Chapter 6 - Interrogation.

Hi everyone, thank you to those who are continuing to review and follow this story. I hope you will not be disappointed! Again, apart from the OC, I own none of the characters.

As Catherine descended down the garden steps towards the pavilion she saw that the horses had been brought and the King's hunting party were ready to move off. She was acutely aware of Athos' presence behind her and was surprised at how much security she felt with him so close. Trusting a man she had only seen twice and barely spoken too was not something she was in the habit of doing. First impressions, she found, were helpful but not always reliable- experience had taught her that much at least. As the horn sounded and the King trotted off the musketeer guard and accompanying nobles followed. Catherine did not miss the fact that Athos' three companions were travelling just behind the King nor did she miss the way that all three men stared at her and Athos as they trotted on. 'Was that because of the duel?' she wondered feeling her skin prickle.

Anne smiled at Catherine as she handed the garment over to her, now the King was gone there really was no need to keep the ruse going but, since the Queen was feeling indulgent, she placed the garment across her gradually expanding abdomen.

'Would you like anything else your majesty?' Catherine asked.

The Queen shook her head. 'Annabelle will attend to anything else that might arise, go and enjoy the festivities,' Anne motioned.

Catherine bowed and turned away. She saw Athos standing with his hat in his hands at the edge of the pavilion and went to join him. If he was going to follow her around anyway she might as well find out why.

'Drink?' She asked. He nodded and they moved over towards a table where a servant poured them both a goblet of wine. Catherine disliked the taste of wine, for some reason it had never grown on her and she preferred water, but since Athos seemed more than happy to drink the stuff she decided to just make do. They walk silently around the groups of people, nodding to them politely as they passed.

'You don't like or know much about wine.' Athos observed after a while.

'What makes you say that?' Catherine asked.

'You've barely touched that goblet.'

'Perhaps I am just saving it.'

'Unlikely. Anybody who knows good wine does not like it warmed in the sun.' Athos snorted.

Both of them had meandered towards a small clearing at the very back of the royal gardens.

'You seem on edge around me.' Catherine spoke after a few minutes of silence.

'So do you around me.' It was a fair point.

'Might I ask why?' Athos said after a moment.

'Why I don't like wine or why I seem on edge?' Catherine asked.

'Both?'

'Contrary to your first assumption I actually know quite a lot about wine,' Catherine started. 'but I never seem to taste anything beyond the alcohol and so I don't much like drinking it. As to the second point is it so unreasonable for a woman to be wary of man she has just met?'

'No.' Athos said gently. 'On the contrary it shows some prudence of thought. But then you do seem the type to get into trouble.'

'Because I made one mistake?' Catherine asked a little too harshly.

'No. Because you act rashly.' Athos said as if scolding D'Artagnan for letting his emotions cloud his judgement.

'You mean my little disagreement with your friend?' Catherine guessed turning to face him for the first time since they started their walk.

Athos nodded. 'Some might say that was not a wise decision.'

'Because I'm a woman.' Catherine challenged.

'Partially yes but also because you are a lady in waiting to the Queen. You keep acting like that you will draw unwanted attention and put yourself and the Queen in danger.' Athos' voice was smooth and calm. Catherine sighed there was no arguing with him on that.

'Is that why you did it?' Athos asked. 'Because he said you were a woman?'

'I'd expect such a low opinion from a Red Guard,' she confessed. 'But not from a musketeer, a man supposedly praised for his chivalrous actions.'

'To be fair to Davide in Paris it is hardly normal for a woman to wield a sword.' Athos commented.

'And that means that they shouldn't be allowed too or can't?'

'Aramis wouldn't think that.' Athos said absentmindedly.

'But you do?' Catherine asked.

He paused for a moment considering the question carefully. Part of him admired her for learning what she had done with such skill and he did not see any main objection to women being able to defend themselves. On the other hand he had seen and suffered first hand the damage that a woman skilled with a blade could do. If Milady had not learned to fight then perhaps his younger brother Thomas and countless other men and women would still be alive. A thought crossed his mind that perhaps Catherine was from the same background as his wife.

'I have no objection to women defending themselves, if that is what you mean.' He said at length. 'I do not, however, think it appropriate for a woman to learn to fight and remain unchecked.'

Catherine noticed that Athos' gaze had hardened towards her which only put her more on edge.

'Oh because men are so checked in their liberty towards violence.' She snapped sarcastically.

'The difference between you and I is that I am trained only to fight when to protect the king or to dispense the King's justice.' He replied.

'And what about your honour?' Catherine asked coldly. 'Do you not also fight to protect that as well?'

Athos' eyes narrowed at her tone. He had heard that accusation levelled at him once before by Milady as well.

For a moment neither of them spoke leaving an uncomfortable tension in the air.

'Where did you learn to fight?' Athos coolly inquired.

Catherine had expected the question but had not anticipated he would ask it so bluntly and out of the blue.

'That is not your concern.' She snapped defensively.

'It could be.' Athos retaliated.

'No, it really couldn't!' Catherine turned on her heel and started back the way they had come.

'If you won't tell me then I can only assume you have something to hide and that makes you a danger.' Athos called after her.

Catherine understood the subtext of his accusation all to well and she slowly turned around.

'So,' she said offhandedly. 'You think I am both a liability and a danger to the Queen then.' Catherine glared at Athos but his only reply was to level her gaze with a similarly cold expression.

