Until the Earth is Free {Enjolras}

Chapter 10

AN: Happy Belated Barricade Day mon amis! As promised here is the next chapter in celebration. I hope you all enjoy! Much love!

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Lizzie was on lockdown after she returned home. She promised a worried Grantaire that she would be alright until the ball and for the most part she had kept her promise. While she was being kept on the grounds, she worked on the details of her ball, which meant she knew every intimate detail about it. She wrote letters to her boys which were delivered by one of the cookhands who went into the city often to retrieve fresh ingredients for the dishes being prepared that day.

The bad part about being trapped in the house, was that Raoul often was stopping by for visits. Lizzie faked her way through every last one of them. He clearly didn't take a hint and came calling multiple times a day.

The morning of the ball, Lizzie was able to breathe a little easier. She directed where everything should be placed and whenever everything was in its place, she went to her room to prepare.

"Are you ready, Lissette?" Her grandfather's voice flitted through the door after his knock.

"Almost!" She called out as she finished pinning one last strand of hair out of her face. She gave herself one last look over before deciding that she was completely ready for the night.

When she opened the door, her grandfather smiled at her as he offered his arm. She gave a small smile in return as she linked their arms together. "You look absolutely beautiful, my dear." He complimented her as he lead them towards the stairs.

"Thank you." She smiled as they walked down to the main ballroom where all the guests were waiting for her arrival.

The small band began playing after Lizzie and her grandfather introduced, inviting people to come out onto the dance floor to begin the festivities of the evening. Lizzie was too busy looking for Enjolras in the crowd to notice Raoul come up. Monsieur Pontmercy handed Lizzie off and soon the girl was swept away into the latest dance.

"I know I can make you quite distracted, but please, do try to look like you are enjoying this dance. After all, this is our first of many." He smirked down at her.

Lizzie rolled her eyes. "I've not made my decision yet, Raoul." She brought her gaze to his face specifically so she could glare at him.

"You don't have anyone to rescue you tonight, Lissette. You just have me. I'll always protect you. I am a man of the law as you may know and I will do all in my power to make sure you are safe." His face had become quite serious, as it usually did when speaking of the law. How much like his father he was.

Lizzie scoffed. "It's not the people of Paris I need protecting from."

Raoul let out a dark chuckle. "You're right, most of them you don't need protecting from. It's the low lifes who will ask for your every last penny or not even ask at all. It's also the people like your dear cousin, Marius and those stupid republicans who think themselves revolutionaries that you need protecting from."

Those words riled Lizzie up. She didn't even think, which was probably not smart, but she couldn't be in this man's arms any longer. She brought her knee up swiftly and despite the layers of skirts she made contact where she intended. Raoul jerked back and hunched over in pain while bringing his hands to cover the spot in between his legs Lizzie just kneed.

"You are part of the reason so many are on the streets fighting for their lives. You all are! You stay inside ignoring the people crying out for help or just trying to make it day to day while you all sit comfortably on things you don't really need. This isn't who I am! I'm the girl who helps her mother keep a roof over our heads and food on the table while making sure that those around us too have something to eat, at the very least. Change is coming whether you like it or not. Vive la France! Vive la France! Vive la France!" She cried out before running out of the ballroom and out of the mansion.