"Wake up, lads. This is as far as I can take you two." The driver told the two girls as he slammed on some crates to wake them. Eponine burst up immediately, alert the second her eyes opened. Cosette, on the other hand, fluttered her eyes a few times and slowly rose. Eponine offered her hand to Cosette and pulled her up. Although Eponine only promised to act civil, a little kindness could go a long way. Eponine tired of always acting mean just to survive within the streets, she should at least try to be helpful one on one. Cosette smiled as they both hopped out of the back of the cart. The cart drove off the second the girls got off and they started walking towards the barricade.
"Okay, if I remember correctly, the barricade is located at the musain. We can get there by going north for a short distance." Eponine told Cosette.
"Will we have any trouble with the Patron Minette?" Cosette asked. Eponine shook her head.
"They were up by Calais, remember? Must have an illegal business affair to tend to down there. It is a port town after all, they can get loads of things there." she explained. Cosette giggled nervously, not quite sure if she should be hearing all of this.
"Oh, and please do remember to not speak often to anyone at the barricade. They might see that we are women." Eponine instructed.
"Of course." Cosette responded.
"All this talk of equality and change and they still think' women are lesser than men. To hell with that nonsense! Can't expect to grant freedom to only one group of people!" Eponine sneered.
"Passionate for your one cause, arent you?" Cosette quipped, "Perhaps you should talk to Enjolras; if I remember correctly, he is the leader and he could spread your ideas."
"Don't bother much with Enjolras. Seems easy to approach when he is speaking, but if you approach him one on one he looks as if he is made of ice." Eponine drolled on.
"Oh, I'm sure he isn't that terrible." Cosette reassured.
"No, but he is certainly capable to be." Eponine spoke quietly.
They stopped in the middle of the street, upon hearing the noises from inside the barricade. Cosette looked over nervously at Eponine, who did not show any fear on her face. Cosette took a deep breath and steadied herself. Eponine tugged on Cosette's jacket, urging her to follow as she stepped ahead. Cosette trailed behind Eponine as they climbed through a passageway on the side of the barricade.
"How did you know where this was?" Cosette whispered.
"I saw a young boy, Gavroche, climb through here." she replied. They made it inside the barricade without a scratch and they went to a group of young boys to try to blend in. Eponine grabbed a musket and began cleaning it amongst the others. Cosette looked around, searching for Marius amongst these men and boys. Eponine side-eyed her as Cosette glanced about. She scowled under her breath and began swiping the grime off the muskets harder.
"Excuse me, lad. You should be more gentle with that." a low, commanding voice spoke. Eponine turned towards the voice and discovered the blonde-haired revolutionary leader.
"Yes, sir." she murmured quietly, being more gentle with the weapon.
"It is alright-" He began, only then getting a good look at her. Only to discover he recognized her, but not completely; he didn't know who she was, not even enough to tell she was a boy, but Enjolras had definitely seen her before. For Eponine, having grown up undernourished since the closing of her parent's inn, appeared quite androgynous in her disguise.
"Sorry, may I ask your name?" Enjolras spoke up. Eponine's eyes widened.
"My name?" she began, "Its Felix." she responded sheepishly.
"I do not believe we have ever talked one on one before," Enjolras said, "Do you go to the rallies?"
"Ah, yes. But I am usually not noticed, just another face in the crowd." Eponine explained.
"I see. Well you may continue as you do. Good day." Enjolras babbled, walking away with a perplexed look. He was certain the face was a little bit more recognizable than "another face in the crowd". Enjolras sighed as he strutted to the cafe to meet with Courfeyrac and Combeferre.
"That was a close one!" Cosette whispered. Eponine nodded as she continued cleaning the grime from the guns.
"You're telling me. He simply would not let us be here." Eponine replied in a hushed voice. Eponine took a look around the surrounding and caught a glimpse of Marius Pontmercy, in the flesh. He was standing guard over the food supplies. She nearly froze at the sight him, the horrible effects of lovesickness taking hold of her.
"Have you seen Marius at all, Eponine?" Cosette asked, snapping Eponine out of her haze.. She scathed her lips as she shook her head, lying to the girl.
"Oh dear. I hope we find him soon." Cosette replied, relaxing a bit and continuing her work. Eponine frowned; normally her lies made her feel nothing, for thats how she would have to survive, but just as she lied to Cosette she felt sick. Nonetheless, she continued her work with an upset look on her face.
"How are we doing with supplies?" Combeferre asked as Enjolras entered.
"We can manage for a little longer but Gavroche should be returning with some supplies from our source in a little while. We just have to hope that there is no attack until he returns." Enjolras reported. Combeferre and Courfeyrac nodded.
"Well, the men still have hope for this and there is some talk that a few others are going to stand up and fight with us in the north side of Paris." Courfeyrac told.
"Good, hope is our main driving force for these men. Women and liquor can only go so far." Enjolras quipped. Combeferre chuckled lightly.
"Oh, but Enjolras. You have not known the happiness of liquor's numbness and a woman's embrace." Courfeyrac teased.
"All I need is the numbness of our king's corpse and the warm embrace of a free France." Enjolras retorted. Courfeyrac bursted out in laughter.
"Oh Enjolras. I want nothing more than that as well." Combeferre snickered.
"Oh, are you men taunting me?" Enjolras asked with mock shock.
"What do you expect of us? To be as blunt as you all the time?" Courfeyrac mused.
"Precisely." Enjolras replied monotonously, with a sly smirk after a few seconds.
