Ink and Insurrection || Enjolras

06. Promise?

Paris, France
1832

Enjolras, Amelie and Jo were gathered in the girls apartment. Jo sat at her desk writing a letter whilst Enjolras watched her from the arm chair and Amelie read her book on the Chaise Lounge.
"Will you write that I miss them?" Amelie asked Jo. She was writing to Charlotte and Marmee to update them on the recent events of her life.
"Of course." She scribbled the 'i miss you' down and began reading it over.

Dearest Marmee and Lottie,

What a ride Paris has been. As you know, I joined the Les Amis, and you know about Enjolras, the leader. Well, this letter is to inform you that Enjolras has now courted me.

He's mentioned that he intends to marry me once the rebellion is over. I hope you are both well, Amelie and I both miss you.

Hope to see you soon,
Love, Jo.

Jo folded the letter and placed it in an envelope and addressing it to her childhood home.
"I'm heading out, I have to post this." Jo stood from her chair, as did Enjolras.
"I'll escort you, my love." He held an arm out and Jo took it, her cheeks tinted with a faint blush.
As they left, Jo glanced back at Amelie who had a knowing smile on her face. She was happy for them and couldn't be more thrilled her sister had finally found a lover.
As the couple walked arm in arm down the street towards the post office, Enjolras couldn't help but admire everything about her.
"What?" Jo looked up at him
"Nothing, you're just so beautifully." When he said this, Jo looked down at her feet, growing nervous by the compliment, "You're not getting all shy now." Enjolras teased her.
Jo laughed slightly and hit him on the shoulder as they came to a stop outside the post office. She walked inside, Enjolras behind her, and she handed the postman her letter.
However, upon exiting, she ran straight into none other than Louis.
"Ah, Jo! We meet again." He then turned to Enjolras, "And you are?"
"Enjolras." He answered plainly, placing and arm around Jo's waist.
"Ah, looks like he's your lover, Jo." The girl just nodded, wanting to get out of this situation, "Well, Jo, I'll give you one last chance to marry me, or you can go with this scum."
"I love him." Jo answered.
Louis seemed taken aback by this statement, "You love him? He's a revolutionary, Jo. A rebel. He's no good for you."
"And you are? Louis, I will not marry you, I never will." She snapped at the man in front of her.
When she turned to leave, Louis grabbed her arm, "You will regret this," his voice was low and threatening, "You have no idea who I am."
The words were cryptic and Jo couldn't help but feel uneasy as her and Enjolras walked away.
When they returned from the post office, they grabbed Meg, and some of their notes which they wrote down in the previous meetings and headed to meet the Les Amis' at the Musain.

****

The Musain was busy when Jo and Amelie had arrived. They told Enjolras to go ahead seeing as when he offered to accompany them there, neither sister was ready to go that early.
The place was buzzing with excitement as Enjolras' voice pierced through the conversations of the Les Amis'.
"The time is near! The people of Paris can feel a revolution brewing, they know it's coming!" He glanced to Grantaire as he said the next line, "Don't let the wine go to your brains. We need a sign to rally the people and to call them to arms!"
Enjolras went back to his map, discussing quietly with a few other boys.
"Marius, wake up. You look as if you've seen a ghost." Joly laughed as Gramtaire joined in.
"Some wine and say what's going on?" He offered Marius the bottle.
All this commotion around their friend gained Jo's attention as she listened more closely to their teasing.
"Well, she was just like a ghost. She was there one minute and then it's like she disappeared." This sentence now gained Enjolras' attention.
"Am I hearing correctly?" Grantaire gasped, "Is Marius in love at last? This is better than an opera!"
"Was she pretty?" Jo sat down beside Marius who nodded, he looked as though he was in a daze, "Who was she?"
"I don't know." Marius answered the girl.
"You're in love, but you don't know who she is?" Jo asked, taken a back.
"Well Éponine knows of her. She's helping me find her." Marius answered. Before Jo could reply, Enjolras pulled up a chair.
"Is this some game for rich young boys to play? We're not fighting for the night at the opera, we're fighting for change, equality and a better life in Paris!" Enjolras grew frustrated with the group.
"Enjolras, had you seen her today, you'd know what it's like to have someone change your life by one single glance." Marius failed to notice the lingering glance Enjolras shot towards Jo, but Grantaire did not.
"Marius, you're no longer a child. I know you mean well, but now there is a higher cause. Your life, my life, everyone's lives do not matter. That's not what we're her for."
"I know, I'm sorry." Marius smiled at his long time friend.
"Listen, everybody!" Courfeyrac called out to the group.
The room turned to him, "General Lamarque is dead." Gavroche shouted to the Les Amis. Jo made her way towards the young boy, crouching down and asking him more.
"This is our sign! This is where we will rally the people. On the tomb of Lamarque will our barricades rise!" Enjolras shouted and the group cheered. They were getting closer, which meant they had to live every moment from here as their last.
When the meeting ended, Jo walked past Enjolras on her way to drink with everyone else downstairs. However, as she did so, Enjolras placed an hand on her arm to stop her. She turned to face him with a smile.
"I don't want to see you at the barricade." His voice was stern.
Shocked by his words, Jo asked, "What?"
"Please, Jo. I can't put you in that danger." Enjolras begged her.
"It's not your decision to make, Enjolras." The girl argued, but when he turned, she noticed the tears in his eyes.
"Jo, I'm begging you, stay away from the barricade."
Jo didn't say anything, she couldn't. She knew it would just be a lie if she promised so she stayed silent.
Enjolras and Jo walked home later that evening and separated at the door. Jo knew what she had to do. She would find some of her old costume pieces from when she and her sisters would put on their performances, and she would be at the barricade, beside her love, but he wouldn't know.