Chapter 9
"They did not speak, they did not bow, they were not acquainted; they saw each other; and, like the stars in the sky separated by millions of leagues, they lived by gazing upon each other."
Enjolras woke up earlier than Eponine, he stood up, wrote a short note and left it beside her; then, he walked back towards the palace. When he got to his chambers, he heard voices inside the room. Because of worry, he quickly entered the room and saw it was only his family. His heart beat with delight thinking Fantine was already okay but then seeing her lying on her cot, his perspective changed.
"Shouldn't mother be in the hospital?" Enjolras asked.
Cosette looked at him, face drenched with tears. "The king's daughter got sick while they were visiting Paris. They needed a room" Cosette didn't need to continue. It was obvious on the look of her face, and Cosette in their presence what happened inside the hospital.
"But" He didn't seem to know what to say. "But that's injustice" Enjolras screamed with rage. His face was all red, and he couldn't control his anger. He was angrier knowing that the hospital, the last he saw it, was not even packed with people.
"It's the king's daughter, Enjolras. There is not much we can do" Cosette said. Enjolras, furious as he is, looked around the room, thinking of what he should do. Then he spotted something, something that eventually wouldn't make the situation any better.
"What's are those?" he shouted pointing at the chair near the window.
"It's out clothes for the ball." Cosette whispered, knowing that, whatever will happen next, won't go well. The fury inside Enjolras quickly built up. He looked at Cosette, fuming with rage, "You actually think that we'll still be going to the ball after all that's happening" Cosette flinched. For the 16 years she lived in this world, Enjolras never raised his voice on her. Tears were slowly forming at the corner of her eyes, slowly spilling over her delicate cheeks. Before Enjolras could apologize, Cosette ran.
"You shouldn't be so hard on Cosette. She just wanted to go to the ball so badly" Valjean, who just walked out of the room, said. Enjolras sighed then, without hesitation, quickly followed after Cosette.
Cosette sat on the bench overlooking the City Garden. She evaluated herself. Maybe Enjolras was right, she thought. Suddenly the tears started to spill. She chose this ball rather than her mother's health. How can she be so selfish?
"Mademoiselle?" Cosette flinched. She heard that voice before. She wiped her tears then turned to see who it was.
"Monsieur Coufeyrac" Cosette stood up and hugged his brother's friend.
"Why is thy fair lady crying?" Coufeyrac asked when they broke the hug and sat back down the park bench.
"Oh no, it's nothing. Something just went to my eye. A twig maybe, or a branch." Coufeyrac laughed making Cosette giggle a bit.
"Of course. You are the humorous one" Coufeyrac said. Cosette just smiled at hum weakly and said, "He's just much more serious" Coufeyrac smiled and pointed at a direction at the back of Cosette. Cosette turned, looking at her back where Coufeyrac was pointing.
"Speak of the devil" Cosette said. Before he got closer, Coufeyrac leaned in a whisper and said, "The devil indeed" Cosette smiled.
"I've been looking for you everywhere" Enjolras said. Obvious on how he took his breaths and how sweaty he was, that he was looking for Cosette everywhere.
"I shall see you at the university, Enjolras. You two should talk" Coufeyrac said waving at them and walking away.
"I have something to tell you." Enjolras said. Cosette nodded ushering him to continue. "I'm sorry" Enjolras said. Cosette didn't say anything. "Please forgive me. I have decided that we should go to the ball" Cosette eyes widened. She didn't know what to say so instead she hugged her brother, muttering thank you's in his ear until the hug broke apart.
The days until the ball travelled faster than anyone expected. Friday was soon up their sleeves and everybody was already getting into their dresses and tightening their corsets to make then thinner, or shining their shoes, shine them enough to reflect like a mirror.
Lesgle and Joly were in Grantaire's apartment supposedly taking care of the drunken Grantaire yet instead they took the time to fix themselves for the ball. "What should we do with him?" Lesgle asked pointing at Grantaire, who was almost kissing a bottle of whiskey on the couch.
