Is that absolutely necessary Cosette?

That was my intention all along. I agree we mustn't tell Father yet, but we need to ask someone who knows the spell, who can explain what's going on.

Alright, you have a point. You go and explain all this mess to her. We'll focus on relieving their pain, they can't go on like that.

What do you suggest, Jehan?

We should bring Joly here.

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The god of healing walked dolefully among the beds, running his fingers lightly on the foreheads of the gravely ill. They all felt his soothing presence: their breathing eased, their fever broke, their sleep deepened.

Joly sighed. Almost everyone begged him for his assistance, and his heart was so big he never left anything unanswered. Of all the gods, he was the most "human": every time his abilities were required, he connected with the sick in a way that most of the time permitted him to help them successfully. But his extraordinary empathy was a double-edged sword: the sickness, the wounds, the inevitable deaths, they always took their toll on him. He was a gentle soul who perpetually worried over illnesses. Quite the paradox, for a god, but every deity knew it, and they were all prepared and capable of taking care of him when he suffered his anxiety crises; no one could really blame him.

Marius found him outside the temple where the sick had gathered; he was walking away, leaning against the marble wall for support.

Before Marius could get his attention, Joly doubled over, clutched his stomach and retched on the grass.

"Joly! Hey… hey Joly. Here, let me help you." Marius walked behind him, circling his friend's chest with one arm to support his weight. With the other hand he moved Joly's hair from his forehead, and whispered reassurances in his ear.

After a while Joly's heaving subsided, and he managed a few steps on his own. He took Marius' hand and led him towards an elder tree; they sat down in its shade, sighing.

"Are you alright Joly? Can I do something for you?" Marius asked, concerned. He had come to ask for his help, and he needed to be sure Joly could offer it.

"I'm fine. I just finished defeating an epidemic, and I'm a bit tired."

Marius took Joly's hand and squeezed it.

"I'm sorry my friend, but I'm very proud of you."

Joly smiled faintly.

"Thank you Marius. Now, what is it you wanted to tell me? I can feel your distress."

Marius blushed. Cosette always said he wore his heart on his sleeve. He was easily readable, but then again, Joly was empathic, and he was the god of love: emotions showed themselves plainly on his face.

"Joly, we need your help. I mean, Enjolras and Eponine need your help."

The god of healing widened his eyes and started trembling.

"Eponine and Enjolras? Did they remember? Did they meet? Is this world safe no longer?" His terrified tone tore at Marius' heart.

"They didn't meet, Joly, they didn't. Come with me, I'll explain everything, but we must hurry."

Joly nodded, took his friend's hand and disappeared along with him.

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Cosette kneeled in front of her Mother's sparkling throne. It was etiquette, really. Fantine knew she had her children's love and respect, so all the bows and the curtseys were made more out of habit than out of necessity.

"Dearest Cosette" she told the young goddess. "Walk with me."

Fantine got up and took her daughter's hand. Together they walked out of the white marble hall and reached the gardens, where they chose a cool, shadowy path and strolled along it.

"Speak to me, dearest. I can tell you are worried about something."

Cosette, who had been silent the whole time, sighed.

"You're right, Mother. I'm deeply concerned and I need your help and advice… but I also need something from you first." Cosette fell silent, and bit her lower lip.

Fantine frowned. "What is it, my child?" she asked, her kind dark eyes fixed on her daughter.

"I know it's a lot to ask, and I assure you I wouldn't dare if the situation wasn't dire. I need you to promise me… n-not to tell Father." Cosette whispered her request. It was unprecedented, to ask the Mother of the gods to hide something from her husband.

Fantine looked at her closely. She must have read good intentions and innocence on her daughter's face, because after a while she smiled and said "Of course. Tell me everything."

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"I can't take it anymore… Jehan please, help me… make the pain go away, please…"

Eponine's voice was growing fainter by the minute, and her pleas more desperate. Her eyes were tightly shut, but tears streamed down her cheeks. The light that blinded her hadn't dimmed, although Jehan had carried her in the darkest corner of the underground cave.

The god of water watched her helplessly; Eponine had her head in his lap, and he was trying to comfort her to the best of his abilities, but to no avail: her suffering didn't wane.

At last they heard voices approaching.

"Joly! Oh, thank all the gods!" Jehan whispered.

The god of healing nodded and hurriedly kneeled next to Eponine. His face was pale, his expression tight.

"Eponine, can you hear me?" he asked softly, placing his hands on the goddess' face.

"J-Joly?" Eponine said in a tiny voice.

"Eponine, I'm here to help. Remove your hands and relax your mind. I need to look at you."

She whimpered, and slowly, trembling, she took her hands off her face. Marius took them in his, steadying her.

Joly cupped Eponine's face and leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers.

"Eponine, I need to look into your eyes" he said.

She flinched, terrified. "I can't. I can't Joly. The light will blind you. And the pain…"

"The pain won't disappear unless you do as I say. Trust me, 'Ponine. I'm here to take the pain away" he said firmly.

She bit her lower lip, and then nodded.

"On three. One… two… three!"

Eponine opened her eyes.

A flash of white blinding light flooded the whole cave. Eponine and Joly screamed. Marius and Jehan covered their eyes, gasping. Then darkness returned, and silence fell.

"'Eponine?" Marius called, blinking.

"I'm… I'm fine. I can see now. The light's gone. The pain is gone" she answered in disbelief. Both Marius and Jehan hugged her tightly.

"Joly, you did it!" Marius laughed, turning towards him.

The god of healing was nowhere to be seen.

"Joly? Where are you?" Eponine called.

"Joly?" Jehan got up, looking around in worry. The three of them started looking for him, on the shore, in the water, behind the shiny white stalagmites.

"I found him! He's unconscious! Come here, quickly!" Marius exclaimed.

Eponine and Jehan rushed to him and tried to revive Joly, but the god of healing had gone deathly pale, his head lolling helplessly to one side. Marius panicked.

"Oh gods, oh gods, what happened to him? Why won't he wake up? What do we do now, what about Enjolras?"

Jehan's head whipped up to glare at Marius. The god of love realized his mistake a second too late.

"Enjolras?" Eponine said. "Who's Enjolras?"

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I finally introduced Joly! I love him, I hope I portrayed him well! :)