A/N: Here's the last chapter. Well, thank you for your reviews. Without the readers, I probably would have given up on this a while ago. So anyway, I wont spoil this chapter but I just wanted to say that I know the historical context of the Eiffel Tower is wrong and it is supposed to be wrong as I'm making it fit my story. Just saying this so I don't get spammed with corrections. I hope you enjoy this and Thank You for reading and reviewing :)
Chapter Nineteen: Distant Drums
"I do." The moment Eponine had never imagined in the wildest dreams she'd ever had, but whilst Marius held both of her hands in his, and whilst a ring glistened from each of their left hands, the moment had never felt so real. Marius' eyes were locked in hers, and she didn't know what the Vicar was saying until the moment came for her to say the words.
"I do." She spoke with a clarity and certainty that she felt in the sudden fast pace of Marius' pulse where her fingers touched his wrists.
Marius didn't need to be told to kiss her; she gave Marius permission to do that what felt like an eternity ago.
"'Ponine." They were at the after-wedding feast, where Eponine felt a little concerned as she knew nobody. She jumped when a hand clasped around her wrist, sending a jolt through her not-fully-healed wounds. She relaxed when she recognised Cosette.
"Hello." Eponine smiled happily, but Cosette's ghost of a returned smile was shadowed with worry.
"I saw them out of the wi-" She trailed off with a small gasp before a loud voice boomed:
"The Baron and Baroness de Thenard wish to pay their respects to the groom." A large woman and a small sickly looking man sauntered into the room, looking as if they were part of a pantomime with their brightly coloured clothes and what looked like stage make-up. Eponine would recognise her darkest nightmares any day.
Fury blazed in Marius' eyes when he faced Monsieur Thenardier, standing protectively in front of Eponine and Cosette.
"I forget, where we met, was it not at the Chateau Lafarge? Where the duke, did that puke, down the Dutchess's de-coll-etage?" The sly, cunning glint in his eye made Marius angrier.
"No Baron de Thenard, the circles I move in are humbler by far." Marius' civil tone began to slip away to anger. "Go away, Thenardier. Do you think I don't know who you are?"
"He's not fooled, told you so!." Hissed Madame Thenardier. "You've got cash and a heart, you could give us a bit of a start...we can prove, plain as ink, your bride's father is not what you think."
"There's a tale I could tell." Monsieur Thenardier's expression feigned indifference.
"Information we're willing to sell." Madame Thenardier added. Of course, money had to be involved.
"There's a man that he slew I saw the corpse clear as I'm seeing you! What I tell you is true!" For once, there was honesty in Thenardier's face. He truly believed what he was saying.
"Pity to disturb you at a feast like this, but five hundred francs surely wouldn't come amiss."
"In God's name say what you have to say." Marius snapped.
"What I saw, clear as light, Jean Valjean in the sewers that night. Had this corpse, on his back...I was there, never fear." Thenardier paused, suddenly aware that he'd been playing with a gold ring on his finger. "Even found me this fine souvenir." He showed it to Marius, who gasped slightly.
"I know this, this was mine!" He'd assumed he'd lost it on the barricade, and despite it being his fathers, he'd not once considered complaining about the loss of the ring. It was minor compared to everything else that had happened. "This is surely some heavenly sign!" He murmured, mostly to himself, turning his face away to gaze out of the window.
"One thing more, mark this well, it was the night that the barricades fell." Thenardier added slyly.
"Then it's true, then I'm right, Jean Valjean was my saviour that night. As for you, take this too. God forgive us the things that we do." Marius turned away from the beggar then. He owed that man for saving his father's life years ago...he guessed that giving up that ring would suffice, seeming as Thenardier didn't care about anything that wasn't valuable.
"Come my love." He reached for Éponine's hand. "Come Cosette." He politely rested his hand on Cosette's arm to guide her away with them. "This day's blessings are not over yet." This was said more to himself than to the girls, although both of them listened intently.
"The convent, Sir!" Came the cracking voice of the old goblin of a man as Marius and the girls disappeared towards the door.
