It had been a couple of days on the barricade. National Guardsmen had attacked the barricade at least four times, but they were not successful in getting over to the other side. Joly was beginning to worry. The people were suppose to rise with them. But there was no sign of Paris moving. Even Enjolras was recognizing it.
"The people must rise." Enjolras told the group. But the chances were looking slimmer and slimmer. Soon the National Guardsmen started to attack again. This time, a canon hit the barricade dead centre. Joly was thrown to the ground, as was Jehan and Combeferre. This time the National Guards were working even harder to get over. Three guards got over and started to shoot some of the people. Joly pulled out his pistol and shot one in the chest. Enjolras did the same to the other two.
"There are more men! There are more men, Enjolras!" Combeferre cried out. Another blow to the barricade sent wood splinters in all directions. Joly looked to his right to see Jehan dragging a dead man off to the side. He looked to the left to see a guard coming at him. He took out his sword and stabbed the man in the stomach. The fight was getting worse now. The National Guard clearly had the upper hand with more ammunition and more men. Joly watched as a man aimed his sword to strike Marius, who was kicking another guard off. Joly scrambled up and took the blow to his left arm. Luckily, he was far enough away that it was a small graze, but it burned badly. Joly kicked him off of the barricade. He jumped off the barricade just in time to see two bullets pierce Lesgles.
"Lesgles!" Joly ran over and killed the man who injured his best friend. Joly dragged Lesgles out of the fighting. A bullet had pierced his lower torso and his arm.
"I can, I can, I can still fight! I can still fight!" Lesgles gripped Joly's arm, as his voice weathered. Joly grabbed some bandages and made a tourniquet for his dear friend's arm and for his stomach.
"I can still fight!" Lesgles shouted again. But it was obvious that death was coming soon.
"Be at peace. Be at peace, evermore." Joly held Lesgles' hand.
For as long as Joly could remember, Lesgles had been his best friend, aside from Jehan. Now he lay on the cobblestone street, dying. Lesgles nodded, as he started to shiver. Joly held his hand until he breathed no longer. Joly carried him to the cafe, before going back out to the fight. He hadn't been gone for even five minutes, and they were still fighting. Five more men were lying dead on the ground. Joly shot at a man who was aiming for Grantaire. The battle was getting worse. More casualties occurred on the rebels side than the National Guard side. Joly stabbed a man and then heard a cry of pain. He turned to see Feuilly clutching his chest on the top of the barricade. He cried out again, before the guard pushed him off of the barricade wth the butt of his musket. Joly ran and caught him. The dead weight of the deceased man made him fall. Joly dragged him where Lesgles' body laid. When he came back out Courfeyrac was lying lifeless on the ground. Combeferre was stabbed twice with a bayonet to the chest. Joly fought tooth and nail with the National Guardsmen. They were running out of ammunition and men. All of a sudden a shout was heard.
"Vive la France! Long live the Republic! Vive la France!"
Joly and Enjolras looked at each other and scrambled up the barricade. A parade of people came, waving red flags. Some people had guns, some had swords, others had shovels, hoes, picks and anything else they could scrounge up as weapons. Joly saw someone roll a wagon filled with ammunition. But that wasn't the first thing that caught his eye. It was who was leading them. Eponine, dressed in men's clothes with Gavroche.
"Charge!" the men yelled. Joly rough estimated about 1,000 people flooding into the alley where the fight was. Joly grabbed a new musket, tossed up by Marius and yelled, "Vive la France!" Eponine dodged the bullets and the fighting and went to the windows.
"Fall back everyone! Fall back!"Joly somehow recognized Eponine's plan. The rebels quickly fell back, leaving the National Guardsmen confused.
"Now! Drop now!" Eponine screamed as loud as she could. Her calls did not go unanswered. Windows flew open and women and young children sent even more furniture tumbling out the windows, crushing many of the guards. Kids then started to throw large rocks at them, as the rebels got back into the fight. More guards came, but a shrill whistle from Eponine brought even more rebels in to fight. It was long, and extremely bloody, but at the end of the day, the rebels won, chasing the National Guardsmen out. The rebels whooped and cheered, as they sent the guards running. Most of the rebels went on, chasing the guards far enough away for them not to come back. Joly ran over to Eponine and pulled her into his arms. Eponine sobbed. Her brother had survived the fight.
