Chapter Fifteen: They Will See the People Rise
A/N: Okay, so don't expect four chapters a day ever, ever again.
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Morning dawned far too early in Grantaire's opinion. Enjolras stirred in his grasp and he only tightened his hold on the smaller man. If he didn't let go, perhaps they would never come for him.
Enjolras groaned in his sleep, shifting. His blue eyes fluttered open and he was suddenly struggling to get out of Grantaire's grasp. "Let go," he mumbled, not fully awake.
"Enjolras, don't. It's me. It's Grantaire. Please, don't struggle."
The revolutionary leader settled down against his friend, shivering. "It's cold."
"A bit. I think you've got a fever. Combeferre's probably throwing a fit with the conditions in these cells, huh? Infections like none other and all…."
"You and me both," Enjolras murmured. "How long?"
"I have no idea," Grantaire admitted. "I'm afraid they took my pocket watch when they threw us in here."
This brought a chuckle from the blond. "You always could make me laugh."
Grantaire grinned. "Three things I do well: Drink, make trouble, and make Enjolras laugh. I can die a fulfilled man now."
Enjolras opened his mouth to respond when the sound of the guard approaching reached their ears. A short, ugly man stood at the gate. "Well ain't this a cute sight," he growled out. "Up, both o' ya. You've a meeting with a blade today, Monsieur Enjolras."
Guards came in and hauled Enjolras up to his feet. He felt ill and he was sure that they'd been right about infection setting in. It had only been a matter of time. It wasn't like he'd taken the best care of his wounds up until that point. Grantaire was dragged right behind him, both up to the top level and out to the streets.
People lined the streets. The people… had they come to watch him die? His people that he had long since loved and fought for, they had finally come. Yes, they were late, but they were there. If they were behind this act, then who was he to stop them? If his people wanted him dead, he would gladly slip his head into the slot and allow it to role, as that was his place in life, given to him by God.
"Look, Grantaire."
The drunk had noticed. "They don't look happy."
"You think?" Enjolras asked, not sure if he was reading them the same way. They didn't look particularly unhappy to him, but his vision was blurring by this time. He stumbled and was hauled roughly up the scaffolding.
"No tripping, lest ya hurt yourself before ya die," the guard grunted.
Enjolras felt hands roughly push against his back, forcing him down. Grantaire was yelling, fighting wildly, but he found little strength to protest himself. He was so tired, and perhaps this would finally allow him the rest he needed.
"Will you let them murder the man that fought for you!" Grantaire screamed at the crowd. "Will you let them murder the one that raised the flag for you, stood on the barricades for you? You bunch of cowards!"
Murmurs rose from the crowd and the unhappy bunch of people was slowly turning into an unhappy mob that was becoming angrier by the moment. Shouts of "Save the Republic" and "If we don't stand for it, no one will!" rang through them and Nicolas Enjolras suddenly looked very uneasy from his perch next to the guillotine.
"I want it off now," the greying man growled.
"Enjolras!" Grantaire shouted. "Your people fight for you! Won't you join them?"
He heard it, he knew he did, but trying to regain control of his actions was like swimming upward against a downward current. It was nearly impossible and he was so very, very tired. "Grantaire," he rasped, body threatening to give up on him. A body could only take so much, something said in the back of his mind, but the next part was unexpected. But the soul…. The soul was what mattered and what could live.
Enjolras' eyes suddenly came to focus and he fought wildly against his captors. Hands tried to subdue him from all directions but he continued to struggle. The people had erupted into chaos all around him, using everything to fight. They were attacking the guards and the soldiers with anything they could get their hands on. They were rising up, and they were rising up for him.
Grantaire, who had broken free, was at Enjolras' side the instant he could be. "You alright?"
"I won't hold for long," the blond answered truthfully. "My energy's failing me."
"Then let's get out of here."
"No, I won't let them fight alone. We get my father, we have it won."
"This man here?" a voice rang out.
Enjolras and Grantaire looked over to see a middle aged man gruffly holding the fine collar of Nicolas Enjolras, who was struggling but not making it anywhere. His son approached him, eyes narrowed.
"Should you thank your citizen?" Nicolas growled.
"I would watch your tongue," Enjolras answered back.
It was not long before the mob overwhelmed the relatively small group of overly loyal soldiers that stood behind Nicolas Enjolras. Shouts of triumph resounded in Paris that day as Alexis Enjolras stepped gingerly up on the scaffolding so that he could be seen and heard. A few familiar faces peered back at him and he had a strange sense of déjà vu from all of those times that seemed so long ago where he stood above the crowd and cried out a passionate message of times to come. Now the time was here.
He stared for a moment, eyes locking on the crowd, his captive father, Les Amis who stood now unbound and proud below him, Bouvet who seemed to be grinning ear to ear, and everything that surrounded him. This was his fledgling Republic. He had had so many things he thought to say on this day, so many words already chosen, but the only thing that left his lips was a cry of "Vive la République!"
The shout echoed through the crowd and they cheered for their newfound freedom from oppression. They cheered and Enjolras thought that he might be dead and this might be heaven. He felt Grantaire steady him from behind and looked out onto the crowd with a glowing pride. "My friends!" he cried, excitement carrying his voice when strength could not. "Today begins a new era! The end of tyranny! The end of oppression for the people of France!" Cheers broke out amongst the crowd. "I stand before you, not as one who wishes to rule you, but one who wishes to serve you! I tell you this: there will be no Reign of Terror under this Republic. Even this man, who had murdered Louis-Philippe – a man that was never malicious, albeit a fool – and stolen powerfor himself, will not die without a fair trial and judgment by the people alone!" The people cheered once more and the revolutionary felt his strength was nearly gone. He looked back at Grantaire and the other nodded, ready to catch him if the need arose. "I'm afraid, friends, that I cannot speak long, though some of you know I can be rather longwinded." A brief chuckle passed through the crowd. "The time of his trial shall be posted for all to see, so that you may all have a place in it. Now, is there one among you who you might call on for temporary leadership until one can be chosen by all?"
The was a low hush in the crowd and Enjolras thought for sure he'd pass out before they made up their minds. Grantaire was steadying him again and he still felt the world sway around him, even if he were upright.
"Alexis Enjolras!" the name rang through the streets.
"Who better than the man who raised the flag on the barricade?" more voices demanded.
"Enjolras!"
"Enjolras!"
"I bow to the people's demands, as I am their servant," Enjolras responded.
The rest was a blur as Grantaire supported most of his weight down the stairs and the crowd seemed to disperse. It was natural that Les Amis was suddenly in charge of everything and Enjolras left Courfeyrac in charge of dealing with his father with the strict orders of a jail cell only, as the people had not delivered his sentence yet. The other man had reluctantly agreed and gathered men to help him.
It was some way down the street that Enjolras felt himself swoon and everything went black.
TBC
TS
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A/N: Sooooo... the Republic is in place and things are on their way, but as many of you might guess,t hings are far from over. A new government is never easy to run and and all of that. The trial will be the next major instalment of this fic, and it's turning into quite a doozy. Thanks for all the support and I hope that it's been up to standards so far.
Anna: Yay for reading fanfiction! Sorry for spoiling the last three chatpers, mon ami, but this one you have not had spoiled for you :P