LES DÉSCENDANTS

Chapter 2: Éveiller (Awaken)

The fibers of the artifact glowed to life and fused the two halves together once more as a golden light emanated out from the palms of our joined hands. The light surrounded Enjolras and myself completely, and entered our wounds, stopping the bleeding and causing the bullets inside to simply disintegrate. 

There would still be much healing to do. But as oxygen once again entered our lungs and the first breaths of life entered our consciousness, and as Grantaire wept, cradling us close, we all realized something that day.

Grantaire realized that there was still good in the mysteries of the universe, and that great rewards came to those who dared to hope.

Enjolras realized, as he blinked awake, that sometimes the greatest battles are fought not between others, but within. He made a promise to himself to never close off his feelings, for we never truly know how much time we have left with life's many unpredictabilities. And he swore to use the time he had left to protect me from the ghosts of my past, and to be more open about his own ghosts.

This journey had taught us all lessons about courage, sacrifice, honesty, and trust. I realized, as my eyes flickered open, that perhaps it wasn't just Enjolras who needed saving. Perhaps I had needed a little saving as well. 

"Aurélien..."

"Elena..."

We had our memories back, including all the memories of our true names, and of Marseilles, and of everything in-between.

This new world, this new timeline we created...the memories all flooded back, and it was as if all of the haze was made clear. Here was a starting point, a blank slate. Our eyes held fear, hope, determination...and frankly, we were exhuasted, as we collapsed into each other's arms. We didn't have to say anything for everything to be said.

As the golden light travelled to meet Combeferre, Joly, and Feuilly downstairs, and Bahorel in the street, and Pontmercy at his family home, their first thoughts upon awakening were shock, followed by gratitude, followed by love for their friends - our family of Amis.

As Grantaire helped Enjolras and myself both sit up, I threw my arms around R, burying my face into his shoulder. "You did it. You did everything just right."

He gently placed the artifact back into my hands. "Better keep that in a safe place."

I beamed, watching it glow, and clutched it to my heart before slipping it into my pocket, now whole again.

I felt a hand squeeze mine, and I let go of R as he stood and rushed to the others, and as I squeezed back, I looked into Enjolras's eyes. His lips were hardly moving but I saw all the same: "To the future." We fell into each other's arms once again.

Eventually, Ferre, Joly, and R joined in the hug, and as the golden light spread through the village below, Feuilly and Bahorel made their way to the second story, eyes bright.

Of course, as Montparnasse and Éponine saw the light outside of their hiding place and saw the village healing, they immediately went to check on the body of Jehan Prouvaire, and then Éponine promised she would try and find where they had put the body of General Lamarque.

For it was Montparnasse who had slit the ropes binding Prouvaire to his post and dragged his body through the catacombs, to where he had brought Éponine as a safety measure until the fighting was over, making her swear on her own brother to not make any rash decisions until the fighting was done, for he had seen Courfeyrac bring young Gavroche to safety, and the lad needed his sister alive.

Jean Prouvaire was not to have the same fate. He had remained in a quiet corner of the catacombs, where Montparnasse lay, weeping, begging him to wake up, as he listened to the faint pitter-patter of that once-lovestruck heart slow until he could not hear it anymore. Begging, begging for him to wake up, the only thing rousing him was the golden light filling the catacombs, healing Éponine's wounds and his own, but Prouvaire's heart remained still, and his skin cold as ice.