An imagined vision induces the superstitious Sónya to yield to pressure from Countess Rostóv and release Nicholas from his promise to marry her.
After being arrested, Pierre is detained with other suspected Russian incendiaries for some days and questioned while the French soldiers guarding the prison await a decision from a French Marshal.
Pierre is examined by the French marshal. The marshal is called away on business. The prisoners are led away. Pierre fears the guards may be taking him and the other prisoners to be executed.
French sharpshooters begin to execute the prisoners. Pierre expects to be next. However, after the man ahead of Pierre is shot, the executions cease. Pierre and those behind him in line were only brought there as witnesses.
Witnessing the executions traumatizes Pierre. He falls into a stupor. But that evening happening to meet a kindly peasant named Platón Karatáev in the barracks restores Pierre to mental equilibrium.
A description of Pierre’s fellow prisoner Platón Karatáev, a peasant soldier who to Pierre seemed the very personification of everything Russian and kindly, the spirit of simplicity and truth itself.
Princess Mary travels with her nephew and some staff to see Prince Andrew. When she arrives at the house where the Rostóvs are staying, Natásha tells Mary that Andrew’s condition has been declining by the day.
Entering Andrew’s room with Natásha, Mary realizes her brother is dying. The three try to talk, but conversation is difficult for them. When Andrew’s son comes into the room, he intuitively understands everything.
Andrew in a dream sees death overcomes both his love for Natásha and his fears of death. Andrew begins to slip away from this life and, a few days later, he dies peacefully with Natásha and Mary by his side
The so-called flank march from the Ryazána to the Tarútino camp was the result of a multiplicity of circumstances at the time. It was not due to someone’s feat of military brilliance, as some now believe.