Chapter 10 - Decisions.

Hello everyone, thank you very much for the incredibly kind reviews and support! As usual I own none of the characters except the OC.

Catherine spent the rest of the sleepless night planning how to find Athos should he not have returned by the morning. She briefly considered asking Constance to accompany her, she knew that d'Artagnan was everything to her and travelling as a woman in France alone was not recommended. Despite the advantages Constance's reaction to Catherine's initial plan worried her. She was uncertain as to whether Constance would seek to hinder her going for both their sakes if she found out. Constance was lucky to have her position at court, a position which allowed her opportunities to be close to d'Artagnan, and Catherine was not particularly enthralled at the prospect of asking Constance to potentially give all that up.

Eventually she decided not to ask for Constance's company. She felt bad about of leaving Constance in the lurch, without even telling her that she knew where d'Artagnan had gone, but at least Constance would still have her position and the privileges at the end of it all! Catherine had already knew that her best bet for finding the musketeers would be to start by following the route on the map and scour the path for signs of a skirmish. She would have to travel by horse but thanks to her access to the royal stables that was not so much of a problem. The final matter to be resolved was should she travel as a woman of no consequence or disguise herself as a man. Both had advantages. Captors, enslavers and guards were less likely to suspect as a trouble maker if she approached them as a woman, but as a man she could openly carry weapons and was more likely be left alone on the road. 'Decisions, decisions,' she pondered.

In the end Catherine made up her mind to take the riskier option of travelling as a woman concealing any weapons beneath her skirts. She was prepared to gamble the dangers of travelling for the element of surprise should would have when she eventually encountered the trouble that was detaining the musketeers. Fortunately Catherine still had the old tattered gown and corset that she had worn as a tavern maid and arrived at the palace in stored away. She could not change at the palace too many questions would be asked, so she wrapped up the dress in a carrying basket and hid her two small daggers and a pistol in there too. Underneath her bed Catherine also kept her uncle's old sword in the blue velvet lined box in which it had been bestowed to her. Catherine unsheathed the sword with a melancholy expression. The hilt while light was adorned with silver filigree and three fleur-de-lis on the tips. The blade itself was still sharp and straight but it was in desperate need of an oiling and clean. Catherine sighed sadly as she examined the intricate detail on the hilt again. Upon her uncle's death the sword, which had virtually been an extension of the man, had been specially given to her but it had long carried too many happy memories which only ended in pain. The fleur-de-lis made Catherine wonder whether or not her uncle had either been or beaten a musketeer in his lifetime. 'Am I doing the right thing?' she asked the sword absentmindedly. Silence was her only reply. Sheathing the sword again Catherine reattached it to the belt also provided and tied it beneath the outer layer of her skirts since it was far too long for the basket.

By the time she had finished preparing the rough basics the bells had struck through the darkness to sound four in the morning. Now, while it was still dark but with the promise of day not too far ahead, would be the best time to go but Catherine had said she would wait to see if the morning would bring Athos and his friends with it. She had just sat down on the bed when a quiet knock came at the door. Her eyes widened in surprise when she opened it to find Constance stood there also accompanied by another large basket.

'Can I come in please?' Constance asked shooting quick glances down the corridor. Catherine stood aside to let her pass and closed the door. Constance set the basket down on the floor next to Catherine's and gave her an appraising look.

'You're still going to go after him aren't you?'

Catherine shifted uncomfortably. 'I just couldn't sleep.' she muttered.

'So you packed a large basket with your old dress in it? Do I look stupid?' Constance asked.

'I was merely perusing old times.' Catherine tried calmly.

Constance gave her a glare.

'Well it looks like I'm going to have to go and find them on my own then.'

Catherine's brow furrowed. Was Constance actually serious or was she testing her? But then there was the basket which Catherine now noted also contained what looked like an old dress.

'What about the Queen?' she asked trying to decipher Constance out.

'Marie came in later last night,' Constance said. 'Apparently she doesn't trust us enough to handle the Queen's business so she's stubbornly said she will return today.'

'If she is still ill the Queen won't like it.' Catherine mused.

