She slowly opened her eyes, waking up in the midst of what appeared to be a dense forest, as light streamed in through towering trees above.
"How did I get here?" she thought. Getting up slowly, Eponine noticed that she was still dressed in clothes she had been wearing at the barricade.
The girl looked at her shoulder, where stains of blood still remained. However, the superficial flesh appeared unharmed, as if nothing had happened. "That's odd."
The surroundings reminded her of a picturesque painting her parents had on display in their old inn, the only semi-pleasing sight inside the failing establishment. The ground felt fertile and soft beneath her body, almost like a comfortable earthy bed. She pushed herself up gently, afraid to provoke any injury that she was sure to have received a few moments ago. Her limbs felt at ease, as if all ache and strain had been drained away.
If there was no wound on her shoulder, not even a healed scar, coupled by the fact that she was surrounded by eerily beautiful scenery, there had to be only one explanation. She was dreaming?
She closed her eyes and pinched herself. Opening her eyes again, she again greeted the dense forest. She huffed impatiently. What was happening? Was she in a deep sleep that she couldn't awake from? How come everything around her felt so real, so unlike a dream?
The last thing she could remember was seeing Enjolras's horrified face before everything dissipated. Perhaps she was in a coma, and nobody could wake her up…or maybe the unthinkable had happened. She closed her eyes grimly.
Death was not a topic that she had fretted over much. Life always felt like it would last forever, no matter how many obstacles were thrown her way. Yet, here she was, in an all too peaceful setting, with pain and sorrow feeling as if they had evaporated into thin air.
She looked around for any sign of life. The wind rustling against the branches broke the uncomfortable silence. Was there no one here?
"Hello?" she yelled into the distance. No response was heard. She dug her fingers into the soft earth. Was she going to have to be alone in this supposed afterlife as well? "That's really fair," Eponine thought.
A child's laughter shook her from her thoughts. "Who is that?" she asked in alarm. The laughter stopped momentarily. She turned her head around in the opposite direction. No one could be seen. The laughing started up again, sounding a bit further away. "Is anyone there?" she shouted.
She felt someone tap her on the shoulders, causing her to whirl around violently. She looked straight ahead at first, seeing no one. "Down here," said a familiar boy's voice.
Eponine looked down and jolted backward. "Gavroche, you little weasel! What kind of game are you playing at?" she said angrily.
"Oh sister, you were always the one with jumpy nerves," he said teasingly.
"Well, I have our mama's scoldings to thank for that. Wait a minute, why are you here Gavroche? Isn't this place only for…the…" she stared at him in horror.
"Wait, you're not…it can't be…what happened?" She grabbed ahold of the small boy; kneeling down to inspect him like an overprotective mother.
" 'Ponine, don't. I was being stupid at the barricades and I wanted to grab some bullets from the fallen enemy before they fired again…but…" he faltered, seeing her face fall as she turned him around. A wound wasn't found, but a deep cascade of red stained the entire back of his shirt.
Her eyes went wide. "I w-was shot too! In the shoulder, but you can't see it there anymore…only the blood. They did this to you? They shot a child? Those monsters! How could they do this? You were so young…This can't be real can it? Tell me it's a dream, please!"
"Please Eponine don't. I wish I could say it is a dream, but it isn't. I don't want to leave you like this…not with sorrow," he said sadly. "I don't have much time…"
"What are you talking about dearest? Where are you going? This is all a just a dream and I will wake up to see you sitting next to me. Right?" she said forlorn.
"You don't understand 'Ponine, or you choose not to. I'm sorry to say this but this is the stage before the next life. I have to go," he said slowly.
"What? How do you know?" she asked.
"That's what Joly told me. He told me I could say goodbye one last time before he had to take me with him," he said quickly, looking behind every now and then.
"Goodbye to whom? Me? I'm not coming with you?" Eponine looked past the small boy and laid eyes upon a familiar young man. It was one of Marius's good friends Joly, whom she always seen at the café. He was one of the more jovial men she had the pleasure of meeting.
