CHAPTER 2
"Now Madame, there's no need for anyone to get hurt." The larger musketeer said to me. Now I was down on the ground I couldn't help but notice that he was pretty handsome. I whistled loud and long for a moment, before smiling. I really hoped Arthur heard me whistle.
"It's Mademoiselle and I know." I brought my knee between D'Artangan's legs, grabbing his pistol before he fell to the ground with a loud groan. The leader of the musketeers took a step towards me and I shot at his feet.
"Don't make that mistake." I said shaking my head at him. I backed out from under the trees, moving into the open field, my pistol ready to fire if one of them moved. Which they did. The man with the impressive moustache moved and I pulled the trigger, hitting the tree next to him. What? I didn't want to kill them, just trick them into thinking I was going to. If I killed a musketeer, I wouldn't just be sentenced to death not with the bond between them.
"Nice shot." He said and I gave him a sarcastic smile before pocketing the pistols and running back the way I came. I heard the thundering of hooves and saw that Arthur was a metre away - thank the Lord. I stopped where I was letting Arthur gallop up to me, standing in front of me allowing me to mount him. I looked back to the musketeers who were mounting their horses, even the younger one D'Artangan.
"Stop!" The moustache man shouted, firing his pistol. This wasn't the best idea he had as it made Arthur rear up before bolting towards them, another great idea – not.
"Whoa!" I said in surprise. We galloped past them, out running them greatly. Then a thought occurred to me. I'd had my fun the last few months, living on the edge as some would say, but what was I doing? I turned into a criminal because of what? Because of greed? Pain? Grief? No, I had to keep to my word to the rather strange lady I had made it to. I shuddered at the image of the figure that had nearly blown my brains out when I first moved to France. She caught me taking money from her cloak, so in return for my life, she made me a deal. The way she talked fascinated me. It was as if she had no remorse, no sympathy, just a cold blooded human. But a girl will do anything to save her skin. I pulled Arthur to a stop and looked back to the Musketeers who had given up chasing me; their horses exhausted. I patted Arthur on his neck.
"Well old chap. It's been nice doing business with you." I said softly. "Let's go out with a show eh?" I turned Arthur back round to the direction the Musketeers were and cantered towards them. It didn't take long until we reached them, Arthur rearing in front of them before stopping. They all glared at me, hands hovering over their pistols and swords.
"I surrender." I said to them. I watched as they all looked at each other. The larger one roared with laughter making me jump out of my skin. They all grinned apart from D'Artangan who shot me an icy glare.
"What?" I asked confused. I frowned, I just surrendered to them after leading them on a wild goose chase, holding one of their men at gun point and injuring him, and they were laughing and smiling? Were they drunk?
"Roxanne Constontinas?" The leader of them said. I winced at the name before correcting him.
"It's Roxanne Smith." I replied. "Roxie for short." The leader looked at the other musketeers before turning back to me.
"Well Roxie, I am Athos. This is Aramis, Porthos and D'Artangan." He said gesturing to them each in turn. Aramis was the man with the moustache and Porthos was the larger one out of them all. I nodded in acknowledgement and looked at Athos.
"We were sent by Captain Treville to find you and bring you to him." Athos explained. "You see-"
"I'm sorry, but aren't you going to arrest me or something?" I asked interrupting Athos. This was really strange, they were the King's men they should be dragging me back to France not having a chat with me.
"We're not here to arrest you." Porthos said his voice deep and husky. My eyes instantly met his as he spoke to me. "Captain Treville was good friends with your father, and he received a letter from him a few years ago. For old time sake say." I frowned. Since when did my father know the captain of the King's men?
"In his letter he explained how he felt that something unsettling was going on in your village at the time, and gave Treville the honour of being your guardian and protector from what may come at you if something happened to your father. He replied to your father but got no reply and presumed things had gone back to normal." Porthos continued. I felt a lump rise in my throat as he spoke.
"Then there was word of a traveller in France who had come from England and was staying in the local inn." Aramis spoke as he looked between his friends. "He thought nothing of it until he saw you walking the streets and he sent us out to find you."
"And here we are now." Porthos said with a dashing smile. I stared at them as the realisation sank in. I was under the protection of the captain of the King's army. How did my father never tell me about this? My father never spoke of anyone he knew in his younger years and far as I was concerned he only knew the people in the village. I looked at them all confused at what they had all just told me.
"Treville would like to meet you Roxie." Athos said and I could tell that he meant it more as an order than an option. I looked at him and nodded.
"Your questions will be answered there." D'Artangan said bitterly. I saw Porthos give him a glare which he shrugged off, riding back to the town.
"Okay." I replied quietly. My stomach twisted itself into a knot as we rode back to Paris, fear, worry and nerves ran though me, twisting my stomach tighter. But for the first time in years I felt something I thought I would never feel again. Hope.
