So... I guess it's been a while. Well, to make up for it, here's a somewhat longer chapter for you. Enjoy!
Chapter 4
Marius sighed as he and Cosette made their way slowly back to Cosette's home. Neither was very happy. Cosette was clearly agitated, and Marius was incredibly confused by his encounter with Eponine.
"Why are you friends with her?" Cosette asked suddenly.
Marius was startled by the unexpected question. "What?" he asked, not sure of what else to say.
"Eponine," Cosette began again, "why are you friends with her?"
Marius sighed. He still wasn't entirely sure how that had happened, nor was he sure what had drawn him to the girl in the first place. "That is a rather long story, and parts of it are very personal for Eponine. But if you want, I will tell you what I can without betraying her trust."
"Then please do," Cosette replied, eager to find out why the man she loved was such good friends with the girl who had once tormented her.
"But first, why do you want to know so badly?" Marius asked. "Especially since it seems like you know her from somewhere."
Cosette froze for a moment, not sure how much she should tell Marius. "Well," she began, "she seemed very angry with you earlier, and she and I were children together."
Enjolras waited for Eponine to return. There were things that he wanted Eponine to tell him. It was clear that she and Cosette somehow knew each other, and, from the looks of it, they had known each other before Marius had met the blonde. He also really wanted to know why Eponine had loved Marius for so long without ever saying anything.
Also, he was very curious about why she had kissed him on the cheek before leaving. She was unlike any other girl – no, woman – that he had ever known.
Finally, she returned. "Gavroche is fine," she said, heading towards the door.
"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, a bit more sharply than he had intended.
She blinked in surprise, turning. "Home," she replied carefully.
"And just where would that home be?"
She hesitated a moment. "The street."
Enjolras sighed. "That's what I thought. You're staying here, Eponine."
"Oh really?" she asked, crossing her arms, her gaze fiery.
"Yes. You're safer here."
"I can take care of myself."
"Because that's exactly what it looked like when Marius and I found you."
"I would have gotten rid of him eventually!"
"Really?"
Eponine opened her mouth, but no scathing retort emerged as she couldn't think of one. "Fine," she hissed, stalking over to the couch and sitting down angrily.
"Now, care to tell me how you know Cosette?"
Eponine stiffened. "Marius made me deliver letters to her. Surely you knew that?"
He nearly reminded her that she had gone of her own free will, but she was already riled up enough, so he decided not to.
"Eponine, it really seemed to me like you knew her before that. Please, tell me the truth."
She sighed in response, and hesitated a moment before answering. "We were children together."
"Care to elaborate on that?" Enjolras asked. She shook her head.
"Maybe later," she whispered. "I don't want you to think badly of me."
"Eponine, I could never think badly of you," he assured her. "Surely you know that?" She didn't respond.
"All right then, how about Marius? Can you at least tell me why you loved him for so long?"
Eponine smiled ruefully. "For that, I'm afraid that I'm going to have to tell you about my childhood with Cosette."
"Then please, tell me. I want to understand," Enjolras told her gently, his eyes pleading.
Eponine sighed. "Very well, I'll tell you. Like I said, we were children together…"
"You knew each other as children?" Marius was stunned. Why hadn't Eponine told him?
"Good God, oh what a rumpus!" Eponine commented, watching as her father continued to slink off away from the scene of the attempted robbery.
"That girl, who can she be?" Marius wondered aloud. Eponine seemed to ignore him, however.
"That cop, he'd like to jump us," she laughed. "But he ain't smart, not he!"
"Eponine, who was that girl?" he asked her. Eponine knew everything about the streets of Paris, maybe she'd seen his blonde angel before.
"Some bourgeois two-a-penny thing," she replied off-handedly. So, she didn't know the girl. There appeared to be a hurt look in her eyes, but he brushed it aside. She lived on the streets and rarely got to eat, she had every right to be upset.
"Eponine, find her for me!" he pleaded. He needed to find her.
"What will you give me?" she asked with a smirk.
"Anything!" He was desperate, and knew that Eponine could tell. She was one of his best friends, and could read him like a book. Something that she liked to take advantage of every now and then.
