Notes: This takes place after season 1 but the pregnancy didn't happen…(yet?) but I want season 2 to be canon because… wow what a season! Anyway I read somewhere that the dauphin was born 4 or 5 years early in the show… so I'm using (at least a bit) of that time gap to tell this story. .. Anyway I changed around a few things like Constance is already at court with the Queen…
And just a heads up, English is not my native tongue so I'm doing my best. Advice is always appreciated! And reviews are very much appreciated! Thank you for your reviews on the first chapter of this story!
Summary: First of all… major character death… sorry… but give it a chance… I promise I'll make it better ;) I don't want to give too much away here but here goes… The musketeers are send on a mission but it goes horribly wrong… how will everyone cope and is everything as it seems?
Don't own anything… doing this just for fun!
Chapter 2 Unexpected
The Queen's daydreaming was rudely interrupted when Captain Treville of the King's Musketeers entered the reception hall where everybody had gathered. He was directly followed by his second in command; Athos. They both bowed respectfully before the King and Queen; their faces grim.
The Queen, delighted at first at seeing them, because if Athos was back it meant that Aramis would be back as well. But taking in their sombre countenance she wondered what had happened.
King Louis and Queen Anne were sitting on their respective thrones; the centre of the room. The room was occupied with servants, ladies in waiting and guards around the room. Cardinal Richelieu, in his impressive black robes was standing next to the King.
The King addressed Treville with a bright smile, oblivious to the grim mood of the two men that had just entered. 'Treville, my man… I did not expect you at the palace today…'
Queen Anne looked at her husband and sighed inwardly. Could he not see that something was amiss? She turned towards the Captain and Athos; she wondered at their grim mood as she looked again at their faces and grew slightly worried. What had happened to them for them to be like this?
Treville sighed before answering the King,' I had not thought to be at the palace today. But I wanted to report back to you on the mission, Your Majesty.'
'Yes, did it go alright? I had not thought you back so soon… The Cardinal said you would be gone for a couple of days.' The King said nodding thoughtfully; looking at his first minister who was standing at his side.
'Well,' the Cardinal smiled, 'apparently I underestimated your musketeers… Your Majesty.' Inclining his head slightly towards his King.
King Louis laughed, 'You always do, Armand. You always do…' Addressing the Captain again he asked impatiently,' so? ...How did it go?'
Not beating around the bush Treville answered, 'We were ambushed, Your Majesty,' stalling a bit before continuing, 'we lost one of our own…' Treville bowed his head to hide his face for a moment. It was always hard when they lost one of their own but this particular loss had him and his musketeers reeling. The mission they had been on was not that difficult or even that important, so Captain Treville had not counted on trouble even though he had send some of his best soldiers. They had to transport some prisoners back to Paris for their trial on orders from the Cardinal.
'That is unfortunate, Captain,' King Louis said with sympathy to the man he had always respected and liked but continued as if it was a minor setback for his regiment. 'Why were you attacked? Did the prisoners escape?'
Treville looked up to answer the King; expecting nothing more from the King but was distracted when the Queen expressed her sympathy for their loss. 'I am sorry to hear that, Captain… I know how much you care for each of your men. …Which… which of your men did you lose?' she dared to ask. She dreaded his answer when she looked at the man who was standing a little behind Treville… Athos met her eyes head on and she knew enough… She felt a tightness in her chest and she barely heard Captain Treville answer her,' We lost Aramis, Your Majesty.'
It was as if time had stopped. Everyone and everything around her was as if it had stopped moving or talking. Sound didn't exist anymore. No! Not Aramis… not her brave and beautiful Aramis. The one person she loved most in the world… She couldn't breathe; it was as if air didn't exist anymore.
No one could know what this news was doing to her, but she was taken off guard. Her eyes were beginning to tear up as the news set in; she desperately tried to force the tears back, she could not fall apart in front of the King or the Cardinal or anyone for that matter. But she was failing miserably and she knew it. She could barely keep it together… She should have known better then to ask the captain this question in front of everybody… but she had never in a million years expected it to be Aramis… and now it was too late…
Suddenly there was a commotion where the Queen's ladies in waiting stood. One of them had fainted. The Queen hardly noticed, but saw in a daze Athos going towards her ladies. As if in slow motion Anne turned to see what was going on… She saw Constance on the ground, Athos was on his knees beside her. Thankful for the distraction Constance had provided; Anne made sure to be the first to leave the room; excusing herself with the King who was looking worried and waved her apologies away.
After making sure Constance was in good hands Anne had returned to her own chambers and had ordered everybody out; desperately trying to keep her perfect royal mask intact, but it was crumbling down and she couldn't do it anymore. And when finally everyone was gone she completely broke down. Screaming in despair she sagged to the floor; crying, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't breathe. She could not breathe…
NO! Not Aramis! Not her love! Not him! How could this have happened? How could he not be in her life anymore? In this life… Beautiful, funny Aramis… her Aramis… her Musketeer… her soulmate… She cried her eyes out not knowing how to breathe. Feeling a tightness in her chest that she knew would never go away again. She had lost the love of her life. How could she go on without him? How could he leave her?!
She could still feel his breath against her neck, his lips on her skin, his dark eyes on her body… on her. He had been with her only a few nights ago… the night before he had to go on this mission. He had promised her that he would be back soon. That he would be safe. That this was an easy mission and that there would be no trouble at all… but now… he would never be back… he would never look at her again, never kiss her again… She would never feel loved again…
Some days it's hard to see
If I was a fool or you a thief
Made it through the maze to find my one in a million
And now you're just a page torn from the story I'm living
And all I gave you is gone
Tumbled like it was stone
Thought we build a dynasty that heaven couldn't shake
Thought we build a dynasty like nothing ever made
Thought we build a dynasty forever couldn't break up
It all fell down
It all fell down
It all fell
It all fell down
(Dynasty by MIIA)
