Living in a World built for Men
THIS IS AN OC STORY. IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, PLEASE DON'T HATE, JUST SIMPLY DON'T READ! Thank you :3
Disclaimer: I own nothing except Annabelle.
Note: Please read below or you really won't understand the story!
This fanfiction will be quite different to what I usually write. Each chapter will be a small section/scene from a TM episode (so 30 chapters) but they'll also include Annabelle, my OC. Annabelle is a 13 year old girl, who is Aramis' little sister. She came with him to Paris where he became a musketeer, and they met Athos and Porthos, who count themselves as Annabelle's older brothers as well. They also met Treville who, like he is to Aramis, Athos and Porthos, is more or less a father-figure to Annabelle. Also, as you will see in this chapter, they also obviously meet d'Artagnan, who will come to consider himself part of their family in due time. :)
Description of Annabelle: Annabelle has long blonde hair and blue eyes (let's say she takes after her mother in her looks, whereas Aramis takes after his father with his dark brown hair and eyes). Unlike other ladies and/or girls her age, Annabelle doesn't wear dresses, unless it's for a formal occasion. I guess she basically dresses like her brothers, but without the musketeer shoulder-pad, less leather and more… feminism to it! XD She's brave when she has to be, but also shy, and is only really comfortable around people she knows.
(No, this will not be a 'Mary-Sue', whatever that really is. The boys are very protective of their sister, as any big brother is, but they don't baby her… too much ;D I also hate romance, so there's no 'OC falling in love with the main character and them living happily ever after etc etc'… plus, she is only 13 ;))
Well, thank you for reading this far c; I have no idea how this will turn out, but let's give it a go!
Annabelle smiled as she patted her horse's neck, giggling when the strong animal whinnied and lowered his neck to blow in her hair. "You're a good boy," she told him.
It was another normal day in the Garrison. She was in the stables with her white stallion, Beau, Cadets were training outside, Captain Treville was somewhere in his office, Porthos was at the tavern, Athos was probably also at the tavern, trying to make sure Porthos didn't get into trouble there by fighting again (which he usually did), and Aramis… Aramis was most likely in a bed somewhere sleeping with a woman.
Annabelle sighed and leaned against her horse. Aramis had woken early that morning and left her a note, telling her that he was off to do 'important business', and she was to go to Treville's as soon as she woke up, not trusting the people of Paris to not break into their room and kidnap her while he was gone. He had also added an 'I'll be back soon. Love, Aramis," at the end of the note, but she really didn't expect him to be 'back soon'.
Athos, Porthos, Treville and Annabelle all knew who Aramis was seeing… Adele, the Cardinal's lover. They always worried that he'd get found out one day, and the Cardinal would do something… not exactly nice to him, but Aramis honestly didn't seem to care. But they got used to it, seeing as that was just who Aramis was. The hopeless romantic.
"What is it Annabelle?" asked a familiar voice, and Annabelle looked up to see Treville standing there, a fond smile on his face.
"Nothing, just thinking," she said before walking towards him.
"About?" the Captain asked, frowning as he picked straw from the stables out of her hair.
"Aramis. He'll be okay, won't he? I know he's not supposed to be sleeping with the Cardinal's lover..."
Treville looked into Annabelle's worried, blue eyes and sighed. "Of course," he said, "only us, Athos and Porthos know about Adele and as long as it stays that way, your idiotic brother will be perfectly fine."
Annabelle nodded. Treville was always right. Everything would be fine.
"Come on you," the Captain said, patting her shoulder and turning to walk out of the stables, "your brothers will be back soon."
"What do you need to speak to them about?"
"They've gotten themselves into trouble," he said before turning his head slightly with a small smile, "again."
"I've had complaints. An allegation you've been duelling with the Cardinal's Red Guards. Is it true?"
Athos, Porthos and Aramis looked at their Captain, slightly guilty looks on their faces.
"Let me think… no, because that would be illegal," Athos said.
Annabelle grinned slightly from where she was sitting on Treville's bed. She knew her brothers had been fighting with the Red Guards, but she didn't quite understand why it wasn't allowed. They were very annoying after all, even to her, and it was usually them who started the fights, anyway. Either that, or they managed to provoke her brothers into drawing their swords first.
"I can't protect you from the Cardinal if you keep fighting his men," Treville said with a sigh, looking at the three of them. "On another note, Captain Cornet and his troop have gone missing. I need you to find out where they are."
Athos frowned. "I thought you sent him to Chartres?"
Treville nodded. "I did. He should have been back yesterday but there has been no word."
"Well, what was he doing there?" Porthos asked.
"He was carrying a number of confidential items to an important meeting in the monastery. Don't bother asking me more questions, because I can't answer them. He was engaged in the King's work - that's all I can say. Just get yourselves to Chartres and find out what happened."
Athos nodded. "Yes Captain."
Annabelle stood as her brothers walked towards her.
"Good morning," Aramis said with a smile, placing a kiss on his sister's head as they walked out of the door. "Sorry for leaving you this morning, I had-"
"Important business? Like sleeping with the Cardinal's wife?" Porthos said.
