Chapter 12

I DO NOT OWN LES MISERABLES OR ANY CHARACTERS INVOLVED.

...

"Marius, darling!" Cosette called shrilly, at the top of her voice.

Marius groaned in the dining room, where he was reading a newspaper, when he heard the front door open and her call out to him.

She searched for him for a few minutes, until she found him in the dining room.

"You know, you could try and make it easier for me to find you," she scolded, sitting down across from him.

"And why, in the name of the Lord, would I do that?"

She scowled.

"As you know, I went to order my wedding dress today. And I ran into a rather interesting situation."

Marius got tuned out as soon as she said, 'Wedding.'

He couldn't help but feel that a different woman should be ordering her dress. Then, he might actually be excited about his upcoming nuptials, and not feel an overwhelming dread.

"Marius!" she snapped.

"What?" he grumbled.

"I ran into two...acquaintances, is the right word I think. Yes, I ran into two acquaintances of mine at the shop."

He had no reaction, only flicking the pages of his paper.

"Marius! I talked to Éponine and Enjolras today!" she near shouted. She had been hoping to build up a tension, or atmosphere, and climax in that she, not Marius, had got the chance to talk to his friends. But, of course, that would only work if Marius would listen.

"W-What?" he stuttered, suddenly aware.

"Yes, Marius, I saw your two friends today," she rolled her eyes.

"Where?"

"At the shop."

"Why were Éponine and Enjolras at the sho- Is Éponine getting married?" he asked, panicked.

As fun as Cosette thought it would be to toy along with that idea, she quickly laughed at him.

"Of course not. Who would want to marry that dog?!"

It was a rhetorical question, but even still, Cosette heard Marius mutter 'me' under his breath.

"No, you will not. You've the honour of marrying me," she giggled.

"Some honour," he grumbled sarcastically.

"Marius, you could at least pretend to be excited about this wedding!" she snapped.

"Why should I?!"

"To keep up appearances," she rolled her eyes again.

"I already pretend for your father! I already pretend for his friends! I already pretend for those fancy people that associate with! I already pretend for your friends- Wait, no Cosette, you don't even have friends? And why? Because you're a rotten, spoilt, blackmailing garce!"

"Marius Pontmercy!" she shrieked. "Don't you dare call me that, when I don't deserve it-"

"But you do! Can't you see?! I never loved you like that! I can't love you like this! Why can't you see that?" he asked for what had to be at least the tenth time, exasperated.

"Because, once you get that whore out of your mind, you'll remember that you love me! And this wedding is the perfect way to remember!"

He groaned again at the thought of the wedding.

"Yes, Marius, we're getting married! Get used to it!" She scolded, when she suddenly had a thought. "You know what else will help you forget her? This!" she growled, retrieving the crumpled letter from her pocket.

"What's that?" he snatched the letter from her. She smirked, and watch as he read the letter.

To Marius,

I'm going to start off by informing you that this letter does not symbolise my forgiveness. What you did to 'Ponine was wrong. She was on her deathbed, and you led her on, and then abandoned her?! You disgust me. She was an empty shell for weeks, and I hope you pay the price someday.

I'm writing to request that you tell your Lark to stay away from 'Ponine. She came in here today, and immediately disrespected and insulted 'Ponine. I can take an insult, but while 'Ponine was once brave and strong, she is now fragile and broken, thanks to you. Any more of these insults, and she will crack. Myself, Joly and Phillie have spent so long picking up the pieces after you smashed her hopes, courage and personality to bits. I will not stand by and let it happen again.

I know that as soon as Cosette steps foot in that shop, she will immediately turn to taunt 'Ponine, and I might not be there to stand up for 'Ponine.

So, I would again request that you tell your Lark to stay away from 'Ponine. And by stay away, I mean never step foot in Valerie's.

If she doesn't, I can always go straight to Valerie about Cosette, and then maybe slip an anonymous note to the Goverment that in Valjean's house lives a criminal.

What will be?

Enjolras.

Marius was dumbfounded.

"Enj-Enjolras gave you this?" he stuttered.

Cosette nodded, smirking.

"What does it say?" she enquired somewhat innocently, even though she'd stopped to read it before.

"Why was Éponine at the shop?"

"She knows the girl who works there, that Nicolette. She's a much nicer lady than Thernardier," Cosette lied easily.

"Who is Nicolette?" Marius enquired, curious as to how Éponine would know her.

"Nicolette Tailler. She has a large family, and they own an inn in Paris. Very similar to the Thernardiers...But her family actually has manners and dignity. They're lovely people, and her older brother is rather fine," she smirked, unsuccessfully trying to make Marius jealous.

"How do you know all this?" he shook his head, confused.

"I know a lot of things, Marius. I could tell you things about the Thernardiers would shock you."

He groaned. "Cosette, you have not wasted one second in telling me of your hatred for the Thernardiers. Please, just leave me alone?"

"Leave you alone? We have a wedding to plan!"

"No, you have a wedding to plan!"

She scowled at him, and got up from her chair, stomping out the door and up the stairs, deliberately making a lot of noise as she trudged up the stairs.

Little did Marius know, when Cosette retreated up the stairs, it was only to invite some very special guests to their wedding.

...

II'm giving you this update so early because I'm going to Ros Neamhlach, in Dún na nGall for a week now! I have no internet connection up there, so I can't update! Also, I take Easter very seriously, so even if I did have internet connection, all my spare time is taken up with choir practices before Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday masses.

As per usual, names mean something. The surname Tailler means "Tailor", since Nicolette works with clothes as a tailor/sewer/seamtress, whatever you want to call it. I'm not sure if I'm explained in the last chapter, but Lottie means 'Free Man' because this signifies Joly becoming free and social again. Paulette means 'Small and Humble' because I imagine Phillie and all her friends to be quiet, cute old grannies, aha.

Happy Easter!

Le grá,

Ó Niamh Ní Luachra.