The Darkest Night Will End

The Enjolras-Coste Flat, Paris, 2:24pm, June 5th, 1832

The Enjolras-Coste Flat, Paris, 2:24pm, June 5th, 1832

Jacquelyn sighed, glancing at the mirror to straighten their cravat, before calling to Enjolras, "We're going to be late to meet the men if you don't hurry up!"

"I'm almost done, give me a moment." He groaned, moving out of the bathroom, tying his hair back as he went.

They chuckled, "You spend the last two years planning this revolution just to be late because you woke up late?"

"Pff- shut up," He laughed, "You could've woken me up."

"I'd just as soon poke a sleeping bear with a stick." Jacquelyn said, moving to tuck their pistol into the holster at their side, brushing their blazer back over to cover it.

"You have the passcodes for the other barricades?" Enjolras asked.

They waved the parchment, having pulled it from their skirt pocket, "Right here. Now lets go."

"Okay okay!" He chuckled, pulling open the door, "Off to start the revolution then."

The cafe was teaming with the other ABC members when the couple arrived, and after a quick talk with Combeferre and Courfeyrac, Enjolras gave the word for everyone to start heading out to the path the funeral procession would be taking.

The whole way there Joly chartered nervously, Gavroche jumped and ran about excitedly and both Enjolras and Jacquelyn pretended not to notice the way Grantaire followed the ABC's procession silently and carefully, only talking quietly with a boy Jacquelyn was sure was Eponine in disguise.

By the time they reached the square a silence had fallen over the group as they joined the ranks of other mourners, spreading themselves out within the crowd, flags and banners hidden away until the right time.

Jacquelyn gripped Enjolras' hand as the National guard rode slowly by, their steady march marked by the low beating of drums.

The crowd managed to grow even more silent as the carriage rolled slowly into view down the street, swaths of black crepe lining the sides and flowers covering the casket at the top.

Behind them, Bahorel seemed to grow impatient, taking half a step forward only to be drawn back by Feuilly, hissing, "Not yet."

Jacquelyn looked up, across the street, to where Gavroche had disappeared to climb up and watch from the top of the elephant. The boy smiled down at them, nodding at the carriage.

"Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men," Enjolras began softly, heart pounding in his chest as slowly the other ABC members and the other revolutionary groups joined in, "It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again. When the beating of your heart echos the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes."

More of the crowd was beginning to join in now, and the song became louder still with the addition of their voices, "Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?"

Jacquelyn bowed their head as the carriage bearing Lamarque came closer, still singing, "Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?"

Enjolras squeezed their hand once before letting it go as the last row of national guardsmen in front of the first carriage passed, grabbing the flag that Bossuet fumbled to him, "Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!"

People surged into the street now, stopping the procession entirely, waving flags as they sang, "Do you hear the people sing? Singing the song of angry men? It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again! When the beating of your heart echos the beating of the drums there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"