With Patria's Blood

Chapter 4

Enjolras left the room once he had put Emilie to bed properly. Eponine was now asleep again and Monsieur Joly had informed them that she had stitches at the base of her skull and probably concussion from her beating.

"She can't stay at home, or on the streets." Enjolras said.

"I can assure you she won't be going anywhere soon." Monsieur Joly had insisted that for her protection, she stayed with him as Joly was given students quarters at the university until he finished his studies. That would be a long time as they were only 13.

But Eponine being Eponine, as soon as the idea was proposed the very next morning, she outright refused.

"I know my way around." She protested, swinging her legs out of the bed she was on and making a beeline for the door to the bedroom. Grantaire slammed it and stood in front of it, crossing his arms and looking down at her. She huffed and turned to Marius who ran his fingers through his hair. "You can't keep me here forever."

"We can damn well try." Courfeyrac muttered under his breath, earning and glare from Marius as he knew he wasn't helping in the slightest.

"Please 'Ponine." Marius pleaded with her. "You can stay with me."

He took her hand and she fought to keep the smile from her face as his touch sent a tingle through her body and made her stomach lurch and heart beat faster. "No."

"It's the concussion speaking." Grantaire concluded.

"'Ponine, please." Marius was getting more forceful. "Your father is just going to hurt you more."

"What do you know about it Marius? When I first met you, you were singing songs and praises about my father, saying how he's a hero, a great man for saving your fathers life. Oh, I must be so honoured to be his daughter! Is this what a 'great man' who's worth 'honouring' does?" She yelled at him.

"Eponine." Marius raised his voice also. She was in trouble now. He called her Eponine. "We're all looking out for you. We're your friends. I'm sorry my first impression was wrong, but excuse me when I say your father is a little deceptive."

Courfeyrac picked Emilie up as she began to cry from the shouting. He rocked her and shushed her but she could somehow sense Eponine was upset and it made her cry more. Grantaire opened the door and Courfeyrac took Emilie outside where hopefully Enjolras could sooth her and comfort her.

"I do not need looking after Marius! I look after my younger brother, he's been ill, I cannot and will not leave him at the mercy of my family, there is none! He needs me and I intend to be there until he gets better. He's but that high." She motioned with her hand to just below a metre. "If I run away he'll die."

The thought of losing Gavroche made Eponine's head spin and from the shouting gave her a bad headache. Her eyes couldn't keep in contact with Marius's and Grantaire could see that. He went over to Eponine and led her to the bed and helped her sit down.

"I think you should rest. We'll sort something out." Grantaire said, making her lie down and soon enough she was asleep again. He pulled a blanket over her and moved her hair from her face as he sat on the edge of her bed. He looked to Marius who was staring at Eponine and sighed. "Come on, she needs to sleep it off."

He got up and they both headed to the door. Grantaire held it open and Marius slipped out. "I know what'll cheer you up, if you can hold Emilie without her crying!"

Marius glared at Grantaire as they shut the door behind them and then both smirked at each other. They joined the Amis who were sat around in Joly's sitting room. Marius sat cross legged on the and Grantaire flopped onto his back on the floor.