Chapter 9
Thanks to Guest and FizzWizz2011 for their reviews. FizzWizz2011 I'm glad you like the character. I hope you'll like this chapter. I have to say I'm not really satisfied with that one. Anyway, thanks to the followers and the one who favourited the story.
New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.
The days at the garrison were peaceful. I was becoming good friends with Constance. She was sewing a dress for me, this way I will look like a respectable lady. I reluctantly accepted. I was helping the musketeers here and then when it comes to arrest thieves and murderer. People in the streets knew me and helped me as long as I give them compensation. Today, the Captain Tréville requested to accompany the musketeers to welcome the Duke of Savoy. We were waiting outside under the sun for the duke to come. We've been here for hours. I was standing between Athos and D'Artagnan. We were closer since the night we saved him from this fire and he shared his story with us.
"Heat. Flies. Boredom." Porthos listed. "I do so love parades. I'm thinking about fainting just for something to do." I chuckled
"I can do it if you want. Fainting is one of my specialties." I proudly stated.
"Don't we know that?" D'Artagnan added smiling.
"What's wrong with him?" Athos asked nodding towards Aramis. The latter was awfully silent and not as cheerful as he usually is.
"Have you forgotten about the massacre of Savoy?" Porthos replied.
"What massacre?" D'Artagnan asked. No one answered him. Actually, I don't think they had time. The Duke of Savoy had finally graced us with his presence.
The King and The Queen went to them. They exchanged the usual niceties, well; it was pretty cold and rude comments towards the Cardinal, for the most parts. D'Artagnan's attention was drawn to something in the bushes. A shot was fired, killing on of the Duke's servants. The King were to be put to safety while the Musketeers, D'Artagnan and I went after the one who fired the shot. We searched the garden for him. We split to cover more ground. Whoever that was, he just disappeared into thin air. I joined Athos and Porthos and kept searching but to no avail. It was useless. D'Artagnan and Aramis disappeared. We went back to the garrison in hope to see them and to wait for the Captain. The latter was fuming when he arrived few minutes later and we were soon joined by Aramis and D'Artagnan.
"How in God's name did he escape?" Tréville asked us.
"We lost him in the grounds." Athos answered.
"He just, uhm…..got away." Aramis added.
"Didn't you see him either?" The Captain asked to D'Artagnan.
"I, uhm…slipped." He answered and I scoffed.
"You slipped?" Captain questioned.
"Wet grass." D'Artagnan answered and I glanced at Athos and Porthos. Because clearly Aramis and D'Artagnan were keeping something from us and they were doing a poor job at keeping it.
"There's a killer on the loose. The security of the nation is being threatened but at least little D'Artagnan didn't get a nasty bruise." Captain said. It was taking all my powers to keep a straight face at his sarcasm. "Athos, Porthos, report to the palace in the morning. As long as the Duke is in France, his safety is now your responsibility. And be vigilant. There's an assassin out there somewhere. We left the Captain's office. Porthos, Athos and I decided to confront Aramis and D'Artagnan about their secret.
"Hey!" Porthos called
"You are hiding something." Athos stated.
"No idea what you mean." Aramis denied
"You too." Athos said to D'Artagnan. "What is it?"
"If you don't tell them, I will." D'Artagnan warned Aramis.
"Tell us what?" I questioned.
"Not to you, Emma. To them." Aramis answered quite harshly. "This is musketeers' business."
"Fine, I'm leaving. Anyway I have things to do." I answered hurt. I mean I helped them in the past why would this be any different. I thought they could trust me.
I went to Constance to try my new dress. A red shirt and brown corset and a brown skirt. My hair was braided and reached the small of my back. She was doing some adjustment when the musketeers enter and asked to talk to her in private which she refused because she needed to finish my dress. They told her that Monsieur Marsac, the man Aramis and D'Artagnan brought to her house was a fugitive. He is the one who tried to kill the Duke.
"A deserter?" Constance was angry
"A deserter and an assassin." Athos added.
"I'm guessing they didn't mention that part." Porthos stated.
"Ow. You just stabbed me with a needle, Constance." I cried.
