The Princess & the Pauper (Les Mis)

The Switch

Cosette sat in her room, brushing her hair and humming. Her crown lay on the table in front of her, and she reviled in the feeling of not having it's weight on her head. A sudden noise made her almost drop the brush, and she spun around to look at her door. The princess stayed silent for a moment to listen. Just when she was starting to believe she had imagined it, there was another loud thump.

Cosette hesitantly stood up and made her way across the room, peeking through a crack in the door. Seeing nothing, she slowly made her way downstairs.

"Hello? Is someone there? Joly? Musichetta?" She assumed it was one of the staff.

Just as she rounded a corner, an arm grabbed her from behind and her vision was covered. She let out a scream, but it was muffled by the bag that appeared over her head.

——

Javert slipped off his horse in front of an old cabin deep in the woods. It was the perfect hiding place. There was nothing but woods for miles,  the trees so dense that people rarely came out there.

He knocked on the door impatiently. It quickly swung open, and Grantaire stuck his head out, his eyes bloodshot from his hours of drinking.

"We did it, boss!" He slurred with pride.

"Does she know I'm behind this?" Javert asked.

"Not a clue,"

"Perfect. Keep her here until the wedding is cancelled. Now, I need to go organise the next stage of the plan." Javert cackled, pulling himself back onto his horse.

——

"Your majesty! The princess isn't in her room," Javert exclaimed as he burst into the thrown room with fake panic. Marius ran into the room when he heard his cry.

"What? Where is she?" Fantine stood up quickly, walking hurriedly towards her most trusted advisor. The ambassador from the other kingdom and his companion looked on in concern.

"I found this is her room, your majesty. I think you should read it," he handed her a folded letter. Fantine grasped the paper tightly as she glanced over the words.

"It says she's ran away so she won't have to marry King Enjolras! Oh!" The queen cried. Javert let out his own fake gasp of horror.

"We can still find her, your majesty. She couldn't have gone far," Marius spoke up, instantly worried about Cosette's wellbeing.

"This is outrageous. I insist that if the princess has not returned by tonight, the wedding is called off!" Combeferre exclaimed. Enjolras stood beside him silently, his brow furrowed in thought.

"This doesn't make sense, she wouldn't run away." Marius turned his gaze to Javert who was once again in possession of the letter.

"Where did you find this?" Marius asked curiously.

"On the princess's desk," Javert sneered. "Here, look for yourself."

Marius took the letter and caught a light scent of lilac. His heart dropped as he was filled with a sense of forbroading.

"She never scents her paper with lilac, she only uses rose." He mumbled to himself. He turned to Javert suspiciously. "Perhaps I can help you look for her?" He offered.

"Stick to your books, school boy. If you'll excuse me, I am going to oversee the search party." Javert snatched the paper back from Marius before bowing to the upset queen. Marius watched as he left, his suspicion only growing stronger.

——

"Hi Marius!" Gavroche jumped up when he saw the familiar man approaching.

"Hello Gavroche," Marius smiled, glad that he had found a familiar face so quickly once arriving in town.

"Where's your princess?" The little boy asked, looking around to try to spot her. Marius's smile fell.
"Actually that's why I'm here. The princess is in trouble and I need help if I'm going to find her. I would like to speak to your sister, have you seen her?"

"Sure, follow me!" Gavroche waved him over before he took off down the street. Marius was taken aback by the child's speed and struggled to keep up in his dress shoes.

——

"I can't believe it! I'm going to sing at the castle! I need to change! What am I talking about, I only have one dress." Eponine ranted excitedly. Marius had barely gotten a word in before she had started rambling.

"Ponine! Listen to him!" Gavroche told his sister. She paused, her gaze going from her brother to Marius.

"Wait, that's not why you're here?" She asked with confusion.

"Unfortunately, no. Princess Cosette is missing, and I need your help."

"Me? What can I do?"

"I want you to pretend to be the princess, just for a while. I suspect that the queen's advisor has done something to Cosette so that the wedding is called off."

"That's awful, but I can't pretend to be her! I could be thrown in prison, or even worse!" She protested. Marius sighed.

"I know, as can I. But if you pretend to be the princess, I believe that I can trick Javert into revealing where he's keeping her."

Eponine sighed, biting her lip.
"She's in real trouble, isn't she?"

Marius nodded solemnly. Eponine took a deep breath before meeting his gaze, looking determined.
"Alright. Count me in."

"Me too!" Gavroche jumped in.

Marius shared a look with Eponine before chuckling.
"I suppose you can help too, Gavroche. What do you have in mind?"

"I'm small, so most of the time people don't notice me! I can find out anything if I know who to watch," he boasted.
"He's the sneakiest kid I know. If anyone knows anything, Gavroche will find out." Eponine smiled proudly, ruffling her brother's hair.

"Alright. We'll employ you to work in the castle, and you can keep an ear out for anything suspicious." Marius agreed

"Yes sir, you can count on me!" The boy saluted, a cheeky grin on his face.