend the revolution meetings instead of being off with some girl. Because he had taken a friendly liking to Eponine, he let Marius take her away and stay with her until she was well. So Marius gave his fair wells to his revolutionary brothers and he took Eponine away to his house.

Little did Marius know that would be the last time he would ever speak to or see his is friends again. They were soon overrun after he had left. The National Guard had shown up and they brought cannons and more men. The revolutionaries gave the best effort they could. But this time their best wasn't enough.

-Some died from the flying shrapnel that came from the barricade when it had been blown apart by the cannons. This was the most painful of deaths. Some were shot in the head. Those were the lucky ones. Their life ended with little pain, one minute they were fighting, the next the world went black. Some got shot multiple times and slowly bled to death. These were the saddest deaths. -

-These men were less than men; they were but little boys who envisioned a better world. They did more than any generation was expected to do. Not only did they fight for themselves they were fighting for a far greater cause. They were striving towards a larger goal with the mindset that their lives were little and they didn't count at all. They understood it wasn't a game; they were willing to lay down their lives to start a new era of freedom. They all had mothers and fathers some had brothers and sisters. They were wept for. All of their lives ended too soon, but as fate would have it they followed through with their revolution. They fought to the end, which was an admirable feat. -

Once Marius had reached his small home he carried Eponine in his arms up to his bedroom. This caused him a great deal of pain because his arm was roughly bandaged and his leg was throbbing where he had been shot. His maid, Madam Chappelle, was very surprised when he brought this unconscious girl in. She noticed that both Marius and the girl were filthy; they looked as though they had gone out and rolled in the dirt and mud. Where had Marius picked this strange girl up? Her clothes were torn and ripped. They were slightly too small for her and she doubted if she washed it 100 times all of the dirt would come out. Besides the dirt there was blood on both of them, this worried her greatly. She followed him all the way up the stairs asking questions. "Marius, who is this girl? Marius, are you hurt? Oh! Your arm is hurt. And you have a limp! Let me tend to that. Marius, where are you taking this girl? Marius, again, who is this girl?" He quickly turned around and snapped, "Her name is 'Ponine, well actually Eponine. I'm fine, just a small bullet in my arm. First let me set her down in my room, she needs care more urgent than I." He then laid her down and ran his fingers through his hair.

He walked out of the room slowly and took a seat on the floor in the hall. He felt bad for snapping at Madam Chappelle. She only wanted to help. He looked up to her and said, "I'm sorry. I've hardly gotten any sleep in five days. And she's…" He looked at the closed door that Eponine was behind and he put his head in his hands and started sobbing. She thought to herself *So this is the famous Eponine Monsieur Marius always speaks of. No wonder he took her to his own room and is now crying because of her poor health. * Mme. Chappelle took a seat next to Marius on the floor and hugged him tightly as sobs racked his body. She had never seen him this way before. He was always so full of life and hardly anything got to him besides the injustice he believed the government caused. She comforted him saying, "Shhh now Monsieur Marius. I will draw a bath and I will make sure she gets clean. I will find some bandages and dress her wounds. If she wakes I will make sure she is fed. I will prepare the guest room with our best sheets if you like and you can move her there so you can have your room back. She will be taken care of Marius. Now lets get some food in you."

Marius was very grateful that she understood. But he stopped crying and looked up to her, "Will you please tend to her first. All of what you have said I want done before I even cross your mind. Then you may clean my wound and feed me. But her first. Please." He said the last part beggingly. She sighed and looked him in the eyes, "As you wish Monsieur."

They got up. Well more like Marius got up and then helped Madam Chappelle up because she was late in her years. She treated Marius like a son even though she was his maid and he looked up to her like a mother. After she had undressed and bathed Eponine, which was no easy task because she never stirred from her sleep, she cleaned and dressed Eponine's wounds the best she could.

-When Mme. Chappelle was younger she had three sons of her own and they were very mischievous. She had gotten good with tending to injuries. –

She knew Eponine needed to get that bullet out of her and Marius' arm and leg needed to get looked at by someone of the medical profession. Soon after she cleaned Eponine, dressed her wounds, and turned down the guest bed with fine sheets Mme. Chappelle went next door to the neighbors. They had a girl that was maybe two years older than Eponine. Mme. Chappelle requested if she could borrow an old dress for Eponine to wear because of the bad condition Eponine's clothes were in. The neighbor girl was more than happy to oblige the request. She retrieved a dress and a nightgown for Eponine. She explained that they no longer fit her; they hadn't fit for many years and this Eponine could just keep them. Because Eponine had such a small frame from being starved for so many years they should fit. They were nearly new, only worn a few times. When she was young she grew quickly, but she could never bring herself to just through them away. Madame Chappelle expressed her appreciation and the great generosity of the neighbor girl then swiftly returned to the house.

She quickly dressed Eponine and called Marius in to carry Eponine to the guest bed. He came in but decided to take Eponine to his own room. He explained, "She has a sort of liking to me that I can't return. I think the least I can do is let her rest in my bed; it may comfort her if she wakes. I will sleep in the guest bed for the night." And so he set her down and pulled the blanket over her fragile body. He leaned over and gave her a lingering kiss on the fore head and whispered, "Get well 'Ponine. Please, I need you." With that he left the room and limped down stairs to the kitchen where Madam Chappelle was making Marius his first full meal in, he counted three days. He thought the past three days out. Today he had brought 'Ponine back in the early morning hours. Then he hardly ate the two days before that. Not only was food being rationed at the barricade, he also didn't even think about eating because he was too busy worrying about Eponine.

It was late at night, between the hours of 9 and 10. When the plate of food was set in front of him he finally realized how hungry he was. He got through half of the plate before Madame Chappelle could even make her own. When she turned around she scolded him and told him to eat slower. If not, he would get a bellyache. He reluctantly agreed and ate at a slower pace, but it was still faster than Mme. Chappelle's pace of eating.

After he finished he gave a long yawn and stretched his arms wide with content after the delicious meal. Mme. Chappelle looked at him, "Oh no you don't. I know it's late but you still have to wash up and I still need to tend to your arm and leg. Then you can take your long deserved rest. Tomorrow I will call a proper doctor to take a look at you and Eponine. Now up you go, and I can help you upstairs if you want. Your leg seems to be bothering you an awful lot." Even though he felt slightly helpless, and it did truthfully hurt, he looked at her and stated like a stubborn child, "Fine, I'll wash up and you can call the doctor. But I think I can walk upstairs on my own." As he got up and walked over to the stairs he stumbled on the third step. Mme. Chappelle gasped and then giggled a little. He looked back at her and sheepishly said, "Maybe a little help." He soon got clean and she dressed his wounds. He fell asleep as she did this, but he was already in the bed for the night and that's where he stayed for the best sleep he had in a week. Nothing crossed his mind it was a dreamless sleep. No Eponine, no Cosette, no revolution, just sleep. But this would also be the best sleep he will have in the months to come.