Chapter 4
As the cart rolled into Paris, everyone stared in awe at the sights before them. They passed Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, absorbing the sights and smells that was Paris. Thenardier even slowed down the horses, as he, too, took in the beauty that was the heart of France.
"It's like a dream," breathed Eponine.
"But it ain't." Montparnasse grasped her hand as they exchanged a quick smile before returning to their gapes.
As they made their way to the outskirts of Paris, they came upon a long row of small houses. They saw an elderly man sitting on the porch of the first house reading the daily paper. Thenardier told them to wait where they were. He was going to see if the man, who appeared to be the landlord, had any houses for rent. He hopped down and exchanged some words with the man, who had put his paper down, but not moved from where he was sitting. Thenardier was making gestures with his hands and after a minute, the man stood up and pointed down to the middle of the row. Thenardier bowed quickly and came back to the cart.
He started on towards to where the man had pointed when he suddenly stopped between two houses. He leapt down from the driver's seat and began helping his wife down. The men in the back did likewise, grabbing their bags and trunks. Montparnasse offered Eponine a hand, and she accepted it. After Madame was well situated with the ground, Thenardier came around the back of the cart to collect his trunk.
"Right, you'ze four. This 'ouse 'ere is to be yours. Start unpackin'." He pointed to the house on his left as he went into the other house on his right.
Eponine followed her parents into the house that was to be theirs. She looked around as she set down her trunk. She saw a three-roomed, dirt floored shack.
"Well, 'Ponine. 'Ere it is. 'Ome." He must have seen her disappointed looks, because he added, "I know it ain't what we is used to, but we'ze gots to start out small. Now, you take that corner room on the left. We'll take the one on the right."
Eponine picked up her trunk and made her way to the hole in the wall that she was about to call her own. She squeezed herself in, and spotted a tiny bed that she could just fit into, and a chest of drawers, obviously used before, that, luckily, held all her belongings.
She glanced out the window, which barely fit the shape of her head. She could make out the hut next to her that belonged to her father's friends. She saw Montparnasse and Babet through their window unpacking as well. Montparnasse caught her looking and gave her a smile. She returned it. He made a motion with his held towards the woods behind the houses. She followed the direction to where he had indicated and nodded to him. He disappeared from sight, and she retreated from her room as well.
She made her way to the front door, when her mother came out and saw her.
"Well, where is you off to?"
"Just for a walk."
"A walk? We just only arrived!"
"I thought I'd go see if there was a lake or somewhere where we could set up traps."
"That's what your father is for, not for a young thing such as yourself."
"Mama, what am I to do here, in Paris?"
"Enjoy it, that's what."
"But, I thought I was to start schooling."
"It's too late for you to start schooling now, 'Ponine. You is to stay here, and I'll teach you all I know abouts cooking and cleaning."
"And scamming," muttered Eponine under her breath.
"Asides, look at me. I never had a day of schooling in me life. And look at me today. I gots a beautiful daughter, a charming husband, and a home in Paris. Now if that ain't the good life, you tell me what is."
Eponine choose not to fight with her mother because she knew that Montparnasse was already waiting for her.
"Mama, please let me take a walk. I'll be back before you realize I'm gone."
"I can't hang onto you for one second, can I? Go. But be home soon!"
But Eponine had barely heard her mother's last words, because she had run out the door at the word "go".
**************************************************************************
Montparnasse waited impatiently by the stream for Eponine. She was suppose to meet him immediately. He stopped his thoughts. He wasn't being fair. He could go as he pleased whenever he wanted and didn't need a reason for. The Thenardiers, despite the people that they were, truly cared about Eponine because she was their daughter. From their appearance, they may not have seemed that way, but from all his years of knowing them, he knew they wouldn't let her take a half a step out the door without an explanation.
Still, he had known Eponine all these years, as well. He knew her cleverness and wit could get her anything she wanted. That was one of the things that had attracted her to him. When he had first met the family, Eponine was just a toddler, barely able to talk. Yet, as she began to grow and mature into a girl and then a woman, he realized his feelings for her were beyond his control. He had never expected that she would return the feelings, yet that is what had exactly happened.
He did feel guilty not telling his friends about his feelings, but he knew he never could. Thenardier would never approve. Montparnasse could not even begin to imagine how that conversation would go.
"So, you old drunk. What you need to tell me about all, secret like?"
"Well, I gots to tell you something important."
"Whats that?"
