Apparently, Athos had already known I'd be a full fledged Musketeer someday, because he already had a leather pauldron for me. We had gone back to his lodgings to retrieve it, with all four of them expressing their excitement for me and my ears still ringing with the King's words.

I was a Musketeer. A real Musketeer!

Those words kept replaying in my head as I tied the pauldron to my shoulder (Which was black), with the help of Aramis and Porthos.

I grinned broadly at them, childlike excitement shining in my eyes.

The shock finally wore off once I moved my arm to feel the leather move with me, and I leapt in the air with a cheer. "I'm a Musketeer!" I shouted cheerfully.

Aramis, Porthos, and D'art laughed at my antics, and Athos smirked at me.

I sobered, but couldn't keep the grin off of my face. "Also, you all still look like fairies."

Porthos growled good naturedly at me, and Athos nodded. "All of you, go get dressed in more appropriate wear. We meet at the Garrison within the hour. Now get out of my house." But his eyes twinkled.

We all began to filter out of his house, but he caught my arm right before I left. "Well done, Rogue. You deserve that pauldron." He told me seriously, his blue eyes warm.

I grinned happily at him, a blush rising on my cheeks. "Thank you, Athos. Truly. For more than the pauldron. I have much to thank you for."

He released my arm with a smirk, "Well, I'll hold you to that debt. You can repay me by being a good Musketeer."

I smiled at him, "With you four with me, I think I'll be able to do that."

He tilted his head as Aramis shouted for me, "I expect so."

M

I shifted as Treville paced in front of us. I was now dressed in my normal clothing, with the newly added pauldron on my arm. The leather was stiff, but I knew the more I wore it, the more flexible it would get.

"We have spoken to one of the Spaniards." Treville finally began, "And after some convincing, he informed us about a letter that was intercepted a few months ago. A group of Spaniards were journeying past the French border, and a border patrol apprehended them. The border patrol found a letter among their persons, and read it. What they found was information of a secret lover, falsified of course, of the Queen's. If that letter was found by the king, then the Queen could have been executed. I decided that the letter must be sent, among another, to the supposed lover, a powerful military leader who lives near the border of England and France. Because of the nature of the letter, he deserved to know that the Spanish were targeting him, so he could prepare. I've fought with the man, he's saved my life more than once, I wanted to return the favor and protect the Queen. I sent you four to deliver the letter to him. Two as a diversion, two with the actual letter."

Aramis suddenly looked at me in surprise, "That's when we first met you." He said.

"Wait, you mean that this letter is the reason I was kidnapped? Why I was drug from England to France? Was because of a letter that Spain had. Who were they intending for it to go to? And why are they so set upon getting it now?" I asked, stepping forward slightly.

Treville set his jaw, "The letter also stated that there was several spies in France's midst. All of which we can assume are true. If these spies were found, then Spain would lose valuable information, and valuable spies. They don't care about the Queen's rumors, they care about their men who are still in France's midst. The Militia leader has been inducting his own investigations, and has found two of three supposed spies already. There is one left, and he is apparently a very important one."

Athos tilted his head, "I have a feeling you are about to order us on another mission."

"You are correct." Treville nodded. "I want you five to hunt down this remaining spy, and get rid of him before he relays any information he might have to the Spanish."

Athos nodded, "Yes Captain. Do we have a place to begin our search?"

Treville nodded, "Orleans is where my military friend has tracked him down to. He would offer his assistance, but he has a different mission to take care of now that I've assured him my best Musketeers are taking over."

Athos nodded, "Parameters?"

Treville sighed, "None. Just don't get arrested, stay together, and don't die."

"Can we try a 2 out of 3?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood.

It worked halfway, and Treville gave me an exasperated sigh, "Just so long as you don't die."

I grinned, "Wonderful."

M

We were packed and ready to go, but we were waiting for D'artagnan to return.

I sighed, leaning my head against the table.

"Suppose he and Constance are trading goodbye kisses?" Aramis asked in boredom.

"She is still married." Athos reminded him.

Aramis scoffed, "But it's obvious they don't love each other. He sure as hell doesn't love Constance like D'artagnan. A blind man could see that."

I raised my head to smirk at him, "Right, because you are the king of devotion."

He scowled at me, "I'm sure that if the right woman came into my life, I'd never look at someone like that again."

I perked up, "Hang on. I do recall that you haven't had anyone over for a while…"

Porthos grinned at Aramis, "Find someone already then, did you?"

Aramis' cheeks began to grow red, but before he could attempt to reply, a shout rang through the Garrison.

"Help!"

All of us leapt to our feet, whipping around to see the person who shouted, because we all knew that voice.

It was D'artagnan.

His face was pale, and even as he ran towards us, I could see him shaking. He held a piece of paper tightly in his hand, and he was sprinting towards us.

"Constance! She! They! Her husband!" He shouted, drawing shaky breaths.

Athos caught him, holding his shoulders in a way that should have been comforting, but I doubted D'artagnan was far past the point of being able to accept comfort.

"What are you on about?" Aramis asked.

In reply, D'art shoved the piece of paper at him, still shaking and pale.

I read the letter over Aramis' shoulder, and on it read:

If you want your female companion returned to you unharmed, come to this location. Bring the letter your capitan has gotten. You may bring one companion, past that and we shall kill your amiga.

There was a scrawled location on the bottom of it, and a stamp with a Spanish flower.

The location was the exact opposite of the place of the place we were supposed to go.

"Her husband is dead." D'artagnan said, still pale and eyes wide with fear.

He grabbed Athos' arms with urgency, "We have to go after her, Athos. We must!"

Athos snatched the letter away from Aramis, and his eyes danced over it, hardening in anger.

"We have a mission." Athos said finally. D'artagnan seemed to deflate at that, before drawing up in anger, about to start yelling, but Athos silenced him by continuing. "However. I'm certain the three of us can accomplish it alone." He said, flicking his eyes over Porthos and Aramis. "While you and Rogue rescue Constance."

D'artagnan sighed in relief, and looked up at me with hopeful eyes. I gave him a smile, trying to suppress the anger in my own eyes. "Of course I'll help you get Constance back, she's my friend too."

Aramis sighed, scrubbing at his face. "Well. This has been eventful, and we haven't even left Paris yet."

Athos nodded, "Was there anything else in the house?"

D'artagnan shook his head, "No. Just Constance's husband, dead by the fireplace, and several knocked over things."

Athos pinched the bridge of his nose, "Very well. I shall inform Treville. He can send someone over to conduct a further investigation, and get it cleaned up. In the meantime," He pinned D'artagnan and I with his icy blue eyes, "Don't die. Stay together. And bring Constance home safely. The woman is capable of shutting D'artagnan up, that is something we must not lose."

He was trying to lighten the mood, but the very fact that Athos had just made a joke now of all times, left us all staring after him as he handed D'artagnan back the location and began to walk away. Calling over his shoulder, "Aramis, Porthos, be prepared to leave once I get back."

With that, I turned quickly, grabbing my saddle bag and slinging it over my shoulder. I clapped Porthos shoulder in a farewell, then hugged Aramis quickly, before running after D'artagnan to our horses.