A little note referring to the last chapter: for those of you who do not know, Cassandra is the name of one of the main characters in the play Agamemnon, written by Aeschylus (Jehan learned Greek just to read Aeschylus, remember?). Cassandra is a princess of Troy, she is gifted with prophecy and she is extremely beautiful but since she refused to have sex with Apollo, the little asshole cursed her so that nobody would believe her prophecy, thus everyone believes that she is mad.
Sorry for this extremely long note ~~~ thank you all so much for the favorite/follow/reviews!
Chapter V. Her Latest Trick.
I don't know how it happened
It all took place so quick
But all I can do is hand it to you
And your latest trick
(Your Latest Trick, Dire Straits)
"How's the weapons Bahorel?" asked Enjolras.
"So far I have been able to gather 10 rifle guns, 5 pistols and fifteen hails of bullets." Reported Bahorel.
"Fifteen hails are hardly sufficient." His brows furrowed. "What about the gun powder?"
"I could only get a barrel." Bahorel shook his head. "Some how all the gun shops in Paris are very reluctant to sell massive amount of weapons to schoolboy look-alikes."
"Words about the revolution must have gotten out." Sighed Enjolras. "It can gain us more followers and also more enemies, depending on the people's attitude right now. Well." He concluded. "We must make good use of what we possess. Let's not waste any bullet or hastily throw away a pistol."
Bahorel nodded. At the same time Marius was sitting at a table nearby, writing ferociously onto a piece of paper.
I'll be damned if that's a love letter, thought Enjolras, although judging through the passionate expression on Marius's face it could hardly be anything but a love letter. Marius folded the paper in half and put it in an envelope. He reached out for the candle, dropped some wax onto the back of the envelope to seal off the letter. At the same time, Enjolras noticed a small figure emerging from the stairs.
"Monsieur Marius?" The raspy voice immediately caught Enjolras's attention. He stopped looking at the map, all the while Marius stood up and rushed to the little girl standing awkwardly on the step, holding the letter in his hand.
"Good gracious, here we go." Courfeyrac mumbled under his breath. "Looks like Pontmercy has found his lady interest after all. I pity the girl."
Grantaire chuckled. "Quite the Romeo is he?"
Enjolras caught Éponine's eyes as she was looking for Marius. Her eyes were apologetic, as if she was saying, "I'm sorry if this is interfering with your revolution." Enjolras shook his head disapprovingly and frowned, while Éponine shrugged. "I'm very sorry." She mouthed to him.
"Who are you looking at?" asked Joly.
"Nobody." He answered hastily. "Speaking of which, I haven't asked you about the medical supply."
"It will suffice." Nodded Joly. "I cannot guarantee that I will be able to save everyone, that is to say if you've got a bullet in your heart I wouldn't be able to do anything about it, but otherwise, you have nothing to worry about Enjolras."
"Good. As long as you remember Joly…"
"I know I know. I have to stay in the back." Groaned Joly. "I cannot believe everyone gets to fight while I have to stay back."
"This is not a children's game Joly." Reminded Enjolras, putting a hand on Joly's shoulder. "You are just as important as the rest of us. If Grantaire gets a bullet in his leg as the idiot that he is, we shall have to count on you to make sure that he doesn't bleed to death."
Joly nodded in satisfaction. Marius returned to his seat, his face expressed an emotional turmoil inside.
At the next several meetings, the usual oblivious Enjolras began to take notice of a new presence. It appeared as a small boy in the uniform of a workman, always followed after Marius when he walked in. The uniform hung loosely on the boy's small frame, the boy looked like he was swimming in it rather. A cap kept Enjolras from having a good look at his face. He hardly ever talked, in fact Enjolras had never heard the boy talk loudly unless if he was conversing with Marius. Now that he thought about it, Enjolras hardly ever saw the boy left Marius's side. The two usually sat with each other, Marius writing letters while the boy mouthed something into Marius's ear. However, he would listen very assiduously whenever Enjolras talked. That's why Enjolras hardly made the effort to question the boy himself.
