A/N: Again I'm sorry I haven't been able to update recently. Here's chapter seventeen anyway.
Chapter 17: Do You Hear the People Sing?
Cafe Musain was chaos as everyone prepared for the revolution.
"The time is near, so near, it's stirring the blood in their veins! And yet beware, don't let the wine go to your brains! We need a sign, To rally the people! To call them to arms! To bring them in line!" Enjolras was speaking, when Marius walked in late, an odd expression on his face.
"Marius, you're late." Enjolras sounded a little annoyed.
"Marius, what's wrong with you today? You look as if you've seen a ghost." Joly said. "Some wine and say what's going on?" Grantaire offered him a glass. Marius didn't seem to notice. He sat at a table, dumbfounded expression on his face. He was pale against his freckles.
"A ghost you say...a ghost may be! She was just like a ghost to me, One minute there, and she was gone!" He grabbed the wine and sipped on it, finally realising it was there. Most people observed in silence.
"I am agog! I am aghast! Is Marius in love at last? I've never heard him ooh and aah. You talk of battles to be won, And here he comes like Don Ju-an, It's better than an o-per-a!" Grantaire mocked, causing a few people to laugh. Enjolras ignored this and continued, catching everyone's attention again-all but Marius.
"It is time for us all, To decide who we are. Have you asked of yourselves, What's the price you might pay? The colour of the world Is changing day by day..." He rose to his feet. "Red - the blood of angry men! Black - the dark of ages past! Red - a world about to dawn! Black - the night that ends at last!" A few people nodded in agreement.
Marius then stood up, unable to control himself from bursting out: "Had you been there today, you might know how it feels; to be struck to the bone in a moment of breathless delight! Had you been there today, You might also have known, How the world may be changed, In just one burst of light! And what was right seems wrong And what was wrong seems right!"
Grantaire laughed. "Red!" "I feel my soul on fire!" Marius was oblivious to everyone's laughing. "Black." Grantaire spread out his hand mockingly. "My world if she's not there!" Marius gripped the edge of his chair. "Red!" All but Enjolras chorused. "Is the colour of desire!" Mariys exclaimed. "Black!" They chorused whilst laughing. "The colour of despair!" Would he ever see her again? Would she love him too?
Enjolras sighed, glaring at everyone to stop their laughing. He put his hand on Marius' shoulder, and spoke firmly. "Marius, you're no longer a child! I do not doubt you mean it well, But now there is a higher call."
Marius still had a dreamy expression on his face, but he nodded. "I know."
Enjolras sighed, shaking his head and withdrawing his hand. "Who cares about your lonely soul? We strive toward a larger goal, Our little lives don't count at all!"
Gavroche ran into the room, Jaques and Azelma behind him. "Listen!" Nobody listened. "Listen everybody!" Gavroche yelled. Everyone finally got the message and turned. "General Lamarque is dead!" There was a silence across the room, after a few gasps. "Larmarque..." Enjolras trailed off. He began again. "Larmarque, his death is the hour of fate. The peoples man-his death, is the sign we await." Everyone rose again.
"On his funeral day they will honor his name. It's a rallying cry that will reach every ear! In the death of Lamarque we will kindle the flame, They will see that the day of salvation is near! The time is near! Let us welcome it gladly with courage and cheer! Let us take to the streets with no doubt in our hearts! But a jubilant shout, They will come one and all, They will come when we call!" Enjolras was full of a strange sort of energy.
The next day, the students stood with the people, watching the funeral carriage coming past. Drumbeats were heard. Enjolras hid with a red flag on a corner, students hiding the fact he held it.
The students parted as Enjolras began to sing a song they'd planned to rally the people. Marius and Coufeyrac flanked him as he stepped forward, holding the red flag. "Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people, Who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart, Echoes the beating of the drums! There is a life about to start, When tomorrow comes!"
Éponine watched Marius. So it had begun.
Combeferre continued the song. "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade, Is there a world you long to see?
"Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!" Exlaimed Coufeyrac. Enjolras and Marius climbed onto General Lamarques grand coffin, bearing the red flag. Students flanked the coffin, and people joined them. More and more people surged forwards. Éponine joined them, her eyes never leaving Marius.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people, Who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart, echoes the beating of the drums! There is a life about to start When tomorrow comes!" Everybody chorused.
"Will you give all you can give, So that our banner may advance? Some will fall and some will live, Will you stand up and take your chance? The blood of the martyrs, Will water the meadows of France!" Feuilly was holding onto the side of the carriage bearing the coffin.
"Do you hear the people sing? Singing a song of angry men? It is the music of a people, Who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart, Echoes the beating of the drums! There is a life about to start, When tomorrow comes!" Everybody chorused, before fleeing from the police back to their points around the city.
Marius had to see Cosette again. Or at least clear his thoughts. So he headed towards a field called 'The Larks Field' to clear his thoughts, keeping his head down so nobody recognised him as part of the revolution for now.