Chapter 12: Dawn of Anguish

At the shrine of friendship

Raise your glass high

Let the wine of friendship


Never run dry


If I die, I die with you!

~~**~~

It was a sharp crack of thunder that woke Enjolras from his sleep. His eyes snapped open, hand instinctively on the hilt of his pistol that was hidden behind his back; just incase there was another assassination attempt. But then it started to pour. The water came down in buckets, splashing onto the ground and filling cracks. Enjolras swore and jolted upright, his hair falling into his eyes. “Joleigh! Wake up!” He shouted over the noise, pulling on his coat. His fiancée was already awake.

“We have to get inside! Quickly!” She yelled back. She shielded her eyes and pushed herself up, clutching the edge of her skirts that were now caked in dirt. They darted out of the darkness and headed towards the booming sounds that came from ahead. The barricade was in an aggravated uproar. Men ran to and fro, bellowing and spraying water with their boots as they stamped to the café. Enjolras’ eyes widened in panic.

“The barrels.” He muttered. Joleigh turned to look at him.

“What barrels?” But he had sprinted off into the crowd.

“The gunpowder!” Enjolras shouted, “Get it inside!” The remainder of the men helped him start to lug the heavy barrels towards the café. Joleigh had lost sight of him but saw Courfeyrac struggling to get Gavroche untangled from the now sodden sheets and ran to them, easily completing the job. Gav coughed, shivering fiercely as Courf picked him up and sprinted for shelter. Joleigh took the sheets and followed them, her hair hanging in clumped strands that stuck to her face and neck, her vision blurred with sleep and rain. Then she saw Grantaire, still passed out, not seeming to care that the rain pooled around his head. Joleigh spun on her heels and ran at him. “Grantaire! Wake up!” The drunk shifted slightly. Joleigh groaned and trembled. “WAKE UP!” She didn’t want to hit him, but it was necessary.

“Wha-?” His eyes snapped open and he fell backwards with shock. Grantaire wiped his head and blinked through the rain. “Why is it-?” He was still in a drunken state.

“Come on!” Joleigh grabbed his arm and heaved with all her might until the man was on his feet. She wrapped one of his arms around her shoulders, and the drunk stumbled. The girl groaned but hauled him towards the café. Everyone was inside; there was no one to help them. Joleigh had never been so cold in her life.

“Has anyone seen her? Anyone seen Joleigh?” Enjolras was panicked, asking his shivering friends as they attempted to dry the ammunition. His fiancée had not followed him. He was cold himself but the worry overcame that. Suddenly, two figures collapsed through the doorway, spluttering as the smaller dropped the other onto the floor. Enjolras ran to them; it was Joleigh and Grantaire. The leader did not notice the drunk, stepping over his body as he let Joleigh fall into his arms with exhaustion, wrapping his wet arms around her. “Joleigh? All you all right? Where did you go? Are you hurt?” Joleigh didn’t say anything but shuddered furiously.  

“Move, Enjolras, that won’t stop the cold. You’re as wet as she is.” Joly appeared with a dry tablecloth that he found behind the bar. “She’ll catch a cold.” Enjolras reluctantly let her go and allowed his friend to wrap her up in the fabric. Grantaire grunted and was helped up by Jehan and Lesgles, glancing to the stressing leader. Joly addressed Joleigh.

“Joli? Is that better?” Joleigh smiled and nodded.

“Y-yes. Thank you Joly.” She almost laughed. The medic placed a palm against her forehead and sighed with relief.

“She’s not too cold, so she’ll be fine. I don’t think she’ll catch anything. (Thank god.) Enjolras, please-” He remarked when Enjolras moved towards her.

“Just leave her alone for a bit and wrap this around yourself.” Courfeyrac handed him another sheet, then returned to drying Gavroche. The leader unwillingly stepped away and let Joly do his work. He ridded himself of his red jacket and covered his shoulders with the fabric, grumbling as he did so but keeping his eyes fixed on his fiancée.

“Is everyone here?” The leader said after a pause of silence.

“Probably.” Marius spoke up.

“Most of the men have gone upstairs,” Combeferre motioned with his hand, “I informed them that heat rises and they scrambled up there faster than the lightning outside.” Enjolras was not in a joking mood. He only nodded and held his head in his hands, racking his brains; what do we do now? 

Joleigh jumped when two cloaked figures appeared at the doorway. The men leaped from their chairs, prepared to fight.

“Glad to see we’re appreciated.” One said as they came into the café. The figures’ removed their hoods.

“Étoile! Anise!” Joleigh cried and the girls beamed. She had not seen her friends in a long time, probably since before the riots in the town centre.

“Joleigh!” Étoile exclaimed and ran to her. “Whatever happened to you?” The two embraced tightly.    

“Anise! What are you doing here?” Bahorel strode to the other, putting his large hands on his pretty wife’s shoulders.

“You must both leave at once!” Enjolras commanded. “We can’t allow any more women on this barricade.” Étoile pouted and wrung out her light brown hair, green eyes gleaming.

“Please,” She said calmly, rubbing her reddening nose. “We’ve only come to bring food and bandages-“

“And wine!” Anise giggled, holding out a green bottle.

“Recently stolen from my father’s cellar.” Étoile added. Enjolras suddenly froze. This was Inspector Javert’s daughter; the inspector the volunteer had killed. He turned pale. Why did he not think of this before? The rest of Les Amis knew this too, and were silent, allowing the patter of the heavy rain take over the room. Grantaire spoke out first;

“Much appreciated, mademoiselle.” He smirked and took a bottle from the girl’s hands.