"Eponine and I, well, we is kind of in love."
"You and my baby girl? I'll kill you afore you ever gets near her again!"
That would be a charming little conversation, wouldn't it? His thoughts were broken when he heard Eponine calling his name.
"'Ponine! I'm down by the stream!"
"Here you are," said Eponine approaching him.
"Here I am," he said as he pulled her into his arms. "So, how exactly did you get out of the house?"
"I just said my lover was waiting and I couldn't keep him like that a moment longer."
"Come on now, 'Ponine. I know that you is more creative than that." He said sitting down against the back of a tree.
"You're right. I said I wanted to survey the area. Find the stream, mark a trail, something to that degree," she responded sitting next to him.
They sat in each other's arms for a while, until Montparnasse broke the silence.
"Paris was beautiful, wasn't it?"
"I never saw anything like that before. Living in the country all my life, I never thought that anyone could have the power to build things that grand."
"It is amazing." He paused and changed his tone. "'Ponine? What are we going to do? About us?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, we can't tell anyone."
"I know that."
"We have to sneak around like this to just hold one another."
"What are you saying? That it isn't worth it? That we should just stop here?"
"No, 'Ponine. I'm not saying we should give up. I'm just saying that if we'ze want this to work, it's going to take work. I'm not going to give up, because I do love you."
Eponine stared at him. "Are you truly saying that?"
"'Ponine. I wouldn't lie to you." He kissed her to prove his point. "Please say that you will try to make this happen."
"I swear to you that this will happen, 'Parnasse."
He kissed her again before he led her back through the woods. He stopped in a clearing where both houses were visible.
"You go first. I don't want you to been seen coming out of the woods with me."
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
"I'll miss you 'til then. 'Night 'Ponine." He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, 'Parnasse."
Eponine went the rest of the way back alone. She walked into the house, and her eyes popped. The main room had been magically transformed into a beautiful kitchen, dining room, and parlor all rolled into one. Her mother saw her walk in and smiled.
"Amazing what your father can do. The diamond ring took off that baroness bought all this and some for the other house. Not a bad day's work. So, what did you find out about that wood down there?"
"Oh, I found that it was a very interesting place."
"A good stream there?"
"Oh, yes. A gorgeous little stream. Ideal for fishing."
"Well, they'll be no fish tonight. Come here and see what your father brought home."
Eponine walked towards the fireplace and saw a fat, juicy pig roasting upon the delicate flames.
"Where did he get this?"
"Market. Beauty, ain't it?"
"I haven't had pig in so long."
"Well, we is going to have pig a lots more often."
"Where is Papa?"
"Oh, next door, helping those brutes settle in."
"They aren't brutes, Mama!" Eponine didn't catch herself until after the words had sunk in.
"No, of course they aren't. I didn't realize that they had instituted a party to speak on their behalf."
"I'm just upset that you haven't gotten to know them all these years. You just give them passing glances."
"And I'm upset," interrupted Madame, "That you may have gotten to know them too well. Men like that have no business with a girl like you. You keep away from them. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Mama."
Madame went back to her cooking, unaware that as Eponine had spoken those last two words, she had crossed her fingers behind her back.
**************************************************************************
Hey everyone. I've been getting a few reviews referring to the historical background of the book and about missing characters. I'd like to clear up a few of them.
happy hobo & Mareile - I am aware that Eponine is not Thenardier's only daughter and that she had three brothers. However, I choose to leave them out because when you add characters just for historical background and not actually have them do anything in the story, it tends to complicate the plot. I felt that it would be better down the line if I left out the other Thenardier children.
Mareile - I don't want to yell at you. As I think I already said, this is a story created from my own point of view. Everyone is entitled to their opinions because everyone sees things in different ways. This just happens to be my take on a "what if".
K. Telfer -I appreciate you telling me about the "French, not cockney" thing. I do not pride myself in being the world's greatest writer and so your comment is very much accepted.
Morauko & MusicalTwinSiStar1 - Thank you for your reviews! I promise I will get chapters out as soon as they are written and edited.
happy hobo - Your last review was a little vague to me. What is inaccurate? If it's something about what was in the book or in the musical, I believe I've made my platform on that.
Also: I did a ton of research on Paris to be accurate on the time period and setting of Paris. For example, the Eiffel Tower wasn't built until 1889. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, I just thought that you would like to know that I don't sit down, type, then post. KEEP REVIEWING PLEASE!!!!
