Chapter 13
Pierre and Andrew arrive back at Bald Hills just in time to see Maria's pilgrim friends scuttling away. They've mistaken Andrew for his father, who disapproves. After getting Pierre settled in Andrew's apartments, they head down to greet Maria and her pilgrims, and there's a bit of sibling banter where Andrew teases the pilgrims and Maria tries to protect them, even though she's the only one who cares. Maria knew Pierre as a child, and is kindly disposed towards him after the events of the last two years. The pilgrims are talking all about holy relics they've seen, and Pierre makes the mistake of exclaiming that one is obviously a fraud, which upsets Maria and the pilgrim, especially when Andrew joins in. He begs pardon and says they were only joking.
Chapter 14
Pierre listens quietly to the rest of the pilgrim's talk, and, when they find themselves alone, confides to Maria that he has similar feelings. She's more interested in talking about Andrew - she's worried that he's bottling his feelings up.
Later, the old Prince comes back, and he and Pierre enjoy a debate over the question of whether there will ever come a day without war. The old Prince thinks that's "old women's talk" and describes Pierre as "talking rubbish", but he enjoys it. He encourages Maria to make friends with Pierre. I now ship them, I think they could work together, although they will get taken advantage of by everyone in Russia.
Pierre gets along with everyone in the household - even baby Nikolai - and they adore him. They have nothing bad to say about him, even after he leaves. Pierre realises what a true friendship he has with Andrew. You know, I would not have put those two together at first, but I guess war (and peace) changes people.
Chapter 15
Rostov, on the other hand, is feeling very close to Denisov. Returning to the regiment had felt like coming home. He even prefers it to being at home, because he doesn't have to make any of his own decisions, like whether or not to marry Sonya. He's still worried he made the wrong call there. He's decided to atone for his loss to Dolokhov by being the best soldier he can possibly be, and by earning enough to pay his parents back. This regiment managed to miss the whole Pultusk thing. In April, they're stuck near an abandoned village and nearly starve to death. Only two men are wounded in action, but nearly half the regiment are taken out from hunger and sickness. Despite all this, life basically goes on as normal for the regiment. At one point, Rostov rescues a poor starving Polish man, and his daughter and grandchild. He takes them back to his quarters and takes a large amount of offence when an officer insinuates that he would like an introduction to the pretty daughter. When Denisov tells him off for almost duelling with an officer, Rostov explains that she's like a sister to him. Denisov understands that, but he cries a bit, thinking of Natasha.
Chapter 16
Denisov steals a food delivery intended for the infantry to feed his hussars, and is very upset at the notion that he might be charged with "wobewy" (remember, he has a speech impediment). He uses the "loaf of bread to feed a family" defence, or, specifically, "biscuit delivery to feed Hussars", in this case. The next day, it turns out that Denisov will be court-martialed for the theft and for dislocating an officials arm since he was so upset at the threat of the court-martial. Denisov says he was too drunk to remember. Rostov can sense that he's upset, beneath the bravado. The day before he's due to hand over command and be court-martialed, Denisov is shot in the leg by a French sniper, which normally wouldn't bother him. This time, he uses it to excuse himself from the court martial and goes to hospital instead.
Chapter 17
There's another battle in June - which the Pavlograds are also not involved in - and then an armistice is proclaimed. Rostov has been missing Denisov, so he takes this opportunity to go see him. When he gets there, a doctor standing outside says the hospital is a death house - they all have Typhus. Because of the epidemic, this one doctor is in charge of three hospitals and more than 400 patients. They don't know where Denisov is. From the description - tall, with reddish hair - they're pretty sure he's dead. Rostov decides to take the risk and goes up to the ward to check for himself. He walks into a room full of dead and dying men.
Chapter 18
An assistant appears to lead Rostov to the officer's wards. Here, he finds Tushin, a soldier we met briefly previously (though I don't think I wrote down his name), who has now lost an arm. He knows where Denisov is, and leads Rostov into the next room. Rostov's amazed to hear the sound of laughter, especially with the stench of decay still in his nostrils.
Denisov is asleep, but wakes up when Rostov arrives. He greets him the same as always, but Rostov notes that there is something new in his face, and that he seems to be faking his interest in the regiment. Rostov tries to encourage him to petition the Emperor, who is in a good mood this days, but Denisov is still offended by the suggestion that he is a robber. Tushin tells him a petition has already been written to pardon Denisov, but Denisov refused to sign it. Tushin advises him to send it with Rostov. Rostov agrees, but doesn't think Denisov can be convinced. However, after sitting in silence for most of the day, Denisov gives Rostov the petition to take to the emperor.
Chapter 19
Rostov stops by the regiment to update them on Denisov, and then carries on to the emperor. Bory has also, coincidentally, asked the VIP he is serving if he can also be stationed at Tilsit with Napoleon and Emperor Alexander, because he's a bit of a starfucker. He gets his wish, and is one of the few to see the two emperors meet. He's gathering information, because he's realised it might be useful for future social climbing. He's confident that having been here today will lead him to a great future. Everyone knows his face and are used to seeing him move in high circles. To be fair, I use the same tactic at university - I ask the professors lots of questions, and now pretty much all those who've taught me before will nod in greeting, and I've had quite involved chats with those in my field. I don't think of that as social climbing or networking, just being interested in the topic, but I guess Bory might describe what he's doing that way as well.
Bory is lodging with Count Zhilinski, who is Polish and very fond of the French, so they hang out with French officers a lot. On the 24th of June, Count Zhilinski hosts a supper for his French friends, and, on the same evening, Nikolai Rostov turns up. He is not yet fully caught up with the French-as-friends thing, because most of the army aren't. Bory is a little annoyed that he's turned up and Rostov picks up on this. Bory insists he's mistaken and introduces him to everyone, but Count Zhilinski isn't impressed with Rostov and avoids speaking to him. The French officers try to be friendly but Rostov isn't in the mood and sits around like a wet weekend. Bory and Nikolai get a chance to talk alone, and Nikolai asks Bory to deliver Denisov's petition. Bory says the Emperor can be strict in these cases, and he recommends that Nikolai deliver it to the commander-in-chief instead, which Nikolai hears as Bory refusing to help. Nikolai storms off.
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