Chapter 9: Cinnamon and Roses
Éponine had been locked in the cellar again after being beaten. Her father had got the belt on her, leaving her back bloody and her face also bruised and bleeding. She'd forgotten money. After waited until their drunken talking had quieted, she picked the lock and slipped out of the door. She quietly edged around the drunken bodies laid on the floor. The window was open, so she jumped out of it.
The cold night air bit at her face and back, although it was only eight o'clock. She knew where to head.
It began to rain which felt like knives on her wounds, but she didn't care.
Cafe Musain was where she was heading tonight.
There was a knock on the door at Cafe Musain, startling everyone out of their conversations. A red flag was laid on the floor. They'd chosen a colour in case of the rebellion, but they were trying to keep those thoughts to a minimum as it somehow didn't feel right.
"I'll get the door!" Gavroche skipped over merrily, and opened it. "Ép!" He cried. Marius rushed over. Sure enough, Éponine was standing there. She was soaked from the rain and shivering in her rags, and she was covered in cuts and bruises.
"Good god! What happened to you, 'Ponine?" Marius exclaimed. "Come inside." He took her hand and brought her inside.
The students were about to protest, but they saw her wounds and the intense care written all over Marius' face, so they kept quiet. Even Gavroche looked a little worried.
"M-my father." She stammered shakily. Marius held her close, despite the fact she was shaking. She closed her eyes and fainted, leaning against him. "Someone fetch me some warm water! And some bandages!" He looked really worried. "Chill, Marius! You could put her in my bath upstairs." Coufeyrac smirked.
Coufeyrac and Enjolras both had rooms upstairs. "Thank you." Marius lifted Éponine whilst Coufeyrac went first up the creaky wooden stairs.
"No-don't put her in like that. You need to take her clothes off so the dirt from them doesn't go into the wounds. And besides, you won't be able to treat the wounds with her clothes on." Coufeyrac smirked and winked. Marius froze, blushing.
"But..." He began.
Coufeyrac cut him off. "But you're the one who was so eager to treat her wounds. Go ahead. I'm going back to join their discussions. Here's a tube of an ointment that will help her wounds." Coufeyrac left Marius feeling helpless beside the bathtub.
Marius sighed, trying to avert his eyes as much as possible as he did what Coufeyrac bid. He placed Éponine's limp body in the bath. He was glad she wrapped rags over her more private places to keep them covered incase her chemise slipped or a strong gust of wind blew her ragged skirt up.
Still, he felt a little embarrassed as he fetched a cloth to clean her wounds up. How could her father have done this to her on her birthday? He probably didn't even remember, but then if he did, he wouldn't care. Marius let his thoughts wonder. His eyes drifted to a vase of flowers in the corner. Coufeyrac kept a vase in his room to make the air smell better, as fumes from the street often got in through the window. He kept them in the corner though, to save guests thinking him odd probably. Marius shrugged, taking a rose out and placing the petals in the bath water.
Roses. Despite being on the street and having no way of accessing soap, let alone perfume, Éponine still somehow smelt like roses. Marius liked her scent-it didn't burn his nose like some perfumes did.
He gently propped her up, starting with the wounds down her back. He was as gentle as he could be.
After treating the wounds on her back, he laid her back down cautiously.
Éponine opened her eyes slowly. She blinked until her vision came into focus.
The first thing she was aware of was Marius beside her. The second thing...she was warm. Truly warm...in warm water. She was in a bath. The third...her back and face stung. Fourth, her chemise and skirt were on a bed against the wall...which meant she wasn't wearing them.
Marius realised what she was thinking, and averted his gaze, face going scarlet against his freckles.
"Sorry, 'Ponine. I had to clean the wounds on your back." He blushed even more. Éponine felt embarrassed, but she murmured a thank you. She was blushing as much as Marius was.
"Why did he do it-you know, hurt you? What did you do?" Marius asked, eager to change the subject. "Montparnasse was annoyed that I was meeting you...he must have followed me. He insulted you...I slapped him." Éponine seemed to blush more.
"Oh my...it's my fault then. You really didn't need to-" he hung his head in shame. Éponine timidly reached her hand out and touched his arm.
"It's not your fault. I should have been more careful, made sure he didn't know where I was. I shouldn't have slapped him either...I couldn't help it though."
"Why did you slap him?" Marius was curious.
"Because...he insulted you. I said." Éponine dropped her gaze.
"Oh, Dear 'Ponine, what are we going to do with you?" Marius smiled and shook his head, and they both embraced.
As soon as they realised that Éponine was still almost naked and in the bath, they both pulled away awkwardly.
"'Ponine, wrap this sheet around you for now. It'll soak up the water and cover you up...we'll clean your clothes. Can't be putting those dirty things back on after being clean now, can you?" He handed her a sheet, and turned away as she rose from the bath and wrapped the sheet around herself.
Marius insisted on washing her clothes for her. She was surprised that he knew how to. He smirked at her. "Not seen a man washing clothes? I do live alone, you know."
She smiled back. "Most males I know don't bother." She replied.
"Here, take my jacket until your clothes dry." He took his jacket off and gave it to her. Éponine took it happily. She wrapped the sheet around her waist a few times then tied it in a knot. It was like a skirt-and less ragged than the skirt she owned. She then hastily buttoned up his jacket around her, enveloped in his scent. Cologne, soap and cinnamon.
No wonder I like cinnamon. she thought.
That night, after everyone else had left and Enjolras and Coufeyrac had gone to their rooms, Marius stayed with Éponine to keep her company. They laid on the red flag on the floor, cuddling up to eachother. Marius' chin rested on Éponine's head, his arms around her waist. They'd been doing that whilst telling eachother stories and trying to stay warm as it was cold, and Marius had planned to get up and fetch them both a blanket, but Éponine had fallen asleep and was cuddling his arm so he couldn't leave.
It wasn't like he didn't like this though. He felt rather comfortable...he did like 'Ponine quite a lot. He let his thoughts wander whilst watching Éponine smiling in her sleep, drifting off to sleep himself.