Aramis turned, pulling Annabelle closer to his side as they walked out of the Captain's office and down the stairs. "The Cardinal holds no love for Adele compared to me," he said confidently.
"But what if he finds out about you? He's not a very nice man," Annabelle said quietly, looking down at her feet as they walked towards the stable masters, who were holding out their horses' reins.
Aramis stopped walking at this and turned to face his sister, bending down to her level. He frowned, knowing that his brothers were worrying about him – there never was a time that they weren't – but for his little sister to be anxious about his affair with Adele… he was meant to be the one worrying about her, not the other way around!
"Belle," he said, placing his hands on either side of his sister's face so that she was looking at him. "You're right; the Cardinal isn't a very nice man. But what I'm doing isn't against the law. If he found out about it, which I assure you, he won't, he'd be angry, but he couldn't hurt me without punishment. I'm safe, okay?"
Annabelle hesitated before nodding, smiling when her brother pulled her into a hug before ruffling her hair and standing up.
"C'mon scamp," Porthos called from where he was standing next to Beau, ready to help her mount. Annabelle grinned, forgetting her previous worries, and ran to him.
Aramis sighed as he watched her, turning slightly as Athos appeared at his side. "She's right, you know," Athos said, putting on his leather gloves. "It may not be against the law but that won't stop the Cardinal. You know how dangerous he is, and for our sister's sake, please; be careful."
They had journeyed to Chartres quickly, hoping to find something of use that would tell them where Captain Cornet and his men had got to. They hadn't found out much, other than the fact that something was seriously wrong. Cornet was highly-skilled, and according to Treville, he had taken his best men with him. So, for them to suddenly disappear like this, it was quite worrying. They had swiftly made their way back to the Garrison, hoping to get their news to their Captain as soon as possible.
When they arrived, Athos dismounted, handing his reins to the stable master. "Feed the horses and make sure they are well rested," he said before turning to Annabelle and lifting her off her horse.
"I can do it!" the girl protested, but the Musketeer only smiled in response.
"I'm looking for Athos!"
At the sound of his name, Athos turned, eyebrows only slightly raised as he stared at the man – or was it more suitable to call him a boy? – striding into the Garrison.
"You've found him," he said, without any hesitation.
The boy pointed his gun at Athos, and Annabelle felt her eyes widening as Aramis pulled her protectively towards him. This wasn't something she saw every day… and she saw a lot of strange things.
"My name is d'Artagnan of Lupiac in Gascony. Prepare to fight, one of us dies here." The boy looked very confident as he drew his sword and swung it.
"Now that's the way to make an entrance," Aramis said with a grin, watching as Athos brandished his sword and walked into the middle of the courtyard.
"Can I ask why?" he questioned, turning to look at d'Artagnan.
"You murdered my father," the boy said simply, but with a hint of anger and distress.
Athos narrowed his eyes slightly. What was he on about? "You're mistaken," he said, "I'm not the man you're looking for."
A dark fire raged in d'Artagnan's eyes as he rushed forward. "Murderer!" he yelled, bringing his sword down just as Athos blocked it.
"Do you deny you shot Alexandre d'Artagnan two days ago in cold blood?" the boy shouted, staring angrily at Athos as he pointed his sword at him, not feeling intimidated in the least as the musketeer did the same to him.
"I usually remember the man I kill – that name means nothing to me."
"Then you're a liar as well!"
Annabelle unconsciously stepped back into her brother as the musketeer and d'Artagnan fought again. She didn't really understand what was going on, only that Athos was being accused of a murder she was quite sure he didn't commit.
"Remarkable," she heard Aramis say as he tightened his hold around her slightly, noticing his friend and the boy coming closer to them, "he's keeping up with Athos."
"Rubbish," Porthos scoffed, "he just doesn't want to hurt the lunatic."
The two fought still, the sound of metal hitting metal echoing throughout the Garrison until Athos backed d'Artagnan up against a wooden beam and stuck his sword above him.
"Enough!" he shouted. He breathed out as he glanced up at the sword. "That could have been your throat," he told him, "don't make me kill you over a mistake. I didn't kill your father and I don't want to kill you."
The musketeer turned, walking towards his friends before he heard a shout of "Athos!" and a sword rushing past him, wedging itself into a wooden beam… right above Annabelle's head.
The girl's eyes widened and she froze, slowly lifting her head up to see the sword stuck in the wood, mere inches from the top of her head. She wasn't quite sure if it was just pure luck that she hadn't been hit, or the boy had a very good aim, but she didn't quite care at the moment. She felt Aramis tug her towards him, his brown eyes turning accusingly to the boy.
"And that could have been your back," d'Artagnan told Athos, who looked quite shocked.
Aramis stared at the boy, eyes growing dark. "Or my sister's head," he growled, moving to walk towards him.
Porthos acted quickly, reaching out and grabbing his friend's arm before pulling him back. "Leave the boy, 'Mis," he said, "Athos'll take care of 'im."
D'Artagnan seemed undeterred by Aramis's attempt to lunge at him, only keeping his eyes on Athos. "Now fight me or die on your knees! I don't care which," he said, anger returning in his voice.
