Chapter 13
Over the days that followed, Marius and Eponine made the journey to Cosette's garden. Eponine had designated herself chaperone and lookout while Marius spent his hour with Cosette. Marius and Cosette had never been discovered, but Cosette's father had come home earlier than expected a few times, forcing Marius to hide in bushes or climb up trees.
Eponine, on the other hand, hadn't been around her father or the other men in quite some time. She occasionally ran into Montparnasse and passed an afternoon in his company. She didn't want to be much of anywhere these days, when she thought about it. Everywhere she went made her heart ache. When she was with Marius, she couldn't bear to even look in his eyes; when she was with Montparnasse, she couldn't tell him anything about herself; and when with her father and the gang, she felt as if she had let them all down by betraying their trust over the years.
The rebels were making their final arrangements as the barricade started to rise. Eponine found Enjolras late one afternoon in the cafe. She had made a promise to Cosette, a promise she knew she wouldn't be able to handle alone.
"Enjolras, we need to talk."
"Hello, Eponine. What can I help you with today?"
"Marius. Obviously, you've noticed him disappearing every day."
"Naturally. And always at the most inconvenient times."
"I've been with him. He's been going to visit a girl."
"A girl? He hasn't."
"He has. Her name's Cosette. She lives at Rue Plumet."
Enjolras closed his eyes and shook his head. "You put yourself though this, and for what? A headache when the day is over?"
Eponine looked startled. "What do you mean?"
"It's easy to see that you love Marius. No one else would do for him what you do. Why do you stand guard to his intimacy when you only long for it yourself?"
"It will never be. I'm engaged and with child. He is happy and in love with someone else. I do what I do as a friend."
"Is this what you have come to say?"
"No. The girl has talked to me. She fears for Marius' life during the fight to come. She doesn't want him to fight."
"He has told me he will. I cannot sway him from that. However, I will keep him safe. For her and for you. But you shall not be anywhere near the barricade."
"Yes I will. I can do anything you can do!" A thought suddenly popped in her head. "Let me take Marius' place!"
"Eponine, you're being selfish! You're pregnant, yet you are willing to put your life on the line? You may not love the man who helped create that child, but he loves you! I'm sure!" He stopped and looked into Eponine's big eyes. "I admire your patriotism, but it is not required. Not by you, not now. Eponine, just listen to me. Stay away from the barricade. As far away as you can get, stay there."
"I will, if you promise me that you will watch out for Marius during the siege."
"I can promise you that. Now, go. There is work to be done."
Eponine picked herself up and was greeted by warm sunlight the instant she emerged from the cafe.
"Eponine! I've been looking everywhere for you!" gasped Marius running up to her. "Cosette's father has business tonight and will be locked up in his study. Can you make it? Please say you can."
Eponine thought of what Enjolras had said to her, but she decided that she already had one foot in the matter and there was no way of removing it now.
"Of course I can."
"Meet me here at 8 o'clock. Oh, thank you, Eponine!"
'Good old Eponine,' she laughed to herself. 'I'm always reliable. Always a shoulder to lean on. I know my way around.'
**************************************************************************
Montparnasse squinted in the moonlight. He was keeping his eyes peeled, looking for the double five upon one of the houses. He saw a figure pushed up against a wall and strained his eyes further to make out anything at all.
"Who's there?" he asked.
"'Parnasse? Is that you?"
"'Ponine?"
He neared her and she stood. He pulled her into a hug, but she pulled back.
"What are you doing way out here?"
He pointed to the house behind them as he spoke. "Your father's got a new plan. This house, we're going to get it. Rich man lives in there."
"What!?"
"Remember he's the one that ran away a couple of days ago. The one with the number on his chest." He greedily rubbed his hands together. "Rumored that he has a huge fortune."
'Of all times to commit robbery, Papa has to do it when Marius is inside! He'll think I set him up for this! I've got to warn him to get out!'
"Your father don't need you tonight. Says it's a 'man's job'. You better go before he shows up."
"When's he coming?"
"He's right down the street."
"Go get him then."
"Eponine. Disappear."
"I'm gone," she lied as he walked away.
She went to the gate and looked for Marius and Cosette. They were no where in sight, and Eponine didn't have much time. She spun as she heard voices approaching.
"This'll settle that debt. It'll cost 'im right."
"I don't care who you rob," commented Brujon. "So long as I get me fair share."
They arrived at the gate and Thenardier shook the bars.
"Shut it. Give me a hand up." He spotted something moving in the shadows. "Who's that there? What 'ussy is this?"
