A/N: Good luck to Enjolras trying to rally the rich people! Also, has anyone seen or listened to the Les Mis sequence- Forbidden Broadway? Listening to it made me have a heart attack I laughed so hard. Especially to I Dreamed a Show, On My Phone, and Bring It Down.
Enjolras nervously sat in the bumpy carriage reflecting back to his not quite a week on the streets he spent with Eponine and recalled everything he had seen and heard. He could feel his heart grow heavy when he thought of the torn look on Charlotte's face when her baby had been ripped away from her by death's greedy hands.
Eponine looked up at Enjolras in admiration as she snuggled into his side.
"I have faith in you, Enjolras. You could rally the poor; surely you can rally the rich as well," Eponine said comfortingly.
"I doubt it. The rich are very different than the poor on a moral level. The poor are siding with me because I am fighting for them to provide a better life, but the rich… I am fighting against them. I want the king gone, and I want a republic government. The rich like the way things are now, and I might have a job convincing them to join me," Enjolras said softly as he gazed lovingly at Eponine.
"You are fighting for what is right! Enjolras, when you speak your passionate words and explain your beliefs to these people, it is not possible for them to not join your revolution," Eponine said fiercely.
"I hope your right. The rich are very greedy with their money… The people we are visiting today were my friends before I moved to Paris. I haven't seen them in years, but I know that they are still very rich and hopefully I can move them to help," Enjolras said furrowing his eyebrows. Eponine didn't like to see him so worried.
"I am grateful your uncle let us stay in Provence; though breakfast was awkward this morning," Eponine said changing the subject. Indeed, breakfast had been quite awkward. Uncle Jacques kept dropping not-so-subtle hints that he was suspicious that Eponine had been in Enjolras' room. At least Aunt Agnes was willing to act as though nothing had happened.
"We survived," Enjolras chuckled. They sat in a silence for a few minutes until Enjolras spoke again.
"You look beautiful today, Eponine. That red dress looks absolutely stunning on you; you look like a rose," he said eyeing the red fabric of Eponine's dress. She blushed at his compliment and quickly kissed him. She pulled back quickly, but Enjolras softly pulled her back into a passionate kiss. Her lips were soft beneath is, and Enjolras had never done anything in his life that felt so good.
They finally pulled apart when the carriage eased to a stop in front of a large house. Eponine glanced out the window and her eyes widened. This house was not quite as grand as Enjolras,' but it was spectacular nonetheless.
"You had some nice friends," Eponine commented as she hopped out of the carriage, Enjolras following closely behind her.
"We will see how 'nice' they are in a minute, I suppose," Enjolras said as he walked to the front door.
He shakily raised his hand and knocked on the door thrice using the brass knocker. A young man answered the door and smiled largely as he spotted Enjolras. His smile grew even larger when he saw Eponine.
"Ah, Albaric! It's so nice to see you again mon ami! You arrived just on time, as always. You were never late to anything, I remember. Some of the other boys have arrived, but a couple have yet to show up. Come inside," the man with dark brown hair said as he motioned them inside.
"It is nice to see you again as well, Bertrand," Enjolras said as he stepped inside the mansion.
"Albaric, how rude of you! You haven't introduced your lady friend!" Bertrand exclaimed. Eponine scowled.
"I am perfectly capable of introducing myself, monsieur. My name is Eponine Therrian," Eponine said proudly. Bertrand politely took Eponine's hand and kissed it, and it was Enjolras' turn to scowl.
"So, what is your relation to Albaric? Surely you two are not lovers, if I recall correctly, Albaric had sworn off love and was devoid of emotion," Bertrand chuckled.
"How can you say that Enjolras has no emotion? You should watch him talk, monsieur. He speaks with more emotion and passion than any other man in the whole of France!" Eponine said stiffly.
"You call Albaric 'Enjolras?' That is new, I haven't heard of anyone calling him that before," Bertrand commented.
"My relation to Eponine isn't really the matter at hand. I have some important issues to discuss with you and the others," Enjolras said quickly.
"So you will not hold a grudge against me if I say I am quite taken with Eponine? After all, you never clarified that you do indeed love her," Bertrand said greedily, and Enjolras' face grew hot.
"If it pleases you, I do in fact love Eponine. But that is not what I came here-"
"Albaric is in love! The world must be ending for the empty man has been filled!" Bertrand shouted.
"I told you when I was a boy I never liked it when you referred to me as the empty man!" Enjolras said in an annoyed tone.
"They called you the empty man? I have heard Les Amis refer to you as 'Apollo' and 'statue' and 'man of marble,' but never 'empty man.' That is a good one, I must say," Eponine chuckled, and Enjolras groaned.
