This story is focusing on the reunion of Athos and Milady. It bears a slight resemblance to the book and the musical but the rest is from my imagination. It's set in a more modern time, around the early 20th century instead. I have used a few names from other musicals, the most prevalent being Sissi, from the musical Elisabeth which I've named Milady's niece after. The title and inspiration comes from the song 'Engel aus Kristal' sung by Marc Clear in the German version of the musical of the 3 Musketeers.
The carriage jolted to a stop, they jumped out and looked around.
'About time too' grumbled Aramis good-naturedly, his words belied by the grin on his face. 'I thought we'd passed Paris by now the way that horse was going. Two miles per hour by the pace of it.' Giving the offender a friendly pat on the flank, they bid goodbye to their transport and stood in the middle of the square with their bags.
Paris at last.
They crossed the road to the nearest cafe, a kitsch little place with red window frames with a pretty girl holding a coffeepot in a steady hand. They sat down outside gratefully for the chance for some coffee. Athos leaned back on his chair and relaxed, the sun warming his tanned face, tracing the worn lines by his eyes and the faint stubble adorning his chin. He couldn't wait to get a chance to shave. He was fastidious that way. He sipped his coffee slowly, half listening to the chatter around him, warily noting the flirtatious banter of his comrades. Aramis and Porthos couldn't last an hour without chatting some woman up. Almost nobody was safe from their boyish charms. Athos reckoned he was a bit old for that. He got more than occasional attention from the girls who fancied getting off with a more exotic looking man but on the whole, the other two got who they wanted whenever they wanted. By the giggles of the girl hovering around their table, they were working their charm excellently. Athos sighed with exasperation. This was all too common a situation. Clearing his throat to gain their attention, he leaned over and tapped Porthos' pocket watch.
'About time we should get a move on, you think?' He raised his eyebrows meaningfully. The other reluctantly shoved some coins on the table and flashed a smile. Athos thanked her and shoved them out of the door.
'What's the hurry? We don't have to get there till evening. We can stay and enjoy the place a little while longer' whinged Aramis.
'It's always best to set up everything early so we can start straight away. You'll have plenty of time to chat all the women up tonight' replied the ever prudent Athos, steering his friends to the nearest train station.
They looked around them while Athos checked out the map on the wall. Plenty to look at here. They liked to prop up the bar most evenings and find as many beauties to get on with. They were young, wanted the fun. Athos was their mentor in a way and it suited them fine to progress onto further drinking competitions while he kept slightly more sober guard for them.
'Look at that one' Aramis discreetly pointed out a tall blonde walking to platform 5. She wore a fox fur around her shoulders and walked with a long legged gait. Just what he liked.
'Er, hello' wolf whistled Portos, sneaking a look at the well accentuated bosom of the shiny haired brunette punching tickets in the booth. Athos turned round to shush them which led his attention over a lone figure at the top of the stairs leading to the lower platforms. Standing with her back to him, he couldn't see her face but he stared for a few seconds longer than was necessary. She had a bright red leather case by her feet, of foreign make. There looked like initials on them. He tried to make them out but she was too far away. A hand waved across his face and another smacked him on the forehead.
'Wakey wakey! Let's find the train we need.'
'Yeh, so we can have a chance with the ticket lady.'
'Wouldn't mind getting into her booth.'
'Hey leave her to me, you want that one over there, the one with the legs going up to her ah ok, we're taking this platform?'
Athos hustled the bickering dudes to platform 8. He'd had enough of them already and it was only first thing in the morning.