CHAPTER FOUR!
Once more from Eponine's POV because I don't want to talk as Marius.
Yes, I stink.
No, I don't really care.
Marius is cute, but he's rather whiny...
Yes, I did make Cosette horrid and whiny and sarcastic.
So...ehm... R&R, please!
I looked up at him when I realized he was clueless about what I had said. Then he seemed to understand. "Oh. You love me." he whispered. I rose on tiptoe and touched my lips to his face. "I love you, too." I felt his lips brush my forehead.
"Want to go for a walk?" he asked. I nodded, looking up at him and the faraway look in his eyes. He took my arm, walking along next to the Seine.
"This is the first time I've walked with someone here." I blurted out.
"You've walked here before?"
"Yes, and often. Quite often. When I first thought I loved him. And again when I delivered the letter to Cosette. And a number of times inbetween the two. Yes, I've walked here, and I have talked to myself here. But perhaps the moments I dreamt here of him... Perhaps they weren't him, but they were... of you." Enjolras looked down at me.
"I don't believe that, Eponine. I think you were in love with him, yet you 'died' before anything could happen."
"Well, well, well. I thought you were dead, revolutionary." A voice came out of the dark.
"And I thought the same, Inspector." Enjolras's body stiffened as he realized that Monseiur Valjean had lied to him.
"You thought wrong." the Inspector replied.
"As did you." Enjolras turned, an arm around me, to face the inspector.
"Two who lived, then. How surprised I am, you are unable to imagine." I glared at him, starting to snap. I was unable to because Enjolras said "Ponine, head home. You're wanted."
"I have no home." I started to say, but I was interrupted by Enjolras.
"You're wanted back home. By Gavroche." I realized what he was trying to say. He wanted me to get away from here, to the barricade. I nodded and ran off, only to sob as I collapsed next to Gavroche's body. My little brother. Little Gavroche... And little people know... when little people fight... we may look easy pickings but we've got some bite... I let a few tears fall onto his corpse as Enjolras materialized next to me.
"I know. Could you see Grantaire's reaction? No, of course you couldn't." he whispered to me. I lifted the small body and cradled it in my arms.
"He was too young, Enjolras."
"Only the good die young." I nodded quietly. "We loved him, Ponine. We all did. I have no clue why we let him climb over that barricade. It should've been me."
"No." I choked out. "No. Tell me how he died, Enjolras!" I sobbed. "Tell me how heroic he was. I have to hear." Enjolras held me close, my head on his chest as I clutched Gavroche and whispered "Tell me. Tell me how brave." and I continued whispering it until he started talking.
"We were arguing... and he climbed over. He was gathering bullets from the dead National Guard soldiers... and he was singing. 'Little people know/ When little people fight..."
"I know the song." I replied.
"And then... One fired. He cried out, but kept gathering. Oh, Ponine, he was so brave..." He swallowed. "He stayed strong when hope was almost gone. His bravery was that of someone ten years older. He heard the people sing, Ponine. And how did we answer that? With this." He lifted his hand and pressed it to the cool forehead. "And another shot was fired. 'You better watch out for when the pup grows...' and he died. Some jumped over the barricade to collect him... and He was laid down in front of Grantaire. Grantaire screamed his name... 'Gavroche!' and he stood up, screaming the chant... you know the chant..."
"Yes." "
And we all joined in. And then we fired. We lost. Oh, Ponine, he... He died for nothing!" I sobbed with him as he clutched me. "All for nothing, Ponine! It's true, only the good die young, so they suffer less. If we were half as good as Gavroche... Then we'd all be happy." I started sobbing harshly, not bothering to hide the tears.
Neither of us noticed footfalls in the fog until I was jerked backwards by my hair.
I know, I know, it's too sad. I'm sobbing myself. Why must I write such things?
And little people know
When little people fight
We may look easy pickings
But we've got some bite.
So never kick a dog
Because he's just a pup
We'll fight like twenty armies and we won't give up
So you better run for cover when the pup grows up!
-RIP Gavroche, the bravest Student.