Chapter 10

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Marsac was led back to the Bonacieux household. Athos and Porthos left to go to the palace and I was left with D'Artagnan to keep watch on Marsac. Well, let's say that D'Artagnan was keeping watch and Constance was finishing my dress. I already had another one that she did for free. I ordered the second one. I am not into wearing dress but I might need one someday.

"So, how does it look like?" I asked spinning in front of D'Artagnan.

"You look beautiful, Nellie." He replied.

"Stop calling me that you know I hate that nickname." I chastised him.

"That's why I'm calling you that because it is annoying you." He smirked.

"You think you are so clever, don't you?" I replied.

I went to change into my usual clothes. I spent the rest of my days reading. When Athos came back and related to us the events that have transpired earlier that day. He told us about his duel with the Duke and how he saw the scar on his back. Porthos wasn't with him. The latter was trying to discover what information Monsieur Gontard was looking for. Aramis was there too. He shared with us that the Captain was keeping a record of every Musketeer campaigns but the campaigns in which twenty musketeers died five years ago, had vanished. There was no record of that night.

"Perhaps you just didn't find them." D'Artagnan offered.

"His files are meticulous, there's nothing there." Aramis argued "These documents must have been removed or destroyed."

"I'm still confident that there is perfectly good explanation." D'Artagnan insisted.

"I would be happy to hear it." Marsac chimed in.

"I admit it's troubling but I agree with D'Artagnan." Athos continued.

"So, you're contempt to do nothing?" Aramis questioned frustrated. "How much evidence do you need that something is badly wrong? What does it take to make you act?"

"I would never believe that the Captain is a traitor." Athos replied

"You think I want to?" Aramis scoffed.

"Let me help." Marsac intervened. "I give you my word as a gentleman that I won't try to leave." Marsac added. "Aramis tell them, you know me."

"I used to" Aramis answered.

"Every word I told you, turned out to be the truth." Marsac defended "Why would I deceit you now?"

"Maybe because all you want is revenge." I said. Everyone in the room stayed silent. Athos is the one who cut off his bounds. I couldn't believe it why does Athos trust him?

It was raining outside. The musketeers all decided to confront the Captain and I went with them. The Captain was furious to see that Porthos and Athos weren't with the Duke as they should be. But they ignored him and Aramis ultimately asked him the question. The Captain didn't seem surprised to hear about our suspicions on the Duke of Savoy. He even eluded our questions and went to his office. The Captain wanted us all out. He was clearly hiding something and didn't want his man to know about all of this.

"Get out!" He ended yelling

"Who killed those musketeers? And why?" Aramis yelled back. The Captain glanced at all of us before asking.

"Who have you been speaking to?"

"It doesn't matter." I replied, speaking for the first time since we were at the garrison today. "What matters it's the truth."

"Leave…Now." Tréville ordered once again. "And I'll spare a court martial. I'm not giving you a chance you don't deserve." Aramis walked to him before being stopped by Athos.

"One last time, will you answer our question?" Athos tried again.

"No, I will not." Tréville refused and dismissed us. We all went outside.

"Marsac was right. How much more proof do we need?" Aramis was seething.

"Tréville didn't admit anything." D'Artagnan defended the Captain

"But he didn't deny it either, D'Artagnan." I argued. "I hate myself for saying this but maybe the Captain did betray the Musketeers." And I flinched at the look the other three was sending my way.

"The Captain is the finest man I have ever met." Porthos growled. "And if it comes down to it I'd rather be on his side than Marsac's."

"You may be contempt to do nothing." Aramis said resigned. "I'm not." Aramis then left. And then I turned to my friends.

"You are right, thought. I'd rather be on the Captain's side than Marsac's but even you have to admit it Porthos. Did the Captain deny any of the accusation?" I asked. "Now, I'm not saying that he's completely guilty but we have to find the truth and fast." I said before following Aramis.

I wasn't able to catch up with him. I lost him in the streets. I've decided to go back to the garrison but none of my friends were there. It was probably for the best. They were already mad at me for siding with Marsac. A man that I can't bear. Why would Tréville betray his own men? I don't know. Why would he deliberately send twenty of his musketeers to death? Tréville looked like a man of honour and in my eyes he still was. I'm not judging but he could simply answered our questions and put our mind at ease. Why was he keeping the truth? Was it that horrible? A day passed by and the rain has stopped. I joined D'Artagnan at our usual table for lunch. He seemed not to hold a grudge against me.

"Shouldn't you be with the Duke?" He asked Athos and Porthos who joined us.

"Our services are no longer required." Athos replied.

"That's for sure. We need to speak to the Captain." Porthos added.

"I need a drink" said Athos. I stayed silent and I enjoyed my meal. Someone arrived in the garrison. They pulled their hood off to reveal the Duchess of Savoy, the King's sister. We all bowed to her.

"I have no time for explanation." She said. "There's an important prisoner being held somewhere here in Paris."

"You mean, Cluzet?" Athos provided.

"You know him?" She asked

"Not exactly." Porthos answered. "But we know where to find him."

"The Duke is on his way to find him right now." The Duchess continued. "For the sake of France, he must not discover him. Many lives are at stake, included mine."

"We can exactly stop the Duke entering the prison, you are quite aware of that?" I asked her sarcastically. Athos glared at me for my sarcasm.

"Yes, but…that doesn't mean he has to find him inside." Porthos said.

The four of us went to the prison to stop the Duke from seeing Cluzet. Porthos grabbed one of the guards and threatened him with a dagger. He led us to Cluzet cell. He pushed the guard inside and Cluzet was in. He called the Duchess a traitor. We took care of Cluzet. We took him out. The Duchess knocked the guard out. She followed Porthos. Athos and I get rid of the guard. We dragged him outside and hide him. D'Artagnan dressed as the guard. Just in time for the Duke's arrival who was calling for Cluzet. D'Artagnan was ordered to open the door. The Duke went in and discovered Serge instead of Cluzet. They all left and D'Artagnan walked to us. "Nice look. Better with the hat." Porthos remarked. The day after Aramis informed us of the death of Marsac. The latter tried to get his own revenge. Aramis told us why those musketeers died five years ago. It was to protect the Duchess. The Captain was just obeying orders. The Duke, the Duchess and their son left Paris that day. And everything went back to normal, well, as normal as they can be when you are living with the musketeers.