"Got you all excited now, but God knows what you see in her," Eponine laughed, beginning to walk away. "Aren't you all delighted now, no, I don't want your money sir..." she said quickly, pushing Marius' hand away as he offered her money. He sighed.
"Eponine! Do this for me... Discover where she lives, but careful how you go, don't let your father know. 'Ponine! I'm lost until she's found!" Marius pleaded, his eyes wide with longing.
She smiled, giving in. "You see, I told you so! There's lots of things I know," she told him, and he smiled gratefully before walking away. He knew she would help him…
Now he knew why she had helped him weeks before, but didn't understand. And with the knowledge that Eponine had known Cosette as a child, he was more confused then ever.
"Marius?" Cosette asked, concern in her eyes.
"Hmm?"
Cosette sighed. "You were so lost in thought that you weren't even paying attention to me," she said with a smile, shaking her head. "What on Earth were you thinking about?"
"The day you and I met, but earlier on, right after I first saw you… the moment that I asked Eponine to find you for me… None of it makes any sense! It did at the time, she was one of my best friends, and I knew I could get her to do anything for me, but now that I know why she would, her helping me to be with you makes no sense."
Cosette looked slightly confused as well. "She helped you find me? But she recognized me the moment she saw me when she brought me a letter from you!" She frowned. "The Eponine I knew as a child had a motive for nearly all of her actions, but I can't think of any that would make sense when combined with her personality."
Marius shook his head. "You said you knew her as a child. Please, tell me. I need to know."
Cosette bit her lip. "The memories really aren't pleasant," she said carefully.
"That much is clear to me, I knew from the first time I met 'Ponine that her parents were terrible people, considering that they slapped her across the face in the middle of the street," Marius replied.
"When I was there, it wasn't only her parents that were terrible to me," Cosette said softly. "Seeing Eponine's little outburst towards you today brought back plenty of childhood memories, none of which were pleasant." She looked at him, concern in her eyes. "I don't want you to think too terribly of Eponine-"
"Anything you tell me can't make me think terribly of her. She risked her life to save me," Marius replied. "Besides, anything she did to you as a child she has more than paid for since coming to Paris."
"Very well then, I will tell you. I was three when my mother left me in the care of the Thenardiers. It was only supposed to be temporary, but the day she left me there was the last time I ever saw her. Eponine was my age, and Azelma was two years younger. Gavroche wasn't born yet. At first, things were OK. But after a few months, everything went wrong…"
"'Zelma, no!" the auburn haired young girl snapped at her little sister who was playing happily with the little blonde girl. "You know what mother said! We are not supposed to play with Cosette!"
"But Nina-"
"No! Come here, Zelma." After a moment, the younger girl obliged, tottering over to her sister, who was frowning viciously at the other blonde one. "She doesn't even belong here!"
"But she's always been here, Nina, isn't she our sister?"
"No, Zelma, she isn't our sister. The only thing you two have in common is hair colour. You and I are far better than her! Maman said so!"
Azelma simply nodded.
Cosette watched sadly as the two sisters walked away, leaving her alone.
"You!" bellowed a sharp voice suddenly. "Clean this mess up now! I want the floors to shine by evening, or else you're in for a beating!"
"Yes, Madame!" she said meekly.
"Hello, Alouette," Eponine said with a smirk. By the age of six, she was like a miniature, prettier version of her mother: just as ugly in personality, yet far more attractive in appearance. Cosette, however, had become a timid, run-down creature, dreaming of castles hidden in clouds.
"Bonjour, mademoiselle," the little blond said shyly in response. "How was school?" Eponine, however, was ignoring her as she walked across the room, choosing instead to play with the light blue ribbon tied around the waist of her dress. After a little while, it had come undone. She smirked.
"Alouette, retie the ribbon," she ordered. Cosette hesitated a moment, glancing out the window.
"But, if I don't finish the floors before dark-"
"Now!"
Cosette ran over and quickly fumbled with the ribbon that was tied around Eponine's waist as Azelma ran into the room.
"Alouette, there's a hole in my skirt! Fix it!" the tiny blonde yelled as Cosette finished the ribbon, then threw the light green skirt at the other girl's face. "It has to be done by tomorrow at noon, I want to wear it to Marie's birthday party!"
