30th blog post and ~Beyond the Barricade~ Part 8...

Hey guys!
30th blog post! YAY! *throws confetti* Thanks to all my AWESOME readers for giving me 1000+ page views! You guys are awesome!

Just worked really hard on this new part so I hope you enjoy. I hope to have a third part to Combeferre's story really soon! I just need to stop getting distracted by pinterest....

Before I let you guys read, though, I gotta vent a bit, and you guys will be the only ones who understand my rage.

So I was talking to a friend and I mentioned Les Miserables and he said, "Oh yeah, I listened to Anne Hathaway sing 'I Dreamed a Dream'. It's so auto tuned!"

*Gasp!*

I know, I couldn't believe it either. Even after I *tried* to explain that they sang live on set and there was NO auto tune, he refused to believe me. He informed me that he knows a lot about music and knows when something is auto tuned.... >.<

Anyway, enough ranting....

~Beyond the Barricade~ Part 8

"I've been interested in this Jehan Prouvaire. I think we should find his family." Angeline said, taking a bite out of the stale bread that Azelma had provided for her.

"He was married." Azelma said, quietly.

"You told us he may have had a lover." Chandler said, accusingly. He felt like Azelma couldn't be trusted.

"I guess I lied. He was married to a Alix. Her last name was still Prouvaire last I checked. She never remarried. They had a child, though. A girl." Azelma replied.

"We should go find them next!" Angeline said, squeezing Chandler's hand. He looked irritated at Azelma. He didn't know why but there was just something....off about Azelma.

"Well, you kids are always welcome here." Azelma said cheerfully.

"Thank you, Madame." Angeline said with a smile.

Chandler and Angeline left the small shack.

"I don't know about her...." Chandler said.

"Chandler, she informed me last night, after you fell asleep, that she has no one. She works in a factory sometimes but other than that she is unaccompanied. She lost her siblings on the barricade, her parents abandoned her, and the only man she has ever loved was Combeferre. She lost just about everything that night." Angeline said gently.

"Oh. Well, I guess that explains it." Chandler said.

"It's okay. I understand. She was a bit different, lying and all." She said, taking his hand.

Within two hours, they found the house of Alix Prouvaire. Angeline knocked. A blonde haired, blue eyed girl of about 23 answered the door.

"May I help you?" She asked, more to Chandler than to Angeline. It was obvious that she was taken with him.

"Yes, we're looking for Alix Prouvaire..." Angeline said, glaring at the girl.

"That's my mother. I'll go fetch her!" She said, a bit too perky for Angeline's taste. The cottage wasn't very big but it seemed homey.

"Bonjour! How can I help you?" Said a woman who had just walked up to the door. She had black hair and brown eyes.

"Hello. I'm Angeline Pontmercy and this is Chandler Molyneux. Our fathers were on the barricade. We're looking for the families of the men who were also there. You were married to Jehan Prouvaire, correct?" Angeline inquired, throwing a disdaining look at the girl who was staring intently at Chandler. Alix grew pale.

"Come in." She said, supporting herself on the doorframe.

"Merci!" Chandler said as he escorted Angeline in. He could tell she was jealous. She didn't need to be worried, though. Chandler felt nothing toward the girl, who was trying desperately to get his attention.

"I am Danielle, Monsieur." The girl said. He smiled slightly, but kept his hand in Angeline's the entire time.

"Well, I figure you would like to know everything about Jehan." Alix said, sitting down on a chair. Danielle took a spot by her.

"Yes, please, Madame." Chandler said.

"Well, I met Jehan in 1831. It's funny, I don't remember particularly how we met. I just know that he would come over at least once a week. He was always so sweet. He was a poet. He loved the outdoors and flowers. But he was strong. He was as brave as any of those men who fought that night. He was so passionate about setting his country free.

"But, he was afraid to die. Not because he didn't want to die, but because he didn't want to leave me. I love him for that. We married five days before the barricades arose. He left the morning of the 5th and I never saw him again.