Today was no exception, as the little boy was focusing on Marius's letter and picked up a pen, either to scratch out something or to write something on the letter as he read.
"Pontmercy." Chimed in Grantaire. "How is everything with your mistress?"
"She is not my mistress!" roared Marius. "Honestly Grantaire, my intention towards her is the purest, most noble…"
"Maybe Pontmercy," sneered Enjolras. "If you are as devoted to our cause as you are to your lady friend, I will sleep a bit more sound at night. You hardly paid attention to what I have to say at all, unlike your little friend here."
The whole room's attention suddenly shifted to the little figure, still reading Marius's letter. It seemed like Enjolras wasn't the only one who was oblivious to this new presence. In a far corner, Joly mouthed to Bossuet. "Who in the world is that?" Bossuet replied with a shrug. "First time I ever notice him. Must have been here for a while."
The little boy must have felt the gaze on his neck as he stopped reading and looked up awkwardly. Courfeyrac called out.
"Boy, what are you reading?"
"I'm…I'm not sure if Monsieur Marius would want me to reveal the content of this letter, Monsieur Courfeyrac." He stammered.
Why does that voice sound so familiar? Enjolras frowned. I feel like I have heard it somewhere before.
Wait, that sounded familiar too. The last time I had this thought…
Enjolras's stream of thoughts was interrupted by the new madness that took place in Café Musain. Enjolras looked up to see Marius trying to hold Bahorel back, at the same time Grantaire was chasing the little boy around the café. The little boy clutched the letter to his chest while running at an incredible speed, avoiding the chairs and tables swiftly like a little cat.
Jesus Christ, Enjolras was exasperated, sometimes I feel like I'm babysitting, not governing a group of grown men.
Enjolras saw the little boy unconsciously run towards him. Without thinking, Enjolras reached out and grabbed the boy by his arm violently as he ran by. The sudden force combined with the boy's incredible momentum shook the cap out of his head, revealing frocks of long brown hair. The café, a minute ago filled with shouts and laughters, now fell into silence. Somewhere in the back, Courfeyrac let out a small whim.
"A woman! No, a girl!" exclaimed Bahorel. "Mademoiselle, what are you doing here? This is no place for a lady."
Éponine shrugged off Enjolras's hand on her arm and regained her compose. "I am no lady." She said while looking into Enjolras's eyes defiantly. He shook his head while putting his palm on his forehead.
"You are indeed troublesome, Mademoiselle Éponine." Murmured Enjolras.
"You two know each other?" asked a confused Joly. "How come?"
Éponine started to look panic, while Enjolras struggled to find a proper explanation. Luckily, Marius saved them both the trouble.
"Les Amis, meet my friend Éponine Jondrette. I introduced them two to each other a while ago, I am surprised you still remember her Enjolras."
"She is very remarkable, indeed." Enjolras said sarcastically while Éponine rolled her eyes. "Look Mademoiselle Éponine, Bahorel said it himself, the meetings are strictly for members of Les Amis de l'ABC only. It is no place for a lady, and certainly not politics for that matter either. Go home Éponine."
"Now hold on a minute, you said that we were born equal, that we were all children of God." Snapped Éponine, her eyes burning. "Did you actually believe in it, or were they just mere pretty words? What makes me different than you, or Monsieur Marius for that matter?"
"Éponine, the battlefield is a dangerous place. All the members of Les Amis know what they're getting themselves into. There is a high possibility that we might die, and we're ready to sacrifice. You, on the other hand, Éponine. Already as young and slim as you are, you will not provide any help, and you are likely to get in the way." Asserted Enjolras coldly.
"You are wrong Monsieur Enjolras." She stomped her feet. "Small I may be, but I am brave and strong. You once said you believed in a world where everyone would have food and a roof above their head, and you wanted to make it happen. Well I want to make it happen too, and I'm tired of letting other people decide my fate for me. For once in my life Monsieur Enjolras," Éponine yelled. "I would like to take control of my life, and fight for me and my sister's lives. Why is that not a good enough reason?"
For the first time, Enjolras did not know how to answer. He stood there as Les Amis gazed at them.