Athos stayed where he was, looking at the boy. He was so confident, poised and reminded him of himself when he was his age. He was a great sword-man, and his fighting style was quite unique; he was graceful, but also feisty, and he could see that when d'Artagnan was mad, he wasn't in complete control of himself. Or perhaps that was grief, having just lost his father… but right now he didn't quite care, being on the receiving end of his sword.
Athos gave d'Artagnan a clear look which said 'no'.
"No?" the boy asked, before giving a loud cry and running towards him again.
Aramis narrowed his eyes before drawing his own sword and stepping forward, bringing it down on d'Artagnan's. "He said enough," he told him.
Annabelle watched as d'Artagnan looked up at her brother, dark hair covering his eyes. "Very well, I'll fight both of you," she heard him say, before he lifted his sword again and hit Aramis's.
The girl was getting tired of this now. If d'Artagnan couldn't beat Athos in a fight, he definitely wasn't going to beat both Athos and Aramis, and most likely Porthos, since he was bound to join in any time…
"Three of us? Now for God's sake, put up your sword."
Now.
Annabelle was interested in how this would turn out. Obviously her brothers were going to win - d'Artagnan had no chance now - but would he give up?
"You'll have to kill me for it."
Hm, clearly not.
"Lively little bugger, aren't ya?" Porthos shouted over the noise of clashing swords. Annabelle could hear amusement in his voice, and realized he was enjoying it.
The four fought on before the musketeers finally got d'Artagnan backed onto the steps leading to Treville's office. Their swords were pointed at his throat, and Annabelle furrowed her eyebrows, wondering what they'd do next. They wouldn't kill him – at least… not in front of her.
"Stop fighting! All of you! Is three against one fair?"
Annabelle knew that voice, and she smiled as she turned, watching as Constance Bonacieux stormed into the courtyard.
Athos sighed and turned around, walking away from d'Artagnan. "We weren't going to kill him," he told her.
"Weren't we?" Porthos asked, drawing his sword back and looking over his shoulder.
"Next time, let us know," Aramis said.
"Madame Bonacieux, what are you doing here?" Athos asked, looking at Annabelle. He noticed she was quite tense and motioned for her to come to him, putting his arms around her shoulder when she did. "Are you alright?" he asked her quietly, and she let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding before nodding with a small smile.
Constance made her way over to d'Artagnan and looked at him disapprovingly. "I followed him because I knew he was going to do something stupid," she said.
"I don't need a woman to protect me," d'Artagnan told her, standing up and walking away from the musketeers.
"Don't say another word," Constance said. "If only men would think instead of fight; there might be more good ones left." She looked at Annabelle and frowned. "And you were doing it in front of your sister too?" She looked at their remorseful faces and rolled her eyes, mumbling something about 'stupid musketeers'.
"Him I'm not sure about. Her I like," Aramis said, grinning, before turning at the sound of men entering the Garrison.
"What's going on?" Treville asked, confused as he looked at the unfamiliar face of d'Artagnan. He shook his head. "Never mind. Did you find Cornet?"
"He never made it to the monastery. Give us twenty men and we'll search the road to Chartres," Athos replied.
Treville sighed as he looked back slightly, and two Red Guards walked forward. "Athos, I'm sorry. These men have come to arrest you."
Annabelle looked up at Treville, eyebrows furrowed. "Why?" she asked, "he hasn't done anything!"
"Shh," Athos told her, looking down at his little sister who was standing in front of him, her back leaning against his chest.
"You are to appear before the King immediately, charged with robbery and murder," Treville said regretfully.
He looked at Aramis and Porthos, noticing their hands dropping to their swords' hilts as the Red Guards moved forward. "I promised them there'd be no trouble," he told them. Aramis and Porthos glanced at each other before reluctantly letting go of their swords. The Captain took Athos' sword as it was handed to him and sighed, turning around to walk back out of the Garrison.
Athos turned, pushing Annabelle gently towards Aramis as he looked at d'Artagnan. "I'm not the man you're looking for," he said.
"Why did my father name you before he died?" the boy asked, stepping forward after Athos turned to walk between the guards.
"I don't know."
Annabelle watched as the men walked out of the Garrison. She looked up at Aramis, her face clearly showing worry and confusion at what had just taken place.
Aramis looked down and kissed his sister's head before taking her hand and walking quickly out of the courtyard, Porthos at his side. "It'll be alright Belle, don't worry," he said, though Annabelle was sure she heard uncertainty in his voice.
She looked back at d'Artagnan as they were rounding the corner, and noticed longingness on his face. The boy wanted answers. He wanted to know who had killed his father. But it wasn't Athos!
Something was definitely wrong.
*huge sigh of relief* Well, I thought I'd never get it finished! XD So, here's the first chapter. It was a little longer than I expected, so it took more time, but I've finally got it completed! I think it went okay, though obviously I'm not the judge of that! Hope you enjoyed, and please review, otherwise I won't know if I've done a good job or not and can't post more. I was a little conscious about posting this, as I don't know how many of you like OCs, but hopefully some of you do! Thank you for reading :3 ~ Gre3nleaf