"Oh, let him sober. Just take the bottle from him or he won't let it go" Joly answered. Lesgle shrugged then soon after Bahorel strutted towards the room. He stopped at the door, seeing Grantaire.
"Dear me, isn't Grantaire yet sober" Bahorel said, fanning the space in front of him, as if the smell from Grantaire's whiskey bottle was fuming around the room.
Lesgle, on demand of Joly, took the bottle away from Grantaire. Gladly, it was loose from his grip so Grantaire wouldn't fight Lesgle when he's sobered up.
After Bahorel, Joly and Lesgle finally got ready for the party, finished putting on their coats, they stared at Grantaire.
"What should we do with him?" Lesgle asked. Joly shrugged saying, "We could leave him here"
"Oh we shouldn't. You'll know how he'll respond" Bahorel said. The three of them sigh, looking at him thinking of what to do.
Cosette and Enjolras decided to get ready at Combeferre's apartment since Fantine needed the rest.
Cosette twisted and twirled in front of the mirror.
"You've been looking at yourself for quite some time now. You still look splendid" Enjolras said as he leaned on the door frame.
"It's just- I'm not used to it." Cosette said. Suddenly, Madame Constantine, Combeferre's landlady, shooed Enjolras away and closed the door in front of Enjolras. He turned to Combeferre who just shrugged, "Ladies!" both boys said simultaneously, also preparing themselves for the ball.
"You are going to your wedding ball, Marius" Coufeyrac said, just putting the last books on his shelf.
"It's Eponine's, not mine" Marius said. Coufeyrac shrugged and continued fixing the books.
Marius sat at the edge of the couch. "Do you think she'll be there?" Marius asked, sighing. His mind trailing to somewhere you cannot fathom.
"Who?" Coufeyrac asked not removing his gaze from the bookshelf. "The girl I have been talking about" Marius said as Coufeyrac was putting the last book on the shelf.
"Even if she will be there, you won't even recognize her. It's a Masquerade Ball after all" Coufeyrac said, taking his coat from the coat rack at the back of the door.
"I'll know her from everywhere" Marius said. Coufeyrac rolled his eyes. He stood in front of Marius, place both his hands on his shoulders, "The world is full of possibilities." then he patted Marius cheeks.
Marius just sighed and followed his friend towards the palace.
The whole Paris might be gleaming with joy for the ball yet Eponine didn't seem as if she is.
"Cheer up, Eponine. It is your party after all" Musichetta said. Eponine sighed.
She looked at herself in the mirror, evaluating how she looked, twisting locks of hair on her fingers.
"Stop, fiddling, 'Ponine. You look amazing" Musichetta said.
"I don't feel like I am" Eponine retaliated. Musichetta pinned the last lock of her hair on Eponine and looked at her in the mirror. "Well, you are" Musichetta said. She walked towards the bedroom, picking up her gloves.
"I'm surprise Enjolras finally decided to marry you." Musichetta said, after a few minutes of silence. Eponine stayed silent and was in deep thought. If she was marrying Enjolras, it will be much less grander than this. She twirled her mask around her hands.
"He's not the man I'm going to marry" Eponine finally confessed. Musichetta gasped not knowing how to respond. Eponine just managed to smile weakly.
Musichetta and Eponine put on their masks as soon as they heard the chariots piling in front of the palace.
They stood at the top of the stairs, waiting for the guests to come in. Musichetta leaned and whispered, "True love will prevail" before walking down the stairs to be mulled up by the guests.
Eponine stood high up the crowd, her figure not visible from below. She looked to see if there was anyone she can recognize under the colourful masks. Slowly and carefully, as the music passed by her ears, she walked down the stairs hoping not to be spotted by anyone.
The party went on since the music started, guest walking in and out. Friends who eventually recognized each other started conversing and just random people wanting to find out about each other found themselves towards one another.
Jean Prouvaire, standing at the refreshment table, looked around the crowd. He immediately spotted Grantaire who was dancing with a bottle of wine. Feuilly and Combeferre dancing with a bunch of girls. Coufeyrac, meanwhile was in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by a group of fine young ladies. Jehan snickered, not noticing the girl beside her.