Babet ran off after the shadow and came back pulling Eponine into the light. "Don't you know your own kid, Thenardier? What are you doing here, Eponine?"
"Eponine! Get out of 'ere!" ordered her father. "We've enough for tonight without you."
"There's nothing in there! Just a dried up old fool and the girl! Leave her for someplace more profitable!"
"Going soft, she is," Brujon whispered to Claquesous.
"Happens to us all once in a while," he responded.
"Get out of here, Eponine," said Montparnasse pushing her down the block. "You're in the way here!"
Eponine spun around and slapped him clear across the face. "That does it," she hissed to him. "I'm going to scream to warn them you're coming!" Eponine informed her father, who had made no progress in getting over the wall. He walked over to her and grabbed her wrist hard.
"You scream now, you'll scream later." He released her hand and returned to his work.
Babet laughed. "Pick a fight, they will! A cat and her father going at it! I'd pay decent money to see that!"
"'Ponine, don't make a sound," Montparnasse said coming up behind her. She kicked him in the shin.
"I told you I'd do it." She let out a cry that pierced the silence and serenity of the moonlit Paris night. It was long, loud, and bloodcurdling. Instantly, Babet, Brujon, and Claquesous spread as cockroaches when the light is turned on. Montparnasse and Thenardier both ran to Eponine, but Thenardier got there first. He tightly put his hand over her mouth and his other across her stomach. Montparnasse tried to free her, but Thenardier didn't budge.
"Don't stay here! Leave her to me!" Montparnasse saw Eponine's frightened eyes, but turned and ran away. Thenardier began to drag his daughter out of the moonlight and down the street.
"I'll do as I promised," he threatened. "You ruined my night, and I can ruin yours."
"Eponine!"
Eponine bit her father's hand and ran as fast as she could to get away from him.
"Good riddance! I never want ter see your stinking 'ide again! Don't let me see you a second more!"
Eponine ran to the gate and saw Marius and Cosette gripping it. Cosette wore a look of half shock and half bewilderment.
"They were going to rob your house."
"Who?"
"A gang. Thenardier and his..."
"Thenardier?" Cosette stared hard at Eponine. "It's you," she whispered.
"No," Eponine breathed in response.
"Cosette! What's going on?"
"My father!" But Marius was already halfway up and over the wall. He grabbed Eponine once he had landed and hid both of them from sight.
"Cosette! What happened? I heard a scream!"
"It was mine, Papa. There were men trying to break in, so I did as my instincts told me, and I screamed. They ran away after that."
"Oh, Cosette," Valjean wrapped his arms around his daughter.
'They've finally found me! Cosette needs protection!' he thought to himself.
"Daughter, we must leave tomorrow. We will sail to Calais."
"But, Papa."
"Cosette, it is late and it will be my way. Now inside."
Eponine looked from her feet to Marius. All she heard him whisper was, "Why?"
**************************************************************************
"I can't leave you," sobbed Cosette, stretching her hand through the gate.
"You will never leave my mind," Marius said taking her hand.
"We may never see one another again."
"That's a lie! Don't you dare believe it! I was born to be with you, and you were born for me."
"I swear that I won't even think of anything but you. I will be faithful."
Her arms ached to hold him and her lips longed for his gentle kiss, yet he had not made his way over the wall this morning.
"You mustn't fight at the barricade."
"I will. I must."
"You could die!"
"I won't." He kissed her hand, which made her cry harder.
"Marius! Don't leave me alone!" As she sobbed, she revealed a small, white handkerchief and handed it to him through the gate. "Take it to the barricade. Fight for me."
"With all my heart. I love you, Cosette."
"And I love you, Marius."
He kissed her hand once more before running away towards the cafe.
Cosette heard sobs that were louder than her own. She saw Eponine with her legs draw up to her face, hiding it from sight.
"Eponine, what's wrong?"
"My life is all wrong." She suddenly laughed. "My life was suppose to be exactly like yours is now. But, it isn't."
"I knew it was you the first time I saw you. You're Eponine Thenardier."
"Yes, that's me."
"Oh, Eponine! What has your father done to you? I haven't yet forgotten the torture I myself was put through."
"To make a long story short, he had amounted debts and we were thrown out of our home. Then he and his friends, I'm sure you remember them, decided to start robbing people for their own benefit."
"What about you?"
"I fell in love years ago, just like Marius and you are. But things change, and people make bad decisions. Cosette, I would kill myself, were it not that I was carrying another life with me."