"Mornin'!" Gavroche hollered as he invaded their meeting, trailing behind him was a wagon of supplies.
"Good day to you, Gavroche." Courfeyrac greeted the young street urchin.
"I have the things you asked of me. And a few sous change." Gavroche reported. Enjolras smiled graciously at him.
"Thank you. Keep the change." Enjolras told him.
"Alright, since Gavroche arrived back with the supplies. So we should hand that out and give the gauze to the medical facility." Enjolras told him.
"And take the gunpowder to the group of boys cleaning the weapons, they can guard it." Combeferre told him. Gavroche nodded and pulled the wagon out with him.
"So, what should we say when we address the people tonight?" Combeferre asked, pulling out a quill and parchment. Enjolras pondered for a moment, thinking of something appropriate to say,
"How about, 'People of the barricade, our efforts are known to others, other barricades are up about the city. We might be expecting more volunteers within the next few days. We are making progress.'" Enjolras spoke fluidly.
The triumvirate continued speaking amongst eachother on how to address the brave men and women fighting until loud sounds of marching rang in their ears. They glanced amongst each other and ran to the barricade.
"People of the barricade!" the first guardsman called out.
"The people have not stirred. You have one last chance before we shoot!" he yelled. Enjolras looked to Combeferre for guidance, who nodded to him. Enjolras was about to speak up until Bahorel tapped his shoulder.
"I can do this." Bahorel told him. Enjolras nodded and stepped back as Bahorel cleared his throat.
"Take those guns and shove it!" He hollered. Many of the men began mocking and hooting but Enjolras was not, or at least tried not to. Enjolras peered over the barricade as the guards expressed their disgust. He gently guided Bahorel back and stepped forward to address the troops of the king.
"Viva la revolution!" he shouted.
"Fire!" the first guardsman called out. A loud thump thundered in the ears of the resistance as the army took place to fight.
"Shit." Combeferre muttered, "Everyone! Grab a weapon and prepare to fight back!" He hollered. Everyone began running about, trying to prepare with the little time they had. Then the canons went first. People scurried about the inside of the barricaded space, trying to devise a quick plan to get the national guard to back down.
"Quick! Gunpowder is by the cleaning stations!" Enjolras called to the volunteers. A large group stampeded to the station, grabbing the powder and dashing to the barricade to fight off the guard. Enjolras ran up to Eponine quickly and held out a pistol.
"The younger men get the pistols, I am going to have to take that musket." Enjolras explained as quick as he could. Eponine nodded and traded the gun for his. Enjolras grasped her hands and smiled.
"Thank you so much, citizen." He told her before he sprinted off towards the battle-front. Eponine watched him leave and for one quick moment admired him. Suddenly Marius ran out in front of her gaze, holding a barrel of gunpowder.
"What the hell is he doing?" Eponine whispered to herself. Cosette looked in the direction Eponine was staring and she froze. Marius was running about with no weapon, only a barrel. She was tense as she dashed over to Marius, staying a small distance away as not to be noticed but to still observe him. Eponine looked worriedly between Cosette and Marius as they both ran about the barricade. She tried to get them both out of her head, seeing as the rebels needed defense. Eponine used her pistol and shot a guard in the leg, as not to kill him but to prevent him from attacking.
"Good shot." Courfeyrac hollered at her as he raced to get more gunpowder. She nodded in gratitude and loaded her hand gun once more. She ran closer to the barricade and ducked as to go undetected as she shot low, causing a few soldiers confusion. She smirked, full of adrenaline and the feeling of pride for helping a revolution. Perhaps this is what Enjolras was so hyped up about when he spoke of a new tomorrow. Though she supposed she should be questioning her morals as she shot these men; she had assisted her father with too much death, which she hadn't learnt of until recently, but she was fighting for something that could change her circumstances. Eponine once again glanced at Cosette, who was keeping an eye out for Marius, the girl she had blamed for her circumstances up until now. But Eponine came to realize that she should not blame Cosette for her Father's wrongdoings.
Eponine became slightly determined, that once this small clash ended she would go tell Cosette she was ready to apologize and forgive if she allowed her too. Eponine hoped that Cosette could find it in her heart to forgive Eponine for her terrible mistreatment as a child, and perhaps if they made it out alive they could remain friends. Even if they both loved Marius, they could overcome that. Eponine took a moment to reflect upon her love for Marius; was it just a childish infatuation? Was it nothing more than a fantasy to delude herself from her cruel reality? Of course when she daydreamed of Marius she only dreamed about the life of luxury that they could have, and not of him. As she contemplated her complex feelings she heard a soft shriek and as she turned she saw Cosette jump in front of Marius, holding the opening of a guard's rifle and it pierced through her hand to her stomach. Eponine went pale as she saw Cosette's body drop.
"Back or I blow the barricade!" Marius hollered, grabbing a torch and holding it to the barrel of gunpowder.
"Blow it up and take yourself with it." The guard responded, trying to disprove Marius' bluff.
"And myself with it." Marius retorted, as he inched the torch closer to the powder. Mumbles of curses were heard as the Guardsman ordered the troops to retreat for the night. Enjolras solemnly grabbed the torch and held it far away from Marius. Marius then proceeded to drop to his knees as he heard quit cries of pain. He peered at the person at his knees and removed their hat, revealing it to be Cosette.
"Cosette?" Marius gasped. He became ghostly as he saw the blood ooze from her hand and stomach, she smiled weakly at him.
"Hello, Marius." she whispered softly.