Silent Anguish Part Four:
Dover Castle...England.
It was heavy rain as the cart trudged up the hill towards Dover Castle, deep ridges formed as the wheels travelled through the mud clad road. A prosession of Kings Guards followed up from the rear as they approached the courtyard, the horses snorted to a stop as two of the guards dismounted and walked around to the cart and opened the door.
Buckingham emerged from inside, his hands shackled behind his back as he was practically dragged towards the side entrance. The rain blew into their faces as they approached the large door.
" Move yourself Buckingham" roared one of the guards as they entered the castle. " We have not got all bloody day".
Buckingham winced as the shackles dug into his wrists. The other guard picked up a torch and they began to decend the dark and cold steps towards the cells.
" May I ask where you are taking me"? he asked glancing at the guards.
The two guards shook their cloaks spraying water everywhere. They both smirked at hi as he spoke.
" Somewhere were you will not escape from, Buckingham" seethed one of the men.
The other man glared at him as they reached a cell, he held up the torch. "This is your comfortable abode for now Buckingham" he said with a wry smirk on his face.
Buckingham was pushed in, he hit the cold stone floor and gasped.
" Are you not going to unlock these shackles" he yelled out as the cell door was closed behind him with a clang.
The two guards looked at him, " Oh I do apologise my dear duke...are you uncomfortable? Never mind...it wont be long now until you get your neck stretched. Besides we hear you are very keen when it comes to your hands...we heard you like to use them on young men".
Both men laughed out loud as they walked away leaving the duke alone in his cell.
From the darkness the two guards heard him yelling as they walked back towards the steps.
" YOU CANNOT TREAT ME LIKE THIS...I AM A DUKE!...DO YOU HEAR MEEEE...THE KING SHALL HEAR OF THIS!
/
King Charles sat at the long table situated near the large fireplace. His courtiers gathered in groups around the chamber whispering, gossiping and giggling.
The king sat with three of his most senior advisors drinking brandy.
" So am I right in saying your majesty, Buckingham has had relations with one of King Louis' elite guard" asked the older advisor.
The King put down his glass, he thought for a moment before answering, he glanced up at the man.
" According to Louis and his Cardinal...Buckingham took a liking to the young man four years ago in LaRochelle. Apparantly the musketeer saved his life from one of their own traitors and ever since he has been obsessed with the man". said the king.
The advisor sat back in his chair, he put both hand to his chin deep in thought.
The second man leaned forward as he read through a parchment in front of him.
" The man is a menace your majesty...am I right in saying that one of your own courtiers actually took his own life two years ago because he sodomised the boy...I heard the boy bled out badly with the ferocious of the man".
Some of the courtiers had heard the advisors words and they all heard gasps.
King Charles glared across the table at the man. Then back at his courtiers.
" Leave us" he orderd with a wave of his hand.
The courtiers bowed and left the chamber at once. The large doors closed behind them.
" I am well aware of that my man, we are not here to talk history".
" But your majesty, we need to know these things if we are to give the duke a fair trail".
Charles' face reddened, " You do go on Edward...yes I suppose you are right as usual". he said.
The King put up his hand and gestured towards his servants, " More brandy " he demanded.
The servant filled the kings glass and bowed his departure.
The third advisor who had been listening to all what was said around the table, looked towards the king.
" Your majesty, the young courtier is not the only one to take his own life because of this mad man" he said.
Charles was staring at him as he spoke.
" Don't you think I do not know of this? He even had relations with my own cousin... and my sisters son who is fifteen...the boy was traumatised after that. He has never fully recovered."
The three men exchanged glances with one another as the king spoke.
" Your Majesty...If I may be so bold...but are you willing to say all this in his trail?" asked the older man.
The king stood and walked to the fire place, the three men also stood.
He stared into the empty fire grate with one hand leaning on the mantlepiece, he turned around and looked at his advisors. The three men waiting for his answer.
" Very well, we will have the trail in four days time...organise it for here in the castle." He replied, " I have had enough of the man and his antics".
