Chapter 2
I've just realised how many mistakes I made in the last chapter. I had originally named Ophelie as Nicolette, a name meaning Victory of the People. But it just didn't fit, it seemed too young, too pretty, for an old woman with a long life. Also, I'm not sure if she's on board with the cause yet, so Victory for the People could be irrelevant in regards to her beliefs, and Ophelie just seems to suit her better!
Perhaps we'll have a Nicolette appear along the way...
Anyway, I am blown away with the response! Thank you for all the reviews!
On with the next installment!
...
Éponine opened her eyes to a dark room, with a little light peeping in through small windows, half obscured by battered curtains. She didn't recognise this room at all, nor have any idea who owned it. It definitely was not any of her father's gang, or any of her kind of people. This room was once grand, but whoever owned seemed to have no interest in having a nice bedroom. As Éponine tried to sit up, she mused that with a little care and decoration, this room could be beautiful.
Suddenly a shart burst of pain hit her chest and she winced, gasping and lying back down on the bed. Seconds after, a short, old woman, with wispy grey curls around her face and a pretty, red dress on bustled into the room with a tray.
The small tray carried a glass of water, a bottle of medicine, a spoon, some cheese and slices of bread. The old woman, unknown to Éponine, hurried over and set it down on the table beside Éponine's bed.
Ophelie looked up to see her Éponine staring at her, both confused and wary.
"I suppose you'll be needing an explanation," the old women smiled at Éponine. "I'm Madame Ophelie Bonnet, but you can call me Phillie."
Éponine nodded, and smiled right back. She had no idea who Madame Ophelie 'Phillie' Bennet was, but she looked so warm and welcoming. Her smile lit up both her aged, beautiful face, and the room. Already, she was one of the kindest people in Éponine's life. Although, Éponine thought, that wouldn't be too hard.
"You've been shot, but you're being taken care of dear. All your boys are at the barricade, and you're going to be just fine! At least, that's what Monsieur Joly says. Although, you've been out for two days, so they're probably not there anymore."
"Joly was here? And wait, two solid days?" asked Éponine, confused.
"Oh yes. Monsieur Enjolras too..." at this she laughed. "Oh, woops, dear, you're probably wondering who in the name of God I am. I'm Monsieur Enjolras' housekeeper. I've been looking after you, but it was Joly who first sorted you out. I've just been checking on you. And there wasn't alot of need, you haven't peeped for two whole days," she grinned.
"Thank you, Mademoiselle," replied Éponine, atempting to sit up, yet met by another bout of pain. She gasped sharply.
"Oh, just sit back down dear, 'til I get you your pain medicine, then you should be fit to sit up. And there will be no Mademoiselle, I thought I told you to call me Phillie," she laughed, reaching over to pick up the medicine and the spoon. She poured a large amount, and gave it to the girl.
"Drink up. It's horrible, but I promise it's worth it! I've water here, and then you can have your food."
Éponine took the medicine, and drank it in one go. She was tough, one spoon of medicine wasn't going to stop her from getting better. She simply had to get better, she decided.
But that didn't mean she was going to enjoy the medicine. She quickly reached for the water and smiled her thanks when Phillie gave it to her. She quickly raised it to her rough lips, and drank it all down. She coughed, and then placed down the water. Eyeing the water as she put it down, that was the first time she noticed her attire. She looked down at a pretty, lilac dress, that she felt was wasted on her thin, dirty body.
"Oh, I changed your dress dear. I needed to, your old dress was covered in blood, and it was going to dirty your wounds even more. I gave you a bath, and washed your hair. I must say you're a very pretty lady, Éponine," rambled the woman as she went to open the curtains more, revealing a full blast of light,
Éponine blushed, and looked down. Her hands were, in fact, clean. Her nails no longer hid years of dirt, her skin was now a perfect tan, like it had always been beneath the grime. She reached up and felt her hair. It was soft, and she could easily comb her newly-cleansed hands through it, unlike before when her hair was a bush of tangles.
"Thank you, Mademo- Phillie!" gushed Éponine, grinning. The pain was already beginning to subside, and her new cleanliness, and the carer who she was already so fond of, were putting her in a much better mood than she was of late.
And then she was reminded of the reason for her misery of recently...
"Marius?" whispered Éponine. She was almost certain the boys wouldn't have mentioned Marius, and that the woman would have no idea how he was. But she could only try.
"What about him? I haven't seen him recently, he was over a few times. Lovely boy that, don't you think?"
