Chapter 1: The Arrival
Warm air blew out in steam clouds as Melody lifted her skirts slightly higher in order to increase her pace into a near run. If her memory served her correctly the Musketeer's garrison was only a few streets away now. Her last visit to Paris had been six years previously, she only hoped that the regiment had not moved since then and that her uncle would be there when she arrived. The November air was freezing and the light was fading as the evening well and truely began to set in. Melody knew she had to reach her destination quickly, as soon as her escape had been discovered she knew they would know where she had headed. Moments later she saw the emblem of the Musketeers hanging proudly above the large gate that dominated the muddy street. It was open, she breathed a sigh of relief, one less thing was in her way.
Aware of a commotion further down the street Melody wasted no time and darted through the open gateway, her heat beating wildly against her ribcage. Several small groups of men were gathered round tables or braziers trying to keep warm; some of them were cleaning their weapons, while others were conversing over bottles of wine.
Aramis saw the young lady hurry into the courtyard, concerned and intrigued he stepped forward determined to be the hero proffering help.
"May I be of assistance mademoiselle?" He bowed, sweeping his hat artfully from his head as he did so. Before the stranger answered she glanced anxiously behind her.
"Captain Treville? Is he here? I must speak with him urgently." Melody blurted out. Aramis sensed the woman was scared, but of what he had no idea.
"I'm afraid he is not, he is at the palace" Aramis watched as her face showed an expression of utter despair. "Perhaps one of us could help instead. I can assure you that no harm will come to you while you are here." Even with the hood from her cloak covering part of her face, he could tell the woman was more than averagely attractive, but that wasn't what was drawing him to her – that he could not explain.
"Is there somewhere I could wait for his return?"
"Of course follow me" Aramis lead the way to the wooden stairs that led to the Captain's large office. On the first step loud voices sounded in the garrison entrance and a strong hand grasped Melody's arm pulling her away from the staircase. Immediately the gathered soldiers fell silent appraising the situation, all eyes fell on Melody and the man who had accosted her. Perhaps she should have told her helper exactly who she was when she arrived.
"There you are my dear." The loud voice of the aging man boomed "We were so worried when you got lost, Paris is a big and dangerous place for a woman to go wandering off alone" He spoke to her as if she was a child, and a not very intelligent one at that. "Come let us leave these soldiers in peace now, although I am very grateful they indulged you and allowed you to remain here." He tugged slightly on her arm, urging her to leave. Stubbornly Melody held her ground, if she left now she would never get another chance to escape.
"I will not leave with you now or ever sir." Melody was surprised that her voice sounded steady, covering the fear she felt.
"So where exactly do you think you are going to go?" Another male voice entered the equation, this man Aramis noted was much younger than the other, but eyed his surroundings with distaste. "My sincere apologies gentlemen, my sister has some...how shall I put it delicately? Issues. She gets very confused sometimes" Melody was horrified that he was implying she was not of sound mind, fearing that he would be believed. Aramis wasn't convinced, she seemed calm and controlled to him and more importantly how did she know the Captain? How would he react if Aramis allowed her to leave with her brother and the older man against her wishes?
"The Captain should return soon – surely it would not hurt to wait and let her see him?" Aramis suggested hoping his superior did indeed return in the very near future.
"Dearest Melody has never met the man, she is a fantasist who has heard stories of the Musketeers and the gallant Captain Treville and has decided she knows him. This has happened before and I'm afraid while it may look unkind it is sometimes best that we remove her against her will. Tomorrow this will all be a distant memory to her if that." The brother offered a sickly smile, and surged forward with his assailant to try and force Melody's exit.
Before he could react Aramis felt a tug at his sword belt and his eyes widened as Melody held the weapon threateningly towards the two men who endangered her. To his horror the apparently caring brother also unsheathed his sword and pointed it in the direction of the lady. Unsure exactly who needed protection, but flinching at the threat to a woman, the musketeers levelled their own weapons at the men.
