Aramis and D'Artagnon were singing as they rode along the road back to Paris. Porthos was laughing at them as Athos ignored them all, keeping his eyes on the road ahead. They had been three days escorting a diplomat to the border, now they were on the way back and some of them were feeling bored. His horses ears priced forwards alert and he looked ahead to see a huge black horse come galloping around the bend in the road, a woman in a pale green dress riding astride, skirts hitched up as she bared her calves, kicking the horse onwards furiously. They were alert at once, and watched as she saw them, looking at Athos with what looked like anger before wheeling her horse round and with an encouraging cry galloped off the road onto the field, heading away from them.

"Well that was..." Aramis commented, talking off as they watched the woman jump a dry stone wall, maintaining the perfect position in the saddle.

"Interesting." Athos continued, his horse shied and sidestepped nervously then as six other riders could be seen galloping across the fields, following the woman rider, who had just made it to the tree line. The sound of gunfire could be heard as the men fired in her direction.

"Six against one doesn't seem fair." Aramis stated, counting the figures.

"None of our concern." Athos supplied, "probably a horse thief."

"You don't really believe that, she looked..." Aramis paused looking for the right word, "distressed."

"Ah, a damsel in distress?" D'Artagnon suggested, smiling wryly at Athos who swore quietly.

"Alright then." He agreed and kicking his horse forwards and taking off in the direction of the woods, his horse was leading the way when he reached the tree line, he could hear shouting ahead, someone shouting to spread out. He slowed to a trot scanning the gaps between the trees. Minutes passed as he looked around him, losing sight of D'Artagnon and Porthos as he and Aramis searched the woods, trying to avoid being seen by the other men. He was considering going back when there, between the trees, a flash of green. He cantered forward and spotted the woman, running forwards.
"Lead the others away, I'll take care of her." He instructed Aramis who nodded and took off in the other direction, nearing the woman he took a jump of his horse and tackled the woman to the ground, pushing them both into the undergrowth and hiding in the ferns, he clamped a hand over her mouth and held her body down with his. "Don't make a sound; I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered as she resisted him, wrapping her hand around his. She stilled as hoof beats galloped close past them and then he heard Aramis shouting from the distance; "This way, I can see her through the trees." He heard more hoof beats and he put his head down, ducking into the curve of her neck. His senses whirled briefly as he inhaled the smell of frankincense and something almost herbal from her. His eyes met her wide dark green eyes staring up at him, she hadn't made a sound yet so he loosened his hand and held his finger to his lips, she nodded understanding. She flinched as more gunfire cracked through the woods. He shuffled them further into the bracken, holding her close to him still, "it's alright." He whispered. More hooves thundered close by, feeling as of they were right next to their heads, her hands tightened their grip on his coat. They lay together for a few minutes until the shots stopped and no shouting could be heard, more minutes passed as Athos waited to hear Aramis call out the all clear. Her fingers loosened from his jacket slowly, her body relaxing beneath him, his eyes met hers again and he studied her taking his time as he memorised her face. Dark green eyes, under strong arched eyebrows, her cheeks were flushed and lightly tanned as if she spent a little time out of doors, her pink rosebud lips were slightly parted, she licked her lips nervously as she looked up at him, involuntarily his fingers moved to her hair and he curled a loop of the rich golden brown tresses around his finger, she blinked up at him and he fought the urge to bury his face in her neck again and inhale that almost familiar spicy smell. All of a sudden he realised how intimate the way they were laying was, his knee rested between her legs and his body above hers. The woman let out a long breathe and looked right at Athos, her fingers moved slightly on his jacket and he felt her knuckles just graze his chest. A shout made him jump and he looked up and around him as he heard Athos call out to him. He got to his feet and held out a hand to her. She took it and he lifted her to her feet.

"There you are." Aramis called out, trotting towards them. Athos nodded at Aramis but noticed the woman move to stand behind him slightly, her fingers still lightly touching his. Aramis dipped his hat at her. "My lady." She blinked up at him. "Aramis of the Kings musketeers at your service." She inclined her head at him respectfully stepping out from behind Athos.

"Thank you," she said in accented French. "My name is Lady Charlotte Percy, I was travelling to Uze when my coach was attacked by them men you saw fit to see off." She finished looking at them both, Aramis dismounted as Athos turned to face her.

"Your coach was attacked?" He questioned.

"Yes, my coachmen and my travelling companion Mrs. Beaufort were killed, and I believe my manservant rob may also have been injured helping me escape." She supplied, her voice was growing stronger.

"I'm glad we came upon you then who knows what may have happened." Aramis put in.

"Quite." Charlotte replied with an arched eyebrow, a trickle of blood ran down her forehead, she put a hand up to head confused.

"You're bleeding." Athos told her.

"It's nothing. I hit my head when I fell from my horse, my horse," she looked around her at the woods. "I need my horse, I need to get back to Rob and the carriage."

"We should at least see to your wound." Aramis stepped in.

"It's nothing," she said dismissively. "Head wounds always bleed," she wiped at the blood on her forehead, pushing a red smear across her temple. "It's not my first tumble from a horse." As off on cue a horse whinnied from across the woods. She turned away from them and looked to where Porthos and D'Artagnon were riding towards them, Porthos leading Henry between them. "Oh thank god."