Mon Étoile

Chapter Seventeen

Present Day

"So that's the day before the revolution was over?" Léo asked. 

"Yup," I replied. "The next day was when we were arrested." 

Standing, Léo said, "Well, perhaps you shall tell me the rest one day." 

I nodded and got to my feet as well, taking Hercule's hand. 

Final Day of the Revolution

I woke with a start at the sound of pounding footsteps. Marius was approaching where Hercule and I were as he said, "Enjolras, the rain's damaged the gunpowder. We're low on ammunition."

Hercule helped me up as he said, "We're the only barricade left."

"What?" I breathed.

"We're the only ones left," he repeated. "The people have not stirred. We're abandoned by those who still live in fear. Let us not waste lives. Let all who wish to...go from here." My heart sank. He may not have said it, but I knew he had given up on winning this battle. No one moved as I stepped forward, taking my husband's hand and lifting his head to look at me.

"I'm with you to the end," I promised. "Say the word and I will follow you." He lay his forehead against mine. He was usually never so affectionate in front of other people, but as I glanced at the men, I saw that all of them seemed to have gained a newly determined gleam in their eye as if being reminded what they were fighting for.

Present Day

"If we hurry we can get you two out of the castle and onto the boat," Léo said, rushing through the castle with the two of us running behind him, hand in hand. My dress streamed behind me as I ran, my feet strengthened by hope for the future. 

Final Day of the Barricade

"Do you hear the people sing?" Gavroche sang. "Singing the song of angry men. It is the song of a people who will not be slaves again." Other voices joined in as some light, some hope seemed to return to Hercule's eye. "When the beating of your heart, echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes."

I pulled away from Hercule and moved to Gavroche. "We need more ammunition," I said quietly. "The only place is the cartridges of the soldiers down there."

"I can get them," he offered excitedly.

"No, we'll go together," I countered.

Present Day

"Thank you, Brother, for everything," Hercule said, hugging Léo tightly. 

"I will miss you, my friend," I said, hugging him also. 

"I'm just glad I could help," Léo replied, looking between us sadly. 

Last Day of the Barricade 

We both crawled through the barricade until we were by them and began to collect the cartridges. "Throw them to the barricade when you get them," I ordered, tossing one over with my good hand. 

"Little people know, when little people fight," Gavroche sang to himself, causing me to smile. "We may look easy pickings, but we got some bite." He handed me a cartridge and I tossed it into the barricade. I tried to ignore the pounding in my heart as I saw the guns being aimed at us. I tossed two more into the barricade. "So never kick a dog, because it's just a pup." A soldier fired, hitting the casket beside us. Instantly I stood in front of Gavroche.

"Nico!" Hercule cried, just having seen what was happening. I threw another cartridge up and smiled half-heartedly. He tried to climb over the barricade, but Marius held him back.

"We'll fight like twenty armies and we won't give up!" Gavroche taunted as I tossed up another cartridge.

"Gavroche! Gavroche, what are you doing? No!" Courfeyrac shouted, trying to get to the little boy. I moved over to toss up another cartridge, but the next moment, I shot went off. I felt the wind zip past me before Gavroche fell.

"No!" I screamed. I crouched beside him before glancing up at the others. Hercule was so tense his veins were practically popping out of his temple and neck. He was clearly fighting every instinct inside of him.

Getting back up, Gavroche hissed, "So you better run for cover when the pup grows..." another shot.

"NO!" I screamed, moving before it. Instantly, I screamed and Hercule shot out from the movable portion. He grabbed hold of me as I gasped for air and Courfeyrac got Gavroche. Hercule laid me down and Joly crouched next to me. While I had been crouched down, the bullet had ripped through my shoulder and into Gavroche. Joly patched up as best he could, but the battle began to go on.

I got to my feet shakily with the help of a very pale Enjolras. "You at the barricades listen to this!" the commander shouted, his voice almost, just almost, sounding regretful of what just happened. "The people of Paris sleep in their beds. You have no chance, no chance at all. Why throw your lives away?"

Meeting my eyes, Hercule said, "Let us die, facing our foes. Make them bleed while we can."

"Make them pay through the nose."

"Make them pay for every man."

Grasping Hercule's hand, I cried, "Let others rise to take our place!"

"Until the earth is free!" Enjolras finished.

"Cannons!" the commander shouted as I raised a musket, ignoring the stabs of pain in my shoulder and wrist. "Quick as you can, cannons!"

I saw Hercule open his mouth to say something to me, but I snapped, "Don't even think about it." He shut his mouth, letting a small smile slip through, even though it quickly faded away.

"Far-right first!" Marius shouted.

"Wait for it! Wait for it!" Hercule warned. "Fire!" The men around that cannon felt.

"Second cannon!" I shouted. "Fire!" Same thing, only less. Men started shooting at the barricade, breaking it to bits as they shot off even more shots. Hercule and I stayed at the barricade as long as we could before helping those who were injured along and into the tavern. We got to the second floor and began tossing down glass objects at them. Hercule had an arm around my waist, holding me as near to him as possible. Three other men were with us.