Éponine gulped, nodding, already nervous and scared again. Marius couldn't be gone! Even if it was Cosette he'd run straight to after getting out of the barricade, Éponine still couldn't help but wish for his safety...
Éponine began frantically praying, promising God a hundred different things in exchange for her Marius' safety.
...
Meanwhile, all the Friends of the ABC that had survived were gathered at the ABC cafe. All sort of gives a false impression. It was only Marius, Enjolras, and Joly who survived to tell the tale. They were sitting around one table, drinking away their sorrows. All the bodies of their friends...Grantaire, Coufreyac, Gavroche, Combeferre, Barohel...They were all laid down beside each other in the street, in peace at last.
Finally, Joly spoke up. "Well, I suppose I should go check on Éponine," he started, with a nervous glance at Marius, who had his head buried in his arms on the table.
Marius' head shot up. "Éponine?! What do you mean?"
"Um, Marius, she's alive, and recovering at Enjolras' house, with Madame Bonnet."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" asked the grieving schoolboy, his face now alight with hope and pushing his chair under the table.
"I thought you were planning on going to see Cosette soon?" asked a confused Enjolras.
"I thought 'Ponine was dead, of course I'm going to see her first! Cosette can wait!"
Joly lead the way with a smug smirk on his face and turned a sideways glance at Enjolras, who was walking along beside him with a raised eyebrow.
"Told you," mouthed Joly.
Enjolras chuckled to himself for the first time in weeks and they proceeded out of the building.
Marius quickly overtook and ran all the way to Enjolras', excited to see Éponine after forty-eight hours of grieving for her.
Enjolras and Joly ran after, afraid to leave Marius alone. They were all grieving the loss of at least a dozen friends...The boy wouldn't be thinking straight, who knew he wouldn't take a wrong turn, or do something stupid?
Upon trailing after Marius the whole way to his apartment, Enjolras pulled out his key to his house. Marius stood behind him, nearly bouncing with excitement and happiness, and Joly leant against the wall beside the door, the smug smirk from earlier only increasing by the minute.
As Marius bound through the door with a raspy shout of "EPONINE!" Joly turned to Enjolras.
"Didn't I tell you he loved her?"
"Nothing's for certain! You would be this happy to see one of our friends come back to life!" He felt a sudden stabbing near his heart as he thought of all the lifeless bodies that littered the streets of Paris, but comforted himself with the thought that they all died for a cause, for a reason, knowing full well there was a high chance they wouldn't live to see the morning.
Enjolras resolved then and there to work for their cause until he sweat, every day 'til he died. They had to have died for a reason, and he would make sure there was some good that came out of their deaths.
He then arrived in his bedroom, to find his best friend and his young gamine friend in a bear-tight embrace.
...
Éponine was lying in bed, ravishing her bread and cheese as if she hadn't eaten for weeks. In truth, that was no saying, she truly hadn't eaten a proper meal for years.
"ÉPONINE!"
Éponine's heart jumped. Her battered heart was programmed to recognise that silky, manly voice. Her heart had yearned for that voice to whisper sweet nothings into her ear in the dead of that night. She had yearned for that voice to tell her he loved her, lying beside her in bed on long Saturday mornings. She had longed to hold long conversations with that voice about Politics, Art, History, things she knew little of, yet yearned to learn about. She yearned to hear that voice call after their children in the park.
And now he was calling her name, desperately.
Marius hurried in through her door and rushed over to her bed, a wide, lop-sided grin on his face. He sat on her bed and pulled her into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head over and over again.
" Oh, 'Ponine! I thought you were dead and...I didn't know how I could live without my best friend! And Joly and Enjolras only told me five minutes ago, I lived two days thinking you were dead, they were the worst two days of my life! Oh, 'Ponine, I'm so glad you're alive!" he rambled.
"Stop it, Monsieur," she giggled. "You're making me blush." True to form, her cheeks were now a bright red.
"Dear 'Ponine, I've told you many times, it's Marius!"
"Yes, you have Monsieur," she retorted, grinning.
"Éponine! It's Marius," he smiled, hugging her tightly again.
Éponine drew a sharp gasp, and cringed, recoiling slightly, for he'd squeezed around her stomach, and her chest was still painful, as the medication still hadn't fully kicked in.
"Oh, 'Ponine, forgive me! I simply did not remember you were injured...Where are you hurt? Oh, lie back 'Ponine, I'll get pillows for you, I'll get you water-"
"Oh, hush Monsieur! I'm fine, I don't feel any pain!"