'That is why you asked to accompany me, why you've been following me non stop since we returned to the palace.' Again she wasn't really asking him so much as stating the glaringly obvious.

Athos still said nothing. He expected and braced himself for an angry tirade or for Catherine to simply walk away from him - to his surprise she did neither. Instead she folded her arms across her chest and fixed him with a calm expression.

'I have no appreciation but experience with wine because I worked as maid in a tavern.' She began, her voice even but deadly quiet. 'I was taught the basics of sword handling by my uncle, a man of no consequence, before he died. He believed that I would have nothing when my parents and he died and so felt I should at least be equipped with enough skill to defend myself. I learned the rest while I was worked - the regular drinkers were quite useful in that respect. I was born to no noble family and have no connections beyond those to the Queen which I now hold. I have no money, no rich or poor friends and no interest in plotting against the King or Queen. The Queen gave me my job when I trespassed into the gardens on an afternoon walk and startled her. I do not particularly know the full reasons why the Queen chose me to be her lady in waiting, they are as unknown to you as they are to me and I suspect it will remain that way. I think that is enough information to satisfy you and your Captain's suspicions, now since I believe your Captain will be wondering where you have gone I shall not take up any more of your valuable time.' With that she walked away leaving Athos stood rooted to the spot still holding his hat.

When Athos returned to the pavilion he found that the King and musketeers had indeed returned from the hunt. A large stag was being paraded around for the ladies to marvel at and the King now sat next to the Queen was loudly boasting about the kill. Athos saw Aramis, D'Artagnan and Porthos standing in a group nearby and went to join them.

'How was the hunt?' He asked.

'Same as ever,' Porthos grumbled. 'Loud, tiring and unrewarding as far as we are concerned.'

'Where is your charge?' Aramis asked him, he didn't miss the man's eyes avert themselves to the ground. The truth was that Athos felt embarrassed about what had just occurred. He heard the bitterness in Catherine's voice and spotted the sadness and disappointment in her eyes. She had seen through his task all to well but rather than just put up a fight and drive him off she had simply decided to give him what he wanted to know. Athos knew should be feeling elated that at least his task was complete and yet he did not. He wasn't used to being a disappointment to someone. He knew Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan especially looked up to him and he, in turn, endeavoured to make sure he lived up to their expectations. But this time he realised he had failed, Catherine now thought and would probably only ever think of him as the man sent to get whatever he could out of her. As the thought crossed his mind Athos began to wonder at what her opinion of him had started to matter in his eyes.

'What happened?' Aramis asked when Athos did not reply.

'I got what we needed to know.' Athos said simply.

'Then why aren't you happy about it?' D'Artagnan asked. 'Is she a threat?'

Athos told them everything she had told him leaving out the last few sentences.

'Do you believe her?' Porthos asked when he finished.

'There was no lie in her eye.' He replied. 'It is easy enough to check out.'

'Still we probably should check. Treville would want us to be sure.' D'Artagnan said firmly and Porthos nodded.

'We can start tonight at the local taverns.' He suggested. 'If she worked as a bar maid then one of them has to have head of her.'

Aramis was still looking at Athos' vacant expression.

'You're upset,' He noted quietly. Athos looked up at him.

'I'm fine Aramis.' He said bluntly.

'So is she.' Aramis pointed out and nodded towards the pavilion.

Athos turned his head to see Catherine and Annabelle at the table at the side of the pavilion. Annabelle was eating a plate of fruit and conversing with another man while Catherine was slumped back in her chair staring dejectedly at the grass.

Another pang of guilt hit Athos in the chest.

'What happened Athos?' Aramis said again.

'I already told you.' Athos said giving Aramis a dead stare.

'Athos…' Aramis began but he was interrupted by Treville's arrival.

'Well did you find anything?' He asked. Athos repeated what he had said to the other three and D'Artagnan added that they were going to start checking it out that night. When he finished speaking Treville nodded.

'Good,' he said. 'The King and Queen will retire soon, when they do you are free to go.' With that he gave them all a nod and went to the next group of musketeers. Aramis looked to find that Athos' eyes had gone back to staring at Catherine. He nudged him in the arm.

'Go and talk to her.' He said.

Athos did not take his eyes from her. 'There's nothing more to say,' he said at length.

'You'll regret it if you don't.' Aramis replied then turned to follow D'Artagnan and Porthos. One had gone to find food the other had gone to find Constance.

Athos stood staring for a minute, he knew Aramis was right but he also did not know what he was supposed to say to her. Closing his eyes he moved slowly towards where Catherine was sat. She looked up at him as he stopped in front of the table, so did Annabelle.

'Well?' Catherine asked mildly. 'Have you reported to your Captain?'

'Yes.'

'Then your duty is done then?'

Athos nodded.

Catherine sighed and stood up.

'Thank you for helping me today, I shall try not to act so rashly in future.'

They looked at each other for a moment.

'I think the Queen is leaving,' Annabelle observed standing up herself.

'Then we should go.' Catherine replied still looking at Athos. 'Unless there was something else you wanted Monsieur?'

Athos wanted to say something but his throat was too tightly constricted. He paused for a moment longer and then turned and left placing his hat on his head.

'He's rather handsome.' Annabelle remarked as he left.

'Undoubtedly so,' was the only reply.