"No 'Ponine, it's not your time. I just had to say goodbye to someone I loved, or my soul would never be at peace. This seemed like the only proper way to do it," Gavroche said with bitterness, hugging his surprised sister tightly.
"Why can't I come with you? I can't leave you alone," she said in disagreement, burying her head into his small shoulders.
"I won't be alone, I'll have grand-mere with me, remember? I've missed her so much. Besides, your life has not yet achieved fate's design," he said happily.
"What do you mean?" she pulled back, staring at him confused.
"You still have much to fulfill and receive," he said mysteriously, backing away from the curious girl. The faraway Joly smiled at Eponine, as he beckoned to the boy to follow him.
"Wait Gavroche! Please, I can't lose you…not yet! This isn't fair…you haven't even made it past ten years! How can I be the one who may go back while you get left behind?" she said frustrated.
"That's just how the web of life work, and besides…he needs you," said Gavroche, now turning his back on her, his shirt now revealing no signs of blood.
"He? Who's he? Gavroche, the blood…it's all gone!" she pointed excitedly at his back with an astonished tone.
He flashed one last heartbreaking smile in her direction. "We'll meet again big sister. Promise you'll say goodbye to Azelma for me?" He stood beside the taller Joly now, as they both turned to stare at her.
Eponine smiled sadly. "Of course I will Gavroche...Goodbye. I love you, baby brother."
He raised his hand in farewell as the light enveloped the two figures, blinding her vision.
"Did you see that? Her arm just moved!" yelled a girl's voice.
"Settle down child, or you're going to scare her back into a coma," an elderly voice said in reproach.
Eponine grunted and slowly lifted her eyelids to see a small room dimly lit by candlelight. "Where am I?" she grunted.
"Thank the heavens. You're alright!" squealed Azelma.
Eponine felt herself being lifted up and squeezed tightly by her younger sister. "Easy does it Azelma!" She clenched her teeth from pain now shooting through her arm.
"Now you've done it, foolish girl! Did you forget that your sister was injured?" scolded an unfamiliar woman, pulling the small girl backward.
"I'm sorry! I was so worried 'Ponine. I thought we'd almost lost you!" Azelma said, jumping up and down excitedly.
"It's a miracle you've even survived. You're somewhat lucky the bullet went right through you and didn't hit anything vital. If it had stayed inside, it may have been too difficult for us to get it out without causing infection," the older woman said quickly, busying herself around the small room while cleaning up. "Now it's just a matter of healing, it'll be awhile before you can use that arm again."
Eponine stared at her stitched up shoulder and the sling holding her arm in place, finding it hard to believe that it was actually there. She looked up at the old woman. "How can I ever thank you…madam-"
"Dupont…wife of doctor Auguste Dupont, the man you really should thank for sewing you back up," she smiled in pride.
Eponine smiled in returned. "I could never repay you for your kindness."
"There is no payment needed. We did what any man with morals should do. It's too early in your life to be acquainted with death…" the old woman said in remorse.
"How did I get here Azelma? How did you find me?" she asked her sister.
"Your friend Marius brought you here. He sent someone to our home to tell us where you were. Mama and papa were…preoccupied, so they sent me to come look after you," Azelma said hesitantly.
"They didn't want to be bothered with me did they? Selfish pigs," Eponine spat back resentfully.
"I'll leave you two alone," said Mrs. Dupont awkwardly, closing the door behind her.
Azelma responded dejectedly, "Don't say that Eponine. They were just busy."
"I don't understand why you always defend them, they've only caused their children misery, including you," the older girl said angrily, raising her injured arm, causing her to wince in pain. "Ouch!"
"I can't help it. They gave us life…and love for a few years before business started failing. I try to remember those times, to keep me going," she explained. "Don't burden yourself! Doctor Dupont said not to move. Lay back down," the younger girl said, setting another pillow underneath Eponine.
She obeyed, feeling defeated. She looked back at her sister, who had streaks of tears rolling down her face, her long black hair in a tangled mess. She had to admire her younger sister's (by two years) prevailing spirit despite the hardship they had both been through. "You look like you haven't slept in days."