Marius chuckled. "The last time you said that, 'Ponine, you passed out and I thought you were dead, and it was honestly the worst experience of my life. I will not take that risk again!"
"My supposed last moments were the worst experience of your life, Monsier?" she teased, mocking offence.
Marius, thinking her attempt at making him seem silly was real offence, was quick to comfort her. "Oh God no, 'Ponine! Thinking you were dead, that was! Those were the best last moments anyone could-"
At this, Éponine burst out laughing, and Marius soon copped on.
"You were making fun, 'Ponine?"
"I must, Monsieur. Phillie is very nice, but I do get lonely."
"Rest assured, 'Ponine, I will not leave your side until you are fully recovered, not even then!"
"What about your precious Cosette?" she asked, with a slight bitterness. "Surely she's already made you promise to never leave her side again?"
"I came straight here from the barricade, 'Ponine. I have not seen Cosette in days, nor do I plan to see her until you are safe and recovered," he assured.
This gave Éponine a strange sense of achievement.
"So you do not miss her?"
"Well...I'm not quite sure of my feelings at the moment, 'Ponine," he confessed.
Éponine's heart leaped for what had to be at least the twentieth time since her love entered the room.
"No?"
"Non, Mademoiselle."
"It's 'Ponine! I am no Mademoiselle," she blushed, looking down at her hands as if they were suddenly extremely interesting.
Marius lifted her hands and gently caressed her palms with his thumbs.
"Oh 'Ponine, if you are not a lady, no-one is. Just look at you!"
"Yes, Monsieur, but I am not normally dressed like this. Normally my hands are dirty and my hair is tangled and my dress-"
"'Ponine, it does not matter what you wear or what you look like. You are brave, you are determined, and you are loving. No other woman came to support their friends or lovers. You were the only woman at the barricade, the whole world should call you Mademoiselle," he smiled, happily.
"Thank you, Monsieur..." she blushed.
"My, 'Ponine, you're blushing an awful lot today," he remarked, chuckling.
She nodded, still blushing.
"Where did you get this dress, 'Ponine?"
"Enjolras' housekeeper gave it to me, she's been looking after me. She washed my hair and cleaned me too," she grinned.
"Beautiful," he smiled.
"Yes, it is a lovely dress, Monsieur-"
"No, 'Ponine, you. You're beautiful. The dress is nice though, too," he chuckled.
"Well thank you Monsieur," she grinned, blushing even harder.
"How many times do I have tell you, my name is Marius."
"And mine is Éponine, nice to meet you," she laughed.
Marius noticed that Éponine was laughing and smiling more than he'd ever seen her do so. And she looked very pretty when she did.
He thought he had his love life figured out. Why was he more interested than laughing and joking with 'Ponine than sitting in a garden and looking at flowers with Cosette? Cosette, the girl he considered the 'love of his life'.
"Nice name, Éponine," he replied.
"I actually prefer 'Ponine," she grinned.
"I wonder who thought of that nickname? He's probably a very nice man! A very nice, handsome, lovely man-"
"Oh yes, he is, Monsieur."
Marius wasn't sure where the line between joking and reality was, but he was almost sure they'd crossed it by now.
Now he was just confused. Trust 'Ponine to muddle things up for him. Life was always more interesting with 'Ponine.
Suddenly, Marius felt a pair of lips on his. He was surprised at how upfront 'Ponine was, but he wasn't complaining. He slipped hands around her waist, how good it felt to have 'Ponine as his, pulling her onto the chair beside her bed with him.
He heard Enjolras clear his throat, obviously trying to break the pair up.
Marius pulled away blushing, keeping an arm around 'Ponine.
He heard 'Ponine, still on her bed, looking away from the pair with a pained expression on her face, her big brown eyes struck with sadness.
He looked up, and where he'd expected to meet brown, he instead saw big blue sapphires looking down upon him.
Why was Cosette here? Why was she kissing him?
And the question that reoccured the most that day...
Why had he imagined that he was kissing 'Ponine?
...
Thank you for reading!
I wasn't sure what characters to keep alive. I couldn't kill Enjolras, I couldn't physically do it. And well, since Enjolras isn't overly romantic, I needed someone to help Éponine and Marius come together and realise that the other felt the same about him. And who better than a doctor, for when 'Ponine gets sick?
Anyway, give us love!
Go raibh maith agat agus athbhreithnigh le do thoil!
Ó Niamh Ní Luachra / ilovemusic'forever x