Welcome to my new story. It is set after episode 2.3 so contains spoilers if you haven't already seen it.
To Kill a Musketeer
Chapter One
Rochefort stood at the right hand of the King watching with little interest while a portly man approached the throne. It didn't impress him that this was the most famous jeweller in Paris. He looked around idly. There was no sign of the Queen or that meddlesome commoner, Constance Bonacieux. It was irritating that, since saving the Dauphin's life, Constance had risen in the King's esteem. Personally he wouldn't have minded if the child had died. It would have given him an opportunity to get closer to Anne during her time of grief.
"Well, Monsieur Fabrin, do you have the necklace?" the King asked eagerly.
Fabrin bowed and handed over a silk lined box which the King opened. "As you can see, Your Majesty, the diamond is of the highest quality. Look how it gleams in the light."
Louis lifted out the necklace, admiring the large diamond suspended from the gold chain. "Look, Rochefort. Do you think this will please the Queen?"
He dutifully examined the exquisite piece of jewelry. "I'm sure she will be overwhelmed, Sire. Can I ask the reason for the gift?"
"She gave me a son. This is a token of my esteem."
Somehow, Rochefort doubted that. It was more likely that the King was trying to get back into her good graces after she caught him in flagrante delicto with Milady de Winter.
"Thank you, Fabrin. See my treasurer for your payment."
The jeweller bowed again and almost strutted out of the throne room. Rochefort's lip curled in disdain. He detested dealing with the common merchant class even though they had their uses.
"If I may speak privately?" he inquired.
"Leave us." The King waved his hand in the direction of the crowd of courtiers who always seemed to surround him.
Rochefort could see the unconcealed looks of dislike and even outright hatred on the faces of the men who saw him as a usurper of power. If it hadn't been for the Cardinal's death he would not have been able to rise so high in such a short period of time since his return from Spain. His friendship with the royal couple had earned him envy and antipathy and he was more than content to encourage those destructive emotions.
Once they were alone he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "There are rumours, Sire, that the Spanish have sent a military force across the border to garrison the town of Hendaye."
An angry flush stained Louis' cheeks. "They've invaded my country? Does the King of Spain think I will sit still and do nothing while he humiliates me? Send for the Spanish Ambassador."
"If I might make a suggestion, Majesty. This is nothing more than unsubstantiated rumour. Before provoking a war with Spain might it not be sensible to find out if the rumours are true?"
"What would I do without you, Rochefort? You came back to us in my hour of need and have proved as capable as the Cardinal."
"That is high praise and undeserved. Cardinal Richelieu was a genius with a flair for diplomacy. I am a mere soldier who is content to dedicate his life to furthering Your Majesty's interests."
"Your modesty does you credit. Now, what do you suggest?"
"Send a small force of Musketeers to conduct reconnaissance."
"Can they be trusted to carry out their mission? Treville and his Musketeers have been such a disappointment recently."
"Let this be their redemption and, if they fail, they will deserve their fate."
"Quite right. Send for Captain Treville. He can send his best men at once."
TMTMTM
"This information came from Rochefort?" Athos asked. "Do we believe him?"
"I don't trust a word he says but this is too important to ignore," Treville responded. "If it is true we are very close to a war with Spain."
"Why us?" Porthos asked.
"Despite recent events the King still believes you are the best soldiers in the regiment."
"He's right," Aramis said.
Treville shot him an irritated glare. "This is your chance to prove that. Don't fail me."
"You can trust us, Captain," d'Artagnan said. "You know we would never let you down."
"I know but events keep conspiring against us."
"Do you ever regret turning down the position on the King's council?" Athos asked.
"Not for a minute. Now, get your things together. You leave in the morning."
When Treville turned his attention to the paperwork on his desk they knew they were dismissed.
"What do you think Rochefort is up to this time?" d'Artagnan asked as they made their way down the stairs.
"I don't know, and that's worrying," Athos responded. "We should be on our guard. He isn't to be trusted."
"He's never made a move against us," Aramis said. "Well, except for always making sure he sides with the King when we do something to disappoint him."
"He's too devious to do anythin' obvious," Porthos mused. "He just pours poison into the King's ear and undermines the Captain."
"We could be misjudging him," Aramis said.
"You're not that naïve, Aramis. He's a snake who can't be trusted. You remember how he always did the Cardinal's bidding however distasteful the task. He learned from the best and I don't believe he returned from Spain a changed man. You saw him kill that villager in cold blood and he humiliated the Spanish Ambassador when he attacked him in front of the King. He's ambitious and ruthless and it would suit him to see the Musketeers gone."
"I grant that all you say is true, Athos, but you forget that he also saved your life."
"I'm sure it was for his own reasons."
"What happens if he's telling the truth this time?" d'Artagnan asked.
"The King won't forgive an invasion, even a small one. If this is true we could very well find ourselves at war with Spain."
TMTMTM
Rochefort entered the crypt and lowered the hood of his cloak. Ambassador Perales awaited him impatiently. There was no friendship between the two men. He knew that Perales did not agree with the decision to release him and didn't trust him to faithfully act as an agent of Spain. In truth he cared little for Spain. His own ambitions left little room for loyalty to a cause or country. But, Spain was useful to him. Fear of that country was allowing him to grow closer to Louis who was a weak and indecisive monarch.
"What do you want, Rochefort? I am not your servant to be summoned at all hours of the day and night."
"I have news. The King believes that Spain has sent a small invasion force to the town of Hendaye. It is an insignificant little place on the ocean but it has great strategic importance because of its position on the border."
"Why would he think that?" the Ambassador asked.
"Because I wish him to. I have persuaded him to send Musketeers to investigate. Athos, Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan leave at dawn. It is the perfect opportunity to be rid of them. Send word to Spain to set up an ambush."
"We are not here to indulge you in your personal vendettas."
"You don't understand. Treville is out of favour and that means the Musketeer regiment is out of favour. The King finds fault with them at every opportunity and it would not take much for him to disband them. The belief that his precious Musketeers have failed in so important a mission could be the impetus we need to finally persuade him. The death of those four is merely a bonus." His hatred of the Musketeers was deep rooted but this was personal. He would never forgive them for dragging him home behind their horses and humiliating him in front of Treville. The fact that they had also saved his life was incidental and didn't engender any feelings of gratitude.
"Very well. I will pass along the information. Whether or not the King grants your request is his decision alone."
"We don't have much time," Rochefort said. "They leave tomorrow."
"Patience, Rochefort. I will use our relay of couriers. Is there anything else that you wish to tell his Majesty?"
"Tell him that all is going according to plan. I have the ear of the King and the friendship of the Queen. Driving a wedge between them will be all too easy. Louis is lonely now that the Cardinal has gone. He is finding it hard to make decisions of state and now he relies upon me. He is right where I need him to be…under my control."
Tbc