Disclaimer, I do not own the Musketeers, even though sometimes I really wish I did! All the characters and ideas belong to the BBC and Alexander Dumas. [I hope that disclaimers correct :)]
The sharp morning light pierced Athos' eyes. Morning had come already. Peeling his face off the floor, his eyes roamed the room, taking in the mess of empty wine bottles discarded around. Sighing he heaved himself to his clothes cabinet, and took out a fresh undershirt and breeches. He dressed slowly so not to throw his hungover head off balance. Turning to the water jug he used what little water was left to splash his neck and face, a poor attempt to rid him of the memories he used the drink to hide at night. Her face, Miladys face, was branded at the forefront of his mind, her dark eyes glistening with mischief, hair cascading around her all too seductive face. Shaking his head he kicked the bottles under the bed to sorted later. Like all his problems, they could be sorted after his duty, duty to the Musketeers. Grabbing his weapon belt and his sword in his sheaf, he tied them around his middle. Pausing to see what he had forgotten he spotted his badge and hat sitting on the window side. Striding back across the room he quickly tied the leather straps around his arm, a practice that was now incredibly easy for him. Then turning his heel he walked out onto the balcony surrounding the garrison, placing his well worn hat on his head as he went.
Her chest rising and falling softly, Aramis studied the women who had captured his heart. Her face was a happy smile, even in sleep. Her little sloped nose, her wide blue eyes, her hair that shimmered between blonde and brown in the ghostly morning light, he was in adoration of everything about her. Adoration of Anne.
This was a rare occurrence. Rare that there was a night where it felt to Aramis that the heavens aligned, where the wet nurse was sent away, all of the ladies maids busy with other 'Important' tasks, himself not of guard duty, the King spending the entire night with his mistress Milady. He raised his crucifix to his mouth and sent a silent prayer to his God to forgive this great sin of adultery.
He turned his gaze back to Anne who was just beginning to stir. The early morning light cast long shadows across her bare body as she turned and snuggled in closer to him.
Laughing softly so not to be heard he held eye contact with his Queen "My love, we cannot! It is already well past the time I should be leaving."
Pouting Anne sighed "Just a couple of minutes Aramis, you of all people know how I treasure these moments more than life itself"
"At least you have a permanent reminder off me with you, who is equally as handsome as his Father" Aramis replied, looking towards the Dauphin's crib with a cheeky grin on his face making Anne giggle again.
"Oh Aramis how I hope and pray our son inherits your incredible modesty!"
Planting one last kiss on her forehead Aramis stood and began to pull up his leather breeches. Anne, enwrapped in a sheet, moved to hover over their child's crib. Pulling on his white undershirt he moved behind her to gaze upon there cooing child.
"Has his mother beauty" Aramis noted before laying a trail of kisses on her exposed neck
"And his father's charm" she smiled as the little boy wrapped his tiny hand around his father's finger.
"I love you, I love you both with my entire existence" He said as he forced himself to turn away from the beautiful sight and finish dressing. Once he'd secured his weapon belt in place he felt her arms wrap around him.
"Back to normality now" she murmured
He turned so he was facing her, his large brown eyes boring into hers. Slowly he brought his lips down to her. The spark was instant, so strong that he felt a tsunami could not tear them apart. With complete reluctance he pulled away. There eyes were on each other, his ragged exhale her inhale. Then, stepping backwards far out of her grasp he bowed.
"Your Majesty." Armasis said, before turning to leave through a secret escape route, that was not patrolled by the Red Guards. Anne watched his form retreat into the darkness. She felt the loneliness seep back into room surrounded by Louis' fresh wails.
D'Artagnan yawned as he waited for Constance in the main market square, his feet shifting from side to side with his impatience. Her husband had made an order….request a few weeks ago for Constance to stay at the Bonacieux residence once a week. Constance having no choice complied. D'Artagnan did not like it, not one bit.
He spotted her before she saw him, which gave him time to admire how the burgundy and white dress showed off her perfect figure. She was a beautiful woman. Moving up to her face he saw that she had caught him staring and raised one of her dark eyebrows, a smile lighting up her face. The face he dreamed of every moment they were apart. Once he made eye contact he couldn't look away, the attraction simmering between them. She reached him and immediately placed her lips by his ear, making his heart pound double speed.
"Like what you see Monsieur?" she whispered in a voice dripping with sultry tones
"As always Madam you are my sole attention" He murmured huskily as he carefully pushed a stray curl behind her ear.
Realising that his lips were only centimeters from her, Constance quickly stepped back. Bonacieux didn't know about the affair between her and D'Artagnan and no matter how much she disliked him she would not wish on any man to discover such a thing through idle gossip. The market place was a machine of gossip.
