Until the Earth is Free {Enjolras}

Chapter 1

AN: I am SO sorry that this short thing is what you all will be getting as my "come back" chapter. The last few weeks of school were absolutely insane but guess what?! I AM FINISHED! I am no longer a college student which is super weird and it still really hasn't hit yet. I plan on updating this every wednesday! Thanks for everyone's kind words and sticking around. I hope you enjoy the next chapter and as always let me know what you think!  

Great friends did les amis and Lizzie make. When she wasn't singing and they weren't working or studying they could always be found together. She enjoyed spending time with Marius and his friends. They treated her like she was just one of the boys. They didn't treat her like she was some china doll who needed protecting, well most of the time anyway. There were times when Lizzie went to do something and they would try to either do it themselves or help her. Those times she would wind up showing them that she could do the task without any trouble at all.

A year has passed since Lizzie's initial meeting of les amis and still she sang in different taverns. Marius and her mother were still the only ones who knew of what she did at night. That of course was until her grandfather found out.

On one of the rare occasions that he asked Marius about Lizzie he became infuriated that she had not yet found a husband. She was now 20 and the window to find her a proper husband was getting smaller and smaller. So Monsieur Pontmercy dragged Marius with him out to a carriage and forced him to say where Lizzie was at.

Lizzie was performing at her least favorite places that night. The inn was run by a couple of cons and always over took their share from her pay. The only reason why they didn't steal everything was because she brought in more customers for them to scam. Monsieur Pontmercy stormed the inn and marched right up to the stage. Lizzie's eyes went wide when she saw her grandfather come into the inn. She tried her best to run but before she could move he gripped her arm hard and yanked her with him back towards the carriage. He shouted at her all the way there and even as he pushed her towards the carriage.

Marius helped her in, giving her an apologetic look. Lizzie simply patted him on the shoulder expressing that she had forgiven him.

"How could you do this, Lizzie?! You a Pontmercy! Your mother should have just given you to me to raise after that father of yours died. I would have raised you to know what the Pontmercy name means, not what your mother thinks of it because clearly she thinks it means that her daughter can go about singing in the slums and looking like some whore. Take that god forsaken wig off, Lizzie and wipe that make up off," He ordered.

Lizzie pulled off her wig, setting it beside her. Monsieur Pontmercy snatched it and placed it next to him. He planned on getting rid of it once they got back to his mansion. Marius handed Lizzie a handkerchief and Lizzie wiped her make up off while she glared at her grandfather. "I was only helping my mother with the bills you know since you seemed to cut her off for marrying for love. Now you think you can come in and rule my life? Wait until mother hears about this. I'll be back with her before you know it. Now give me back my wig," Lizzie said, her eyes ablaze with anger while her voice was soft and controlled.

Monsieur Pontmercy raised his cane and smacked Lizzie's thighs causing her to welp in pain. "That is absolutely no way to talk to your elder. You will learn manners and your place. I am going to throw a ball announcing your status and you will find a potential suitor there. Don't you go thinking of any crazy ideas and Marius if I catch you helping her trying to escape or do anything out of sorts you will be punished as well."

Lizzie balled her hands into fists at her side and turned to look out the carriage window. She was silent for the rest of the ride. When Monsieur Pontmercy got out of the carriage once they arrived back at his estate she moved to attack him but Marius caught her before she could do anything. He held her against him as she tried to push against his hold. She finally calmed down and slumped against her cousin. "How can he do this Marius? What about my mum? She's gonna wind up on the streets now with me not helping her and he doesn't even care! All he cares about is how the Pontmercy name looks like. I don't want to even have the Pontmercy name if it means abandoning family and ruining your own family's life. He can't do this Marius. We have to do something." Tears began streaming down her face as she began to sob uncontrollably , repeating over and over how this wasn't right.

Marius turned her around and with the help of the driver he carried Lizzie out of the carriage and into the mansion. "We'll figure something out Lizzie. Don't you worry." He whispered into her hair as he brought her to the room right next to his. It was far away from their grandfather so they could act as they usually did when they were together in peace.

The next morning Marius brought a tray filled with Lizzie's favorite foods and sat it down on the table next to her bed. She still hadn't woken up yet and he honestly didn't blame her. He sat down on the edge of her bed and gently woke her. He gave her a soft smile which she returned. "Good morning, Marius," She whispered.

"Good morning, Lizzie. I brought you your favorites and also some good news." He handed her a plate once she was sitting up against the head board.

"I can go back home to momma?" She asked, hopeful.

Marius looked down. "Not that good of news but your mum won't be living on the streets. I am going to help her pay her rent and various other necessities. Pretty much taking up what you chipped in. I also made sure that Enjolras, Courfeyrac, and Grantaire were invited to the ball tomorrow night so that way you won't be completely bored out of your mind."

Lizzie set her plate back on the tray and threw her arms around her cousin. "Oh Marius I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you. Thank you! That is good news," She beamed.

Marius hugged her back glad to see a smile on his cousin's face again. "You are most welcome, Lizzie. Now eat up. You apparently have some music to learn today."

Lizzie groaned and leaned back, taking the plate back with her. "Do I not get to choose my own pieces to sing? After all if I'm going to show off shouldn't I be the one to pick the songs? I know what best shows off my voice after all."

He chuckled. "Apparently the pianist has a book for you to pick from. I believe they are arias from Italy. Do you know how to sing in Italian?"

Lizzie rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know how to sing in Italian. Mother had a song book with songs of many different languages and taught me them. I then found some on my own and taught myself."

"Well excuse me for not knowing that you know more than just French folk songs." He teased her causing her to smile and push at his shoulder playfully.

People filled the ballroom, creating a circle around Lizzie and the pianist. Lizzie longed for the smoke filled taverns instead of the bright ballroom. She felt like the walls were too small and she was some otherworldly creature for people to stare at like she was some sort of trophy. She wanted to run. Run far away from this and go back to her apartment that she shared with her mum.

Instead she turned and gave a nod at the pianist. She was as ready as she could be. She turned back to face the audience and found Marius, Enjolras, Courfeyrac and Grantaire. She relaxed and launched into her song. The words were sweet and were as if a lover was expressing their feelings towards the one they love but the music and how she was singing made the song very sarcastic. She got a few laughs from the audience and everyone seemed impressed. When she glanced over at Grantaire she noticed his look of shock. Oh no, he finally realized who she was. Well tonight certainly was going to be interesting indeed.