“Thank you. Now, you both must go.” Enjolras stated.

“But why? Joleigh’s here! And Eponine…where is Eponine?” Étoile asked innocently. Silence ran through the room once again. Enjolras looked to the floor. The two girls’ eyes widened. Étoile’s hand snapped up over her mouth to suppress a gasp. Anise looked from her husband to the others.

“You can’t be serious…” She shook her head. Tears were already staring to well in her hazel eyes.

“Out! You must leave now!” Bahorel boomed but kissed her forehead before whispering something else in her ear. Anise nodded, biting her lip, and placed the basket she was carrying on the ground before grabbing Étoile’s hand.

“No, we can’t – but –“ Étoile stammered as Anise dragged her to the door. “Joleigh, can’t we take you with us?”

Enjolras pondered the thought. If Étoile and Anise took Joleigh from the barricade she would be safe and warm. He looked up to his fiancée, who was thinking herself.

Joleigh’s gaze drifted around the room, over every one of her friends who looked weaker than they have ever been before. Their eyes no longer had that flare of hope; even Enjolras’ sparks were dying out.  No. She couldn’t leave them. These men were boys; the same boys who had helped her grow up, the same boys who were always there for her, the boys that were her friends. Joleigh could not abandon them now.

“No.” she said softly. Enjolras began to protest, but she interrupted him. “No I won’t leave you. I won’t leave any of you.” The men looked at her with regret, but she had made her decision.

“Are you sure?” Anise pressed further, taking Joleigh’s cold hands in hers. The girl nodded.

“Entirely.” She smiled reassuringly, “I’ll be fine.” Anise’s gaze lingered over her face, trying to reading the emotion behind it, but sighed and gave up.

“Very well.” The two girls went back to the doorway. Anise wrapped her arms tightly around Bahorel one last time, kissing his cheek.

“Be careful. We’ll pray for you.” Étoile stated, before they raised their hoods and disappeared out into the slowing rain.

“You could have gone.” Jehan stated. “It’s almost dawn, more battles are coming.” Joleigh shook her head and stood, walking over to Gavroche and Courfeyrac.

“Why Madam?” Gavroche looked up at her with his round red-rimmed eyes. Joleigh smiled softly and shook of the sheet of her shoulders and wrapped another layer around the boy.

“Vive la France.” She stated and mussed his hair. Enjolras’ head snapped up from staring at the ground. Joleigh was looking right at him; their blue eyes meeting brought him to his feet. He was about to walk over to her when Grantaire started singing.

Drink with me,

 To days gone by!

Can it be you fear to die?

Everyone stared with shock at the drunk, who carried on rambling, knuckles whitening on the wine bottle as he grasped it. Grantaire was staring at their leader.

“Grantaire, that’s enough!” Enjolras shouted, realizing the words the drunk was spewing was destroying the newly kindled hope. Grantaire just narrowed his gaze.

Will the world remember you,

When you fall?

Can it be your life,

Means nothing at all?

Enjorlas seized the drunk by his collar and hoisted him off the bar stool. “I said enough!”

“Enjolras! Let him go!” Joleigh cried. Grantaire laughed and then hissed;

Will your death be one more lie?

The leader snarled and threw the drunk on the ground in a rage. The bottle smashed on the ground; wine spilling on the wooden floor. Enjolras went to throw a punch. Courfeyrac and Combeferre grabbed his shoulders before Enjolras could do anything else to harm the man. Joleigh ran and dove over Grantaire, shielding his body with her own. “Stop it Enjolras, now.” The drunk cowered behind her. Enjolras’ eyes widened with realization at what he had done. He relaxed and shook off his friends.

“Forgive me.” He muttered and turned away to hide his embarrassment. Joleigh checked if Grantaire was actually hurt, but he wasn’t, not physically. She sighed and helped him up, Lesgles and Bahorel taking him back to his seat. The rain had stopped and the sky had almost cleared, but for the clouds that still lingered. The leader had been waiting in silence for this moment. Enjolras gave Joleigh a sorrowful glance, before putting on his coat. “I’m going to check the other barricades. Combeferre, I’m putting you in charge. Courfeyrac, Jehan and Marius assess the damage done to the ammunition and our barricade. Joly, use the supplies to help the wounded. Bahorel, Lesgles and Feuilly rally the men. Joleigh…” She already knew. Take care of the drunk and the child. As usual. Enjolras pulled a hand through his golden curls and moved to the door. “I’ll return soon.”

 ~~**~~

Phew...Wow this chapter really describes the say 'Enjolras was a charming young man, capable of terrible...' even though all the bad this seem to happen to Grantaire (aww my poor drunkman) Anywho you may have noticed the two feature female characters (Etoile and Anise) who are friends of Joleigh...They come from the lovely Sammi943's fic 'Etoile' which is sort of like a prequel to this one! So head on over there if you want to know more about the girls' friendship and how Enjolras and Joleigh got together! I'll put the link below!

I'm actually kind of sad as there are not many chapters left unitl the end! Crazy right? I have really enjoyed writing this and hearing your feedback, so please post more! Tell me how you think it is going to end, or how you want it to end, beacuse you nevvverrr knooowwwww....it may be quite a surprise!

Anywho, I love you with all of my heart!

-Grantaire/Kat xx

Link: http://www.wattpad.com/story/4720677-étoile-a-les-miserables-fanfiction