Twenty-Eight
Enjolras
Today is the day. I have not slept all night because I am too anxious. Part of me thinks that I am wrong about the date, that my tally marks are wrong. But then I re-read Eponine's letters to me and see her promises see me in only a few days, and I know I am correct again. I am weak and have withered down to almost nothing, and I do not want to see the anguish that I know will be in Eponine's eyes, but I have to see her. I am in desperate need of a bath, and this is the longest by beard has ever been. Shaving will feel so nice. I can see the sun coming up in the small opening at the top of my cell, and my heart beats a little faster. I grasp all of Eponine's letters in my hands and sit alert on my bed, ready for Javert to retrieve me. And my wait isn't long. When I hear the cell door being unlocked, I jump up. Javert steps inside and smirks at me. I know I must have a wild look in my eyes.
"I do believe today is the day of your release, Enjolras," he says.
"Yes."
"Then, shall we go? You have a fiancee at home that is very anxious to see you," he smiles.
I smile back at him, surprised to see Javert speak to me in such a friendly way. He turns and walks out of my cell, and I follow close behind. I am given the clothes I was wearing the day I was imprisoned, and I get to change out of my prison clothes. They hang off of me because I have lost so much weight. Javert leads me to an inclosed carriage, and I stuff the letters in my jacket before climbing in. Our ride is silent, but halfway back to my flat, Javert speaks up.
"Your fiancee was my informant for my case against her father at one point. I won't go into much detail because she should tell you, but that is why I allowed her to write you letters. I visited her to apologize for some of my past actions in regards to her father's case, and she invited me to your wedding. I don't know if I'll come, but I thought I would tell you."
"That was kind of her. I hope you can make it," I reply.
He looks at me shocked, "Really? I figured you wouldn't want the man who imprisoned you at your wedding."
"Well, it was a deal, remember? You are helping me. And if Eponine invited you, I cannot go against her wishes."
"Thank you for your kindness, Enjolras. Also, I deal is a deal. I will begin looking into the investigation of Grantaire's torture and murder at the start of next week."
"I am glad to hear it. He deserves justice."
Suddenly, the carriage lurches to a halt. Javert swings the door open.
"We're here," he smiles.
I step out of the carriage, and before I even look at the flat, I look back at Javert.
"I am free to go?"
Javert nods his head toward my flat, and I turn my gaze where he is looking. My heart nearly stops in my chest when I see Eponine standing there waiting for me. I barely notice Javert get back in the carriage and it pull speedily away. I start walking toward Eponine, but hold my hand up, keeping her from coming to me.
"I'm dirty," I call to her.
She shakes her head and yells, "Do you think I care about that?"
Then she breaks out into a run, nearly tackling me. Even though I am weak, I still have enough energy to pick her up and spin her around. I set her back down, and she looks up at me, placing her hands on either side of my face.
"Look at you. You've wasted away," she says quietly.
I haven't looked at myself, but I know that my beard is long, my hair is longer than normal, and I certainly need a bath and a good meal.
"I am just happy to be back with you," I reply.
She takes my hands in hers and smiles at me, "Let's get you cleaned up."
She pulls me along behind her into the house. I watch as she draws my bath. Once she is finished, she turns to me and stands on her tiptoes to press a kiss to my lips.
"Take your time. I'll be putting on some lunch," she says.
I strip my dirty clothes from my body and sink into the warm bath. I sigh in relief, feeling stress leave my body. After a few minutes of soaking, I begin to scrub. I work the soap through my hair and all over my body. I am nearly exhausted by the time that I get myself clean. I stand and step out of the tub, drying myself off. I look at myself in the mirror and see someone I don't recognize. My beard is long and scraggly. My hair is too long, and my cheeks are sunken in. I look like I have been an urchin my whole life, but I am too tired to trim my hair or shave. I wrap the towel around myself and walk to the bedroom to put on a pair of my linen pants and a loose shirt. I walk out of the bedroom to find Eponine in the washroom, set up with a chair, scissors, and my razor. She pats the chair.
"You must want to get rid of all that excess. I know you're tired, so I figured I'd help," she tells me.
The idea sounds glorious. My hair is shaggy, and my beard is itchy.
"You don't have to do that," I say.
"I want to, Gabriel. I want you to feel like yourself again."
I sit in the chair and close my eyes as I feel Eponine begin to trim my hair. Then she lathers my face and begins to run the blade down my face. It feels so good to be rid of that scraggly beard. I keep my eyes closed as Eponine finishes up and drags the towel across my face, getting rid of any lather or hair left behind. She places her hands on my shoulders and squeezes gently, leaning down to place a kiss to my neck.
"Thank you," I sigh.
"Lunch should be ready. You have to be hungry."
Almost on cue, my stomach growls ferociously, and Eponine laughs. Her laugh is sweet, melodic. It makes me heart sing. I follow her into the kitchen, and she dishes out a large bowl of stew for me. As we sit at the table and eat lunch together, I can feel Eponine's eyes on me. The stew is the best food I have had in two months, and I wolf it down, going to seconds. Eponine finishes before me, but she sits there with me anyway. I love her so much. As I finish my second bowl, I can feel my eyes drooping. Eponine reaches over and grasps my hand.
"You need to sleep, love," she says.
"Only if you join me," I smile.
She follows me into the bedroom, and I climb under the covers. Eponine lays beside me on the top of the covers, and I pull her against my chest. I breathe in her sweet scent, burying my face in her hair.
"I love you immensely, Ep," I say, kissing her head.
"I love you. Sleep love," she tells me.
It doesn't even take five minutes for me to drift off. For the first time in months, I sleep amazingly with Eponine in my arms, and pleasant dreams filling my mind.
Author's Note: Hi wonderful readers! I am back for a good month! I hope to write lots of chapters while I am on break from college. I must say, the reviews I have been getting have been warming my heart. You guys make me want to write all the time! They motivate me. I hope to write the next chapter soon.
~ loislane16