"Three days to be exact. That's how long you were unconscious," Azelma said, looking to the floor. "After hearing about Gavroche, I had begun to lose all hope that I'd ever see your eyes open again. I felt so alone 'Ponine. I don't know what I would do if I lost you too," she buried her face into the sheets on Eponine's bed.
The older girl patted Azelma on the head with her good hand, feeling too weak to sit up again. "Hey, look at me, I'm here now. You don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere," she smiled warmly.
Azelma raised her head and returned the gesture. "Why do you always go looking for trouble 'Ponine?" she joked.
"I have to make life interesting somehow Azelma, and this is nothing, don't you know a shot to the arm is daily routine for me?" she joked.
"Shut up idiot! You're not as funny as you think you are…" Azelma responded, shoving Eponine's leg slightly while still sitting next to her bed. Eponine laughed back playfully.
"I had the oddest dream. Wait…what did you say about Gavroche? Where is he?" Eponine asked surprised, feeling like she already knew what was coming.
"He's…" Azelma's voice trailed off. "He's gone 'Ponine," New tears began to cascade down her face that was almost identical to her older sister's. The only apparent differences the two had in appearance were their eye and hair color (Eponine had light green eyes and brown hair while Azelma had brown eyes and jet black locks). Eponine also stood taller by three inches, which she felt wouldn't last for long, since the younger girl had been growing rapidly lately. Eponine felt her heart sink to the pit of her waist.
"So it wasn't a dream?" she said astonished.
"What are you talking about," said Azelma, stifling her sobs.
"I know you won't believe me, but I saw him Azelma! Not here, in another place, but I'm not sure where," she said, distracted in thought.
"What? Are you sure? You might have had delusions from the fever you had the first night…" the other girl said in disbelief.
"No. Listen! I wasn't going crazy…I swear I saw him. I know that he was shot in the back because his clothes were stained with blood on that side," Eponine said exasperated.
"I did see the wound on his back…but how could you have known that? There's no possible way you could've seen it…his passing happened after you were taken away…That's what they told me" Azelma said, puzzled.
"Don't ask me how I know, I just know. He told me that he needed to say farewell…and to tell you goodbye Azelma. You were always his favorite," Eponine said sadly.
"Little Gavroche, I wish I could see him again," Azelma's voice shook, placing her hand on her sister's. "He loved you as well 'Ponine…may he rest in peace."
Eponine nodded solemnly. "Yes, he did, but not as much as he adored you. I tortured that poor boy too much when we were younger…you were always the kind one he'd come running to after I bullied him," Eponine smiled grimly.
"Nevertheless…if what you say is true…he must have loved you enough to have delayed his passing in order to say goodbye…" Azelma said happily.
"I guess…I never would have thought we'd lose him. What world is this if a child can't even walk the streets safely?" Eponine shook her head.
"A wicked world it is sister…but perhaps it is not so bad since there is good in it as well. Like in your friend Marius, and the Duponts. The doctor worked wonders on your shoulder," Azelma lowered her gaze.
"Is Marius…?" Eponine's breath caught in her throat. She didn't know if she could endure much more loss.
"He's alive, from what I know of. Someone told me he was injured when he went back to join the fight. A man no one can identify brought him back to the wine shop just in time before he bled to death…" Azelma responded.
Eponine exhaled loudly. She closed her eyes in exhaustion.
"I'm going to let you sleep," Azelma said quietly.
"Alright, where are you staying?" Eponine said sleepily.
"In the other room right next to yours. The Duponts are very kind folk. You're very lucky that the master took pity on you," said the younger girl.
"I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night 'Zelma'" whispered Eponine, smiling in the darkness as she heard soft footsteps creep slowly out of her room.
Laying in the darkness, she thought of what Gavroche had said in her 'dream'. Who was the 'he' was her brother referring to? And why did he need her? Nobody had ever needed her for anything important in the past, so why would they need her now?
Enjolras's eyes flew open. He was laying down on something soft that he soon discovered to be a cot. He was staring at the ceiling, colored with the first rays of sunlight. Soft groans of pain surrounded him, which caused him to look around curiously while sitting up.