Cosette looked at Eponine until it clicked in her mind. "No, no! You aren't! Eponine, you need to see a doctor!"
"And pay him with what?"
"'Ponine?"
"Get back, Cosette."
Cosette backed away from sight, but within earshot.
"What do you want?"
"Last night, my arrogance..."
"I noticed."
"Eponine! You know I'm not like that! I love you!"
"You did...once," sighed Eponine. She took off the ring and threw it in his face. "My father never wants to see me again, and I never want to see you again."
"Eponine! You can't do this!"
"Can't I?"
"You're carrying our child! You won't leave me!"
Eponine stopped walking, but didn't turn around. "Who told you about that?"
"One of your student friends. Said he'd been trying to find me for a while now."
"'Parnasse, I don't care about anything anymore! Especially not you! Leave me alone and take to your first and, now, only passion."
She heard him leave as Cosette returned.
"I have a promise to keep to you, Cosette, and I shall do it."
"Go to the barricade? No! I forbid you to go!"
"A promise is a promise. Please try not to worry so."
"I shall pray for you both every night."
"Goodbye, Cosette."
"Adieu, Eponine."
'A promise is a promise,' thought Eponine. 'But Enjolras broke his promise to me. Therefore, I see no reason to hold up my end of the deal.'
She went back through the street and kicked open a door to a random house. She emerged minutes later wearing men's clothing: pants, a shirt, boots, an overcoat, and a cap. She tucked her hair beneath her hat, and made her way towards the barricade.
**************************************************************************
Hello! Answering some reviews:
Morauko - Eponine was in love with Montparnasse until she met Marius and found out that there were much nicer *and cuter* guys out there. She didn't realize how mean Montparnasse was being until she met the students. (Grantaire doesn't count lol) I must be a mind reader because up there is Cosette and Eponine's "talk". I swear, I wrote this chapter last night and I checked my reviews this morning. Pyshic!
happy hobo - I must be reading your mind too, because I seriously did do this chapter last night and only checked my reviews this morning! This'll be the last of Thenardier for a while, but both him and Eponine got a little back into character this chapter and she will for the rest of the story. I'm flattered and thank you :D
KEEP REVIEWING PLEASE!! I NEED INPUT! THANKS :D
Over the days that followed, Marius and Eponine made the journey to Cosette's garden. Eponine had designated herself chaperone and lookout while Marius spent his hour with Cosette. Marius and Cosette had never been discovered, but Cosette's father had come home earlier than expected a few times, forcing Marius to hide in bushes or climb up trees.
Eponine, on the other hand, hadn't been around her father or the other men in quite some time. She occasionally ran into Montparnasse and passed an afternoon in his company. She didn't want to be much of anywhere these days, when she thought about it. Everywhere she went made her heart ache. When she was with Marius, she couldn't bear to even look in his eyes; when she was with Montparnasse, she couldn't tell him anything about herself; and when with her father and the gang, she felt as if she had let them all down by betraying their trust over the years.
The rebels were making their final arrangements as the barricade started to rise. Eponine found Enjolras late one afternoon in the cafe. She had made a promise to Cosette, a promise she knew she wouldn't be able to handle alone.
"Enjolras, we need to talk."
"Hello, Eponine. What can I help you with today?"
"Marius. Obviously, you've noticed him disappearing every day."
"Naturally. And always at the most inconvenient times."
"I've been with him. He's been going to visit a girl."
"A girl? He hasn't."
"He has. Her name's Cosette. She lives at Rue Plumet."
Enjolras closed his eyes and shook his head. "You put yourself though this, and for what? A headache when the day is over?"
Eponine looked startled. "What do you mean?"
"It's easy to see that you love Marius. No one else would do for him what you do. Why do you stand guard to his intimacy when you only long for it yourself?"
"It will never be. I'm engaged and with child. He is happy and in love with someone else. I do what I do as a friend."
"Is this what you have come to say?"
"No. The girl has talked to me. She fears for Marius' life during the fight to come. She doesn't want him to fight."
"He has told me he will. I cannot sway him from that. However, I will keep him safe. For her and for you. But you shall not be anywhere near the barricade."
"Yes I will. I can do anything you can do!" A thought suddenly popped in her head. "Let me take Marius' place!"
"Eponine, you're being selfish! You're pregnant, yet you are willing to put your life on the line? You may not love the man who helped create that child, but he loves you! I'm sure!" He stopped and looked into Eponine's big eyes. "I admire your patriotism, but it is not required. Not by you, not now. Eponine, just listen to me. Stay away from the barricade. As far away as you can get, stay there."