As the cart rolled into Paris, everyone stared in awe at the sights before them. They passed Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, absorbing the sights and smells that was Paris. Thenardier even slowed down the horses, as he, too, took in the beauty that was the heart of France.
"It's like a dream," breathed Eponine.
"But it ain't." Montparnasse grasped her hand as they exchanged a quick smile before returning to their gapes.
As they made their way to the outskirts of Paris, they came upon a long row of small houses. They saw an elderly man sitting on the porch of the first house reading the daily paper. Thenardier told them to wait where they were. He was going to see if the man, who appeared to be the landlord, had any houses for rent. He hopped down and exchanged some words with the man, who had put his paper down, but not moved from where he was sitting. Thenardier was making gestures with his hands and after a minute, the man stood up and pointed down to the middle of the row. Thenardier bowed quickly and came back to the cart.
He started on towards to where the man had pointed when he suddenly stopped between two houses. He leapt down from the driver's seat and began helping his wife down. The men in the back did likewise, grabbing their bags and trunks. Montparnasse offered Eponine a hand, and she accepted it. After Madame was well situated with the ground, Thenardier came around the back of the cart to collect his trunk.
"Right, you'ze four. This 'ouse 'ere is to be yours. Start unpackin'." He pointed to the house on his left as he went into the other house on his right.
Eponine followed her parents into the house that was to be theirs. She looked around as she set down her trunk. She saw a three-roomed, dirt floored shack.
"Well, 'Ponine. 'Ere it is. 'Ome." He must have seen her disappointed looks, because he added, "I know it ain't what we is used to, but we'ze gots to start out small. Now, you take that corner room on the left. We'll take the one on the right."
Eponine picked up her trunk and made her way to the hole in the wall that she was about to call her own. She squeezed herself in, and spotted a tiny bed that she could just fit into, and a chest of drawers, obviously used before, that, luckily, held all her belongings.
She glanced out the window, which barely fit the shape of her head. She could make out the hut next to her that belonged to her father's friends. She saw Montparnasse and Babet through their window unpacking as well. Montparnasse caught her looking and gave her a smile. She returned it. He made a motion with his held towards the woods behind the houses. She followed the direction to where he had indicated and nodded to him. He disappeared from sight, and she retreated from her room as well.
She made her way to the front door, when her mother came out and saw her.
"Well, where is you off to?"
"Just for a walk."
"A walk? We just only arrived!"
"I thought I'd go see if there was a lake or somewhere where we could set up traps."
"That's what your father is for, not for a young thing such as yourself."
"Mama, what am I to do here, in Paris?"
"Enjoy it, that's what."
"But, I thought I was to start schooling."
"It's too late for you to start schooling now, 'Ponine. You is to stay here, and I'll teach you all I know abouts cooking and cleaning."
"And scamming," muttered Eponine under her breath.
"Asides, look at me. I never had a day of schooling in me life. And look at me today. I gots a beautiful daughter, a charming husband, and a home in Paris. Now if that ain't the good life, you tell me what is."
Eponine choose not to fight with her mother because she knew that Montparnasse was already waiting for her.
"Mama, please let me take a walk. I'll be back before you realize I'm gone."
"I can't hang onto you for one second, can I? Go. But be home soon!"
But Eponine had barely heard her mother's last words, because she had run out the door at the word "go".
**************************************************************************
Montparnasse waited impatiently by the stream for Eponine. She was suppose to meet him immediately. He stopped his thoughts. He wasn't being fair. He could go as he pleased whenever he wanted and didn't need a reason for. The Thenardiers, despite the people that they were, truly cared about Eponine because she was their daughter. From their appearance, they may not have seemed that way, but from all his years of knowing them, he knew they wouldn't let her take a half a step out the door without an explanation.
Still, he had known Eponine all these years, as well. He knew her cleverness and wit could get her anything she wanted. That was one of the things that had attracted her to him. When he had first met the family, Eponine was just a toddler, barely able to talk. Yet, as she began to grow and mature into a girl and then a woman, he realized his feelings for her were beyond his control. He had never expected that she would return the feelings, yet that is what had exactly happened.
He did feel guilty not telling his friends about his feelings, but he knew he never could. Thenardier would never approve. Montparnasse could not even begin to imagine how that conversation would go.
"So, you old drunk. What you need to tell me about all, secret like?"
"Well, I gots to tell you something important."
"Whats that?"
"Eponine and I, well, we is kind of in love."
