Author's Notes: (deep breath) Okay. This is my first foray into The Musketeers, so bear with me. I've just started watching the show, and Athos immediately started talking to me. While I love all four boys (plus Treville), Athos and Porthos hold a special place in my heart, and though I'd like to eventually return the boys to the seventeenth century, this is what popped out instead. I've seen several modern AU's, including a few set in Canada. I'm still filling in the details, but the Musketeers and the Red Guards, as in the series, both work for Louis Rey, nominal head of Bourbon Enterprises, a multinational corporation. The boys are actually descended from the original Musketeers, and named after their counterparts. As to Milady … my feelings about her in the show are conflicted. Here, though, she's a skilled operative who seeks to protect … not just other employees of Bourbon, but herself after a mission gave her the greatest love of her life, only to see it, and the life she built with him, shattered. Finally, yes, there are original characters. Hopefully, they'll fit in with the rest of the characters. The title is taken from the haunting song by Martin Page, 'In the House of Stone and Light.'
Disclaimer: Athos, Porthos, Aramis, d'Artagnan, Treville, Richelieu, Milady, Constance, Thomas, Louis and Anne (and anyone else who might show up) don't belong to me. Audelais Josephine de la Fere Maddox (aka Josie), Rob Maddox, and Tristan Maddox do … don't mind if you borrow them (don't laugh, it's been known to happen), just ask first and return them reasonably intact.
Prologue
Back to the Beginning
San Antonio, Texas
Bourbon Enterprises-Southwest United States Branch
July 2014
"If I could send anyone else, I would."
Anne de Brueil looked at the woman across the desk from her, anguish clear in her hazel eyes. Anne knew that this was the sister of the man she had loved (still loved, would always love), but she could see nothing of her ex-husband in the other woman. That was for the best, she thought … it was bad enough, knowing that they should have been sisters, without adding the complication of a resemblance to her younger brother. Anne managed to force a smile, answering, "I know. I don't blame you. When do you need me to leave?"
There was a minute relaxation in the other woman's posture before she replied, "If you can leave first thing in the morning, that would be most helpful. On the back of my card is my personal cell phone … if you need any help, if things go haywire, call me. I'll be on the first plane up." In all the years Anne had known the petite brunette across the desk from her, she had never known such an offer to be made, to anyone. The other woman added haltingly, "I know what happened the last time you were there. And I know you're strong. But I also know how powerful memories are. If my instincts are right …"
She didn't finish her sentence. She didn't need to. Anne leaned forward, saying, "I can't pretend to know what you went through there. But I promise you, if I need you, I will call. Just … make sure that your daughter is okay with you leaving." That was one of the things she liked most about her current companion. It wasn't just that she treated those around like human beings (a far cry from Anne's own boss) … but her first priority was her daughter, and anyone who tried to argue with that found themselves facing off with a Mama Bear. Richelieu found that out the hard way more than once. Those sessions were always quite … entertaining. Or terrifying, depending on who you asked.
At the mention of her daughter, the other brunette smiled, a real smile. She answered softly, "Believe me, she'll be fine with it. My little girl is utterly fascinated with you, and was even before she knew that you were married to her uncle. But … I promise … if necessary, Tristan can spend the weekend with Rob. It's been a while since they had a daddy-daughter weekend." Anne swallowed hard, because she grew up in orphanages and foster homes. It wasn't the first time she'd been jealous of Tristan Maddox. She was sure that it wouldn't be the last. Audelais Josephine de la Fere Maddox took a deep breath, saying again, "I know there's a good chance that Athos will be there. And don't try to feed me that line about how you don't love him any more, that you stopped loving him years ago. I know better than that. Will you be all right?"
It was not the question of an employer … but of a friend. Were they friends? Anne stared across the desk into the hazel eyes of her husband's sister, and thought that even if they were never friends, they could have at least been sisters. Josie never made a secret of the fact that she cared about Anne, about everyone who served Louis Rey. The younger woman wanted to scoff, wanted to mock Josie's concern by telling her that just because Josie was still in love with her ex-husband, didn't mean Anne was. Josie deserved the truth from her, and that wasn't it. Instead, she promised, "I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me, Josie." As soon as the words were out, she wanted to call them back. But words couldn't be unsaid, sights couldn't be unseen, and hearts couldn't be unbroken.
Dark eyebrows arched, and for the first time, Anne could see a resemblance between the siblings … it wasn't a large one, just enough to make Anne's heart stutter. Josie said softly, "Richelieu had you infiltrate my childhood home, Anne, because of his suspicions regarding my parents' deaths … because he thought Athos had something to do with it. He used you as a honey trap, never guessing once that you might fall for my brother. You were happy there … young and in love, and had the love of a wonderful man. And then, it all fell apart, because of the one actually responsible for my parents' deaths. Don't insult my intelligence and tell me that you're fine, Anne. I know you aren't."
Anne closed her eyes during the quiet recital of the facts of that long-ago mission. She could see Athos when they first met, on the day they married … and on the day he learned of her deception. She thought of the years when she wanted so desperately to hate him for turning away from her, and the equally desperate desire to have him hold her once again. She opened her eyes to look at Athos' sister, the woman who broke his heart long before Anne herself did, by leaving him without saying good-bye. They stared at each other for a long moment, before Anne said softly, "You're right. I'm not. But I'm a professional, and I will do my duty. Just as Athos did." It was Josie's turn to close her eyes, and she nodded slowly. When her eyes opened once more, the vulnerable woman of the last few minutes had vanished, to be replaced with the Iron Queen, as Louis Rey so derisively called her.
"All right. All right. Here is a ticket to New Brunswick. You'll be flying into Moncton, and met there by an old friend of mine. He'll be waiting for you in baggage claim, holding a sign with your name on it. According to the emails I've been receiving from Treville, the boys should be in either Vancouver or Montreal, so he's a safe bet to meet you," Josie finally said. Anne accepted the ticket, her heart beating rapidly. She was going to do this … she was going to return to Pinon Deux, where so many of her most wonderful memories and most horrific nightmares were born.
There, she had fallen in love … there, she had seen her world shatter. Did she dare wonder, or even hope, for what she might find this time? As Anne rose to her feet to leave the room and begin this most dangerous mission of her life, she had to stop and turn to face her erstwhile sister-in-law, asking, "And what if I encounter Athos?" Josie sat back in her high-backed leather chair, steepling her fingers together under her chin.
"Well, for one thing, I would be most grateful if you could refrain from killing him. I'm extremely fond of him, you see," was the thoughtful answer and Anne tried very hard not to roll her eyes. Josie added, her voice softening, "And, if he will hear you … tell him that I love him, and I hope one day he can forgive me." Anne thought of the sixteen year old girl who vanished one night, never to be seen again, breaking the hearts of her two younger brothers. She thought of the man one of those brothers had become, and thought perhaps he had already forgiven her. For Josie, as it was for Anne, it was a matter of survival. While the boy Athos had been may not have understood that, she was sure the man he had become did.
TBC