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"You should not hear this, not this way, not here." Gracelyn looked towards the other "None of you."

"I should go." she turned to leave.

"Are you leaving Paris?" Athos finally found the words.

"Not this evening." she smiled at him sadly and left.

Men came to their leader. All were silent.. Didn't know what to say to something like that. Athos just stared at the departing silhouette of his cousin. He had thought that he knew her. She had been like his sister. He couldn't imagine, even in the wildest dream, how his little Grace could be a spy. He remembered Anna. She seemed innocent and eventually turned out to be a liar and a murderer. Suddenly realizing her words.

"Someone should go with her." announced to them, but he did not move from the place. "We don't know what ,if at all, is a threat."

"I'll go." Aramis offered himself, and ran after the retreating woman.

XXX

Grace walked away from his cousin and his friends. Just that moment she feared most of all. She does not have anyone, apart from Athos. And now, she pushed away even him. Gracelyn heard the sound of footsteps. None other than Aramis.

"Escort, huh? Did Athos send you?" She was not in the mood for company.

"He's worried about you.." Aramis tried to explain.

"So tell him I can take care of myself." she said decisively, eyes fixed on the path. "I'm not worth it." she added quietly to herself.

"In that case, I'm not an escort." he did not hear her last remark. "I'm just a man, who is enjoying a common path with a beautiful woman."

Gracelyn stopped and looked into his eyes.

"Well." she said hesitantly, "Thank you."

A moment they were going in silent.. Aramis wanted to ask her about the danger, which she spoke about, but he decided it is only between her and Athos. Ha asked instead.

"Where do you actually live?"

"Madame Bonacieux. It is a short walk away."

"Yeah. I know. We know her."

The rest of a trip they went without a word. They arrived up to the door and stopped. Looked at each other a moment.

"Once again, thank you." Gracelyn said. They stood just a few steps away from each other.

"You're welcome." Aramis was going closer. He saw the confusion in her eyes.

"I have to go." she said and went quickly to the house.

"Grace?" Aramis stopped her.

"Yes?"

"Don't worry about Athos" he assured her "I shall speak to him."

Gracelyn gave him a last look, nodded, and went into the house. Aramis was still a moment staring at the closed door.

"Pull yourself together!" he commanded himself "She is Athos' cousin!" and with a feeling of impending disaster turned on his heel and set off home.

XXX

I'm laying in my bed and could not sleep. I wanted to tell him the truth. But not like this. Not on the street in front of an inn, in a fit of pointless anger. Suddenly a loud sound of the shot broke the silence of the night. Did not move, then the adrenaline started to work. I quickly looked through the bedroom of Bonacieuxes. It was empty. It's strange. I would swear that I heard Canstance's slow breathing and a loud snoring of her husband, when was going to my bedroom earlier.

I ran out. Looking around the street, which was illuminated by pale glow of the moon. Then I saw him. Laying on the ground.

"Olivier!" forgot change of his name. I came to him and dropped next to his bleeding body.

"You'll be fine, you'll be fine." I'm repeating more to me than him and trying to stop the blood flowing from his chest.

"No. I will not" he's whispering. "And it's your fault." he looked at me with blaming eyes and the last breath escaped from his mouth.

"NO!"

XXX

Gracelyn woke up with a jolt. She was laying in her bed in Bonacieux's house.

"It was just a dream." persuading herself, but she wasn't stop shaking. She pushed hand under the pillow and found well-known contour of her dagger. When she calmed down got up and changed the sweat-soaked shirt of hers. And knowing tomorrow will be a long day restlessly fell asleep.

XXX

Athos came to the garrison. It was hard night. After the fiasco with Gracelyn he said goodbye to d'Artagnanem and Porthosem and went home, where he drank a bottle of wine. Grace lied to him. He was angry. No. Disappointed. Not because she left right after Thomas' funeral, at the moment when he needed her the most, but because the last thing she told him was a lie.

FLASHBACK

The sun was shining. How fitting weather for the funeral. It was the only thing Athos thought when was watching how they launched the coffin into the ground. He felt empty. Without emotions.

Yesterday he ordered to hang Anne. He could not watch it to end, just couldn't.