"Not you, too! We need to focus on what I have come here to say!" Enjolras said obviously frustrated. Bertrand threw up his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, come with me and I will show you where the other men are," Bertrand said as he led Enjolras and Eponine to a large room with several different animal heads hung on the walls and chairs strewn across the room. Young men were talking to each other and laughing as they sipped on their fancy wine glasses. The sight of so many rich people in one room sickened Eponine.
The men's attention turned to the pair as they entered the room, Bertrand had gone off to go retrieve the next guest to arrive.
"Albaric!" the men exclaimed as they crowded around him.
He was flooded with a chorus of "How is Paris?" "Did you miss your old friends?" "How long are you staying in Provence?" "What was the important discussion you wanted to have with us?" Enjolras using his influencing power managed to settle everyone down in a heartbeat.
"My friends, Paris would be a better place if we could purge the city, and the entire country for that matter, of its little problem. I have come here to talk to about this problem, and hopefully once you hear what I have to say, you will join me as I create a new tomorrow!" he shouted.
"I will gladly listen to what you have to say, but first, who is this woman you have brought with you?" a man asked. Enjolras rolled his eyes as he noticed all the men were staring at Eponine and clearly admiring her beauty. Enjolras knew better than to try and introduce her, so he let Eponine speak for herself.
"My name is Eponine Therrian. I have come here with En-Albaric today to support him and his revolution. That is what he has come here today to talk to you about: his revolution! Listen to what he has to say because it could change the country," Eponine said proudly as she watched her lover with passion in her eyes.
Of course the boys will be boys, and all they could focus on was the fact that Enjolras had brought such a lovely lady.
"Albaric, do I sense love in the air?" someone catcalled from the back of the room.
"Our empty man has found love at last!"
"Can this be true? We all thought Albaric would die alone!"
Several more comments similar to these rung out, but Eponine had had enough after the first man called out.
"ENOUGH!" she shouted at the same time Enjolras shouted the exact same word. They looked at each other a smile formed on Eponine's lips.
"Enough," Enjolras said, quieter this time. "Yes, I know this might be a big deal for you: Albaric Enjolras has found love at last! Get over it; this is not the time to discuss my personal affairs. I have come here to tell you that a revolution is brewing in the heart of Paris. Soon, barricades will arise to overthrow the king and start a new life for the poor!" he began.
"Overthrow the king? That is ridiculous thinking, Albaric!" Bertrand said as he entered the room with two more men accompanying him.
"It is not ridiculous! I spent a few nights sleeping on the streets and I was amazed at how difficult conditions are out there! Starving children are running about unattended, unloved by their parents. Women are forced to sell themselves because they cannot bring in money any other way! Men who have lost their pride are limping about waiting for the end to come. Babies are dying because they are not receiving proper nutrition," Enjolras said sadly.
"Why would we help the poor? They have never done anything for us," someone said harshly.
"The poor cannot help us when they don't have anything to give. All of you in this room however can offer your services and together we can paint a new France!" Enjolras exclaimed.
"Tell us exactly what you are asking of us," another man demanded.
Enjolras took a deep breath as he explained everything. He started by telling them in great detail everything he had witnessed on the streets and how terrible it was. Many of the men in the room were listening and watching with great interest, but others looked simply bored and insulted. Then, Enjolras explained his ideal government and how the colors of the world were changing. He told them his plan for the barricades, and he informed the men exactly how they could be of help to him by using their money for supplies and having them fight alongside him.
"We could die for this cause," a man snapped. "I do not want to die."
"Forget the whole 'death is a possibility' part, I wouldn't dare go near a street rat, much less talk to one of them!" Bertrand exclaimed. Enjolras glared at him harshly and Eponine finally spoke up.
"That is quite interesting, actually, that you say you will not associate with a street rat. However, I suppose you failed to notice that I am a 'street rat,' as you put it. That is correct; I grew up on the streets as a poor girl whose parents didn't care if she were to live or die. In fact, not too long ago, my own father tried to kill me. I am a gamine, yet you didn't seem to care when you told me you were 'quite taken with me.' The only difference between me and the other street rats is that Enjolras loves me, and I am wearing a clean dress," Eponine said hotly leaving all the men in the room speechless.
Enjolras fell even more in love with her; Eponine never failed to surprise him.
"This is true; Eponine did grow up on the streets. In fact, listen to Eponine, all of you! She is the bravest woman I know, and despite the fact that she has suffered much during her life she always finds a way to smile. Let Eponine tell you the true plights of the streets, for she can capture it better than I can," Enjolras said passionately. "Can you tell them what you know?" he whispered to her quickly just to make sure she was okay with this plan.
"I will tell what I know. I will do anything to help you," Eponine said shakily as she turned to face the group of men.
"If you want to know exactly how out of control France has gotten, heed the story I come to tell you…"
A/N: Will Eponine be able to change their minds? And oh snap she stood up to Bertrand! I don't like Bertrand… These rich men are very different than the poor ones than Enjolras and Eponine had befriended!