"Where's Jehan? Where are the others?" Eponine asked, frantically. Joly took a deep breathe. "Jehan is alive and he will live, as will Grantaire, Enjolras and Marius. But Combeferre, Courferac, Lesgles, Fueilly and Bahorel are no longer." Tears filled Eponine's eyes. Combeferre, who had valiantly stepped in to save her life and the rest of her family was dead. Joly nodded, as tears filled his eyes. He hugged Eponine and they both cried, as Enjolras, Grantaire and Marius came up. Joly let go of Eponine.
"Let's go." Joly picked up all of he spare muskets and guns he found. They were all walking when a rebel dashed out in front of them.
"The battle is over. We have won." Joly told him, tiredly. The rebel's eyes turned dark and he replied, "Your battle is over." The rebel pulled out a gun and shot Joly directly in the chest.
Joly dropped everything he was carrying, clutched his chest and fell to the ground.
"Joly!" Eponine screamed and fell to her knees. Marius and Enjolras did the same. The rebel was reloading when Eponine tackled him. She hit the rebel over and over, striking him as hard as she could.
"Stop! Eponine, it's me!" The rebel cried out. Eponine recognized the voice and looked into the eyes of Azelma.
"How could you?" Eponine screamed. She ran away from Azelma to Joly, who's breathing was labored.
"I'm sorry, Joly. I'm so sorry." Eponine sobbed, as Joly lay on her lap. She cradled his bloody and sweat drenched face in her hands.
"I love you, mon Cherie. Jehan, take care of her for me." Joly took Jehan's hand, who had just come from inside the cafe.
"Oui, my brother." Jehan whispered, as tears slid down his cheeks.
"Please Joly, please don't leave me. Please, I need you more than God does." Eponine cried.
"I'm sorry Eponine, but my time has come. Promise me something." Joly tried to breathe.
"I can't promise any-," "Promise me!"
"All right, I promise."
"Promise me that you won't join me until many years later." Joly whispered.
"I promise." Eponine cried. With that, Joly smiled, before closing his eyes. Eponine watched his chest rise and fall for the last time. Joly died right there in Eponine's arms, surrounded by his family.
"No, no please. You can't leave me. You-you can't leave. Oh, God I need him more than You! Please, Joly, please, I beg you, don't leave me! Joly please wake up! Please, Joly, please!" Eponine choked out and started to scream her words. Tears streamed down her cheeks. The rebels came back cheering, but it soon ended when they saw Joly's dead body. They looked shocked. The men took off their caps and hats. Some even started to weep. One of the rebels then spotted Azelma standing shocked in her place. The gun was still in her hand, which gave it all away. One man grabbed her. Azelma screamed, "Let me go! She knows me! Eponine, tell them you know me! Tell them you know me!" The begging of her sister fell on near-deaf ears. Eponine's eyes watered a bit, and with a slightly shaking but strong voice, she spoke to Azelma, the crowd awaiting what she had to say.
"I thought I knew you, Azelma. But I don't know you anymore. I want this all to end for you. For you to suffer no longer. I'm sorry." Eponine turned and called, "Make it as painless as possible. I want her to be in Heaven, a place where she is never hungry, never tired, never cold." The rebels grabbed the traitor and led her to an alley.
"You heard the girl. Painless." A man told the group softly. They all nodded, as the man loaded his pistol. Azelma sat, tied up on her knees. Tears ran down her cheeks. But not at her sister's betrayal, but at herself. This isn't really Eponine's fault. It wasn't even Joly's. It was mine. All of my foolish actions. This is because of me. I deserve this. Azelma closed her eyes as she felt the steel barrel of the gun on the back of her head. She felt scared, but she also felt ready. Almost peaceful. A shot rang out. The deed was finished.