"The Meaning of Faith"

Note: Some words are in Spanish

Tia- Aunt (TEE-aha)

Si- Yes (CEE)

And that in Spanish "J" makes a "H" sound so the name Juliana is pronounced (H- uliana) and I will point out that about all the Spanish I know.

Prologue

The firelight flickered across the large kitchen of Musketeer head quarters. Juliana sat by the fire and cooled the brow of man she had some how come to love in little more then a week, but in truth it had been four years scean their love had taken root, for their love to grow where it had come.

As her thought flew back to a time that she in many ways wanted to forget but in truth could never. To a the home of a healer midwife that had taught her all she knew and when she cooled the same brow; for he had taken the whip for her then as had? he did today. Then over what seemed to be a silly book on science? "Why did you do this again, take the blame for me. It was me he wanted not you and because of that you took the flogging that was meant for me and now I might loose you and now that I can't live with out!" She whispered in to his ear, as her tears began to cool his brow instead of the cloth.

"I believe we have spoken these words before." Said the young man, who had just opened his eyes.

Chapter One: Meetings and Reunions

The streets of Paris were full of people hustling and bustling about, so no one thought to look for a Spanish woman and child, who did not wish to be found, but to find a man who had left them three years ago. Not by choice did he leave but, because his family wanted him gone.

They walked the streets through the twist and turns of Paris trying to find their way to Musketeer head quarters.

"We find Papa' today, Tia Juliana," a sweet little girl with black eyes, ebony curls and cinnamon colored-skin, aged three, asked of her Aunt.

"Si', Olivia. We'll find him today" Juliana answered as she held on to the child's hand. She is a woman doing what people of the Catholic Church thought no woman of her birth should do; she was healer and midwife, but more so, it because she is Protestant. That is why the Catholic Church hunts her and why she runs.

"Tia, I'm hungry!" Olivia stated as she pulled on her aunt's arm.

"You can wait." Juliana told the girl. "Come we must pick up the pace."

But before she could do anything, a small flying thing came and hit her in the head.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Madame, I did not mean to hit you." said a tall handsome young man with an elegant face and mystical dark brown eyes with hints of honey gold in them and Juliana could have sworn she seen him before.

"It's quite alright monsieur, I see though, I see that you have improve upond Leonardo da Vinci's version, " Juliana said as gave back the flying thing.

"You know of da Vinci's work…," replied the young man in surprise.

"Do forgive me for interrupting, but by any chance would you be a musketeer?" Juliana asked seeing his coat and blade.

"Yes, I am why?" He asked slightly bewildered at the question.

"I am looking for a Spaniard who I believe to be among your ranks, his name is Ramon Delakruz." Juliana asked of this handsome stranger, who she knew that she had meet before. "I don't mean to be rude, but may I have your name, monsieur?", Juliana asked.

"Oh yes, do forgive for not giving it earlier, Siroc, and I am just about to go and meet Ramon in that café across the street, Madam…?"Siroc asked.

"Señorita Juliana." Juliana answered as she felt her face grows warm and flush a bright shade of pink from his dark gaze fell on her.

"Well Señorita, may escort you and the child in to the café." Siroc asked.

"We would enjoy that very much Olivia…! Where is she…? Olivia…!" Juliana said as started to panic as saw that she only had the child stuffed bunny 'Pinto' in her hand and not the child's hand. (What have I done? Ramon is going to have my head for this and then served on silver platter.) She thought.

"Don't worry Señorita, we'll find her she can't have gotten far. Let's go get Ramon and my other friends and we'll spit up and find her.," Siroc said as took her arm and lead across to the café.

But when the came in to the café they found a little Spanish girl arguing with grown Spaniard that he was her Papa'.

"Little one, you are not my daughter because my little girl is in Spain. So there is no way you could be," he said to her as his two friends sat behind him trying not to laugh at the scene in front of them of toddler arguing with a grown man.