"I think he knew he was going to die. Because he wrote a letter when he was on the barricade and sent it with some old man. After the battles were over, a Monsieur Fauchelevent brought me this letter. I keep it with me always. Would you like to read it?" Alix inquired, wiping a tear from her eyes. Angeline nodded. Alix pulled a worn piece of paper from her pocket. Angeline took it gently. It read:

  Dearest Wife,

If you are reading this, I am dead. I am so sorry to leave you like this. Know that I will always be with you. Please, if you find someone who treats you nicely, remarry. I hate to think you alone forever. Know that you were the sun to my dark world. I've loved you since the moment I saw you and I never stopped. Know that the last thoughts that went through my head was you. Please do not miss me too much, though I know I shall miss you.

I love you.....Forever,

Jehan

Angeline gently wiped a tear from her eye. Jehan seemed like such a sweet person.

"I tried to find someone else, I honestly tried. But I seemed to compare everyone to my wonderful Jehan. He is irreplaceable. But thankfully, he didn't leave me alone. I have my beautiful Danielle who reminds me of him." Alix smiled, squeezing her daughter's hand.

"Thank you for sharing your story with us, Madame." Chandler said.

"You are very welcome. Anything else I can do for you?" She asked.

"I was wondering, do you know where the men met at?" Angeline asked.

"Yes, they met at the Cafe Musain. It's about to be demolished, actually. Their last day open will be tomorrow, so you'd better go quick.

"Thank you, Madame. It was a pleasure to meet you and Danielle." Chandler said with a smile.

The couple walked out.

"Danielle fancied you." Angeline remarked.

"I know. I could tell. It doesn't matter, love. Don't be jealous." He said, kissing her forehead.

"I think Jehan and Alix have the sweetest story. I only wish he had lived. She seemed so kind." Angeline said.

"I know. I feel bad as well."

"Promise me you'll never leave me." Angeline said suddenly.

"I promise, Angeline."

                                        ****

The pair arrived at the Cafe. They took a table near the back.

"So this is it. This is where revolution was planned." Chandler said.

"I guess so.... Wait a bit... What's that?" Angeline said, picking up a small, folded piece of paper that was wedged between the wall and the table.

"Let me see it." Chandler said as Angeline handed him the letter. He unfolded the piece of paper. Angeline watched as he read it. He stifled a gasp with his hand.

"What is wrong?" Angeline asked, a bit worried. Chandler just shook his head and handed her the letter. She read it and was completely surprised. It read:

Dearest Maria,

As I am writing this, the Barricades are arising. I have a feeling I will never see you again. Know one thing: I love you. If I could go back, I would have told you this. I wouldn't have gone with other girls and I would have married you. And every day I would try to be worthy of you, because I am not. I never loved any of those other girls. I only loved you.

Goodbye, my darling,

Courfeyrac

 

"Are you alright, Chandler?" Angeline asked. She saw he was in tears.

"He did love her. Oh, Angeline, he did love her. We have to bring this to my mother."

                                        ****

They arrived at Maria's house just before sunset. They just entered the house, not even bothering to knock.

"Goodness! You look like you ran here!" Maria laughed as she saw how they panted, as if out of breath.

"Mum, read this...." Chandler said, pressing the letter in his mother's hand.

Maria read through the letter about four times before she believed it true.

"Where....Where did you find this?" She asked, her voice shaking.

"At the Cafe Musain." Angeline explained. Maria burst into tears, pulling Chandler into her arms. Instead of resisting, the way he had resisted the last 4 years, he hugged back. Angeline couldn't help but feel as if she was intruding.

"And if it hadn't been for you, Angeline, he would have never gone to the Cafe and find this." Maria said, brushing a tear from her eye and pulled her into the hug as well. After they had all gotten up from the embrace, Chandler turned and pulled Angeline into a big kiss. When they pulled away, Maria looked at them in a mixture of confusion and joy.

"Well, then. When did this happen?" She said. The two just smiled. Both had changed in the last 3 days.

 

Okay, so I know. How probable would a letter still be in the same place someone had placed it after 22 years? Probably not very. Still, I've wanted there to be a letter from Courf since I started this story and it seemed like a good time to put one in!

Hope you enjoyed!
Over and Out!
Sydney