" Send word to Louis, let him know the time of the trial,he may want to attend himself".
The older advisor nodded," Will the young musketeer be willing to give his account of things your majesty?" he asked.
Charles glanced at him, " He maybe too traumatised, but I will ask Louis. Maybe he can be persuaded".
The three men bowed, " Very well your majesty I will do as you say at once" said the younger advisor. The three men took their leave, leaving the king with his own thoughts.
He turned and walked over to his chair and sat. Charles slammed his fist down on the table, he picked up his brandy glass and threw it into the firegrate. His teeth clenched together.
" YOU STUPID BLOODY FOOL...BUCKINGHAM! he roared to himself.
Paris...France
Musketeer Garrison.
" You do not have to do this Athos". said Treville as he sat at his desk opposite the swordsman.
Athos looked across at the older man. " I really don't know Captain...the mere thought of seeing this man again sickens me to the stomach"
Treville poured the man a brandy and handed him the cup. " Well maybe you would be better staying here son. Noone is going to force you to go, I would think they have enough evidence at this time".
"Will the King be in attendance? asked Athos putting down his cup.
Treville nodded, " Indeed he will, he has sent word, he will be escourted by the Cardinal, myself and four musketeers. We leave for Calais in an hour".
Athos glanced at him, " May I ask who what men will escourt him Captain".
Treville took a swig of brandy and sat back in his chair. " Marcel, Andre, Lynol and Lucca, they did a good enough job with Buckingham. "
The mere mention of that mans name made Athos feel nauseated, he swallowed hard against it, swallowing the bile in his throat.
" In theory I would have liked to send Porthos, Aramis and d'Artagnan, but I do not think it appropriate at this time, especially with what has occured in recent events". said Treville. " The four of you are so close with one another".
Athos looked at him, a slight smirk on his lips as he thought of the things Porthos had said, about what he wanted to do to the man.
" I think maybe you are right Captain."
Treville was nodding his head, " Saying that Athos, if you do decide you want to be present at the trail...something tells me they will not let you go alone".
Athos took a swig of brandy and glanced at the older man. He knew the man was right, his brothers would not let him go alone to England. And to be honest he himself would want his brothers there with him.
The swordsman glanced up at Treville. " I must abstain from this Sir...I do not think I can do it".
The older man looked across at his best swordsman...he felt sad at the thought at what this mad man had made him into. If this was one of his own friends he knew the man would be ranting at him to face it head on. But this was not the usual Athos...he was broken.
" As I say Athos it is your choice...but remember it takes half a day to get across the channel depending on the wind."
Athos nodded his comprehension. " I will speak with the others if you do not mind Sir". he murmered.
Treville smiled slightly. " Of course son...go see what they say" he answered. " I myself will be leaving soon for Calais".
/
" Like Treville says mon ami, they cannot force you to go, the captain has witnessed what happened to you for himself. I would think that to be enough". said Aramis.
The four friends sat in the Wren in a quiet corner of the room. They had listened as Athos had told them what Treville had told him.
" Yes...but wouldn't more evidence help sentence him to death" asked d'Artagnan catching the glances from the others.
Porthos drank some ale back and belched, making the others smile. Athos grinned and rolled his eyes at the big man.
" I am with d'Art on this my friend", he said clapping a hand on the swordmans shoulder. " If we want rid of this piece of shite...then everyone need to here from the 'orses mouth".
Athos sat in a quandary, he drank some ale and sighed aloud putting his head in his hands. " Oh God...I don't know...I don't know...the thought of seeing him makes me feel ill".
Aramis squeezed the back of the swordmans neck. " Do not let this make you ill my friend...remember if you do decide to go. We are coming with you and knowone is going to stop us".
d'Artagnan and Pothos nodded in agreement. " They can try" growled Porthos
" But they will not get very far" added d'Artagnan.
Athos glanced at each of his brothers in turn. He felt a lump forming in his throat. He knew he was not alone in this. Whatever he decided.
/
TBC
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