Almost all of the villagers were here. They all loved Thomas. He was cheerful, easy-going. He used to laugh in a pub and pay for all drinks. They knew him like that at least. Athos felt how their cold glances pierced his back. They were accusing him. And they were right. It was his fault.

"Olivier?" he heard a voice. Is that voice of an angel? Is he dead? No he was not the one who died. But he should be, it should be him who was laying in the coffin. It was his fault. His.

"Ollie?" Grace. No one else called him like this.. Only Grace and only in special cases.

Athos looked up. It was she. Long time haven't seen her, but he could not forget those green eyes. She looked at him sadly.

"It has been a long time." she said. While staring at her and then he nodded. He missed her. But then met Anne and fell in love. His fault. His.

"I..." Gracelyn paused and started again. "I'm so sorry, Ollie, but I have to leave. I need to go to England. To father." She pretended so guilty.

She is leaving. Grace is leaving. No one has left. They are all gone. And he is alone and it's his fault.

END OF FLASHBACK

"Good morning." Aramis greeted his friend and sat down next to him. Looked at Athos closely. He seemed dejected. Aramis with others hoped that Gracelyn made him disperse, after he reported Milady. And now this.

"She was protecting you." he said. "If she became a spy, it was much safer to don't tell you the truth, my friend."

"But she should not protect me!" Athos again started to be upset.

"Gracelyn cares about you. She didn't want to expose you to unnecessary risk." Aramis was trying to persuaded him.

" 'Mis is right." Porthos came. Was followed by d'Artagnan. They all liked Athos' newly discovered cousin, she made him happier. They never seen Athos so relaxed, like yesterday. Before becoming a hassle.

"But I had to protect her!" Athos shouted.

The entire staff of the garrison turn around to him.

"What are you lookin' at?!" Porthos called out. Men shrugged and continued to work.

"You're not angry at her." Aramis dawned. "But at yourself."

"She was a spy Aramis. She could be tortured, even killed! And I would never knew the truth." he said softly. "I had to be able to prevent this from happening."

"Gentlemen." d'Artagnan whispered and nodded his head towards the entrance. She stood there. Gracelyn. She came closer.

"Excuse me." she said formally, but in eyes had a sadness. "Do you know if I can find the captain in his office?"

"He should be there." d'Artagnan replied.

"Thank you." she nodded and went to the stairs.

XXX

"Enter."

"Captain." Gracelyn went into the Treville's office, "I'm Sorry for disturbing you, but can we have a word?"

"Of course." he quickly agreed. Treville was starting to get worried. Never, in all the time what he knows the girl, she had not seem so sad.

"I need to ask you a question. Today morning I was in the Cardinal's office, but he was not there. I was there yesterday, with the same result." intensively was looking at Captain "I need necessarily to talk to him, but those fools from the red guard refuse to tell me anything. Do you know where I can find him?"

"He went to visit some of the newly renovated temple."he replied hesitantly. "He will return sometime during the day."

"Thank you." it seemed the information calm her down. She was already leaving when Treville called out.

"Wait, what is happening? The last time I saw you, you were the king's friend, knew about all what was happening at the Court. and now you can't find out where is cardinal without my help? I used to ask you this sort of thing."

She did not look at him, hand still on handle.

"Circumstances have changed." than she left.

XXX

"Talk to her." Aramis encouraged Athos.

"I do not..." Athos did not finished his speech, because Gracelyn came to them.

"Can I talk to you?" She asked and went towards to the horses. Athos stood up from the table and followed her.

"I want to apologize for yesterday night." she started "I wasn't going to lie to you, but I want to make you understand I had no choice and..."

"Gracelyn." he stopped her sharply "I understand. I was angry, because when I don't know the truth, I can't help you. You didn't have to lie to me."

"I wanted you to be safe." she whispered.

"Now I know it. Don't be fooled, this does not mean that I agree with that. I am only saying that It will take a while, but I'll get over it." point out to her.

"Right, right.." Gracelyn wiped away the moisture of her eyes when finally recovered. "And now. Do you want to help me?"

XXX

MEANWHILE IN ENGLAND

A tall man stood in the middle of a vast room, which was almost empty, but the few pieces of furniture were of precious ebony. It emanated nobility and wealth.

"Have you found her?" he asked coldly discreet man who came into the room.

"Yes."

"Excellent." Anger and madness was shining in his eyes.

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