"That's a lucky fellow" she said, making Jehan finally notice her. He looks at the direction where she was looking at. Seeing that she was looking at Coufeyrac, he smiled and said, "That, fair lady, is a man of charm" Jehan said. The girl blushed at how he addressed her.
Silence filled the air yet it wasn't awkward. Somehow, the silence was better than a conversation that can ruin most of the night's happening.
Suddenly, from the raised platform, the music started ringing in the ears of each of the guests. The slow tempo of the music made the feet of the men long to dance and the women want to hold on to the men and dance freely through the night.
Jean Prouvaire suddenly felt the urge to dance, as if the music is attracting him to the dance floor. He turned to his company who was swaying on her place and he knew that she too wanted to dance, just waiting for someone to ask her. Jehan piled up all his courage and then offered his hand to her, "Dance with me, shall you?" Under the mask she saw her smile and utter a soft, "Oui"
"I never expected you to be here?" Eponine's silent voice echoed in his ears.
"I must. Cosette insisted" Enjolras said. Silence dropped its veil on them, as they watched the couples waltz about the room, men looking for ladies to dance and ladies waiting to be asked out to dance.
"Dance with me, Enjorlas" Eponine said.
"I do not dance, Eponine" Enjolras reverted. Eponine looked at him, with an eyebrow raised.
"How are you sure I am Eponine?" She said with a smirk playing on her lips.
"I know you from anywhere, Eponine. Even in the dark." Enjolras said.
"And I know you as well and I know you dance, so join me." Eponine said dragging him to the dance floor before the music officially started again.
Marius looked around, scanning every face trying to stare at each one in the eyes hoping that one of them, under those masks was the girl he was longing to see. After a couple of minutes, he decided to walk back to Coufeyrac not looking at his way
"Oh my, I'm sorry." the voice of the lady rang inside his ears. He looked up after landing on the floor. His heart thumped inside his chest. He bowed down, offered his hand and said, "Dance with me"
He felt her hand on his, as they walked towards the dance floor.
The men stand in a line, their partners standing a few metres away from them. Enjolras stood beside Jehan and Coufeyrac on the other side. He was not surprised to see Coufeyrac dancing yet usually he Jehan just stood overlooking the rest on one corner.
"Didn't know you'd be dancing, Jehan" Enjolras said.
"I could say the same to you, mon ami" Jehan answered back.
"Who is this fine lady you're dancing with anyways?" Enjolras asked,
"I soon will know" Jehan answered. "And you?" he added.
Enjolras sighed. "She has not yet mentioned" he lied. The music started playing and as soon as they started dancing, Coufeyrac took the chance to talk to him.
"Is that not your sister, Enjolras" Enjolras look straight at the line and finally spotted her sister's brunette locks bobbing back and fourth as she danced.
Eponine, who was listening in, scoffed.
"Don't worry about her, Enjolras. She's a pretty girl. Let her have fun, just for the night"
On the other side of Enjolras meanwhile, Jehan was trying to seek out his partner's name.
"So, may I ask what your name is?" Jehan said. As they spun on their spot with their palms touching each other, she answered, "Oh I think it's better we do not bother with names."
Eponine snickered as they heard the conversation. Enjolras looked at her but she just shook her head. Of course, Eponine knew who Jehan was dancing with. Those who owned those red locks was basically too familiar for her not to notice, it was, no one but Azelma Thenadier.
The whole party consisted most of dancing. Coufeyrac already had five rounds of dancing with five different girls. Grantaire was already drunk and almost falling of his chair in the corner, Joly and Lesgle fuming over Musichetta, and all the other amis dancing around with different people, sometimes just with each other, for keep's sake.
All those dancing stopped as Madame Thenadier stood infront of the whole crowd. She raised her voice, and said, "Thank you for all those who joined this party." She said clasping her hands in front of her, smiling exquisitely.
"May I offer this party to my lovely Eponine, who this party is celebrated for because..." Eponine's heart crashed at the bottom of her stomach. She knew that this party was not going to go well. It's as if the world stopped around her as her mother said, "She's going to get married"