"Let me make myself very clear in front of all of these witnesses" Witnesses who by this point did not know what to think or who to believe "I am of completely sound mind and I am not a fantasist as you well know Marcel, step brother dearest. I am here to see Captain Treville to seek his assistance, to escape the hellish life you have created for me." Melody spotted the Captain entering the courtyard silently, but showed no sign of it. " I will never return to your house to be controlled, punished and locked away when your temper sees fit. And while there is breath in my body I vow I will never marry Jacques," Melody threw a grimace in the direction of the older man present, who looked considerably pale "So you will have to survive without the money he has promised you in return for you gifting me to him as a wife. He is nearly three times my age and as vile in temper as you!" Marcel looked positively furious as he took another step forward "You won't do it Marcel – you can't. We were both trained by one of the best swordsmen in France, and I've watched you practice for years. I know your weaknesses. You're unobservant – clearly – you have just levelled your sword at a lady in the middle of the garrison of the King's Musketeers and haven't noticed that they are all pointing their blades in your direction. And your strokes lack conviction, because you are indecisive, unlike..." Melody quickly flicked her wrist moving her sword from Marcel's neck to his cheek to slice a neat cut, and then returned it to its threatening position before anyone realised what she was planning "Me!"
"Enough!" Captain Treville ordered. Jacques looked terrified at the uniformed man's presence, while Marcel was still cursing over the cut to his cheek as Treville relieved him of his sword with ease. Melody lowered her hood to reveal her golden curls, smiling in satisfaction. "You" Treville addressed Marcel in a low menacing voice "Will leave Paris tonight and leave your step-sister in my care, you will never contact her again, never so much as breathe her name do you understand me? And if I ever see you again, you can bid farewell to you innards." He waited long enough for the young man to nod as he visibly trembled before moving to Jacques. Treville didn't even need to speak to terrify the older man, who instantly backed away. "You can put the sword down now Melody, these two were just leaving." He motioned for her to lower the weapon. Before she did so Melody swiped the blade through the air near Jacques' ear; the resulting swish caused him to squeal. Treville raised his eyebrows at the young lady in an attempt at a stern look, as she tried to cover her giggle.
Once he was sure the men had left, Treville turned to the woman, Aramis couldn't read his expression, he had never seen it on his Captain's face before.
"When you didn't write I, well I didn't know what to think. I began to think the worst must have happened after hearing nothing from or about you in over five years. Marcel wrote to me and told me you had run away, I should have known better. If I had known I would have come to take you away instantly."
"That is why he wouldn't let me write to you Uncle. He would have lost control of me and my inheritance. This was the only chance I have ever had to get away, to find you!" Tears filled Melody's blue eyes.
"Melody come here" Treville grasped her into a tight hug, as they both savoured their reunion. "Now, you may be so much more grown up than when I last saw you but I want you to let me take care of you – and no arguments!" His niece grinned up at him as she nodded. She noticed Aramis stood quietly to the side.
"My apologies, I appear to have soiled your sword." Melody offered him the handle of his own weapon back along with a dazzling smile "And my thanks for your impromptu loan, sir"
"I thought I always taught you that you clean a sword you dirtied yourself Melody?" Treville commented raising his eyebrows again. Aramis snatched the sword away and bowed before hurrying off muttering something about needed to clean it anyway.
Aramis marched off, with the biggest grin he could muster plastered across his face, he was completely bewitched by his Captain's relative. Porthos and Athos levelled him with knowing looks as he approached the table they sat on.
"Look at him – one smile from a pretty lady and he's besotted. Here we go again" Porthos sighed, intending Aramis to hear his comment.
"That isn't just a pretty lady my friends, that is a goddess!" Aramis beamed running a hand carelessly through his dark hair.
"That is the Captain's niece" Athos reasoned, attempting to warn his friend.
"That, gentlemen, is the woman I am going to marry!"
"I reiterate – that is the captain's niece!" Athos said in a more warning tone, Aramis didn't respond before strolling off having no idea where he was going. Porthos poured a very large measure of wine into the glasses in front of him. Before slamming the bottle down with a start
"Hang on did he just say..." He stared at Athos dumbfounded.
"Marry...yes he did" Athos nodded slowly, in a similar astonished manner.
"So what? Aramis talks about women all the time, he's in love and marrying a new one every other week" D'Artagnan shrugged, helping himself to wine from the bottle.
"Love, lust, desire yes" Athos began
"But never marry..." Porthos finished looking wide eyed.