The winds of change are blowing through the garrison, but as the regiment transitions old friends, and questionable acquaintances return. A sinister plot is revealed defying the very freedoms honorable men had fought and died for; trying to send the emerging nation back into a very dark time. And a chance encounter takes it from a matter of honor to King's business and the musketeers respond with all they have.
Disclaimer: All my stories are written for fun, no copyright infringement intended. Recognizable characters belong to the respective writers and producers.
This is the third installment in Treville and Maggie's story. It does not follow the series past the 8th episode of season 1.
A Father of Honor
Tonight, Treville stood on a balcony with a very different view. It had taken only a matter of days to arrange a business agreement with Rylan, but six months before he had been able to bring his family here and make it a reality; even for a few days.
The decrepit manor house had ben razed and in its place stood a new stable and corral. What was once the servants house had been renovated and would someday be their family home. A part of him knew that was still a few years out, but it was a step in the right direction.
Especially given the Queen was expecting again, her first pregnancy had been difficult and this one was no different. He knew he had been lucky with Maggie, that their daughter had been born healthy and his wife survived. He was content whether they had another child or not, Maggie's soft heart had already found one orphan that had become theirs.
He would say nothing if she found a whole pack of orphans to care for, but he needed his wife and his daughter needed her mama. He didn't care about having a son, he had already made arrangements to leave everything to his daughter. This place would be hers someday, and he would see it put in order for her before he was gone.
It was hard to imagine this place as his home, he had spent his whole life in Paris, most of it soldiering. He wasn't quite sure what to do with himself out here; even just for a week. There were many things that needed his attention, but it was a whole different world.
The balcony here looked out over rolling hills in one direction and down to the stable and river in the other. A stark difference from the garrison training yard. It was so quiet out here, the night sounds were of birds cooing and the wind, rather than rowdy men and swords clashing.
He slipped back into the new house again, it was bigger than anywhere he had lived before; though Maggie assured him when they were here it would not be more than she could manage. Treville was thankful for that, he did not want servants in his home; he had already hired a housekeeper to come in while they were away.
There was a certain appeal to the privacy the estate yielded. No one banging on the door or reporting in from assignment at all hours of the night or drinking in the yard below. Their nearest neighbors were the small village that lived on their land, working it for Rylan.
Treville had drawn up the contract to lease the land to his brother in law, the boy was responsible for running it, but Treville figured that in time he would pick up some of the trade himself. After so many years of managing the garrison he could wrap his head around business; though he was not ready to give up the familiar either.
Gradually the position of Captain of the Musketeers would be ceded to Athos, his duties revolved more and more around the palace and the King's business. It still fit him a little like a bad coat, he was still most at home in the garrison, and didn't intend to give up his position until Athos was ready, and he was sure he was done.
He stooped to add wood to the fire before climbing the stairs to join his wife in bed, the bedrooms were all on the second level. The master bedroom was farthest from the stairs, he had looked at it before putting their things in the one at the top of the stairs. Old habits would never die, he would be between his family and any access point to them.
The room wasn't as big, but it was comfortable, Jeanne Claire's crib sat under the window and Maggie slept soundly on the wide bed. Marc was tucked comfortably into the next room. As he sat on the edge of the bed Maggie rolled towards him, her warm hand sliding up his back. "Can you sleep?"
"In time." He stretched out beside her, the time away would be good for both of them.
They had left Paris around noon this morning, travelling by carriage it was evening before they reached the estate. It had been a difficult journey for Maggie as Jeanne Claire had fussed most of the way, the roads had not been the best and the jarring ride upset their toddler. He'd had Marc on the bench, teaching the boy a little of handling the horse.
Maggie had spent nearly every day at the palace of late, with the Queen's child due later this year he had decided to take his family away for a time before he wasn't able to. With two royal children he had a feeling Maggie and Constance would be relied upon even more. And Maggie feared for her friend, the first delivery had not been easy and the second might not be any better.
On his end negotiations with Spain had been seriously hindered by the collapse of Richelieu's spy network, something he knew the Cardinal was working hard to rebuild. He had another idea on how to move things along and they were awaiting the response. The idea had come from his wife, like Maggie the Queen was the oldest of her siblings and his wife had told her upon their mother's death the young royal had taken on their care to the degree the young ones sometimes called her mama.
A boy wouldn't forget that, Rylan certainly hadn't, and he had watched Maggie and her brother together in times of stress. When he was afraid that boy wanted nothing more than to crawl into his sister's arms; where he knew he would be safe. The King of Spain might be a monarch, and a powerful man but Treville was willing to be his love for his sister was a powerful force; especially if they were to see each other face to face after more than a decade. The Queen had left Spain at the tender age of thirteen, while she regularly wrote her family she had not been able to see any of them.
Treville had convinced the King to send a missive, inviting the royal to France to discuss the matters of state between their two countries; if necessary they would meet at a neutral location near the border. He was hoping however that the Spanish King could be persuaded to come to Paris, to his sister's home and spend some time with her.
He had a feeling he could persuade the man he didn't want to go to war, the King had only taken over from his own father a few years ago. He had not gone to war before, he didn't know the expense, or the destruction war could bring, raiding parties was a drop in a river at what an outright war would be. The young King needed the same assurances that Louis had needed years ago when his marriage and throne was still new.
