Seven Years Ago
(Age 14)
I was sitting under a grove of trees, watching my twin brother, D'Artagnan work on his swordsman ship with papa. Papa had once been a musketeer, an elite group of fighters who serve the king of France. Now D'Artagnan wanted to follow in papa's footsteps. They paused when we heard mama call "Yasmina, do you want to go to the market with me?"
"Oui mama" I replied, getting up and smoothing my skirt. Papa turned to me and told me "Yasmina, you and mama be careful in town. I have heard Rochefort and the cardinals guards are stirred up and could attack. If you see them, you and mama get out or take shelter immediately. They show no mercy not even to women." I nodded and then mama came over and papa gave her the same warning before we set off in the wagon. Little did I realize this would be the last time I would ever see my home again.
Mama and I got to the market and I hitched the horses to the post as well as our wagon and started shopping for fresh vegetables and some meat. While I was holding the basket as mama inspected some carrots, I got an intense feeling of danger. That was when I heard the thundering of hoof beats. "Mama, I think we need to run now" I told her, seeing the approaching army. "We have no time baby. Let's get to the inn and hide in their cellar" mama told me as we held our baskets and began running.
We ran as hard as we could, avoiding soldiers but I didn't see a big pile of rocks and I fell. My foot got caught in the rocks and I couldn't get loose. "Mama" I cried out. She tried to free me but couldn't. "Run" I pleaded, seeing the soldiers coming. I wasn't going to let my mama die as my brother still needed her. I watched her run, taking both of our baskets and laid there on the ground with my eyes closed, waiting for my impending, unmerciful death. Just then, I heard footsteps beside me and I heard a commanding voice order "Look at me girl." I slowly opened my eyes and I was staring into the eyes, well eye and the eye patch of France's most dangerous swordsman, Captain Rochefort. "Please don't kill me" I pleaded softly as both tears of pain and fear welled up in my eyes.
I saw him go over to his horse and take a hammer and chisel out of his horse's saddlebag and he knelt down beside me and started freeing my trapped foot. "You're not going to kill me" I asked through my tears, confused by this kind of gesture. "No, you might be useful to me later. What is your name" Rochefort asked. "Yasmina" I answered. "You will come with me then to Paris and I will see your foot is tended to and you will be my servant. When you turn twenty one, I will give you a more permanent assignment, understand" he asked, placing my arms around his neck and picking me up.
"Yes" I answered as he put me on his horse. He got back on as well and I held on tightly. As we started to leave, I could see mama watching from a window in the inn and she was crying. 'Please God, keep my mother, my father, and D'Artagnan safe. Give my brother strength to be a brave musketeer' I prayed, watching all I had ever known fade away.
The journey took many hours until at last we came to a small villa a few miles just as one enters Paris and Rochefort carried me into the house. I was still really frightened and wanted to go home but I knew it would be better to obey this man then be killed. He finally brought me into a small bedroom and laid me down carefully.
After I was cared for by the local doctor and one of the maids had cleaned me up and dressed me in something more appropriate, I was left to rest after another maid had made sure I had eaten. I was a little frightened to close my eyes but exhaustion over took me and I had no idea what would come my way in seven years time.