"Sorry." She apologised.
"New rules, when you are angry, don't use needle. We can finish another day." I said.
"Failed assassin attempt." Marsac intervened.
"Shut up!" I asked at the same time Constance asked him to keep quiet.
"I don't want to know. But I trusted you." She said the last part to D'Artagnan. Then she turned to me. "Did you know about that?"
"No." I answered "Aramis made it pretty clear to me that this is musketeers business. So I'm leaving you to it." I said and left the room.
I was hurt at Aramis' words. I helped them in the past, I thought we were friends. Maybe he was just preoccupied, I don't know. It is just that he hurt me, and he had to figure it out for himself. I was back in my usual clothes. I left my dress in Constance's room. I passed Constance when I was coming out of her room. The men were still there and I decided to ignore them. I grabbed my hat and was about to leave when Athos and Marsac suddenly stood up ready to fight but Aramis stand between them. I wanted to stay but it was musketeers' business so I left. I went to do what I usually do, reading. Shakespeare was one of my favourite authors he had a way with words. I was currently reading his sonnet 139.
O, call not me to justify the wrong
That thy unkindness lays upon my heart;
Wound me not with thine eye but with thy tongue;
Use power with power, and slay me not by art.
Tell me thou lov'st elsewhere; but in my sight,
Dear heart, forbear to glance thine eye aside;
What need'st thou wound with cunning when thy might
Is more than my o'erpressed defense can bide?
Let me excuse thee: ah, my love well knows
Her pretty looks have been mine enemies;
And therefore from my face she turns my foes,
That they elsewhere might dart their injuries—
Yet do not so; but since I am near slain,
Kill me outright with looks and rid my pain.
Reading was supposed to help me relax but I couldn't stop thinking about this Marsac. Aramis might be right, this is musketeers' business. But actually he was the only one to not want me to be involved. I had to find out why he trusted Marsac so much. Why he was ready to lie to his friends. I walked to the tavern where I asked about Marsac, well actually I described him. They informed me that he talked to a man who was bragging about killing the musketeers. That information didn't lead me anywhere until I saw the musketeers and Marsac's horses near a building. I went in. There were talking while there was a man tied up by his wrists and Marsac was with him. Marsac started to strangle the man. The musketeers were obviously debating about something important.
"Oi! Marsac stop it!" I yelled startling the musketeers. As soon as they heard me they sprang into action and ran to stop Marsac. The man was dead. "Now, can someone please tell me what's going on?" I asked
"Nellie, how did you find us?" D'Artagnan asked and I glared at him for the use of the nickname.
"I have my ways." I answered.
"This is musketeers' business, young lady." Marsac told me. "You should go back to your home and stop playing soldiers." I walked to him seething.
"I won't go back home. And don't patronize me. I don't care if this is musketeer's business, Aramis is my friend and I will help him whether you like it or not, whether he likes it or not." I coldly stated "For your information I live at the musketeers' garrison so by extension this is also my business."
They filled me in and told me the man accused the captain of treason towards the musketeers. I really don't like this Marsac. I understand him, he wants revenge but we all know here that the Captain Tréville betraying the musketeers is just a stupid idea. This was absurd the man rather cut one his arms off before even think about betraying the musketeers. Marsac stated one more time that this doesn't concern me or D'Artagnan because we are not musketeers. To which D'Artagnan replied that Marsac was no longer a musketeer either. He tried to fight D'Artagnan but Porthos stopped him. Aramis was determined to know the truth so he decided to go and talk with the Captain. Not before he talked to me alone.
"Emma, I apologise for my behaviour." He said. "I know you were helpful in the past and all you wanted to do was help but I don't want you to get hurt."
"Well, you could have used other ways to do so. For example not being so harsh and being honest instead would have probably helped." I accepted his apologies. "But in the end I am the one to make the decision and I appreciate you are trying to protect me." I smiled "Next time you do something like this and you are a dead musketeer." He chuckled.
He went to the Captain after that and we led Marsac back to his chamber. Aramis informed us that the man who led the attack should have a scar on his back. For my part I refuse to believe that the Captain Tréville is a traitor.