Spain was not the power base it once was, and France was not as weak as civil and religious war had left it decades ago. He would sue for peace, it was best for both nations as both were dealing with their own rebellions and civil war was not a thing only of the past.
Treville hadn't realized he drifted off, but woke when he couldn't feel Maggie beside him. Sitting up he sighed, he was used to their bed, it was narrow, and he could always feel his wife, quite often her knees and elbows but he liked that. She had rolled away, and sprawled out, he breathed a sigh of relief, glancing to the window, the first hints of light just creeping over the horizon.
Rolling over he invaded her space and settled down again, he wanted to ride the property lines today and go down to the village to introduce himself. The people were poor, and had been left to fend for themselves a long time but he didn't want to continue that way. They worked hard and had carved out their lives here, he might not know how to do their work, but he knew how to give them some stability and security.
He woke next to Jeanne Claire chattering, and rolled over to see her standing in her crib, ready for someone to come and pick her up. With a chuckle he complied, bringing her back to their bed and sitting her in between them, Maggie rolled over with a groan. Blue eyes were still bleary with sleep as their daughter clapped happily. "Up Mama."
"You had just had to." Maggie sighed before smiling at their daughter. "Not yet baby."
Maggie crawled out of bed rather slowly and changed before returning to the bed for Jeanne Claire, as she took the little girl downstairs Treville dressed and headed down to the stables. Right now there was only his horse in the stall, in time he would have to accumulate a bit more livestock.
He tended his team, moving the animal he intended to ride today out to the cross ties and brushed him down while he ate. When the animal had been curried Treville returned to the house for his own breakfast, Jeanne Claire greeted him gleefully as she collided with his knees.
Walking was still new to her and while she loved it she often tumbled to a stop. Stripping off his coat he crossed to the table where Maggie was setting out a meal, and Marc was carefully placing the dishes.
"How long will you be gone today? I can pack you a meal to take with you." Maggie flitted about before finally joining them at the table.
"I will be back for the noon meal." It was strange to think that Maggie and the children would be alone here while he was gone, when he did not know the villagers or the landscape it made him uncomfortable. He never gave a second thought to leaving her at the garrison, if the regiment was away there were still veterans and cadets around.
However, that meant he would need to move this morning. He ate quickly before heading out to tack the horse. Rylan had already begun using the land, and the boundaries were clearly marked. Treville mounted and headed towards the river, the river was the southern boundary of his property.
There was not much cover along the southern property line, from the house he had a clear view of anyone approaching or crossing the river. The eastern land was rougher terrain, rocky hills and steep slopes. As he rode north towards Rylan's estate there were several roads coming in to the estate, smooth and well used Treville paused, the two properties were still distinctly divided by a hedge grow; that was good.
Roads mapped this main portion of the estate, his horse cantered easily along a road near the property line, people already worked in the fields. He came down into the village, it buzzed with activity though he saw very few men.
It made sense that the men had already gone to work, Treville realized he should have brought Maggie; these women would tell her far more than him. He noted that though the community was a reasonable size there was only one well on the north corner. In theory much of their water could come from the river, but even that was a hike.
Treville stopped to water his horse and was not impressed with the layout, there was no shelter here and the wind could whip through here. It wasn't well built, and he considered the view some took on the lower caste; the previous owner may not have considered the village to be a sound expense.
The sun was high above him, and he decided to turn back to the house, he didn't want to keep Maggie waiting. As he turned back towards the road leading to the house a woman approached the horse. "Are you the Captain?"
He frowned, it wasn't often that he was referred to as the Captain by many; only his men. Most followed the King's lead and referred to him as minister. It had taken time to adjust to that, but most of his duties revolved around the palace now as he eased the Captaincy in Athos' direction. "Yes."
"There was a woman here looking for you some days ago. We sent her to Monsieur Antoniou." The woman explained.
"Thank you, I will speak to him." It was odd that anyone would come here looking for him; few even knew he owned it.
Curious about that he considered riding up to Rylan's home after lunch, until his own came into view; a horse tied out front. Treville smiled to himself, so the young man had come down to see his sister. He stopped to put his horse in the stable and brush the animal down before heading up to the house.
He found Rylan and Maggie sitting at the kitchen table, Jeanne Claire cradled in her mother's lap. His daughter let out a gleeful squeal and pushed herself up on Maggie's knees as she saw him. He hung his things by the door and crossed the room to wash up.
"Maggie was telling me about the trip out, she said you were riding the property line this morning." Rylan turned to him as Maggie rose, as he dried his hands she passed their child over.
"I did." He sat, folding Jeanne Claire into his lap as Maggie went to the stove. "I hear someone was asking after me?"
The young man frowned. "Not to my knowledge. But we've been busy running irrigation ditches. I will verify that no one came to the house."
"Not important." He would sort that out later, Maggie was preparing to serve the meal.
Marc came scrambling down the stairs, a small carving knife in hand when Maggie called him. Gently he reminded the boy to wash before coming to the table, Marc was working hard to pick up the trick to woodwork, it was one Treville did not have; but many of the men had told the child his father had it. And so, the boy was determined to learn.