Chapter 8

Annette Lefevre POV

After I got acquainted with Her Majesty and all the different ladies-in-waiting, I was briefed that the Queen would be making a trip to Madrid to visit her brother Phillip the Fourth, the King of Spain. "I have been to Spain a couple of times since I married Louis. While I feel quite at home here in France, I miss my homeland and my brother so much," the Queen said as some of the other ladies-in-waiting packed her clothes in different sized trunks. "Well, I am glad that Your Majesty will now be able to see your family and homeland. Forgive my ignorance, but is Spain very different from France?" I asked as I helped braid Queen Anne's hair as she prepared for bed. "Yes, Spain is very different. The Spanish are very pious, I remember always having clothes that were more somber and modest in comparison to the fabulous clothes that I have. However, I really liked being able to see the storks from my bedroom window and learning how to play various instruments. In Spain, the members of the court hide their marital affairs instead of parading them, unlike here," Queen Anne said. "I find it hard to believe that people's hearts can be so unfaithful to the ones that they have been bound to in marriage," Marian said as she brought an extra blanket for the Queen's bed. "In their defense, Marian, most of those people were married off by their parents to people who they hardly knew, whom they had no attachment to, only because of a political alliance between their families. I know it's a sin, but people have to the right to love and be loved in return, even if it's not their spouse," I answered making Anne, Constance and Marian look at me in shock. "You talk as if you have had an experience like this Annette," Constance remarked quietly. "The reason that I came to Paris from Gascony dresses as a man was because my parents were trying to marry me off to someone I didn't and couldn't love. All my life I have been in love with someone else, someone whom I had many adventures with as a child," I said nostalgically. "Is it D'Artagnan?" Constance asked with a frown as she crossed her arms. "No, D'Artagnan's brother, Pierre," which made Constance obviously relaxed. "Does D'Artagnan know that you are in love with his brother?" Queen Anne asked. "Yes, who do you think coordinated our meetings." "Well, maybe I can do something for you and Pierre," Anne said as she put her hand on my hand. "Thanks, Your Majesty, but I don't know where Pierre is anymore."

Next Day

One thing I definitely miss about being a male musketeer was the ability to travel light because the way that these ladies-in-waiting don't understand the definition. Since we are traveling with a Royal escort, we are traveling with 15 carriages of people and stuff. I'm just glad to know that Marian is just as annoyed with this as I am, she keeps saying things about getting her arrows and riding through the woods. Constance and Queen Anne are very comfortable in this travel arrangement. As the horses were prepared, I heard a someone calling my name, along with Marian's and Constance's, as we three turned around we saw Charlie D'Artagnan, Porthos, Aramis, Athos and Planchet came on their horses. "Well you three didn't think you were going to Madrid without saying goodbye to us? How unladylike," Porthos huffed. "Says the man who goes out with the prize winners of the unladylike title," Aramis replied as he turned to us, "Ladies we know that you will be put in great danger throughout this journey, be careful." The girls and I looked at each other and nodded. "Put your faith in yourselves, and please Annette and Marian, teach Constance how to use weapons," Athos said. "Constance, there is no sense in denying my love for you; please stay safe and come back to me," he said as he kissed her and then turned to Marian. "Marian, you have an impressive heritage and are immensely skilled in both the sword and bow; use your wits like your ancestor before you," as he shook her hand and then he turned to me. "And Annette, I have known you all my life because you are the sister that I never had, you are also the love of my brother Pierre's life; you are as quick with your wit as you are with the sword, keep these and you will be fine. Never lose faith in yourself and in Madrid you will see a very familiar face," he said as he winked at me and hugged me good-bye. "I would like to add something, Miss Annette, you are the only person to actually treat me like a human being. Take me with you," Planchet said as he bent down and grabbed one of my skirt. "Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for Planchet to accompany the girls, after all he does have good ideas on good days," said Athos. "But, my wine!" Porthos whined. "You can get a new servant in the meantime, someone who is more similar to your deranged nature," Aramis said causing Marian and Queen Anne to giggle. "If all of finished speaking, I would like to start our long journey to visit my brother," Her Majesty said with a smirk on her face afterward. This caused us all to say: "All for one and one for all."