Cosette's eyes widened.
"Are those floors done yet, Cosette?" their mother bellowed. Eponine giggled. "Look, Zelma, Alouette's in trouble!"
A small wail came from upstairs.
"Sounds like Gavroche is awake," Azelma commented.
"Great," Eponine muttered. "Come on, 'Zelma, let's go outside, there's so much I want to tell you about school today! Alise and Anne-Claire got into a fight, and Roland called me pretty!"
Eponine smiled as she and her sister ran outside, not a care in her head for the other girl she was leaving behind.
"No! Please stop! It hurts!" Cosette wailed as again and again the fists came down like a relentless hail upon her small body. She caught a glimpse of Eponine watching with wide eyes. Both girls were seven.
"Ponine!" she heard a small voice exclaim.
"Go upstairs, Zelma," was the only response. It wasn't the Madame that was beating her who said it, but Eponine.
As she watched, the other girl's jaw clenched before she turned away and ran up the stairs, leaving her behind. She would never know what kindness the girl would try to do for her later.
"Maman, please, why did you do that?" Eponine asked later that night.
"Children who misbehave deserve to be punished," her mother responded viciously.
"But surely-"
"Do you want to be punished?" Madame Thenardier asked her daughter in a dangerous growl.
"No," she replied quietly.
"Then mind your own business and forget about Cosette!"
Eponine nodded and turned, bolting from the room and into her Papa's arms. Never again would she doubt her spoiled existence or speak in Cosette's defense, nor would she ever tell the other girl what she had tried to do. Cosette being beaten wasn't her problem.
It was Christmas eve, when both Eponine and Cosette were eight years old, that both of their lives would change forever. Cosette left with Jean Valjean in exchange for 1500 francs, and grew up to be a beautiful young woman.
Eponine's life became harsher than Cosette's life ever was. Neither girl knew that they would meet again ten years later.
Marius stared at Cosette, dumbfounded. "And to think I was hoping you would become best friends."
Cosette sighed. "I don't entirely blame her; her parents didn't set a very good example."
"How could they set any sort of good example when they beat their own children in the street and let two of them run away without caring what happens to them? The only reason Eponine didn't leave was because she had no choice, if she ran away, they would have found her and killed her."
"But didn't she run away in order to join you at the barricade?" Cosette asked.
"Yes, which is why she is lucky that Enjolras and I found her when we did," Marius replied grimly. "You're lucky you got away when you did."
Cosette was silent a moment. "I told you how I know Eponine. Your turn. How did you two become friends?"
"I will only tell you what I can of that story. Some parts are very harsh, and I don't know how much Eponine would be okay with me sharing. I don't want her any more angry with me than she already is," Marius replied. Cosette nodded, and Marius began.
"I was twelve, and she was eleven. I was wandering around Paris alone, and I don't remember why exactly, but I went to the poorer parts. Which is where I found her…"
Marius was sitting on a bench in the poorer neighbourhood of Paris. He liked going there sometimes for some reason. He found it a nice break from the constraints of the bourgeois home he had grown up in.
"I don't see the point of us coming here, with so little money," he heard a man complaining. "All we have is the measly 50 francs we got for selling the inn and all our furniture. Where are we supposed to go?"
"Stop your whining, we might not have the best start here but it's bound to be better than the inn, which has long since failed!" a woman snapped in response. He turned to look, and saw a family of five. A man, a monstrous-looking woman, and three children. Two girls and a boy.
The oldest girl looked about the same age as him, and was clearly taking more responsibility for her siblings than their parents were. Despite her impoverished appearance, she was rather pretty, with long auburn hair and dark eyes that held an obvious fire. He realized that she was looking back at him.
As he watched, the little boy pressed closer to her, whimpering something. The girl put a hand to his forehead, and suddenly looked nervous.
"Mama, Papa!" he heard her say quickly, "Gavroche is ill, we have to find somewhere to stay!"
"Not now, 'Ponine, shut up," her father snapped.
"But Papa-"
"Shut up, I said!"
"No!"
