Révolution du Cœur – Awakening

Enjolras slowly emerged from the fog that clouded his brain. He came to the logical conclusion that he was indeed in heaven, much to his surprise and relief. The cloud supporting him was extremely soft and comfortable, plus the area was very, very bright. He decided to sit up and get a better view.

Then a searing pain shot through his abdomen.

Heaven was not supposed to be this painful if he remembered correctly.

"Oh!" A soft gasp to his left finally cleared his brain. He was in a rather well appointed bedroom and lying on a brocade decorated bed. He fought down the urge to flinch at the display of wealth.

There was movement on his left and his eyes swung to meet those of his companion.

He nearly choked and tried to sit up, inciting even more pain to his abdomen.

"You? How?" He stuttered.

"Calm yourself monsieur. Don't put strain on your injuries!" The young woman scolded him fiercely.

Taking a deep breath as she quickly propped him up, he took the chance to study her.

She had looked exactly like Melodie when he first saw her. The same pale skin, golden hair and eyes, and shell like ears.

He could see the differences now that she was up close. Her body was plumper than Melodie's and there was a small beauty mark at the corner of her right eye. She also didn't radiate the same heat that Melodie did.

"Forgive my rudeness, but who are you and where am I?" He questioned.

The woman stepped back and gave him a wobbly smile.

"So I was right, she hasn't told you anything. No apologies necessary monsieur since that is the case. My name is Arielle de Charmant. You are in mine and my husband's home, where my sister brought you after you had sustained some serious injuries."

Enjolras froze at her last utterance.

"Your sister?" He whispered. Madame Arielle's face stiffened before she nodded.

"Yes. Melodie is my twin sister."

Enjolras felt the world tilt. He knew Melodie had kept secrets, but he had never suspected one such as this! He felt the dire need to rail at and question her erupt like a cannon in his chest.

Sudden shouts in the hall made him hopeful he was about to get his wish.

Though muffled slightly by the wall, he distinctly heard Melodie's familiar vocals.

"Devil take you man, I'm fine! I need to check on him and you sure as hell aren't going to stop me!"

More banging of doors and then a new voice reached his ears.

"Young lady, I am a doctor and you are my patient! You must stay in bed till that injury heals!"

"No!"

Madame Arielle sighed softly beside him.

"I will see him and should you keep trying to stop me, I shall carry through on my previous threat, Monsieur Médecin!"

This seemed to have stopped the man's speech and not a second later the door to his room burst open.

There stood Melodie, wearing a very lovely dressing gown, her gold curls tumbling about her shoulders, and her gold eyes flashing.

Even in the midst of his anger, she took his breath away.

"Enjolras!" She seemed to have spotted that he was awake, because in the next instant she was kneeling beside his bed and grasping his hand.

Before he could even utter her name, her head had bowed and her tears were dripping on his hand. He faintly heard her murmurs.

Prayers of thanksgiving he realized. Still slightly shocked about everything he let her have a moment before rousting her.

"Melodie, please." He jiggled her hand slightly and she looked up at him. He had to catch his breath again seeing that burning emotion in her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" Her voice was slightly ragged from the contained emotion. Her question brought back his temper and he glared at her.

"In pain and more confused than Alexander the Great after he was told he couldn't have the world. What the hell happened Melodie? I'm pretty damn sure I died." He growled. She sat back on her heels to glare at him. He stamped down the feeling of loss as she released his hand.

"Are you telling me you would rather be dead?" Her voice held barely contained fury. He felt a little of his anger dissipate.

"No, I don't wish to be dead. But seeing as I just met your twin sister, I am angry and confused."

Melodie grimaced slightly and glanced to the woman on his other side.

"Well … about that …"

"Melodie. What happened?" He bit out. Melodie remained silent, staring over his head and refusing to meet his eyes.

Her sister answered instead though.

"She showed up here three days ago dragging your unconscious body with her. She startled our poor butler! He came in the foyer and saw her kneeling beside you, you both bleeding everywhere and ran for me. I summoned the doctor and settled you as comfortably as possible. The doctor showed up and then things became … tense."

Arielle darted a glance at her sister and Enjolras did the same. Melodie was still staring at the wall but a muscle ticked in her cheek. Enjolras concluded she was biting back her words. He looked at Arielle and motioned for her to continue. The young woman sighed.

"The doctor arrived and assessed the situation immediately. He promptly decided you were a lost cause due to the blood loss and then tried to treat Melodie, but she … well she pulled a pistol out and told the man to save you first or she would shoot him. Needless to say Monsieur Roncier treated you immediately and was actually able to save your life. Thankfully you remained unconscious through his ministrations and have been so for the past three days. He then treated Melodie's wound and has been checking on you both every day since. You're both very lucky to be alive to be honest …" Her voice trailed away.

"Enjolras yes, but don't exaggerate my injury sœur. Twas only a graze." Melodie finally spoke as she rolled her eyes at her sister, who in turn sputtered in indignation.

