Until the Earth is Free {Enjolras}

Introduction

Smoke filled the tavern. It created a blanket around its patrons that doubled as a curtain for those who moved around. While the tavern was anything but fancy it still held a small stage on the opposite end from the bar. A thick red curtain that had seen its fair share of the world separated the smoke blanket from the performers hidden behind the shabby cloth.

The patron's chatter softened due to the introduction of the musical act. She was a petite thing looking even smaller standing next to the upright bass. Long brown waves rested against her shoulders, the stage make up she wore hid her freckles but made her bright green eyes shine even brighter as her plump red lips formed the words of her opening number.

The singer was in her element. She traveled between this tavern and two others sharing her voice with those who would listen but this tavern by the name of Café Musain was her favorite. There was something special about it even if all she had was a feeling and not anything physical to validate them.

She sang folk songs, the music the regular people of France wanted to hear and dance to, not the "pretty" music that was performed at the Opera House. She reached the part of her act where she let her voice rest. She would come down from the stage and choose a patron to dance with but since she was at the Café Musain she always chose the same patron unless he wasn't there which was always a rare occurrence.

She found the man with the brunette curls with a sullen look on his face and the smell of wine on his breath. Despite his drunken state he always seemed to keep up with her. She remembered the first time she saw him and despite her silent promise to make him smile at least once while she was there, she never got his name.

When she was finished with her set she would go back stage and take off her stage make up, letting her freckles once more be visible. She would then take off her wig and let her sandy blonde curls fall around her shoulders. She always looked like a completely different person after she removed her costume which was good since she had a name and reputation to uphold outside the tavern's walls.

Outside the tavern walls she was not Isabelle she was Lissette Pontmercy or more commonly known by her friends and family Lizzie. If Pontmercy seems like a familiar name, it should be. Lizzie's cousin is Marius Pontmercy whom is more like a brother than a cousin. The two grew up together and created a close bond between the two despite the family drama.

Lizzie's mother is the black sheep of the family thus making Lizzie one as well. Lizzie's mother married below her class and helped to provide for her family by working in a factory. Due to them not being under Monsieur Pontmercy, Lizzie and Marius' grandfather, Lizzie's mother raised her to be an independent woman who could think freely and do as she pleased. Lizzie soon developed a wit about her and was often out spoken. She believed in more liberal views and the "worse" thing that could have ever happened to her was Marius teaching her the lessons he learned in school especially during his university years.

Marius even tried to help his beloved aunt and cousin when Lizzie's father died but they both denied his money since they didn't want him to also face the wrath of Monsieur Pontmercy like they did. Instead Lizzie took up singing in taverns. She had a natural talent that was loved by all that heard her sing. In the year 1825 was when Lizzie began her "tours" at the young age of 15. The opening of this book is a mere two years later.

The only people that knew of Lizzie's evenings were her mother and Marius, after all she and Marius shared everything with each other. Marius would often walk her back to the tiny apartment her and her mother managed to keep after she performed to make sure she was safe getting back. He worried about her doing this but knew once Lizzie set her mind to something there was no getting her to back down.