This is a BBC Musketeers inspired fanfiction. Sometimes I follow the storyline, most of the time not. I introduce two original female characters, and I also discarted other characters. The overall picture must be seen as an alternative story line to the series. I write an alternative end for the last season, even if I actually do not know how it ends. I just let my imagination flow and try to emulate what is good in this series : a mix of adventure, loyalty, brotherhood, intrigue and romance. Danger of spoilers, but very low...
Here I try something : I will write all the dialogues in French and put the translation in brackets. The idea is to set a kind of French atmosphere to the story... (The chapter is also available totally in French, for those who are interested...)
Thank you for reading, hope you enjoy! Reviews and comments are welcome!
Chapter I. The Shadow Pact
Paris, Cours des Miracles. XVIIth century, in the reign of Louis XIII, Roi de France et de Navarre.
Two hooded silhouettes are facing each other, with only the full moon light passing through a filthy window of a disreputable tavern, somewhere in La Cour des Miracles. Their voices are almost inaudible, because of the tumult of the songs of the drunken men, just the other side of the door.
- Comment puis-je m'assurer que notre entente tiendra envers et contre tous?, (How can I be sure that our agreement will hold, against all opposition?), whispers the man.
- N'ai-je pas été d'une loyauté indéfectible? N'ai-je pas fait preuve d'abnégation et de dévotion à ton égard? (Have I not been of an unstinting loyalty? Have I not shone abnegation and devotion towards you?)
- Certes, et je te l'ai rendu par une liberté que je n'ai pas eue. (Indeed, and I gave back freedom to you, for free I never was).
Both silhouettes stay silent, ruminative, looking at each other in the faint light. Then the feminive voice speaks again:
- Est-ce que renouveler notre pacte de jadis te serait suffisant? (Does the renewing in bygone days pact would be enough?)
- Tu te souviens? (You remember?) Saying these words, the man is touched and seems to be moved vaguely by the nostalgia of better days.
- Certes. Comment oublier un tel pacte? (Indeed. How to forget such a pact?)
- Tu étais si jeune à l'époque... (You were so young back then...)
- N'oublie pas que tu l'étais aussi... L'assaut que j'ai vécu m'a hélas par trop fait vieillir prématurément... Heureusement, tu as été un protecteur efficace et loyal, au-delà de mes espérances. J'ai maintenant l'occasion de te rendre la pareille, et il n'est plus douce satisfaction pour mon coeur endetté... Mais au-delà de cette dette, je le fais par dévotion... par amour. (Do not forget that you were too... Unfortunately, the assault I suffered of made me age far too prematuraly... Luckily, you were a fair protector and a loyal one, beyond all my hopes. Now I have the opportunity to return the favor, and it is a great satisfaction for my deeply indebted heart... But beyond my debt, I do it with devotion... with love.)
The man hastens to kiss the hand of the woman, in an upsurge of affection that is returned in a tender kiss on his forehead.
In chorus, they say the formerly words :
- Protection, Vérité, Loyauté : que notre alliance soit un rempart contre l'adversité! (Protection, Truth, Loyalty : may our alliance be the bastion against adversity! )
They both drink to the renewing of their ancient pact, drinking at the same cup.
- Ce vin est lamentable, (This wine is lamentable) says disdainfully the man. The woman smiles nonchalantly.
The man speaks again, suddenly tired.
- Tu m'écriras désormais, au besoin, sous le pseudonyme de Gabriel. (From now on, if you need to, you will write to me under the pen name of Gabriel).
- Aisé à retenir. Bien pensé, (Easy to remember. Well thought), answers the woman.
- N'oublie pas : notre frère ne doit rien apprendre de notre alliance. Cela mettrait en échec notre plan. (Do not forget : our brother must not know of our alliance. It would compromise our plan.)
- Comment l'oublier, j'ai participé à son élaboration. (How could I forget it, I am part of its conception.)
- Désolé... les récentes découvertes des mousquetaires me rendent un peu nerveux. (Sorry... the last findings of the Musketeers make me nervous).
- Ils sont aveuglément loyaux à la Couronne. (They are blindly loyal to the Crown)
- Grand bien leur fasse, ils ne feront que participer malgré eux à la réussite de notre dessein. (Good for them, they will only participate despite of their will to our scheme.)
- Espérons-le! (Hopefully!)
After a brief embrace, both individuals are going separate ways in the night, each of them following a different path, walking carefully in the alleys of Paris, making sure to remain anonymous under both night and cloaks. They roam in the street of the City as easily as in the maze of their tortuous plan, in secrecy.