"A graze? A GRAZE? You were white as a sheet and barely able to stand, you had lost so much blood!" Arielle's shout was hysterical and tears were gathering in her eyes. That didn't stop Enjolras from shouting his own piece though.

"Melodie!" He bellowed. Both women looked at him, Arielle in fear. Melodie of course simply glared at him. Even after nearly dying, she obviously had no sense of fear when it came to his anger.

Arielle backed away from the bed as the two of them shot daggers at each other. The angry silence between them seemed to stretch on indefinitely.

"Why?" Enjolras finally ground out.

"Why what?" Melodie shot back.

"Why did you save me? Why did you risk your life to save me? After I told you I couldn't bear to see you hurt!" He was shouting himself hoarse. He finally calmed enough to properly look at the kneeling girl beside him.

Melodie's head was bowed again and she was clasping her hands in her lap. She said nothing but instead rose up and started to walk out the room.

"Damn it Melodie, answer me!" He yelled at her as she reached the door. She stopped and slowly turned to stare at him. Enjolras felt a weight settle on his chest.

Melodie's gold eyes had the burning emotion again, but it was dimmed by large amounts of despair and anger.

"If you haven't figured it out by now Enjolras, I fear my telling you won't do us any good." She stated softly. With that, she swept from the room, leaving Enjolras even more confused than when he woke up.

Melodie was blinded by tears as she stumbled into her room.

After everything, he still didn't understand. He still didn't know!

How could he not know?

Her heart beat painfully in her chest and her breathing became labored. This incited more pain in the area around her rib cage. Her stitches were straining, so she tried to calm herself.

She sat on the edge of the bed and put a fist in her mouth to quiet the threatening sobs. Images of the journey here flashed in her mind and made her head ache.

So many prayers had been left unanswered since the fall of the barricade. Her friends were dead, the only home she had known for the better part of a year was surely in shambles, and she had brought the evils of the world into her gentle, innocent sister's home.

Yet she and Enjolras were alive.

But he still didn't understand her and he most certainly didn't reciprocate her feelings.

God had an ironic sense of humor at times.

"Melodie?" Her sister's voice and soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Entrer." She replied softly.

Arielle slipped into the room and sat beside her. Her warm arm snaked out and Melodie felt only relief as she rested her head on her sister's shoulder. It had been nearly a year and a half since they had had any contact, yet they still knew how to comfort the other as if they had been living together forever.

Melodie wasn't sure how long they sat there in silence. Her room had no windows or clock to tell the time by. Her sister's melodious voice eventually broke the silence.

"You love him." She stated simply.

"More than my own life." Melodie replied, conviction making her tone slightly rough.

"He obviously doesn't know that though." Her sister said. Melodie chuckled humorlessly.

"What makes you say that?" It was Arielle's turn to laugh.

They sat quietly a few minutes more before Arielle pressed the issue.

"Have you tried telling him how you feel?" She prompted.

"No. I'm not entirely certain Enjolras knows what love truly is …" Melodie's voice was laced with pain.

"I think he might. He was willing to die for the cause he loved and he was very angry at the thought of something happening to you. Perhaps he just doesn't know how to truly express love." Arielle considered thoughtfully. Melodie snorted at her.

"And this helps me how? We've lost everything Arielle. Our friends, our livelihoods, our cause, and when your husband returns, more than likely our lives. Love is going to be the last thing on his mind when he learns about everything." She whispered bitterly.

Arielle let her sit quietly for a while, simply stroking her hair. So much had happened since she had last seen her twin and it was obvious that the pain of the last three days had only added to years of previous hurt. Her sister deserved more than this cycle of loss and death, but she couldn't give her the life she wanted out of thin air.

But she would help her to rebuild the life she had obviously had.

"There is nothing that can be done for your friends, as much as it pains me to say it and unfortunately you're right, the king has declared the rebels to be criminals so no one is likely to hire you, at least here in Paris."

Melodie clenched her hands into fists and bit her lip to keep from shouting her despair.

"But you are both alive and on the mend. While you live, your cause lives. I know he'll realize this soon enough. As for the last, I will speak to Fabien. I have only just gotten you back. I will not let anyone or anything separate us now." There was such a fire in her sister's eyes that Melodie didn't even think to argue.

"Now, all that being said and done, he needs you and you need him. You're going to have to teach him love or your personal cause will be truly lost. He seems to be smart for one of the male gender, so it shouldn't be too difficult, especially for someone with your passion and looks."

Arielle winked at her sister while Melodie sputtered at her boldness. She had thought that married life would have tamed her sister's deviousness.

Apparently not.

"Now, I will fetch you something to eat and you both will rest. When you're ready, go and talk to him. I know you can get through to him sister mine." Arielle swished out of the chamber, leaving Melodie shaking her head.

Her sister obviously had no idea just how stubborn and blind Enjolras could be …