Pain reverberated through his arm suddenly, making him regret his decision. "Argh!"
He clenched his eyes shut for a few moments before moving himself to a more comfortable upright position. He slowly opened his eyes again hesitantly. The sight before him made the young man sick to his stomach.
Several other cots had been crammed into the wine shop over the last several days since the first night of the battle. All of them held mostly men who were treading closer to death. He had never seen so much blood in his life, aside from the frequent hunting sport that he and his father used to participate in when he was younger.
He closed his eyes in disgust while reaching his good arm up to his right shoulder, where he could feel the flesh had been sutured together.
"I knew that shot wasn't enough to bring you down!" boomed a familiar voice. Enjolras's eyes snapped open again to face Grantaire. The man clapped a hand over his good shoulder.
"You're alright Grantaire! With not even a scratch?" the other man said in surprise.
"Well I couldn't break my promise, you told me we needed to be standing together at the end of the battle, even though you did a number on yourself by falling to the ground. You looked as if you had been distracted at the last moment, what happened?" the other man said curiously.
"I don't remember exactly…" Enjolras lied. Green eyes and a melancholy smile entered his mind momentarily. He switched the topic. "You've always been too lucky a bastard, I find it hard to believe that you were shooting right next to me!"
Grantaire responded, noticing the other man's avoidance of his question. "Well, going into battle half-drunk helps to clear your head. You should try it some time hermit, when was the last time you had a real drink?" he joked.
Enjolras chuckled. "Not everyone can have liquor for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."
"Your lot is a frail bunch with weak constitutions," Grantaire retorted. Enjolras laughed. The two men had never liked each other from first impressions of each other. One was teased for being too uptight and preachy, while the other a loose drunk with rude manners. However, they found common ground after insulting each other's ego after so many years. Somehow, this gave way to a life-long friendship.
Enjolras looked past his companion, as remorse flooded his being seeing the mass horde of bodies lying half alive on their beds. "Grantaire, how could I have not seen this massacre coming? I've been such a fool…" he said despondently.
Grantaire gripped his uninjured arm. "Listen to me, there is no use trying to dwell on what's past, no matter how many brothers we have lost. Do you remember what I said to you? They knew what they were getting into…" He looked at him with seriousness Enjolras rarely saw.
"Even if they knew what they were doing, I can't just wash my hands of the innocent lives that were sacrificed…for this so-called resistance," Enjolras ran a hand through his hair in dismay.
Grantaire continued. "That may be true, but I know for a fact that they wouldn't have wanted you to feel this tortured and uncertain after everything we had believed in so tirelessly. They would want you to live on, carrying the ideals that they had given their lives for…"
"He's right Enjolras," called a voice from across the room. Enjolras turned his head to greet the new speaker. His eyes settled on a beautiful young blonde, who looked worried beyond death. She was sitting at the bedside of a half-conscious Marius, who stared at both men with a tired smile, lying on his side.
"Pontmercy! You made it!" Enjolras said brightly. He stared at the man's exposed wound on his leg as the girl tended to it with new bandages. He strained against himself to stand up, his legs feeling like jelly for not being used in several days. He limped over to the pair on the other side of the room, with Grantaire following close behind. He patted Marius's face gingerly.
"Grantaire, Enjolras…meet Cosette," Marius said happily. Cosette nodded her head to each man in respect. "Pleased to make your acquaintance gentleman. I've heard much about Marius's friends," she said with smiling blue eyes.
Enjolras nodded back with a grin. Her name sounded familiar. He soon put two and two together, remembering that Eponine had reluctantly delivered a letter from Marius to this girl not too long ago. Her face jumped into his thoughts again, causing the hairs on his neck to stand on end. He dared not to turn around and face the half-alive individuals surrounding them…for fear of finding her face among them.
Grantaire took Cosette's hand and kissed it lightly, causing her to blush. "So you're the muse behind this madman's puppy love? It's about time we met," he joked. A pillow was thrown at his face from Marius's direction.
"Cut it out you fool, don't make me get up," Marius said with sarcastic hostility.
