The Barricade at Rue De Villet, 11:57pm, June 5th, 1832
A quiet understanding had filled the alley way as they had clung to each other, but now as Grantaire and Enjolras dropped in uneasy sleep, Jacquelyn carefully extracted themself from their arms, quietly moving up and out of the alley.
It seemed that the rest of the barricade was equally at rest, with the exception of Valjean, who had been murmuring a prayer over Marius.
Presently, he turned, hearing Jacquelyn emerging from the alley, "How did you know my name, child?"
"I met your daughter in the street. But before that, you were at Toulon, weren't you?" Jacquelyn asked cautiously.
The man bowed his head, "I am no longer that man."
They nodded, "You- you got them to think you were dead you know?"
"I had to get out. To fetch Cosette home." He explained.
Jacquelyn couldn't help but crack a smile, "I never saw you but twice, yet I could still recognize you monsieur. There were tales of you, you know? Someone- he got dragged in sometime later- said he'd seen you- mayor of a town!"
Valjean couldn't help but chuckle, "I was, for a time. That was a long time ago."
Jacquelyn shrugged, "So why did you come here?"
"This boy," He motioned to Marius, "He is special to my Cosette. I cannot let him die."
Jacquelyn looked up, trying to see the stars beyond the low layer of clouds that still covered the sky, "He only came here because she was leaving. He never believed in this sort of thing like the rest of us."
He let out a slight gasp, "I have nearly condemned him to death..."
"We are all condemned to death, be it by ourselves or someone higher. And for some that death comes sooner than to others." Jacquelyn pulled their coat tighter around themself.
"That boy- the drunk- he's only just coming to terms with that, isn't he?"
Jacquelyn shook their head, looking back at Valjean, "He has always known. Known and been vocal about it. But being here and now, it really makes you confront these things again."
Valjean studied them for a moment, "You are not afraid of this fate?"
They smiled, "I haven't seen my family in so long Monsieur Valjean, I think it should be nice to see them again."
"You should get some rest," Valjean said decisively, "Well there is still rest to be had."
"As should you." Jacquelyn challenged, even as they moved back toward the alley.
They returned to their men, sitting down against the wall next to them only to have Enjolras arm wrap around them, pulling them closer.
In the little sleep that they got that night Jacquelyn did not see fire, like Enjolras, or death, like Grantaire, but their family, Adrien, Eponine and Madame Moreau, and even for a short time, that was enough.
YOU ARE READING
The Darkest Night Will End
Fanfiction"There is a life, and there is a death, and there are beauty and melancholy in between." -Albert Camus In which three people, a marble man, a drunken cynic, and a tired soul, dragged through miserable lives tied together on some invisible string, f...
