So here is the second chapter, sorry the first two might be a bit boring to some people as I have been focusing on setting the scene. I think the next chapter will be from Aramis's POV as then I can spice it up with a bit more action. Hope you guys are enjoying it, reviews are appreciated
samypaulchen: Thanks for the review! Anne is my favourite character of the whole show so I hope I did her justice
"I order you to stop your words Captain." Growled Louis, his words barley able to escape his closely grit teeth. "You would be wise to do as I say, I have no interest in your nonsense, I've heard enough of that already throughout our acquaintance." Anne, perched stiffly beside the King could not help but notice her husbands paled knuckles as he began to throttle the arm of his throne.
Treville was a decent man, Anne liked to consider him a friend. Often when they were alone she would ask stories of life outside the palace walls. He told her how his men liked to waste their time squabbling in a tavern, he also once admitted that he himself would occasionally join them when he was in need of company. He told her of the adventures they had been on, how they took bullets for one another simply because (as she once overheard Treville whisper) "One for all and all for one." She had spent many free moments pondering on this small phrase. She began to prize the term. It was a recognition to the fact that friendships aren't always based purely upon your bloodline. She only wished she had someone to speak these words to without receiving a look of utter detest in response.
"Sire as God is my witness I mean no disrespect. It is simply that a number of my men are still recovering from their last mission, It would be inhumane to send them out so soon." Suddenly she was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of Treville's voice, which conveyed a subtle hint of distress at the situation. "I am simply suggesting we pros pone this quest until my men are fully recovered."
"Recovered?" The room silenced, clearly her courtiers were unable to comprehend the fact that she herself owned a voice. "Recovered from what Captain? Are your men injured at all?" She didn't quite understand why she was concerned, truthfully it was one man in particular who made her heart squeeze at the idea of him being hurt. It shamed her; they had never held a conversation and yet he was recently always on her mind. Anne wasn't sure if it was him in particular that made her blush or whether it was the idea of him, either way she often found herself scanning the rooms in hopes of catching his eyes.
Treville shuffled slightly on his feet, unsure of how to answer the unexpected question. "It is nothing to worry about your majesty I assure you. My men spend little of their lives uninjured, they merely have a few scrapes."
"If that is so how come they are not able to fulfil their Kings desires?" Louis was unable to contain his sense of pride at the fact he now had Treville under his claws. "Your men will rise promptly at dawn where they will arrive at the palace to personally escort her Majesty across France, where she will be met by the Duke. You will remain with her for two nights whilst she performs her duties. After all is done you will return her to me UNHARMED. You say the roads that are required to be taken are too dangerous for your men to cross safely considering the state they are in, am I correct?" Anne watched in awe at her husband's duteous statement, in that single moment he actually appeared as though he was the powerful King she was led to expect many years ago instead of the childish tantrum holder she was given.
"Yes sire, we have passed down those paths before, full of bandits and thieves, extremely dangerous it would be almost impossible to complete without someone being harmed." muttered Treville, his tone formal.
"Almost! So it can be done," sighed Louis, his back now slumped, fingers fiddling, clearly he was growing tired of the current conversation.
Moments passed before Treville finally sighed out a response, "I will have my men arrive at the palace at dawn."
"Thank you Treville, you see we really didn't need all this fuss, my judgment is generally fair and accurate. In future you should resist the temptation to speak out any reluctance you hold," chirped Louis.
The next hour was a blur of jibber jabber all along the lines of military tactics and methods to ensure Anne's safety. As the minutes ticked by her mind started to slowly drift further and further away from the world she was living in. Visions of a tall stoic man who smiles through his eyes began to project in the back of her mind. The creases his eyes form as he smiles a wide devilish grin makes her heart thud just that little bit faster. Idly, she begins to swirl the fallen locks of her hair imagining herself running her petite hands through the shaggy black mane that covers Aramis's perfect little head. All of a sudden something catches her attention… more like someone. Him! It hadn't been a daydream. She hadn't imagined his smiling eyes in her head. No, she had spent the past few minutes subconsciously nibbling at her lower lip whilst staring deep in to the eyes of a smirking Aramis. Frozen dead she stares at him like a rabbit caught in headlights. Panic-stricken she drags her eyes to the complete opposite side of the room. Hot and flustered she can feel the redness start to smear across her cheeks. What is he doing here? Did he notice her? She couldn't help but pass another glance towards his direction, yet again she was met with those mesmerising eyes.
"Darling?...DARLING?" What started out as faded words started to become more clear and crisp in her head. "Anne, are you alright?" Ashamed Anne turned to her husband, she had been to transfixed with Aramis to notice her Kings beckoning.
She was rather taken aback by the amount of embarrassment that was audible in her voice as she spoke: "sorry sire, you were saying?"
"I believe it is time for us to make our leave!" Tilting her head slightly in recognition she rose from her throne and began to slowly glide across the room. Sweeping her eyes from side to side she was met with the tops of her courtiers bowed heads. One however was not quite tilted forward enough. Perhaps it meant nothing but she could not help her heart from fluttering as her knight watched her leave the room.