Valjean sat in an old chair, unaware of the drafts filling the corridor. It was dark as most of the candles that had lit the corridors were burning low. Just like his life, he thought. That was also burning low...he was weary, and old, and the world no longer needed him. He closed his aching eyes, and when he opened them, a woman's figure dressed in white had appeared. A glow seemed to radiate from her dress and from her golden hair. Cosette... No, she was older. "Fantine." He rasped. "Monsieur, I bless your name." Her voice was so soft she appeared to sing.
"I am ready, Fantine." He whispered. He didn't have strength for more than that.
"Monsieur, lay down your burden." That voice was so soothing and gentle.
"At the end of my days..."
"You've raised my child in love." Cosette.
"She's one of the best of my life." He would never forget Eponine, either.
"And you will be with God..." Fantine's voice was so lovely, that if he just closed his eyes now it would be the last thing he heard...
Footsteps echoed on the stone, resonating through the halls. The sharp footsteps of somebody who was running... the form of Fantine had disappeared when the footsteps slowed.
"Papa, papa, I do not understand...are you all right? Why did you go away?" Cosette had knelt beside him. She was dressed in her best dress, the one she was saving for the wedding. Eponine and Marius emerged behind Cosette, both of their faces worried.
Cosette...Eponine...my children. Am I forgiven now? Thank God, thank God...I've lived to see this day..." He choked.
"It's you who must forgive a thoughtless fool!" Marius's rich voice spoke. "It's you who must forgive a thankless man. It's thanks to you that I am living, and again I lay down my life at your feet."
Marius turned to the girls. Eponine, whose face had become pale, and Cosette, who had a tear running down her cheek.
"'Ponine...your father is a saint. When they wounded me, he took me from the barricade, carried like a babe. And brought me home to you."
"Now you are here, again beside me. Now I can die in peace, for now my life is blessed."
"You will live, Papa, you're going to live!" Cosette sobbed.
"It's too soon, too soon to say goodbye!" Éponine's voice shook.
"Yes, you both forbid me now to die. I'll obey...I will try." He coughed, and then reached a shaking hand into his pocket and drew out a piece of paper, sealed with wax.
"On this page, I write my last confession. Read it well when I, at last, am sleeping. It's the story of one who turned from hating. A man who only learned to love when you were in his keeping." He kissed both of the girls on the forehead with great effort, then fell back in his chair. After he blinked, Fantine had appeared again.
"Come with me...where chains will never bind you. All your grief at last, at last behind you. Lord in Heaven, look down on him in mercy..."
"Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory." Valjean spoke the words, before allowing his eyes to finally close. Even through his closed eyes, he could still see Fantine. He heard Cosette's sob while something disconnected. Suddenly, he felt light and free of any burdens. He rose from his seat, and felt young again. His bones didn't ache when he stood. His sight was clearer...clear enough to notice all the lines and creases on the face of the old man sitting motionless in the seat beside him, with the golden haired girl crying into his shoulder.
The golden haired woman in white beside him slipped her hand into his. A small, delicate hand that was calloused from work. "Take my hand, I'll lead you to salvation. Take my love, for love is everlasting."
Another sob echoed, and Valjean saw Marius with his arms around both of the girls now, holding Eponine with the love of a husband and Cosette with the love of a brother. The girls were both safe, he knew then. He spoke with Fantine at the same time now, returning her warm smile.
"And remember the truth that once was spoken...to love another person is to see the face of God."
"Jean Enjolras Pontmercy." Eponine scolded her son as he flicked the top of Marius' ear from where he sat on his father's shoulders. They were taking a walk down the streets of Paris, admiring the new building that loomed over all the others. It was called the Eiffel Tower, and honoured all of the battles for freedom that had occurred.
"Don't be too harsh to him, Eponine." Cosette chided from behind them.
"Just because you spoil the poor boy rotten, dear." Sebastian, Cosette's fiancée, kissed Cosette's cheek affectionately after saying this. Marius didn't say anything; he was gazing into the distance like he often did, only this time he was looking at the Eiffel tower.
And remembering. He'd remember the barricade forever. And as he stared at the tower, he would often hear the distant drums.
The drums and singing that had cried for the new world that his son would grow up and live in.