"I will, if you promise me that you will watch out for Marius during the siege."
"I can promise you that. Now, go. There is work to be done."
Eponine picked herself up and was greeted by warm sunlight the instant she emerged from the cafe.
"Eponine! I've been looking everywhere for you!" gasped Marius running up to her. "Cosette's father has business tonight and will be locked up in his study. Can you make it? Please say you can."
Eponine thought of what Enjolras had said to her, but she decided that she already had one foot in the matter and there was no way of removing it now.
"Of course I can."
"Meet me here at 8 o'clock. Oh, thank you, Eponine!"
'Good old Eponine,' she laughed to herself. 'I'm always reliable. Always a shoulder to lean on. I know my way around.'
**************************************************************************
Montparnasse squinted in the moonlight. He was keeping his eyes peeled, looking for the double five upon one of the houses. He saw a figure pushed up against a wall and strained his eyes further to make out anything at all.
"Who's there?" he asked.
"'Parnasse? Is that you?"
"'Ponine?"
He neared her and she stood. He pulled her into a hug, but she pulled back.
"What are you doing way out here?"
He pointed to the house behind them as he spoke. "Your father's got a new plan. This house, we're going to get it. Rich man lives in there."
"What!?"
"Remember he's the one that ran away a couple of days ago. The one with the number on his chest." He greedily rubbed his hands together. "Rumored that he has a huge fortune."
'Of all times to commit robbery, Papa has to do it when Marius is inside! He'll think I set him up for this! I've got to warn him to get out!'
"Your father don't need you tonight. Says it's a 'man's job'. You better go before he shows up."
"When's he coming?"
"He's right down the street."
"Go get him then."
"Eponine. Disappear."
"I'm gone," she lied as he walked away.
She went to the gate and looked for Marius and Cosette. They were no where in sight, and Eponine didn't have much time. She spun as she heard voices approaching.
"This'll settle that debt. It'll cost 'im right."
"I don't care who you rob," commented Brujon. "So long as I get me fair share."
They arrived at the gate and Thenardier shook the bars.
"Shut it. Give me a hand up." He spotted something moving in the shadows. "Who's that there? What 'ussy is this?"
Babet ran off after the shadow and came back pulling Eponine into the light. "Don't you know your own kid, Thenardier? What are you doing here, Eponine?"
"Eponine! Get out of 'ere!" ordered her father. "We've enough for tonight without you."
"There's nothing in there! Just a dried up old fool and the girl! Leave her for someplace more profitable!"
"Going soft, she is," Brujon whispered to Claquesous.
"Happens to us all once in a while," he responded.
"Get out of here, Eponine," said Montparnasse pushing her down the block. "You're in the way here!"
Eponine spun around and slapped him clear across the face. "That does it," she hissed to him. "I'm going to scream to warn them you're coming!" Eponine informed her father, who had made no progress in getting over the wall. He walked over to her and grabbed her wrist hard.
"You scream now, you'll scream later." He released her hand and returned to his work.
Babet laughed. "Pick a fight, they will! A cat and her father going at it! I'd pay decent money to see that!"
"'Ponine, don't make a sound," Montparnasse said coming up behind her. She kicked him in the shin.
"I told you I'd do it." She let out a cry that pierced the silence and serenity of the moonlit Paris night. It was long, loud, and bloodcurdling. Instantly, Babet, Brujon, and Claquesous spread as cockroaches when the light is turned on. Montparnasse and Thenardier both ran to Eponine, but Thenardier got there first. He tightly put his hand over her mouth and his other across her stomach. Montparnasse tried to free her, but Thenardier didn't budge.
"Don't stay here! Leave her to me!" Montparnasse saw Eponine's frightened eyes, but turned and ran away. Thenardier began to drag his daughter out of the moonlight and down the street.
"I'll do as I promised," he threatened. "You ruined my night, and I can ruin yours."
"Eponine!"
Eponine bit her father's hand and ran as fast as she could to get away from him.
"Good riddance! I never want ter see your stinking 'ide again! Don't let me see you a second more!"
Eponine ran to the gate and saw Marius and Cosette gripping it. Cosette wore a look of half shock and half bewilderment.
"They were going to rob your house."
"Who?"
"A gang. Thenardier and his..."
"Thenardier?" Cosette stared hard at Eponine. "It's you," she whispered.
"No," Eponine breathed in response.