"No, you my Papa' see this is you, Ramon Delakruz and I'm Olivia Delakruz!" she said on the verge of tears as opened her locket to show very well done miniature of her Papa' and that there was no denying it he was her father.

"How can this be Olivia, it's you, but how!" Ramon said as he took her in his arms and held tight to his child.

"Olivia! Ramon!" Juliana said as came in to the café.

"Juliana, sister! What are you doing here?" Ramon asked.

"Ramon, we have lots that we must speak of!" Juliana answered.

Chapter 2: The Truth Comes Out

Tension lay heavy in the air for Ramon thought his foster sister Juliana and daughter Olivia were still in Spain and to find them here in Pairs was a bit of a shock, but before he could say a word to her three priest cam in to the café. Juliana and Olivia disappeared behind the counter.

"Don Ramon Delakruz, so this where you have come in your shame?" said a tall and intimidating priest who had a fresh pink scar coming down the left side of face.

"Yes, Father Montoya I have come to Paris, but not in shame," Ramon said to the priest. "What brings you to Paris?"

"I am looking for your foster sister. I hate to be the one to in form you, but your dear foster sister has joined those blasphemers the Protestants and has become one with the devil, a witch." Father Montoya said too smoothly to be true.

"A witch? What do you mean?" Ramon asked him just as smoothly.

"Si, she has taken to working with dark magic and the healing arts that all wise men know only men can do and any woman could never do with out the help of the devil. I hate to be the one to tell you. She has also, killed your child in devil worship and that is why we must find her so she won't harm any more children," Father Montoya answered.

"Olivia! My… Little girl no…, she must pay for what she has done to my only child, find her father and have justice be done, " Ramon said as he pretended to be in outrage and that his heart was breaking.

"I will my lord, now that we see she is not here for there is no way she could have gotten pasted you," Father Montoya said as turn to leave but almost ran in to Siroc. "Have we met before?" he asked Siroc.

"No, I don't believe we have," Siroc answered coolly.

"It must be someone else I was thinking of," Father Montoya replied.

"Must be," Siroc retorted as Father and the other priest left the café.

When they had gone Ramon asked, "Why, did I just lie to a priest?"

"Because he is lying snake who when I turned him down fours and half years ago, then to anger me beat innocent slave who's only crime was believing the truth and wanting to know more. Then two mouths ago that same man who was just here tried to rape me and that's when I gave him that scar on his face," Juliana told her brother not caring who heard as she came out of her hiding.

"So is what he says is true, you are a Protestant and a healer?" Ramon asked as came in front of his sister.

"Si, it is all but for the devil worship and obviously, Olivia is alive, " Juliana said as stood to her full five foot three to look at her brother chest.

"So why did you come to Paris ?" Ramon asked her.

"Protection, form Montoya who wants me dead. I hope to get it from you, but now I see; I must plead with my blood cousin," Juliana stated.

"Stop, fighting!" Olivia cried as she tugged on Ramon's sleeve.

"The child is right, this not the place for this conversion," said a handsome more mature man.

"Captain Duvall!" Ramon said as stood up straight. "Si, sir," Ramon answered.

"I heard everything Ramon, and this not place converse on this topic. Now, if I may ask the name of this young lady is?" Captain Duvall asked Olivia.

"Si, I am Dona Olivia Maria Suelita Delakruze and this my Tia Señorita Juliana Maira Selena Delakruze," Olivia answered.

"Do you and the Dona have a place to stay Señorita Delakruze?" Captain Duvall asked Juliana.

"No, we do not," Juliana answered the captain.

"Then you must take my quarters and I'll stay in the barracks," Captain Duvall told them. "Shall we escort you and the Dona to musketeer head quarters, so you two can rest and the four can head back as well."

"We can not, it would not be right, " Juliana pleaded.

"I insist upond it!" Duvall said he offered her his arm. "Now come, you and the child must be exhausted."