That earned her a sharp blow to the face, making the other girl, who was blonde, jump, and the little boy whimper before coughing again.
The girl hardly reacted. As her head swung to the side from the force of the blow, her eyes met his. It was then that he jumped up and ran over to them, determined to help.
"Excuse me, sir," he said quickly. "But I think I know a place where you can stay."
"Do you now?" the man asked dryly, looking at him sceptically.
"Yes, there's an inn not far from here. It's very cheap, only 5 sous a night," he said quickly in only a single breath.
"Where is it?" the man asked gruffly.
"Just there," he replied, pointing at a building just 50 metres away. He knew it wasn't the best place, but it was better than nothing.
"Eponine, you stay here and watch your siblings. We'll be back in a bit," Thenardier growled, leading his wife away. "And mind you stay put and don't go wandering off, or else!"
"Hmph!" was the girl's only response as she tossed her head. "Maybe I should run off and never return," she muttered. "But that would do you two no good," she added, glancing at the little boy and girl who were with her
"Are you all right?" Marius asked her.
"Oh, you're still here," she replied, noticing him. "And yes, I'm fine. I'm used to that by now," she told him grimly.
"He hits you often?"
"On a daily basis. Some father he is," she snarled.
"He's your father?"
"Yes, couldn't you tell by the excess of fatherly love he shows us?" she replied sarcastically. "I wish he weren't!" She quickly glanced to her siblings, who were sitting against a wall staring off into space. "I honestly think I'm putting more effort into raising Azelma and Gavroche than they are."
"They're your siblings then, I take it?"
"Yes. Azelma is a year younger than me, she's ten. Gavroche is only six." She sighed. "I don't know why I'm telling you all of this; you probably don't even want to hear it."
"No, it's fine. You're clearly new to Paris, and are therefore in need of a friend." She looked back up at him, surprised. Marius smiled.
"A friend?" she echoed.
"Yes, haven't you ever had one before?"
"Just Azelma and Gavroche," she replied.
"Well, I'll be your friend. It's nice to meet you…" he trailed off, not knowing her name.
"Eponine," she said quickly. "My name is Eponine. Eponine Thenardier." She smiled. "And it's nice to meet you too…"
"Marius. My name is Marius Pontmercy," he replied happily.
"'Ponine! Get over here!" her mother shrieked down the street. "And bring those two other brats of mine with you!"
Eponine sighed. "My mother is calling. I'll see you again, I hope, Marius," she told him before grabbing her siblings and racing down the street with them, glancing back quickly as he smiled, waving after her.
Marius sighed. "I think that's all that I should tell you for now. I'm not sure Eponine would be comfortable with me sharing anything more. Her life in Paris has been far too cruel."
Cosette simply nodded. "I don't doubt it. It sounds like things became worse than ever after I left."
"I think they did," Marius replied. He took her hand gently. "But the past is behind us. It's what's happening now that really matters."
Enjolras watched Eponine closely as she continued speaking. They were sitting side by side on the couch in his flat.
"Marius was the first person I met who showed me any sort of real kindness after we came to Paris. Kindness that I no longer felt I really deserved after how I treated Cosette, and the way my parents treated me made me forget what kindness felt like. And the time I spent with him was a welcome distraction from trying to raise Zelma and Roche, and also a brilliant break from Montparnasse. It was hard not for me to fall in love with him as time went on. But then Cosette showed up again…" There were tears in her eyes as she finished.
Without a second thought, Enjolras wrapped his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her as she cried, and was startled at how quickly she relaxed. He wished he knew what to say to her, but he didn't. Thankfully, he didn't have to.
"Thank you," she whispered. "I- I'm not sure what I would do without you right now, and earlier today…" Enjolras smiled as he carefully pulled away so that they were once again face to face.
"Just promise me one thing," he said.
"Anything," she said, biting back her stubbornness. Enjolras had been kinder to her than she deserved, it was only fair of her to agree with him on at least one thing.
"Don't vanish on me again, I'm not sure either of us could handle another scare like the one earlier."
She smiled despite herself. "I promise."
"Good," Enjolras said before pulling her into his arms again, content that for now, at least, she was comfortable around him again.