"You and my baby girl? I'll kill you afore you ever gets near her again!"
That would be a charming little conversation, wouldn't it? His thoughts were broken when he heard Eponine calling his name.
"'Ponine! I'm down by the stream!"
"Here you are," said Eponine approaching him.
"Here I am," he said as he pulled her into his arms. "So, how exactly did you get out of the house?"
"I just said my lover was waiting and I couldn't keep him like that a moment longer."
"Come on now, 'Ponine. I know that you is more creative than that." He said sitting down against the back of a tree.
"You're right. I said I wanted to survey the area. Find the stream, mark a trail, something to that degree," she responded sitting next to him.
They sat in each other's arms for a while, until Montparnasse broke the silence.
"Paris was beautiful, wasn't it?"
"I never saw anything like that before. Living in the country all my life, I never thought that anyone could have the power to build things that grand."
"It is amazing." He paused and changed his tone. "'Ponine? What are we going to do? About us?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, we can't tell anyone."
"I know that."
"We have to sneak around like this to just hold one another."
"What are you saying? That it isn't worth it? That we should just stop here?"
"No, 'Ponine. I'm not saying we should give up. I'm just saying that if we'ze want this to work, it's going to take work. I'm not going to give up, because I do love you."
Eponine stared at him. "Are you truly saying that?"
"'Ponine. I wouldn't lie to you." He kissed her to prove his point. "Please say that you will try to make this happen."
"I swear to you that this will happen, 'Parnasse."
He kissed her again before he led her back through the woods. He stopped in a clearing where both houses were visible.
"You go first. I don't want you to been seen coming out of the woods with me."
"Okay. I'll see you soon."
"I'll miss you 'til then. 'Night 'Ponine." He kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight, 'Parnasse."
Eponine went the rest of the way back alone. She walked into the house, and her eyes popped. The main room had been magically transformed into a beautiful kitchen, dining room, and parlor all rolled into one. Her mother saw her walk in and smiled.
"Amazing what your father can do. The diamond ring took off that baroness bought all this and some for the other house. Not a bad day's work. So, what did you find out about that wood down there?"
"Oh, I found that it was a very interesting place."
"A good stream there?"
"Oh, yes. A gorgeous little stream. Ideal for fishing."
"Well, they'll be no fish tonight. Come here and see what your father brought home."
Eponine walked towards the fireplace and saw a fat, juicy pig roasting upon the delicate flames.
"Where did he get this?"
"Market. Beauty, ain't it?"
"I haven't had pig in so long."
"Well, we is going to have pig a lots more often."
"Where is Papa?"
"Oh, next door, helping those brutes settle in."
"They aren't brutes, Mama!" Eponine didn't catch herself until after the words had sunk in.
"No, of course they aren't. I didn't realize that they had instituted a party to speak on their behalf."
"I'm just upset that you haven't gotten to know them all these years. You just give them passing glances."
"And I'm upset," interrupted Madame, "That you may have gotten to know them too well. Men like that have no business with a girl like you. You keep away from them. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes Mama."
Madame went back to her cooking, unaware that as Eponine had spoken those last two words, she had crossed her fingers behind her back.
**************************************************************************
Hey everyone. I've been getting a few reviews referring to the historical background of the book and about missing characters. I'd like to clear up a few of them.
happy hobo & Mareile - I am aware that Eponine is not Thenardier's only daughter and that she had three brothers. However, I choose to leave them out because when you add characters just for historical background and not actually have them do anything in the story, it tends to complicate the plot. I felt that it would be better down the line if I left out the other Thenardier children.
Mareile - I don't want to yell at you. As I think I already said, this is a story created from my own point of view. Everyone is entitled to their opinions because everyone sees things in different ways. This just happens to be my take on a "what if".
K. Telfer -I appreciate you telling me about the "French, not cockney" thing. I do not pride myself in being the world's greatest writer and so your comment is very much accepted.
Morauko & MusicalTwinSiStar1 - Thank you for your reviews! I promise I will get chapters out as soon as they are written and edited.
happy hobo - Your last review was a little vague to me. What is inaccurate? If it's something about what was in the book or in the musical, I believe I've made my platform on that.
Also: I did a ton of research on Paris to be accurate on the time period and setting of Paris. For example, the Eiffel Tower wasn't built until 1889. I'm not trying to pat myself on the back, I just thought that you would like to know that I don't sit down, type, then post. KEEP REVIEWING PLEASE!!!!