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There is a lot of activity at the stables today. Valjean managed to track Javert down yesterday (despite concerted efforts by the latter to avoid him), and persuaded him to donate his stockpile of spare bricks to the repair effort. They have to be brought over from the church building site, so Javert is rolling piles over in a wheelbarrow while Valjean knocks the fire-damaged wooden planks out of the back of the stables. There are some large bags of supplies ready to be mixed into mortar, and Valjean is hoping to get the two worst damaged stalls fixed by nightfall.

At least one of the two will welcome help!

[OOC: I've just had an hour of my life cruelly stolen, so I'm going to crash pretty soon. Feel free to threadhop if desired, and I'll be around all day tomorrow to continue. Thanks to all who've tagged! <3]

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Javert shrugs his shoulders at this, and disappears with his empty wheelbarrow. It is not his concern who Athelstan acquaints himself with.

Valjean watches him go, then turns back to Athelstan with an amused expression. What can you do? The man is simply what he is.

Athelstan knows it well enough, after spending about ten minutes with him, and doesn't seem in the least offended.

"And how have you been, sir?"

'I have been very well, thank you.'

A proper smile breaks out as he says it, which transforms his whole face. The sort of smile that is like sun breaking through grey clouds.

It has to be said that he looks older, thinner, more worn than he ever has in the bar, barring the night he was virtually carried in. But he also looks happier, which takes years off him.

Athelstan blinks at him - he's not sure he's ever seen such a real smile from the old man - then returns it with one of his own.

"I'm glad to hear it. You do look well." And even accounting for the thin and worn, he really does.

He has not. No one except Cosette - and now Marius - has.

'I have my daughter back. She cures all ills.'

Quite literally.

"Ah, very good", Athelstan says sincerely. "Where had she gone?"

'She got married.'

Yes this makes perfect sense, what do you mean?

"And... moved a long way off with her husband?" he guesses uncertainly.

'No, into the marital home.'

Perhaps better not to press this button, Athelstan.

'His grandfather's house.'

He's getting that.

"Ah, I see." No, he doesn't. "But now you have her back."

'I do.'

And again, that smile. Because there is nothing more joy-inducing than those simple words. You have her back.

'And I will go and live with her, she insists upon it, and we will be very happy.'

Athelstan smiles back. "I'm quite sure you will. And you will be the best of grandfathers, when the time comes."

'...oh. Well. I have not-'

A grandfather. Oh, he cannot imagine such happiness, it is too much.

'If God sees fit to let me see such a miracle, I may die the most happy of men.'

"Yes. If she's still quite newly married, then God willing inside a year or two will come the first." He's smiling just at the look on Valjean's face, never mind the words. "And your joy in her may sustain you, as it seems to be giving you strength now."

Javert returns at this point, and looks suspiciously between the smiles on the faces of the other two men. Perhaps a joke has been told, though God knows Valjean is immune to them as far as he remembers.

'This is nearly all of them,' he says brusquely, feeling he has walked into a private moment.

Athelstan nods, not explaining the smiling unless Valjean wants to.

"Then we can start the mortar."

He may explain later, but for now he just turns the smile on Javert - who steps back under the weight of it - and says, 'yes, as soon as we sweep out all the debris. You have carried a lot of weight Javert, why not get a drink while we complete this?'

Javert looks between the two of them once more, then nods and departs. Valjean sighs a little, and looks rueful.

'Now he will think we were laughing at him. I will explain later; for now, are you able to sweep, Athelstan? No matter if you cannot, it is not a hard job for me.'

"I didn't want to talk to him about your business", Athelstan says half-apologetically, then nods. "I can push a broom about well enough, at least for a while."

'You are kind.'

He is not going to keep secrets any longer, but it is nice to have the choice about who knows what.

He hands a broom over to Athelstan, and picks one up for himself.

'Just as much as you are able, monsieur. Do not push yourself too hard, there is no need.'

"Thank you." He starts to sweep, taking it a little easy but working efficiently. "When I'm back in the North, I can get my strength back."

'When will you be going back?' he asks, unsure as to whether this is a sore subject or not.

"After I leave here... maybe another two or three months." It's not a sore subject exactly, but a fact he's constantly reminding himself of. "My Earl must finish a few pressing matters there and find new allies, then he will come."

'And you are looking forward to this? It is what you want?'

That is the only important thing, really.

"Yes", Athelstan says without hesitation. "That place is my home now, and it may sound strange but he gave me freedom."

Valjean looks at him briefly.

'It is not strange, monsieur.'

Why would it be strange? Freedom is important.