Mon Étoile

Chapter Fifteen

"He's back!" Joly cried. Everyone raised their weapons.

"Listen, my friends," the man began, "I have done as I said. I have been to their lines. I have counted each man. I will tell what I can. Better beware, they have armies to spare and now danger is real we will need all our cunning to bring them to heel."

"Have faith," Enjolras said, gesturing for him to come through the little movable portion of the barricade we'd made. "If you know what their movements are, we'll spoil their game. There are ways that a people can fight. We shall overcome their power." As soon as I caught sight of the man, I tensed. I moved over to Gavroche.

"Pray tell, Gavroche, do my memory and eyes deceive me or is that Inspector Javert?" I said quietly.

"You're right," he said. "I was about to say so."

Smirking, I said, "I think we should toy with him, what do you say?" He smiled mischievously and nodded.

"I have overheard their plans," Javert said. "They will not attack tonight. They intend to starve you out before they start a proper fight. Concentrate their force, hit us when it's light."

"That so?" I called, jumping down from the ledge I had been sitting on with Gavroche. At the sight of me, recognition flashed across his face as well as brief fear as I stepped towards him with a coy smirk. "Funny, I seem to think I recognize you." Hercule fixed me with a surprised look, sensing I was playing some game. "But I can't think of where." His eyes showed his irritation and slight fear at my game as I pondered, "Could we have met on the street at some point? Or perhaps just a passerby. No, oh I remember now. Was it not you that arrested me? Or was that another?" My smirk dropping as much as my voice, I hissed, "Or perhaps there is another Inspector Javert." 

"Good evening dear Inspector, lovely evening, my dear," Gavroche added. Everyone was on high alert now and started towards him. "We know this man, my friends, his name is Inspector Javert. So don't believe a word he says 'cause none of it's true. This only goes to show what little people can do."

"Hey!" I cried defensively. "I'm not that small."

"Bravo, little Gavroche, you're the top of the class," Courfeyac praised. "Him and Madmoiselle Nicolette caught the snake in the grass."

"Take this man and throw him in the tavern in there, the people will decide your fate, Inspector Javert," Hercule spat, shielding me slightly with his body. 

"Shoot me now or shoot me later, every schoolboy and whore to their sport," Javert spat back, glaring at me. Instantly Hercule lunged forward, springing on him as he caught the insinuation.

"Shut your mouth about her!" he warned as I pulled him away with difficulty as only one of my hands was in commission. 

"He isn't worth it, Hercule!" I cried. He wasn't looking at me. He was panting heavily and glaring with death upon the inspector. I lay a hand on his chest and his eyes met mine. He seemed to calm slightly and backed away from me.

"We keep looking forward!" Marius cried. The next moment there was a commotion from the tavern where they were handling Javert. Several men sprung forward and he swung punches at them, even managing to get Hercule once before they all jumped him and he was hit with a metal pipe. Everyone was very quiet and the men that had just handled Javert were panting slightly when the sound of footsteps reached our ears.

"They're coming!" someone shouted.

Hercule and I climbed up to the front as he muttered, "You are staying from the front lines."

"You promised you wouldn't keep me from the fight," I retorted.

"By the right! Wheel!" the commander shouted.

"That was before you were injured," he said. 

"Now, hold your fire. Hold your fire!" Marius ordered.

"I can still fight, Hercule," I retorted. 

"Front rank, kneel!" the commander ordered.

"Save your gunpowder!" I ordered.

"Nicolette," Hercule warned. 

"Take aim!"

"Get down," I hissed, pulling Hercule down beside me.

"Who's there?!" the commander shouted.

Hercule looked at me and I gave a slight nod before he shouted, "French Revolution!"

"Fire!" the man shouted. Instantly shots began to go off.

"Go!" Hercule ordered, shooting in their direction. After slight hesitation, I nodded and got out of the front lines.

"They're coming over the barricade!" a voice shouted. Soldiers were seen from the edge now, and I raised my gun, took aim, and began taking out those I could one by one. I was a fair shot and rarely missed, but each shot felt like a knife was being driven through my wrist. 

"Fall back or I blow the barricade!" Marius shouted, holding a torch to a barrel of gunpowder.

"Blow it up and take yourself with it!" the commander retorted.

"And myself with it," Marius agreed as Hercule climbed up towards him.

"Back! Back!" ordered the commander. Hercule took the torch from Marius, letting out a sigh of relief as his eyes met mine. Everyone was shouting at Marius but he didn't say a word. Everyone was scrambling around trying to get the guns and powder inside as it began to rain, but my eyes landed on a body in the middle of the barricade.

"No," I whispered, seeing the crumpled and bleeding form of Eponine. Marius was crouched down next to her as both were crying. Shaking, I walked away only to hear two voices arguing. 

"What are you doing here?!" Hercule whisper-shouted. 

"What are you doing here!" another voice retorted. Lowering their voice, they hissed, "You're going to get yourself killed!" 

"Better to die than be here," Hercule retorted. "I have only one thing to live for." 

"Hercule-" the other began. 

"Go, Léo," Hercule snapped. "Before Father knows that you've gone."