"Aw, did I touch a nerve, poor Marius? Judging by the look of your leg, you won't be getting up anytime soon my friend, and I doubt Cosette will want a lame husband…" he eyed the girl with interest. Grantaire was known for his crude jokes, causing both men to shake their heads.
Cosette looked back at Grantaire in horror.
"Ignore him mademoiselle. He's had way too much to drink already. We've learned over time to ignore his outrageous behavior. That's no way to talk in front of a woman you idiot!" Enjolras smacked the back of the other man's head with his good hand.
Grantaire looked at the three individuals with a defeated face. "Forgive me miss, I didn't mean to cause you discomfort. I'm just merely showing my happiness that my two good friends are alive and well…for the most part."
"It's alright Grantaire…I know you meant no harm," Cosette said nervously.
"Yes…well. Enjolras I hope you're feeling better. No good can come from letting guilt fester within you. The best thing we can all do is keep moving forward while keeping their memory alive," Marius grinned at his friend.
"I will try my best my friend. I just hope the souls of our fallen friends can forgive me of my ignorance," Enjolras responded sullenly.
"There is nothing to forgive Enjolras. They would've wanted you to continue with what we started. We cannot give up. This battle has shaken the government's foundation for sure. The people have responded positively to our first strike. Why else would they be keeping us alive now?" Marius said excitedly. This was a new side Enjolras was seeing in his friend.
"I think you've made my friend a bit too passionate, Cosette," Enjolras joked.
"I hope not. There's no need for you to go marching back to your deaths. You're leg's not even healed!" she exclaimed, scowling at Marius.
"I believe she's right. I think the best thing for us to do right now is to keep the peace. If we start another uprising, the people might turn against us, thinking that we're nothing but a bunch of rabble-rousers. The last thing we need is alienation," Enjolras said decidedly.
The other two men looked as if they were going to argue, but then nodded slowly in agreement.
"If you say so," said Grantaire. "…but whenever you feel like you need to slit the throat of one of those low-life's, I will be right behind you," he said darkly, causing the girl to jump slightly.
Marius tried to change the subject to calm his beloved. "Enjolras, could you do me a favor?" he asked.
"Anything," said the other man.
"Since you're able to walk, and since Grantaire doesn't seem to have his senses about him any longer, would you mind checking up on a friend of mine? She's badly wounded," he said with a hint of remorse in his voice.
"Eponine's alive?" Enjolras said with relief.
Marius raised an eyebrow suspectedly. "Oh I didn't know you two were acquainted."
Enjolras hesitated. "We aren't. Well…not really. We've exchanged a couple of words…I saw you carrying her away from the barricade that night. What on earth was she doing there in the first place?" Enjolras asked with more fervor than he intended. It was Grantaire's turn to look at his friend questionably.
"Oh, it was my fault…for some reasons I can't explain right now," answered Marius. Cosette stared at him curiously in silence. "Would you mind seeing if she's alright? Please?" Marius continued.
"If it will help you sleep better at night, of course," Enjolras said happily with traces of uneasiness. "Where is she staying?" he asked.
"At the Dupont's. He's a friend of my grandfather. I needed to make sure she was taken care of right away by the doctor, given her condition," Marius said guiltily.
Thank goodness for that, Enjolras thought. "Oh that's just a few blocks away. I'll be back before you know it. Pleasure to have finally met you Cosette. I hope we meet again," he smiled at the young woman, who beamed back at him. He nodded at Grantaire, who smiled back at him sleepily. "You need to sleep off that ale."
Grantaire laughed. "For once, your words actually make sense to me."
He walked slowly out of the shop turned temporary hospital, as his legs gradually went back to normal.
People began to go about their daily morning business around him as he apprehensively made his way closer to the doctor's house.
Sorry for the delay, I was attacked by a swarm of papers and exams...what a waste of valuable of sleep i tell you! Thanks for the reviews! Woopee...I'm actually getting alerts? you guys are awesome! (*Air hug*). Keep 'em coming :) :) Hate/love/like this chapter? Let me know, your words of wisdom help keep this story going!