Gavroche chose just the right time to bust into the café. Looking at his sister in the center of attention, the kid let out a small cry.
" 'Ponine! What are you doing here?!"
" 'Vroche?" Éponine turned around, surprised. "What are you doing here, for that matter?"
"I'm here for the revolution 'Ponine."
"You let my little brother in and not me?!" Éponine turned around, stomping her feet angrily. "Now what kind of justice is that, I demand an answer!" she hissed, looking around the café. The barricade boys looked frightened, while Enjolras instinctively took a step back.
"Gavroche proved himself to be useful, Éponine." Answered Enjolras. "The little boy knows his way around."
"So do I!" she exclaimed. "Even more so, provided that I was born before him, and that papa and maman leave the more dangerous, complicated jobs to me. Listen, I can be of help. Tell me a problem that you have. There must be something that I can do about it."
"Well" Bahorel hesitated. "We are in need of weapon supply. We don't have enough bullets and pistols, and we have but a small amount of gun powder. But I don't suppose…"
"Chenevert." Éponine replied. "Montparnasse buys massive amount of weapon from him and sells it to the military. Chenevert stores bullets in barrels, and he doesn't care who's the buyer as long as you pay him on time. I know all the nice weapon stores in Paris have been alarmed of young revolutionaries." She smirked. "I'll lead you to him."
"Who is Montparnasse?" Enjolras questioned.
"Nobody you should know." Éponine glared at him.
"I feel like this is not very legal…" Jehan mumbled.
"You are organizing an uprising under the king's nose and you wonder whether it's legal or not?" Éponine raised one of her eyebrows. Jehan mumbled something incoherently under his breath. Éponine turned back to Enjolras triumphantly.
"You see? If you need more followers, I know people who are dissatisfied with the king and the government. I can lead you to them."
Enjolras knitted his eyebrows, thinking very hard. This girl was indeed stubborn and passionate, certainly more passionate than Grantaire. She had a good point about his promise of equality. To deny her of such access while granting her little brother would be to go back on his words. Besides, she had proven herself to be of use.
But, he thought, something is still not right.
Maybe I just don't want her to die.
Enjolras shook his head. Lack of sleep sure caused him some weird thoughts.
"Enjolras." Combeferre stepped up an put his arm around Enjolras's shoulders. "I think it's best that you let Mademoiselle Éponine stay. She is certainly very useful and she is with nothing but best intentions. I have nothing against her. Does anyone here have anything against Mademoiselle Éponine as a member of the Les Amis?" he shouted to the rest of the café. Some shook their heads, other just shrugged while Courfeyrac shouted back.
"Not to me, especially."
The whole café bursted into laughter, even Éponine managed to smile while Enjolras shot Courfeyrac a warning look. Courfeyrac raised his arms innocently and sat down on a chair.
"Well, then it's settled." Combeferre smiled. "We hold nothing against Mademoiselle Éponine. The decision is purely yours now chief."
Enjolras sighed heavily. "If the people desire so, then there's nothing I can do but to obey the people's will."
The boys cheered in approval, especially Courfeyrac and Marius. Éponine clasped her hands to her mouth, she could not believe that Enjolras finally gave in. She threw her arms around his neck in this sudden burst of joy.
"Thank you, thank you so much Monsieur Enjolras!" she rejoiced. "I promise, you will never be disappointed in me!"
"Alright." he tried to detangle himself from her arms. "Everyone else, get back to work now. Éponine, let me go. Let. Me. Go." He grunted as he was struggling to fight her embrace. Grantaire laughed while Combeferre smiled at her encouragingly. Éponine let go of Enjolras and threw her arms around Combefere's waist, planting a kiss on his right cheek. His face reddened and he murmured something incoherently. Éponine grinned, she could not contain her happiness inside her small body.
This is madness, pure madness. Enjolras shook his head, looking at the small girl now joyfully chirping to Marius nearby. Instinctively, the corners of his mouth curled up to resemble a small smile. Nobody else seemed to notice but Courfeyrac, who was carefully observing Enjolras's reactions from a distance.
This is getting more interesting than ever, thought Courfeyrac.