Showdown is near ;)

Have fun an send me feedback

Thanks Niagaraweasel for translate.

Milady watched the goings on at the palace. The Red Guard had a hard time against the musketeers, it took for guards for every musketeer to get them out of the palace. So Rochefort had been able to do it alone and really didn't need her any more. She knew that Athos was right, she had no chance against Rochefort, she needed Athos' help and maybe that way she would be able to get closer to him again.

The first time she had seen him in Paris, all she had wanted to do was to destroy him and get her revenge. But the longer she had worked for the cardinal and the closer she had gotten to her goal of seening Athos dead, the worse she had felt.

She thought for a moment and then made her way to Rochefort's chambers. He had taken over the cardinal's rooms and Milady knew every secret nook and cranny there. She needed to find something to get rid of the Red Guard captain.

Once inside Rochefort's room, she used a hairpin to open the box where she knew Rochefort kept his secret documents. With a small cry of triumph, she pocketed a bundle of letters and left through a secret passage.

Athos and Porthos had managed to get their two friends back to the garrison. Treville was less than pleased when he heard the whole story.

"What does Rochefort plan? The queen is not safe at the palace," he said, pacing around the room.

Aramis grimaced. Porthos had used a tight bandage to stabilize his ribs. "We have to get back to the palace as quickly as possible."

"Constance is alone there with the queen, she can't defend herself and she's not feeling well. Rochefort won't hesitate to lay his hands on either her or the queen, and with the help of Milady…" D'Artagnan was beside himself with worry.

"Milady de Winter isn't helping Rochefort. He threatened her just like the other two women. I have seen them," Athos argued.

"After all that has happened, are you sure that she speaks the truth?" D'Artagnan asked.

Athos gave him a disapproving look. "I don't trust her, but I know what I saw and right now she is the only one who can help us."

"And that is what she will do," a voice came from the door.

"Milady de Winter," Treville said.

All heads turned to the door and Milady could see in the faces of the men that she wasn't welcome.

"I have information on Rochefort that will change the situation," she said, handing Treville the letters.

Athos looked at her and she held his gaze.

"A Spanish spy," Treville said, shocked.

The musketeers looked at him. Porthos was the first to find words again. "A spy? Who sent him?"

"The queen's brother," the captain answered.

"The queen has nothing to do with this," Aramis protested.

"No, she hasn't, she and the king are both innocent. If Rochefort manages to get the king out of the way, the queen is alone and her brother counts on the fact that she needs to accept an alliance with Spain. That has been the plan of the Spanish royal family all along and poor little Anne has been an unwitting pawn in their game, just like Louis. Rochefort and his family have always been in good standing with the Spanish court. Rochefort was a loyal companion and in love with the queen. He thinks if the gets rid of the king, they will let him have the queen, but he will be hanged if he returns," Milady explained to the musketeers.

"Why should we believe all of that? Why do you give us this information now?" D'Artagnan asked, not ready to trust her.

"Rochefort is blackmailing me. He knows that I have killed and that I worked with the cardinal. He asked me to kill the child and the king, otherwise he would tell the king what I did. This would blacken my name with the king and I would end up on the streets again, pennyless." The dark haired woman fixed her gaze on her ex-husband and saw the mistrust in his eyes. "As you know, D'Artagnan, my story is true, your friend Constance had to pay the price for overhearing us. The fact is that I need you. Without your help I have no chance to stay at the court. Rochefort will kill Constance first, then the king and lastly me, so he can blame the king's death on me."

"I hate to say it, but Milady is right and what she says is true," Athos confirmed.

Milady looked at him and gave him a smile, noticing the sudden flash of something in his eyes. "I know every corridor and passageway in the palace. I can get you in and you can get the queen, Constance and the child out. I will try to convince the king."

"That sounds like a good plan," Treville agreed. "Saddle the horses."

Aramis tried to get up, clearly in pain. Porthos gently pressed him down on the cot again. "Aramis, you can't ride with us like this."

"I have to," Aramis argued gravely.

"Listen, I know I might have gone a little overboard earlier. You are like a brother for me and you're lucky you saved my life more than once. But what you did more than outweighs everything I ever did wrong," Porthos said, carefully putting his arms around Aramis. "Let's call it quits, and next time you keep something important from me I will shoot you in the ass."

Aramis smiled. "That won't happen again, I promise. Porthos, I really love her and if she weren't the queen, I would do everything in my power to have her to myself. Get her safely out of the palace and my son, too."

"I will," Porthos promised and left the room to join the others.

Aramis raked his hands through his hair. He wanted to get Anne out of there, that was his job. Just like it was D'Artagnan's job to get Constance out of the palace.

"Damn it!" he cursed, grimacing in pain as he put on his shirt and leather jacket again.

The queen of France and Constance were sitting on the bed, holding on to each other's hands. They tried to be strong for each other, but both knew that the other was just as afraid.

Footsteps outside the door made them both tighten their grip.

"The musketeers won't abandon us," Constance whispered.

"I had a quarrel with Aramis, he will not come back," Anne said, tonelessly. "He slept with Marguerite. I thought our son and I were special to him."

Constance looked at her. "Aramis loves you and your son, he has risked his life for you more than once."

"That is just his job as a musketeer," Anne argued.

"Believe me, his eyes tell a different story," Constance answered, stroking her friend's hand.

The door opened and Rochefort entered together with four men of the Red Guard. The two women huddled closer together.

"Madame Bonacieux, I found a new place in the palace for you. The jail. Tomorrow morning you will be executed." A cruel smile formed on Rochefort's lips.

"No!" Anne cried out. "She has done nothing wrong. You have hurt her enough."

"She is working with the musketeers and poisoning your mind. Guards, grab her, throw her in jail and do with her what you like. Tomorrow morning we will execute her."

"No, please…." Constance pleaded desperately, but she had no chance to defend herself. Her ribs were still not completely healed and the four guards left her no chance.

"Constance!" The queen tried to reach her nurse and only confidante, but Rochefort restrained her.

"You and I, Anne, will find a way to occupy our time – together," he whispered into her ear.

Sheer terror spread through the body of the queen. "No, please, don't…."