A/N: Penultimate chapter. Hope you like it.
Chapter Twenty-Two: At the barricade
Eponine arrived back at the barricade. She went to where Gavroche was sat, and asked if he could fetch Azelma.
Women were allowed to be in Cafe Musain, near the barricade, so long as they didn't fight. Their job was to tend to the wounds of revolutionaries. Azelma was helping them, as she refused to leave Jaques to go to entire safety. Gavroche nodded, and went inside the cafe. He came back out with Azelma.
"Eponine!" Azelma hugged her. She smelt of soap, and wore a red woollen jumper over her dress. Eponine hugged back. "What are you doing?" She suddenly realised Eponine was dressed as a boy.
"I couldn't leave Marius." Eponine blushed a little. Azelma sighed.
"I want to stay and talk, but I must go back to the other women, otherwise they'd wonder and they're very clever and wouldn't be fooled."
"It's alright. Stay safe, 'Zelma." They hugged again, before Azelma went back inside.
"Now we pledge ourselves to hold this barricade." Enjolras had everyones attention.
"Let them come in their legions, and they will be met." Marius held his shotgun, smaller than all the muskets but just as efficient.
"Have faith in yourselves, and do not be afraid." Enjolras encouraged.
"This is where it begins, and if I should die in the fight to be free, where the fighting is hardest, there will I be." Jaques said.
"Let them come if they dare, we'll be there!" Enjolras was ready for this revolution. He then noticed the volunteer had returned. "He's back! It's the volunteer!" He yelled.
"Listen my friends, I have done what I said, I have been to their lines, I have counted each man, I will tell what I can.
Let it be warned they have armies to spare, and our danger is real. We will need all our cunning to bring them to heel." Javert informed the listening people.
"Have faith, if you know what their movements are we'll spoil their game.
There are ways that a people can fight.
We shall overcome their power!" Enjolras awaited further information.
"I have overheard their plans, There will be no attack tonight. They intend to starve us out before they start a proper fight. Concentrate their force, hit us from the right." Javert spoke softly. He was startled when he heard a young boy's voice.
"Liar!" Everyone turned to where Gavroche sat on the barricade.
"Good evening dear inspector, lovely evenin' my dear. I know this man, my friends, his name's inspector Javert. So don't believe a word he says 'cause none of it's true. This only goes to show what little people can do. 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 it's just a pup. We'll fight like twenty armies and we won't give up. So never kick a dog, because he's just a pup. You'd better run for cover when the pup grows up." Gavroche smirked after saying this in a tuneful way.
"Bravo, little Gavroche, you're the top of the class!" Grantaire said.
"So what are we going to do with this snake in the grass?" Prouvaire asked.
"Tie this man and take him, to the tavern in there! The people will decide your fate Inspector Javert!" Enjolras said. Some students had Javert restrained.
"Shoot me now or shoot me later, every schoolboy to his sport!
Death to each and every traitor, I renounce your people's court!" Javert glared at everyone.
"Though we may not all survive here, there are things that never die." Combeferre said.
"What's the difference? Die a schoolboy, die a policeman, die a spy!" Grantaire answered Javert.
"Take this man, bring him through, there is work we have to do!" Enjolras said.
"We keep looking forward!" Marius decided.
The students holding guns were on the barricade. It was still raining. Eponine stood with Gavroche outside Café Musain. After they'd waited a while, they heard the rhythmic marching footsteps of the National Guard.
"Who's there?" A voice called. Enjolras looked at Marius, then called, "French Revolution!"
"Fire!" The voice yelled.
Gunshots everywhere, ear-splittingly loud. Bullets narrowly missed people.
"They're climbing the barricade!" Coufeyrac yelled. Everybody climbed down, not knowing what to do. Except Marius. He grabbed a torch, and then climbed to get a barrel.
"Marius! What are you doing?" Gavroche yelled. "Marius! No!" He saw Marius climb up, and a gun aimed at Marius. Eponine ran up.
"No! Ep!" Gavroche watched as the trigger was pressed.
It all happened in a second.
Eponine leapt in the way...
...her hand clasped over the musket...
pointing it at herself.