I had risen before sunrise like always, said my morning prayers, dressed, and went down to assist in preparing breakfast for their majesties. When all was ready, I helped bring it up and sereved before standing against the back wall unti they were finished. Once they were finished, I assisted in taking the empty dishes away and down to the dishmaids. Just then, I heard the bell from the queen's chambers which was rare.
Swiftly, I made my way upstairs and into her chambers. "Her majesty rang for me" I asked as I curtsied.
"Yes Trinity, I needed to speak with you in private" Anne replied. Constance had left the room and closed the door behind her. "Come sit by me Trinity. You need not be formal" Anne coaxed gently. I sat by her on the bed and she asked "Were you involved in the fight yesterday as well Trinity?"
"Yes madame, I was and I couldn't stop myself" I answered, looking down in shame.
""You have no need to be ashamed Trinity. After all, you're very much like your father and he was the finest swordsman in France. I know he would be pleased with you" she assured me gently.
"Thank you your majesty. You won't tell his majesty or his eminence, will you" I asked.
"No dear, cross my heart" she vowed.
I started to rise but I stopped and asked "May I ask you one question?"
"Of course you may Trinity" she answered.
I had to choose my words carefully as I couldn't let too much of the truth out then. I finally asked "What would you do if someone you're loyal to was in great danger of being betrayed by someone they trust?"
That caught her by surprise for a moment before she answered "It depends on how much power the traitor has and what they stand to gain but I would seek help and try to have the threat eliminated as quickly as possible."
"Thank you Anne" I replied, getting up finally. I had made a small plan and I saw Anne seemed to be thinking.
"Trinity, I have been thinking and I think you deserve something better than kitchen maid. You have been loyal and devoted. That needs to be rewarded. I would like to make you a lady in waiting so why don't you go clean up and put on a fresh dress" Anne offered.
I was surprised by her offer but smiled and turned back around with a curtsy. "Thank you your majesty. I shall return in a moment" I answered before swiftly exiting the room and returning to my private chamber.
Once in my private quarters, I changed into a nicer dress and washed up carefully. I took the journal out of the old apron on my uniform and hid it under my pillow since I did not share this room with anyone. After hiding the journal, I finished getting ready and swept my hair up neatly.
'Don't look at the musketeers or anyone who could place you in the square yesterday' I thought to myself as I left the room and made my way down to where Anne and Constance were waiting. We could briefly overhear his majesty meeting with the musketeers about yesterday's street brawl.
Aramis' P.O.V
"Her majesty, the queen" the sentry announced, interrupting the king's lecture. The queen descended the stairs and was surrounded by two beautiful women. One was the blonde that D'Artagnan had tried to flirt with but the other beauty caught my eye. She had medium brown hair and moved gracefully. 'Could she be the other fighter' I thought as I saw them walk away a little later.
When we were finally dismissed after being rewarded with a purse of gold each and instructed to recieve new uniforms for tomorrow; D'Artagnan sought out that blonde again, Constance I think her name was, while Athos and I sought the second girl. Porthos had gone off to run an errand.
Initally, she had that look of not wanting to speak with either of us but the queen patted her shoulder and whispered something in her ear. She nodded slightly before walking over to us and curtsied as I asked "What is your name my lady?"
"Trinity Rosalyn Treville" she answered, rising but still not wanting to look at us. She paused a moment before asking "So, you are my dad's last loyal musketeers?"
"Aramis, at your service Lady Treville" I answered with a bow.
"And Athos, also at your service Lady Treville" Athos added, also bowing.
She finally looked at us and then looked around to be sure that no one was listening before she whispered to us "I may need your help. It might turn into a matter of life and death. Any chance I could meet with you gentlemen tonight?"
I could see whatever she needed to tell us had her terrified. "Meet us tonight at 10pm at the inn across from the old town stable" Athos told Trinity.
"I'll be there. I only hope you gentlemen are what my father truly believed in and trained you to be" Trinity answered, a slight hint of her father's sharp tongue showing, before she walked off.
Athos and I got D'Artagnan and left the palace. We could only hope that whatever was going on would be worth drawing us out of retirement but we had no idea the danger and the encounters with old enemies that lay ahead.
Trinity's P.O.V
I watched Athos and Aramis leave with their new member and then rejoined Anne. "Are you sure they are capable of being trusted" I asked.
"I know your father would never have recruited men that he felt couldn't be trusted" she assured me.
"In that case, do I have your permission to leave the grounds tonight to meet with them" I asked, following her to the grand gazebo.
"Permission granted and leave about half after nine. Use the old passage to the kitchen through your room so you don't encounter any guards. Also, use the south gate" she instructed. I nodded and waited for tonight.
It was around nine when everyone retired for the evening and I changed into a dark dress with a hood attached. Once ready, I took the passage and left through the kitchen. I stopped briefly to grab a lantern and got it lit before heading for the south gate. At last, I got out and started toward town and the old inn. There was no sound anywhere save for my shoes on the cobblestone streets.
Right at 10pm, I found myself knocking on the door of the inn and the servant, Planchett allowed me in and I took a seat.
"What brings you to us Trinity" Athos asked, sitting across from me.
"A matter of danger and betrayal by an unholy alliance" I told him, lowering my hood.
"Who is this alliance" Porthos asked.
"Cardinal Richelieu and Milady De Winter" I answered before adding "However, I have reason to believe that Milady will turn the tables and make an alliance with Buckingham as well. She will have nothing to lose either way."
"Any clue as to what their plan is" Aramis asked.
"From what I have gathered, the plan is to frame the queen for adultery with Buckingham by stealing a valued piece of jewelry and ensure that it is found in Buckingham's posession along with some love notes. Queen Anne and Buckingham would both be executed in public shame and that would void the peace treaty that King James wants forged. Instead, our countries would be at war. Cardinal Richelieu would be able to steal his majesty's throne because he know Louis is weak" I told them.
They looked at me and Athos rose from his seat, vowing "We'll do whatever it takes. Cardinal Richelieu is not a man to be trusted and by taking out his ace in the hole and foiling his plans, we can avoid a war and royal scandal."
"Are you sure you'll be okay with killing your ex wife" Porthos asked, looking at Athos.
"Ex wife? Your ex wife is Milady? She is the one who drove the stake in my parent's marriage" I told him, anger edging into my voice.
"I know what happened and I'm sorry she hurt your family. I have come to find out she hurt many. Now, the time has come to make her pay for every misdeed she has committed" Athos answered.
With that, I prepared to leave but I swore I would be helping them and they didn't argue. Still, I had no clue what I was truly getting myself into.