"Cosette! What's going on?"
"My father!" But Marius was already halfway up and over the wall. He grabbed Eponine once he had landed and hid both of them from sight.
"Cosette! What happened? I heard a scream!"
"It was mine, Papa. There were men trying to break in, so I did as my instincts told me, and I screamed. They ran away after that."
"Oh, Cosette," Valjean wrapped his arms around his daughter.
'They've finally found me! Cosette needs protection!' he thought to himself.
"Daughter, we must leave tomorrow. We will sail to Calais."
"But, Papa."
"Cosette, it is late and it will be my way. Now inside."
Eponine looked from her feet to Marius. All she heard him whisper was, "Why?"
**************************************************************************
"I can't leave you," sobbed Cosette, stretching her hand through the gate.
"You will never leave my mind," Marius said taking her hand.
"We may never see one another again."
"That's a lie! Don't you dare believe it! I was born to be with you, and you were born for me."
"I swear that I won't even think of anything but you. I will be faithful."
Her arms ached to hold him and her lips longed for his gentle kiss, yet he had not made his way over the wall this morning.
"You mustn't fight at the barricade."
"I will. I must."
"You could die!"
"I won't." He kissed her hand, which made her cry harder.
"Marius! Don't leave me alone!" As she sobbed, she revealed a small, white handkerchief and handed it to him through the gate. "Take it to the barricade. Fight for me."
"With all my heart. I love you, Cosette."
"And I love you, Marius."
He kissed her hand once more before running away towards the cafe.
Cosette heard sobs that were louder than her own. She saw Eponine with her legs draw up to her face, hiding it from sight.
"Eponine, what's wrong?"
"My life is all wrong." She suddenly laughed. "My life was suppose to be exactly like yours is now. But, it isn't."
"I knew it was you the first time I saw you. You're Eponine Thenardier."
"Yes, that's me."
"Oh, Eponine! What has your father done to you? I haven't yet forgotten the torture I myself was put through."
"To make a long story short, he had amounted debts and we were thrown out of our home. Then he and his friends, I'm sure you remember them, decided to start robbing people for their own benefit."
"What about you?"
"I fell in love years ago, just like Marius and you are. But things change, and people make bad decisions. Cosette, I would kill myself, were it not that I was carrying another life with me."
Cosette looked at Eponine until it clicked in her mind. "No, no! You aren't! Eponine, you need to see a doctor!"
"And pay him with what?"
"'Ponine?"
"Get back, Cosette."
Cosette backed away from sight, but within earshot.
"What do you want?"
"Last night, my arrogance..."
"I noticed."
"Eponine! You know I'm not like that! I love you!"
"You did...once," sighed Eponine. She took off the ring and threw it in his face. "My father never wants to see me again, and I never want to see you again."
"Eponine! You can't do this!"
"Can't I?"
"You're carrying our child! You won't leave me!"
Eponine stopped walking, but didn't turn around. "Who told you about that?"
"One of your student friends. Said he'd been trying to find me for a while now."
"'Parnasse, I don't care about anything anymore! Especially not you! Leave me alone and take to your first and, now, only passion."
She heard him leave as Cosette returned.
"I have a promise to keep to you, Cosette, and I shall do it."
"Go to the barricade? No! I forbid you to go!"
"A promise is a promise. Please try not to worry so."
"I shall pray for you both every night."
"Goodbye, Cosette."
"Adieu, Eponine."
'A promise is a promise,' thought Eponine. 'But Enjolras broke his promise to me. Therefore, I see no reason to hold up my end of the deal.'
She went back through the street and kicked open a door to a random house. She emerged minutes later wearing men's clothing: pants, a shirt, boots, an overcoat, and a cap. She tucked her hair beneath her hat, and made her way towards the barricade.
**************************************************************************
Hello! Answering some reviews:
Morauko - Eponine was in love with Montparnasse until she met Marius and found out that there were much nicer *and cuter* guys out there. She didn't realize how mean Montparnasse was being until she met the students. (Grantaire doesn't count lol) I must be a mind reader because up there is Cosette and Eponine's "talk". I swear, I wrote this chapter last night and I checked my reviews this morning. Pyshic!
happy hobo - I must be reading your mind too, because I seriously did do this chapter last night and only checked my reviews this morning! This'll be the last of Thenardier for a while, but both him and Eponine got a little back into character this chapter and she will for the rest of the story. I'm flattered and thank you :D
KEEP REVIEWING PLEASE!! I NEED INPUT! THANKS :D