Chapter 1: Common Sense

Notes:

I have been wanting to write Athos a smutty romance (as he does not have many) for some time now, but for some reason he gives me plaguing writer's block. I finally was able to conjure something. My story is bit cheesy and is no comparison to my Loki fanfic, but I still hope you enjoy.

Arms folded, Athos glared down at the dirt not really seeing it, his mind spiraling, reliving the darkest era of his life. Melancholy reminiscing, a plaguing habit of his, but no matter how much he tried to banish the memories of her, he could not escape her mentally. She was like a ghost haunting his soul.

"My father speaks the truth. I shall not marry!"

Athos glanced up, memories interrupted, at the snap of a sassy feminine voice. A young woman, donning the fullest lips he had ever seen, stood before the king, her head defiantly high, her cat-shaped eyes openly flaunting insolence. The burly beast of a man by her side balled his fists. Scarlet flourish within his ivory complexion. "Do you see, sire, how willful my daughter vaunts?"

Sprawled out upon his throne using body language to express his usual boredom when determining judgement, King Louis cocked an eyebrow. "Do not grant her a choice. She is your daughter, your chore. Force her to wed. Why trouble your king with such a simple matter?"

"Forgive me, my lord, but I have tried to force a union and failed, and so thus, I now lay my burden in your hands. I secured Noelle a betrothed, a butcher, and on the eve of the wedding she purposely caused an entire supply of pork to spoil, crippling him financially and breaking the engagement. And this is not the first time! With the tanner, she dropped an entire bottle of ink in his oil! Suitor after suitor, my daughter has denied all either by fleeing or by verbal assault. I have bloodied my knuckles upon her time and time again, and still she defies my order."

The saucy beauty huffed out loud, taunting her father's plea. Athos widened his eyes, his silky lips curling chauvinistically. She was indeed a little hellcat. He pitied the poor bloke who gets stuck with her.

Darkly amused, the puerile king sat erect. No longer bored. "Tell me the origin of your neglect to disobey your father, Noelle."

"That is simple, my lord. I refuse to be sold like stock. I reject domination and the idea of someone forcing me into domestic slavery with a man not of my choosing."

Cardinal Richelieu stomped to his feet, his eyes flaying venomously. "You speak blasphemy, girl!"

King Louis smirked, folded his arms, and awaited the blacksmith's daughter to recoil holy accusation. He did not have to wait long. She cast her eyes upon the Cardinal nonchalantly and shot back, "Do not devout men and women such as nuns, monks, and priests relinquish their marital obligation? Are they...Are you also committing blasphemy? Which commandment ordained that all must wed?"

Scorned, he pointed a long, crooked finger in her direction and snarled. "Be humbled, child, as you have no right to compare your wretched soul to souls of those chosen to serve our lord!"

"Enough!" The king said standing. "Athos, escort this rebellious wench to the dungeon. A night or two in a damp cell shall quell her willfulness. Blacksmith, go and seek a suitor for the hand of your daughter. She will wed your choice or spend the rest of her days sleeping on stone and fighting rats for food."

Queen Anne abruptly stood and departed. Her husband sighed, glared down at Noelle, who met his hostility with a sneer until Athos collected her arm and broke the silent battle.

"Come, mademoiselle."

She turned her gaze upon Athos, snorted gracefully, and allowed him to lead her from courtyard. She knew of him from her childhood, but of course a man of his status would not recall a woman of her class.

Upon entering the dimly lit dungeon, Noelle faltered, placing her hand over her mouth as a gust of mold and mildew overwhelmed her. A rodent snarled in the distance. "This place is nauseating!"

Smirking, Athos tugged her forward. "You have no one to blame but yourself. Now reap what you sow."

Noelle froze, jerking her wrist from Athos' snare. "Such a man thing to say."

"No, manhood has nothing to do with my observation, but common sense. You disobeyed your father's command repeatedly. You refused to submit to authority and behave what is natural of young ladies. And foolishly, you recklessly spouted off at the king."

He reached for her, but again she jerked away, surprising her when he gave up. She had assumed a man of his character would be more aggressive.

"I would not label your demeanor of thinking as common sense, more like male sense!"

"Label me as you please. Now come along and endure your fate." Athos pointed in the direction of an approaching nun.

"Very well. At least I know I will be safe in her hands."

At that Athos chuckled, his demeanor patronizing. "Little maiden, your virtue was never in danger from me."

She stormed by without a second glance at the gloating Musketeer.