Forever and Always

Chapter 4: Brotherly Love

        Marius' held Eponine's shivering body in his arms. Because of the tough airs Eponine always put on, Marius had never realized how frail she really was. She was as light as a feather, and her bones jutted out awkwardly. She was bruised, bloodied, and filthy. In spite of all this, Marius could not help but notice how beautiful she was.

        Marius shook his head. This is Eponine, he reminded himself. She was like a sister to him. He could never harbor any feelings for her beyond brotherly love.

        Marius walked to his house, still cradling his friend in his arms. He knocked on the door and waited for Madame Lafaire, his housekeeper, to let him in. The door opened. Madame Lafaire ushered him in. She was a plump old woman with gray hair, wrinkles, twinkling eyes, and a kindly smile. When she caught sight of Eponine, her eyes widened.

        "What happened?" she asked.

        "I'm not sure," Marius replied. "She's hurt badly. I need you to dress her wounds."

        "Of course," the old woman replied.

        "She will probably need to stay here for a few days until she heals."

        Madame Lafaire nodded. "All right, but are you sure your grandfather will be okay with that?"

        Marius looked at her. "Grandfather is going to be out of the house traveling for another two weeks. What he doesn't know won't hurt him." Madame Lafaire nodded.

        Suddenly, Eponine's eyes fluttered open. "Marius?" she said softly.

        Marius looked down at her fondly. "I'm here," he replied.

        "What happened?" she whispered. "I'm in so much pain."

        "I was hoping you would tell me what happened," said Marius.

        Eponine closed her eyes. " Of course, I remember now," she said. "My father..."

        "What did your father do?" Marius said sharply.

        Eponine stared up at him, a mournful look in her big brown eyes. "He took your book," she said. "I'm so sorry, Marius. He took it and he said he was going to sell it."

        "It's fine, I don't care about the book," he said, even though that wasn't completely true. "I want to know what happened to you."

        "It was nothing," she said. "I just, um, fell."

        "You fell," Marius said incredulously. "Do you think I'm stupid?"

        Eponine gave him a watery smile. "Do you really want me to answer that?" she teased.

        "Ponine, I'm serious!"

        Eponine opened her mouth to say something, but then winced, clutching her side.

        "Perhaps you should let me clean her up and bandage her wounds first," Madame Lafaire suggested.

        "All right," Marius conceded.

        "Marius?" Eponine said. "I think I can stand."

        Marius set her down gently. Her knees shook, so he put an arm around her to steady her. Together, they followed Madame Lafaire into an uninhabited bedroom.

        "Marius, I did something terrible today," Eponine said.

        "I already told you, I don't care about the book."

        "It's not that," said Eponine. "It's something else."

        "You can tell me everything after Madame Lafaire patches you up," Marius said, helping her onto the bed. Her filthy clothes stained the white bedspread, but Marius did not care.

        "Take good care of her," he told Madame Lafaire, and left the room.