New chapter! I'm sorry it took me some time to update, let's say I experienced a bit of a writer's block.

I hope you like it and keep reviewing! :)

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Eponine's question still resonated in the air when Marius and Jehan looked at each other helplessly.

"Um… Enjolras is… well, he's no one, really." Jehan said.

Eponine arched one eyebrow. "I can always tell when I'm being lied to. You know that."

"Well," Marius intervened. "He didn't mean Enjolras is no one. Of course he's someone! He's just, you know, no one of consequence."

Eponine let out an incredulous huff of laughter. "Come on, don't insult my intelligence, you just said that he needs Joly's help too! What's happening? Is he sick? Is he blind as well? Who is he?"

Jehan sighed. Cosette, you'd better hurry here with Mother. The situation is getting out of hand.

Don't worry, we're almost there.

"Eponine… Mother is coming here with Cosette. She'll explain everything. In the meantime, can we please focus on Joly?" Jehan asked anxiously.

Eponine sighed, but she nodded. She told Marius to fetch a wet cloth, and passed it on Joly's pale face.

"I think he's just exhausted. He needs a bit of rest."

Marius raised his eyebrows. That spell… it must have been something completely extraordinary! I mean, knocking the bloody god of healing out cold is quite an accomplishment.

Yes, but still… It's backfiring. It means it's imperfect. I don't think this whole blindness thing was supposed to happen at all.

Joly moaned and turned his head on a side; the three gods watched him: now he breathed evenly, and a bit of colour was slowly returning to his cheeks.

Right then, they heard soft footsteps, and a second later Cosette threw herself at Eponine, hugging her tighly.

"Oh, Ep, I was so worried for you! Are you alright? How are your eyes? Oh Ep, I love you, I was so scared!" she sobbed.

"Whoa, Cosette, calm down. I'm fine now. I love you too. Calm down" she answered, caressing her friend's blonde locks affectionately.

"Eponine, darling. I'm so glad you're alright" Fantine said quietly, smiling at her daughter.

"Mother!" Eponine gently but quickly disentangled herself from her sister's embrace and ran to her mother. Fantine smiled again and welcomed Eponine into her open arms. She caressed her dark wavy hair, and when she raised her eyes she caught the determined gaze of her other children. She nodded imperceptibly, and placed her right hand above the dark goddess' head. A rosy light shone down on Eponine, and after a moment the goddess collapsed against her mother, deeply asleep.

"Thank you, Mother" Jehan said quietly, while Marius picked Eponine up and carried her out of the cave.

Fantine then kneeled at Joly's side and blew air on his face. The god of healing instantly woke and stood up; he burst with energy, and when his roaming eyes landed on his Mother, he smiled and hugged her. She was always able to erase any dark thoughts he might have, any concern or pain he might feel.

"Thank you Mother, for giving me the Breath of Life. Let's go get Enj, he needs my help!" he exclaimed.

They all went out in the sun; Cosette walked towards Marius, to give him a kiss. She gasped when she looked at her sister, asleep in her husband's arms. Her skin had always been rather pale, but since the spell she had not seen the light of day: she was whiter than snow, like a dead human girl.

Fantine spoke. "Jehan, Marius, take her to the palace; place her in my rose garden. We'll be there with Enjolras very soon."

"Yes Mother" the two whispered. Jehan bowed and then they both disappeared with Eponine. Cosette, Joly and their mother held hands and transported themselves to the mountain lake where Grantaire was waiting for them with Enjolras.

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The god of the sun didn't experience any physical pain, but his fear and psychological suffering increased second by second. Grantaire held him tightly against his chest; he talked incessantly, trying to offer some comfort, but nothing seemed to reach Enjolras.

Grantaire understood perfectly: the god who was the manifestation of the brightest star in the sky, the god of light, the god who thought he had never seen the night sky, had found himself completely surrounded by darkness for the first time in his life, and for no apparent reason. Of course he would be panicking. Of course he would be terrified.

But all these reasons didn't stop Grantaire from feeling how incredibly wrong that whole situation was. Enjolras had always been brave, and bold, and fearless, and proud. There had to be something amiss in the deep essence of the spell, there had to be, because not once, not once in their long existence had the golden god let fear rule his heart and his mind.

Grantaire sighed in relief when he heard the rustling of leaves; a minute later he saw Joly's lean frame advancing towards them, followed closely by Cosette and their Mother.

"Who's there, R? Who's coming?" Enjolras whispered, trembling.

"Enj, it's me. I'm here to help you" Joly answered sweetly. "I'm going to touch your hands, alright?"

Enjolras nodded, smiling faintly. He loved Joly and trusted him completely. He didn't flinch when the god of healing touched his hands, and then his forehead and his cheeks. When he reached his eyes Enjolras stilled completely.

"Joly? You can help him, right?" Grantaire asked, worried.

The other god smiled. "Of course I can, R; just keep on holding Enj like that. And you Enjolras, do as I say. When I tell you to, you open your eyes, alright? I need to see your eyes to dispel the darkness."

Enjolras nodded.

"Mother… If what happened earlier happens again, do not help me. Just let me rest. I don't want you to get tired."

"Nonsense darling. I will help you gladly. I'm the Mother of the gods, I don't get tired easily!" she said, smiling encouragingly.

"What… what are you talking about? Is Mother here? Have you done this before? Is… is there someone else in my same predicament?" Enjolras asked, talking fast.

Grantaire and Joly shared a look.

"Don't worry about it for now, just focus on what Joly is telling you" Grantaire said.

"On three Enj. One… two… three!"

Enjolras opened his eyes. Cosette gasped, horrified: the usually bright blue orbs were completely black, lifeless, dull, unfocused. It was painful to witness.

Joly's face started to glow. Two luminous rays of light poured out of his eyes and into Enjolras'. The god of the sun smiled, joy and hope swelling inside him. The brighter the light became, the wider his smile got.

The moment the light got too much for everyone, both Joly and Enjolras let out a cry. Then the light disappeared, Joly collapsed and Cosette flew at his side.

"R?" Enjolras turned to look at his friend in the eye.

"Enj? Can you see me?" Grantaire beamed at him, and hugged him tightly. "I'm so happy. I'm so happy!"

Enjolras laughed, a little relieved, a little hysterical. He hugged Grantaire back, then turned towards Joly. The smile died on his lips: his brother's face was ashen, the skin around his eyes livid. He looked like he was on the brink of death.

"Mother, please help him." He begged in a feeble voice. "How could he ask you not to help him? How in the world did he think he could recover on his own? He looks dead!"

"Calm down Enjolras" his Mother answered. "I already breathed life into him. See? He's waking up. Now come here and give me a hug!"

Enjolras obeyed. He encircled Fantine with his arms and buried his face in her neck, sighing in contentment. She didn't waste time, and in a handful of seconds Enjolras collapsed against her, asleep.

Swiftly Fantine handed her son over to Grantaire and Cosette, and ordered "Go, join the others. I'll be there shortly with Joly, as soon as he regains his full strength."

Cosette and Grantaire nodded and disappeared with Enjolras, relieved that both their friends had been cured, but feeling that their relief wouldn't last long.