"Get up!" Musichetta said, nudging the sleeping boys. Feuilly and Jehan were up right away and went downstairs to get some food. Bahorel threatened bodily harm, and the others grumbled and went back to sleep. Jehan and Feuilly came back from the pub, carrying a tray of food. Eventually, with the help of croissants and coffee, they were all awake. Combeferre and Courfeyrac went to check on the other rooms. They came back, reporting that the beds were all slashed apart.
"We should go," Musichetta said. "Are you all ready?"
They packed up their stuff, and they headed out. They traveled down the road, Bossuet and Joly asking about her adventures.
"Did you encounter any medicinal plants?" Joly asked. "I'm a doctor, sort of."
Musichetta grinned, "No, I don't look for plants. But if I find any, I'll make sure to give some to you."
"We should get off the road," Combeferre glanced behind him. "Musichetta, do you know these woods well enough to not get lost?"
"Yes, there should be a small path up ahead to the right," Musichetta said. Sure enough, there was a small path leading into the forest. They entered, Bossuet tripping over a few tree roots. Musichetta helped him up, smiling. They kept walking, until Musichetta mentioned the Midgewater Marshes.
"It'll cover our tracks," Combeferre commented to the disapproving sighs of the group.
"We should go through the Midgewater Marshes," Enjolras decided.
The group headed into the Midgewater Marshes. For three days, they wandered through there with bug bites and soggy feet (or in Bossuet's case, soggy everything). The Marshes seemed to go on forever, until they suddenly ended.
"What's that hill?" Bahorel asked, shielding his eyes as he looked up.
"Weathertop," Musichetta said, "a watchtower used to stand there, but now it's in ruins."
"We won't get there until tomorrow," Jehan observed, surveying how far away the giant hill was.
Musichetta nodded and continued walking. The next day, they make it to the top.
"I think a camp was here," Courfeyrac said, squatting down to get a better look.
"Look at this," Feuilly passed a rock to Musichetta. "That's an Elven rune symbol," Musichetta said.
"Do you think Lamarque was here?" Enjolras asked. Musichetta nodded.
Grantaire glanced around, "it looked like he passed through quickly. Do you think he might have been attacked?" Musichetta nodded again.
"There's a cave where we can stay," Joly called from the side of the hill. They all gather in the cave and lit a fire. Enjolras frowned and rubbed his head where a headache was forming. It felt like he could feel five black forms in the distance.
"We should stay here for tonight," Musichetta said. Bossuet yawned and put his head on her shoulder. Combeferre nodded and stared at the ground.
"Does anyone have any stories?" Jehan asked.
Courfeyrac nodded, "I do: Little Lotte. As a child, the Angel of Music comes to her. "I am the Angel of Music and have come because yours is a pure heart and good," he tells her. But Lotte questions her worthiness in receiving the gift of music from the angel, and when he comes back to her the next night, he says that now, she has to prove her worth. In order to receive the angel's gift, she must complete three tasks.
The first night, the angel tells her, "Bring me the song of the wind in the willow trees out in the marsh by the clear flowing stream." Undaunted, Lotte sets out the next morning and successfully completes her mission. Next, the angel tells her to bring him the song of the swans on the lake. This task is a little harder and its completion is accompanied by sadness, but complete it she does. Finally, the angel tells her to "bring me the music of the spring in the forest." After several unsuccessful attempts, Lotte finally figures out the answer and is on her way to take it to her angel when she encounters an unexpected problem that could ruin the outcome…"
Grantaire had gotten bored and left to wander around the hill. He was filled with dread and rushed back to the camp, "I think someone's coming." Everyone jumped up and faced the darkness. They draw out their daggers and crouch, ready to attack. Grantaire instinctively moved to Enjolras' side.
Enjolras felt a growing desire to put on the ring. His conscious, which was warning him, seemed to be in a battle with the voice telling him to put on the ring. The voice won and Enjolras slipped the ring onto his finger without any second thoughts.
Enjolras can see the five soldiers, coming closer. Enjolras slipped into the shadows to meet them. The one in the lead wore magnificent sideburns and raised a knife and sword. The leader lunged at Enjolras, who whipped at his dagger. He stabbed him in the foot and felt a searing pain in his shoulder. Enjolras fell backwards on the ground. He saw Musichetta rush forward with a torch that she waved around. The soldiers backed away, and the leader called for a retreat. Enjolras took off the ring as he sank into unconsciousness.
