Chapter 6

As they approached her house, Cosette waved to Enjolras and tiptoed back into the house, hoping that her father would not notice that she was back three hours late.

"Cosette? Do you know how late you are? I was so worried."

Cosette stopped her her tracks and turned to face her father. "I know, Papa. I had to take the long way home today." It is the truth, Cosette thought.

Valjean sighed. "When I ask you be back on time, you should be back on time. That was what we agreed on when I let you go to Paris, remember?"

"Yes, Papa, I know that-"

"So you are not going to Paris for the next two weeks."

Cosette's jaw dropped. "Two weeks? Stuck at home?" There was nothing to do but go the Paris.

Valjean nodded. "I'm worried about you, Cosette. You have to be more responsible."

"But, I- Papa, I will be! Please don't make me stay home for two weeks!"

"I'm sorry, Cosette. I'll bring you some new books tomorrow so you won't be so bored."

Frustrated, Cosette stomped back to her room and plopped down on her bed.

For the next two weeks, the sun shone every day, and Cosette longed to be in the city. She quickly finished all the books her father brought for her and spent all her time staring out the window, wondering why Enjolras hadn't written a so much as a letter to her. Surely there's a reason, she thought. Maybe it's gotten lost in the post.

It was halfway through the second week, Cosette was sulking in her room as usual when she heard a knock on the front door. It was after supper and she wondered who would be visiting so late. She hopped off of her window seat and hurried toward the door to try and hear who it was while her father opened the door. To her great annoyance, she could only hear parts of the conversation.

"Letter… barricade."

"From the barricade?" she heard her father ask.

"Yes… for Cosette, from…"

"I'll give it to her in the morning. Thank you."

Who could it be? Cosette wondered. The barricade, maybe Enjolras had already started his rebellion? Could the letter be from him? She wondered how Enjolras was and realized the messenger would know. Cosette hurried towards the window and peered out. It didn't seem to be anyone she knew, a short slender boy with a hat pulled low over his face. But as he turned, Cosette noticed it was Eponine, dressed in boys clothing.

"Eponine!" she called as she leaned out the window.

Eponine paused but kept walking.

"Eponine!" Cosette called again. "Please, Eponine, I really need to talk to you. I just want to know how things are at the barricade?"

At this, Eponine finally turned around and began walking towards the window. "Not good, not as many joined as we predicted. We are expecting to be defeate-"

"Then I need you to take me to the barricade," Cosette interrupted. "I cannot go to Paris now without a guide, someone who knows the city better than me," she added.

Eponine shook her head and began to walk away.

"Eponine! Eponine, please, I have to go."

Eponine paused, in conflict with her self. She felt indebted to Cosette because she was being so kind to her despite their past. But at the same time, she could not bring herself to bring Cosette to Marius.

Cosette realized this and hurriedly called, "Eponine, I only want to go talk to Enjolras."

"Enjolras?"

"Yes."

"You're not going to be with Marius?" Eponine questioned.

Cosette gave her a baffled look, "No, no I just need to talk to Enjolras." I need to convince him to give up, Cosette thought. The consequences of being a leader of a failed rebellion were harsh.

"Fine then. Hurry," Eponine said.

Cosette ran across her room and pulled on a dark colored cloak and her travelling boots. She quickly scrawled a note for her papa, assuring him that she was fine and not to worry. She looked outside the window. Her room was on the first floor of the house, so it would be easy to simply climb down. She hopped out the window. As soon as her feet hit the ground, Eponine nodded to her and took off in a run.

As they navigated the narrow, winding streets of Paris, Cosette struggled to keep up with Eponine. It was considerably harder to run in a thick gown then it was in boys clothes.

"Eponine, slow down! I can't keep up!" Cosette gasped, out of breath.

Eponine slowed to a fast walk so that Cosette could catch up.

"Why are you so desperate to talk to Enjolras?" Eponine asked curiously.

"Not relevant."

"Seems like you really care about him," Eponine persisted.

"He's my friend, of course I do! And you're quite fond of Marius, aren't you?"

Eponine was silent.

"It's alright, Eponine! I'm not in love with Marius or anything! We're just friends!"

Eponine sighed in relief to herself. "Well, let's go then."

They walked for a while in silence.

"Are you cold?" Cosette asked, "You can borrow my-"

Suddenly, the sound of gunfire erupted, sounding frightfully close to the two girls. Cosette screamed.

"What do we do, Eponine?" she asked, terrified.

Eponine looked around them. It was some rebels, no one that they knew, who were exchanging gunfire with a group of the National Guard. There was no way to escape it by turning around because one group was in front of them and one behind. They would have to try to run straight past it. "Just run as fast as you can and keep your head down!" Eponine commanded. She grabbed Cosette's arm and began to pull her forward. It seemed like an eternity to Cosette that they ran toward safety. The smoke from the guns and cannons got thicker and thicker until it was impossible to know where one was going.

"Eponine! I can't see!" Cosette yelled, blinded.

"Just keep going!"

Finally, they made it past, amazingly, completely unscathed.

"Let's get to the barricade," Eponine advised, "It's probably safer there than on the open streets."

Cosette nodded, still blanched from their close encounter with a battle.

They ran for another five minutes until Eponine stopped and breathed in relief, "Finally, we're here."

Then, just as they paused to catch their breath, they heard shots fired again. This time, they realized that the students' barricade was the target.

Eponine turned to Cosette, knowing that she would panic. She grabbed her elbow and quickly began to list out instructions to Cosette. "Cosette, you need to run to the cafe and stay there until the battle is over. After that find Courfeyrac, he's a friend of my brother's, Gavroche, he will help you if you need it. Understand?"

"Go alone? What about you?" Cosette asked surprised.

"I'll be fine, I'm going to go help," Eponine replied. "Now go. Don't look back."