A/N: Where have I been?! Anyway, this is the second to last chapter!
When Montparnasse finally left Éponine alone in the bedroom, her body was covered in purple and blue-black bruises. He broke her crutch so she couldn't leave the house. It would take weeks for the bruises to heal. But it would only take days for her ankle to be functional again. General Lamarque's funeral was in two days. Éponine would be there alongside Enjolras, come what may.
On the morning of June 5th, she dressed in her men's trousers and jacket and covered her long hair with a brown newsboy cap. She tried out her ankle, and found that she could walk independently again, with only minor pain. She snuck out of the house, which was easy to do, as Montparnasse was out for the day.
Éponine joined the crowd of people in the streets. General Lamarque's hearse was slowly making its way down the road. Everyone had solemn looks on their faces. Suddenly, one man's voice began to sing. Éponine recognized Enjolras in his bright red jacket, and her heart leapt.
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again!
Slowly, others joined in the anthem of freedom, including Éponine.
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!
Enjolras rushed forward when the funeral procession came by where he was standing. He climbed on top of the hearse and waved the red flag of the revolution.
Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Éponine's voice rang out and she raised her hand in Enjolras's direction.
Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!
Their eyes met, brown staring into blue, and then suddenly Enjolras pulled Éponine up onto the hearse with him. He put the flag into her hands, nodding for her to wave it. She faced the people below them, and held the flag high. She waved it as Enjolras had done, and he put his arm around her waist as they finished the song.
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing the song of angry men?
It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!
"To the barricades!" Enjolras yelled. After that, it was chaos. The National Guard fired shots into the air to try and quell the commotion, but the people were stirred to action and would not be dissuaded. They gathered furniture from houses, and even threw it down from windows. Two barricades were built, blocking off the Rue de la Chanvrerie and the Rue Mondétour. The Corinthe was at the center of it all.
Enjolras took Éponine aside for a few moments. They stood apart from the other Amis and volunteers. Enjolras gave Éponine a gentle hug. "You came," he said, smiling.
Éponine leaned on his chest and sighed contentedly. "Of course I did. I'd follow you to the end of the world, Apollo."
Enjolras produced another cockade from his pocket. "I think you'll need this," he said, and pinned it to Éponine's jacket. "To show everyone that you're one of us."
Éponine grinned proudly and put her hand on his cheek. "Thank you. I'm proud to be a revolutionary with you."
"We better get back," Enjolras said. Éponine was reluctant to let their moment end, but he was right. Hand-in-hand, they rejoined the other revolutionaries. "I need someone to find out their plan and when they will attack!" Enjolras announced.
"I volunteer!" shouted a man in ragged bourgeois clothing, a slightly crumpled cockade fastened to his shirt.
"Go then," Enjolras ordered, "and make haste!"
As the man scurried away, Éponine grabbed Enjolras's arm. "That was Montparnasse!" she exclaimed. "He's still trying to sabotage the fight for you! He wants you all to die here!"
"I'll deal with him when he comes back," Enjolras assured her.
It wasn't long before Montparnasse returned. The others let him back over the barricade, then he raised his hands to get everyone's attention. "I have overheard their plans! There will be no attack tonight. They plan to starve us out before a proper fight. Then when it's light, they'll hit us from behind."
"Liar!" Éponine shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Montparnasse. All eyes turned toward her at the sound of her voice.
Montparnasse whipped his head around. When he saw Éponine, his eyes narrowed. "You! You just couldn't stay put, could you, 'Ponine?"
"'Parnasse, I know your plan," Éponine continued, undaunted. "You'll do anything to stop me, to stop us, but you're not going to control me anymore! You're dealing with the wrong revolutionaries here!"
"Montparnasse, Éponine's exposed you for what you really are," Enjolras said. "You are a deceiver and a criminal, and you shall receive your due penalty!" Turning to Combeferre, he said, "Take this man into the wine shop and tie him to the pole!"
When Combeferre laid his hands on Montparnasse, the latter began spitting and cursing. "You found me out, but it doesn't matter! You're still doomed! You're all going to die! The people will not rise! They won't come!"
Enjolras threw a punch that landed squarely on Montparnasse's jaw. The thug was out cold in an instant. Enjolras, Combeferre, and Éponine dragged him into the Corinthe and tied his unconscious body to the pole in the center of the room. "He's not going to be very happy when he comes to," Combeferre commented.
"You mean if he comes to," Éponine argued.
Combeferre raised an eyebrow. "If?"
"I mean, Superboy here hit him pretty hard," Éponine laughed, elbowing Enjolras.
Enjolras smiled and gave Éponine's hand a squeeze. "'If' is good."
But Éponine looked sad. "He said the people wouldn't rise up with us. He's wrong, isn't he?"
"You saw for yourself how they rallied during Lamarque's funeral procession and how they helped build the barricades. They'll join us. They will come when we call. You'll see." Enjolras put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
When night fell, the sound of marching boots approached the barricade. Éponine's ears picked it up. She tugged on Enjolras's arm. "They're coming!"
Enjolras rose to his feet. He waited and listened until the National Guard halted in front of the barricade. "Who's there?" the head officer called out.
"French Revolution!" Enjolras shouted defiantly.
"Fire!" came the order from the head officer. Their guns burst forth shots, taking deadly aim. The students returned every shot. Éponine was also armed with a pistol, which she used to pick off a fair number of soldiers.
The émeute was lasting too long for the students to continue to fight back effectively. They would soon be out of gunpowder and bullets. Filled with an idea, Enjolras grabbed a torch in one hand and a barrel of gunpowder in the other, and climbed up to the highest point of the barricade. "Get back!" he shouted for all the soldiers to hear. "Back, or I'll blow up the barricade!"
"And yourself with it?" asked one soldier in disbelief. "He's bluffing!"
"I assure you, I am not," Enjolras stated, bringing the torch closer to the barrel.
"Retreat!" the head officer ordered. The National Guard rushed away as fast as they could. The head officer paused in his flight to raise his gun, taking aim at Enjolras's golden head.
"No!" Éponine saw the danger, and without a single thought for herself, threw her body in front of Enjolras. There was a crack! as the soldier pulled the trigger, and a stab of pain like a white-hot knife seared through Éponine's chest. She screamed and toppled off the pile of furniture, landing painfully on the cobblestones below.
"Éponine! No!" Enjolras yelled, scrambling down to her side. He cradled her gently in his arms. "Are you crazy?"
"Maybe," she tried to smile, but winced. "'Parnasse used to claim I was a couple cards short of a full deck. But then again, people always do crazy things when they're in love."
"Oh, 'Ponine," Enjolras breathed.
Éponine caressed his cheek. "Just hold me now, and let it be. Stay with me until…" Blood trickled from her mouth, her sentence unfinished.
"I won't desert you now," Enjolras promised.
Rain began to fall. Éponine took slow, shuddering breaths. Enjolras took her hand, rubbing his thumb gently over it. Éponine looked into his eyes. Her body twitched, and she gave one last grasp of his hand before she went limp and her eyes closed. The thread of her life had been cut.
"No," Enjolras protested. "No!" He held her body and sobbed.
Combeferre and Courfeyrac came and sat beside him. They each put a hand on his shoulder, not speaking, for words could not express the grief Enjolras felt in this moment.
At last, he stood up, taking Éponine's body in his arms. He carried her into the Corinthe and laid her on a table. He arranged her as best he could, placing her hands so they were clasped over her breast. He bent down and kissed her forehead. "I fight now in your name, Éponine," he said. "You will not be forgotten."