LES DÉSCENDANTS

~Le Mariage, Partie 1 (The Wedding, Part 1)~

A faint smile played upon Enjolras's lips as he ran his finger around the edge of Marius Pontmercy's wedding invitation. "Avenir, what are your thoughts on marriage?"

My heart stopped. I spoke the truth. "In Marseilles...there was no time for marriage. People fell in love, or what they thought was love, but it was kept hidden. Attach yourself too much to any one person and then they were taken, or changed..." I shook my head. 

"And what was what they thought was love?"

I shrugged. "Lust, looks. Some people in Marseilles would rush into something because the future was so uncertain. I heard of a few weddings held in secret."

"...and?"

"In my mind, if the future is so uncertain, how will you ever know if the love will hold unless you've been through those uncertain times and come out on the other side stronger?"

"Hmm. But we are straying from the point. What do you think of this marriage?" He waggled the invitation.

I looked at him and we both burst into laughter. Once I caught my breath, I went on: "No, no, let me answer your question. I know them better than you ever will; I know exactly how their relationship was described years into the future."

Enjolras stood. "You knew this wedding was coming?"

"Well, I've been a little busy to think about it. But back to the question at hand. They think they're in love."

"And is that love?"

"You tell me, Aurélien Enjolras. What is true love?"

Enjolras gazed at me, the smile upon his lips growing. "Love comes from within."

I raised my eyebrows. "That sounds like something someone madly in love would say."

Enjolras chuckled quietly to himself. 

What was that supposed to mean?

I backed down. "So are we going to this wedding or not?"

A/N: It was Av who first told Enj in book 1 that "love comes from within" so he's playing on that, not talking about himself at all.

It was he who now raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps the most capitalistic structural invention since the economy? You realize we not only have to pay for classy clothing even though neither of us were chosen to be a bridesmaid or best man, and then we are expected to purchase a gift for someone who distracted him from the revolution..."

I paled. "They're going to make me wear a dress."

"And we will be expected to toast this 'love' and dance those idiotic traditional waltzes...such frivolities when we should be focusing on how the revolution will proceed."

I paled further but not because of the dress. I looked at his red tailcoat hanging off the back of his chair, my blue vest draped over it. I pointed. "Why don't we just wear those?"

"Our clothing from the revolution?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Stop looking so incredulous."

It finally clicked, and I saw a glimpse of the old Enjolras, with the familiar fire in his eyes and revolution in his heart. "I must convince the others."

"Enjolras...let them wear what they want to wear. Some want to forget the revolution for a day. They're traumatized."

"Then what are we?"

"Messengers of the truth. And two people who are going to give a room full of bourgeoisie a very unforgettable night indeed."

"You mean le château." The reception following the ceremony was to be held at M. Gillenormand's enormous mansion. "And the gift?"

"I think we can think of something." I eyed the red, white, and blue thread still piled in a messy. corner of Enjolras's desk.