"May I escort you to your destination Madam?" Asked D'Artagnan, his voice airy with formality yet his dark eyes sparkled with mischief. Laughing she took his readily offered arm, shivering slightly at the contact.
Looking up into those eyes that could melt her in seconds she replied in equal formality "To the the palace please Monsieur"
Walking slowly towards the palace, not wanting to rush the precious time they had together.
"How was its, last night" D'Artagnan asked as a serious look crossed his face. Constance's face twisted into a grimace. The thought of her with him in that way made anger flare in his stomach; she is his wife thought D'Artagnan. The thought dampened his anger slightly. Very very slightly.
"I don't want to talk about it D'Artagnan, it's over, for this week" He turned her round to face him, making eye contact. God her eyes were captivating.
"If he hurts you, you tell me understand?"
"And start a fight between you and my husband? No D'Artagnan I think not" she scoffed and turned away to try and continue.
As gently as possible he turned her back to face him, the feeling of his hands on her shoulders enthrilling. How could such an innocent touch be so powerful? He wondered.
"I'm serious Constance, he may be your husband, but no man should hurt a woman, I would fight a wife beater if I loved the woman or not."
With a quick glance around she pressed her lips to his, hiding under his hat.
"You are the most honorable man D'Artagnan, with great moral duty. A woman would be lucky to have you" Tears filled her eyes.
"Shhh, the only woman who has my heart is you. It always will be you. We will work out a way to be with each other, I promise."
Constance did not look convinced, yet knew they should be getting to the palace. "You are the worst escort in living history" She said through her sadness, trying to lighten the mood. Grinning D'Artagnan started to walk again, yet his mind was far from happy. They couldn't continue like this. Yet there didn't seem a way out.
Porthos walked out onto the balcony of the garrison, dressed and ready for a day spent guarding the King and Queen. Staring out across the training area and stables, listening to the sounds of birds calling he contemplated. How he should feel happy, complete. Look how far you have come Portos he thought. He had come far, from the mixed African-European child roaming the court of miracles, to being a soldier in an elite guard who protected the King. It truly was an unusual transformation. Yet he felt as though part of him was empty, or yet to be awoken. It seemed so selfish that he thought of this when there was thousands of starving children slumming on the filthy streets of Paris.
Shaking himself out of his thoughts he walked down towards the stairs. The light pine wood passed quickly under his feet due to his long even stride. Taking the stairs two at a time he saw all but D'Artagnan had arrived to receive their orders of the day. Nodding to Athos he took his place between his fellow comrades, but not before passing a quick grin to Aramis.
"The runt is yet to arrive hmm" Laughed Aramis
"He obviously felt it was unnecessary to drag himself here at such an ungodly hour" Athos said with a note of teasing in his voice
With that the sound of D'Artagnan running into the Garrison could be heard.
"Finally decided to show yourself?!" joked Porthos
"Oh now now you'll see that actually I am hardly late, Captain said to be here today at 8 and it is exactly 8 my friends so I am perfectly on time."
"Perfect and D'Artagnan in the same sentence? Unheard of!" said Aramis laughing again
"Aren't you in a wonderful mood this morning" muttered Athos whose head was still causing immense pain.
"Ah I wonder why?" D'Artagnan questioned, grateful to have the eyes of his comrades off of him.
The Captain looked over the edge of the terrace a smile coming to his face hearing there harmless banter. "Which poor young lady was it this time Aramis?" the Captain called.
"A Musketeer never kisses and tells" said Aramis with wink "And I would never call a night with the most charming man in Paris a poor one!"
"Now you're all here we can begin the weeks briefing" The four Musketeers began to settle now as the conversation had moved onto more serious topics "The King and Queen are sure to remain at court for the next few days, after that the King is thinking of taking a break away from Paris with his Mistress. Anne will probably leave Paris too, if this was the case. So today we will remain at the Palace, whilst the King and Queen oversee court. We ride out in 10 minutes." And with that Treville turned back into his office.
Author's Note: Hi! So this is my first Fanfiction ever so I am very excited to be uploading the first chapter. My grammar is absolutely terrible so I apologize for that but that is probably the second reason I chose to do this, to improve it! Second after my love for the musketeers of course! I absolutely love the series, have watched it a good couple of times over! Rated this a T yet believe there will be one or two M chapters but will let you know in advance. Anyway, let me know what you think, if there are any major plot issues now or as it goes on. This took me about three days to write so two updates a week should be reasonable but we will have to just wait and see I guess. Anyhow thanks for reading, if there is any readers which considering this is my first story, I doubt there are!
Megan :D