A Musketeer's Heart

Disclaimer: Only Natalie (and Luc) belong to me. The others originally belong to Dumas, and I also have to give credit to the screen writers and director for the movie version of "Man in the Iron Mask." This is the only chapter I'm going to put the disclaimer on… I'm sure everyone understands that it applies to the whole story.

Rating: I'm giving this the highest rating just to be safe. This story should be well below the rating, but just in case my Muse takes me in a different direction, I want to be safe…

Author's Note: This fic is inspired by the movie version of "Man in the Iron Mask" with Jeremy Irons as Aramis. This is definitely an AU story and I've taken some liberties with the movie's screenplay, so if you are not a fan of AU stories be aware before you read. I hope you'll read it anyway and will review it for me. I appreciate the feedback. Thanks and enjoy…

Oh, and when you get to know Natalie's character, some of you may feel inclined to accuse her of being a "Mary Sue." Part of what I'm trying to do here is make her fit with how a girl/young woman might behave during this era… I tend to like to turn my female characters into spitfires, so for this story, I want to keep Natalie rather demure (but not without personality)… So please cut me (and Natalie) a little slack, okay? Thanks.

Chapter 1: Country House

Athos stood on the balcony overlooking the gardens behind his country manor. Beyond the gardens, swaying in the gentle breeze, were rows of apple trees heavy with blossoms. The harvest this year would be outstanding and he could only hope that the grapes in the vineyard came in as well. He loved this manor and wished he could spend more time here, but his duties with the King kept him away often. The manor had been a gift from the Queen Mother for Athos' help in saving her reputation from being so cruelly sullied years before.

Then a flutter of light blue skimmed into view below him in the garden, and Athos smiled. Running back to the manor was the one of the joys of his life, his daughter Natalie. At seven, Natalie was a precocious child who did well at her studies, both academic and social. She looked so much like her mother, it was uncanny. His wife, Josette, and their infant daughter Alexandrine, had died from a fever when Natalie was three. Athos still missed his wife, but soon the pain of her loss was replaced by the joy that Natalie and Raoul brought to him.

Athos had been away for three weeks and he smiled as he waited on the balcony. He didn't need to wait long. Soon little feet pattered up the stairs and he heard a familiar voice. "Papa! Papa! You're back!" Natalie rushed into the room and flung herself into her father's arms. He hugged her tight and planted a big kiss on her cheek.

"Look at your hair, Natalie," he said in a mock scold. "The ribbons are falling out of your beautiful curls. What has made you so wild and disheveled this day?"

"My apologies, Monsieur," said Natalie's nurse, Benedetta. Originally from Italy, she had originally served as nurse to Natalie's mother. "Mademoiselle Natalie has been running in the garden."

"I have been playing hide and seek with the faeries, Papa!" squealed Natalie.

"With the faeries? That is very kind of them to play with you like that." Athos knew that Natalie meant the butterflies; one of her favorite games of pretend was to imagine that they were all faerie princesses.

"I have a surprise for you," he said as he put her down. "Turn around."

Natalie squealed in delight when she saw her father's closest friends, the other Musketeers: Porthos, D'Artagnan, and Aramis. They laughed as she ran to them and got a hug from each.

"Are you going to stay and play with me?" Natalie blinked up at Aramis after she greeted him. He was amazed at how deep the little girl's blue eyes were.

"I'm sure we will have plenty of time to entertain you," said Aramis with a laugh.

"Of course," boomed Porthos. "I have many stories to tell you, little butterfly!"

Natalie clapped her hands. Porthos, with his enormous voice, always told the most wonderful tall tales to entertain her when he visited.

"Now," said Athos. "Go with Benedetta and get cleaned up for supper. We have some grown-up business to talk about; there will be time to play tomorrow."

"Yes, Papa!"

She disappeared with her nurse and Athos watched his daughter go with a fond smile.

"She is going to be lovely when she grows up," said D'Artagnan. "I dread the day when I will have to give her to a husband…"

Well, chapter 1 is down. Hope you all have enjoyed it and I'll be interested to hear what you think. As always, I'm very open to feedback… but please make it constructive. If you don't like something, give me a reason why you don't like it… and vice versa! If there's something in my writing that you do like, let me know that, too!