Forever and Always

Chapter 16: The Possibility of Death

        "General Lemarque is dead."

        Four words uttered by one little boy. Four words that changed Marius' life. Four words that opened the gates of the revolution and released the powers of Hell upon France.

        "General Lemarque is dead," Gavroche repeated. Silence filled the room. Marius did not know what to think. General Lemarque, the champion of the poor, the hope of the revolution, was dead. Gone.

        Finally, Enjolras broke the silence. "This is a sign. The people will now rise up! The time to act is now. The revolution has begun."

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        After several long hours of careful planning and scheming, Marius stood outside the cafe, exhausted. Their plans whirled through his mind. In four days' time, General Lemarue's funeral procession would take place. During the procession, the students would rise up and lead the angry citizens in a revolt against the government. There, the barricades would arise, and they would either build a new France or die trying. The thought shook Marius. The students had spent months meticulously planning this revolution, but only now, when it was four days away, did Marius truly understand the enormity of the task at hand. He could die in the fight to be free. These next few days could be his last. For the first time in his life, the possibility of death seemed very real.

        "If I die, I die for Patria," he said out loud. He had to laugh. He had sounded too much like Enjolras when he said that. He had to admit, the phrases about Patria sounded much better coming from Enjolras.  

        Suddenly, something caught Marius' eye. He looked up to see a brown cap perched on a nest of tangled brown hair.

        "Ponine," he muttered. He turned away automatically, trying to avoid her gaze, but then stopped himself. He could die in the battle to come. He had to speak to Eponine one last time. Cautiously, he scanned the crowd around him. When he was sure Thenardier and his gang were nowhere in sight, he called out, "Ponine!"

        Eponine jumped. She turned around and gave him a weary glance. "Oh, hello Monsieur," she said politely.

        "Ponine," he repeated, walking up to her. "I have to tell you something important."

        "Yes?"

       "The revolution... It's begun."

        Eponine's eyes flashed. "What do you mean?" she said, sounding worried.

        "Four days from now, we will revolt during the funeral of General Lemarque, and we will build our barricade. Ponine, I could die in this fight."

        "No!" Eponine cried. "No, I won't let that happen. I'll go to the barricade, too. I'll protect you."

        Marius shook his head. "I cannot let you do that. I just have to tell you something before I fight. Something I cannot die without you knowing."

        For some reason, Eponine looked hopeful. She smiled. "What is it?"

        Marius struggled to find the right words. "I wanted to say I'm sorry," he began,"For avoiding you the passed few weeks. And for... well if your father--"

        The smile fell from Eponine's face. "I s'pose you heard what happened, then," she said sadly.

        Marius' heart dropped. His worst fears had been realized. He could tell from the expression on her face that Thenardier had beaten Eponine after Marius visited their house.

        "I didn't exactly hear what happened, but I guessed it."

        "How did you guess?" Eponine said in disbelief.

        "It was all my fault, Ponine, I'm sorry. I should not have gone to your house. I should have known your father would get angry at you for being friends with a student. I'm the reason he beat you. That's why I've been avoiding you the past few weeks. I did not want to get you into trouble again."

        Eponine looked thoroughly confused. "What are you talking about?" she said, wrinkling her brow. "I haven't seen my father in weeks. He kicked me out the moment I came home because Montparnasse was spying on me and got the wrong idea about why I was staying at your house. I never knew you tried to come to my house, and my father never beat me for it. I must have gotten kicked out before you came over."

        "Oh," said Marius, feeling foolish. Had he really spent the last few weeks avoiding Eponine for nothing? "Well, I'm glad you're safe from him. It's a huge relief to know that he did not beat you."

        Eponine laughed bitterly. "I never said he did not beat me."

        "He beat you before he kicked you out?"

        Eponine nodded. She had a sad look in her eye. "Well, if that's all, Monsieur, I must go."

        "Wait!" Marius said. "You look very sad. What's wrong?"

        "Nothing,' said Eponine quickly.

        "C'mon," Marius urged. "You know you can tell me anything."

        "I do not want to talk about it," Eponine said forcefully.

        "Why not? I'll always be here for you."

        Eponine looked distressed. "Please don't make me talk about this, Marius." 

        "Okay," said Marius. "Do you want me to try to talk to your father? I can try to explain to him why you were really at my house, and maybe he'll take you back in."

        Eponine shook her head. "He will never take me back in. Not now that..."

        "Not now that what?"

        Eponine's eyes shot up at him, an angry fire burning in her pupils. "Not now that I killed my sister!" she yelled. Her eyes widened, shocked at her own outburst. She clamped her hand over her mouth. "My God," she whispered. "I killed my sister."

        Marius looked at her incredulously. "What are you talking about?"

       "Leave me alone, Marius. I've said too much."

        "Ponine. Tell me. Please."

        "Eponine shook her head. "I can't. You'll hate me."

        "How many times do I have to tell you, I will never hate you. Never!" Marius gently touched her shoulder. "Please tell me, Ponine. You do not have to deal with this alone."

        Eponine looked up at him, her eyes glistening with pain and sadness. For a minute, she stood staring up at him in silence. Finally, she took a deep breath. "Okay," she whispered. And she told him everything.