'The Queen said she was alright to come back, providing she takes it easy.' Constance shrugged.

'I thought you were at least going to see if they came back this morning?' Catherine's eye's narrowed.

Constance sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed. 'I've been thinking about what you said yesterday,' she began. 'Its not so unusual if they are a day or so late back but its been two days and none of them have returned. I still think this is a stupid idea we have no idea where they went or what they were supposed to be doing but I've nearly lost d'Artagnan before, I can't just sit here and risk losing him again.'

Catherine studied Constance's worried expression for a moment. She didn't pretend to fully understand the depth of Constance's relationship to d'Artagnan. She did not doubt that Constance loved d'Artagnan but she also knew that Constance remained definitively loyal, in name and position, to her husband. She did not fully associate Consequently Catherine did not fully associate Constance as someone willing to give up everything for love, yet her words just now made Catherine seriously consider whether she needed to start eating her own.

'D'Artagnan would not appreciate this.' Catherine stated.

'What does that matter?'

'If you leave you will lose your position and jeopardise your access to him.' Catherine explained. 'You know he wouldn't want that.'

'If I don't help him now it won't matter one way or the other whether I lose my position or not.' Constance said sadly.

Catherine sighed again.

'You feel the same way about Athos do you not?' Constance asked after a moment.

'I can't explain how I feel.' Catherine paused before answering truthfully. 'But whatever I feel about him he clearly doesn't return it.'

'You don't know Athos that well.' Constance smiled. 'He likes you.'

'Because he helped me back here after I had a fainting fit?' Catherine remarked dryly. 'Athos strikes me as a man who will help anyone in trouble that doesn't mean he likes them.'

'You didn't see him when he found you on the floor.' Constance remarked. 'Also I don't know many men that would come looking to apologise to someone at five in the morning. He cares for you a little more than you probably think.'

Catherine sighed again not particularly liking the conversation.

'Well the good news is we aren't completely lost on the tracking front.' She replied changing the topic.

'Oh?' Constance asked.

Catherine took out the piece of paper from the front of her dress and handed it to Constance who unfurled it.

'I believe that's where they've gone at least.' Catherine prompted.

'You promised you wouldn't go to the garrison!' Constance said flatly.

'And I kept that promise,' Catherine replied.

'Then where…'

'The Cardinal.'

Constance's eyebrows nearly rose to her hairline. 'You stole this from the Cardinal?' She asked slowly.

'Borrowed, temporarily.' Catherine smirked. 'And yes I know the Cardinal would have my head if he found out it was me.'

'Too right he would.' Constance muttered.

'What did you bring in the basket?' Catherine asked.

'A change of clothes and some weapons.'

Now it was Catherine's turn to raise her eyebrows.

'Weapons?'

'What?' Constance exclaimed. 'Do you think you are the only woman in Paris who can fight?'

'D'Artagnan?' Catherine chuckled.

'Maybe.'

They both laughed quietly.

'So,' asked Constance. 'Is this the plan then, to follow the road they took and try and find them?'

'Basically yes.' Catherine said. 'I was hoping to take one of the horses to get out of Paris and then scout for signs of a skirmish along the road. If we don't find any then that leaves the Duke of Champagne's residence as the most likely place to try after.'

'And if they've been captured?' Constance hesitated.

'Then we do our best to get them out without getting ourselves or them killed!'

Constance and Catherine discussed their plan until the bells sounded for five o' clock.

'When were you thinking of going?' Constance asked.

'Not until tomorrow evening or early morning. I wanted to see if they made it back tonight.' Catherine said.

Constance nodded. 'I'll go to the garrison at first break and see. If they haven't returned Treville will also have sent out a search party.'

True to her word Constance went to the musketeers garrison during their first morning break. Marie, despite still not being quite restored, was back at work as she had said which considerably lightened the load on Constance and Catherine.

Catherine fidgeted and toyed with her fingers through most of the break and then spent the rest of it pacing back and forth. When Constance returned the look on her face and gait of her walk was more than enough to smash any hopes that both of them had held.

'Nothing?' Catherine didn't need to ask but it was the natural question.

Constance shook her head. 'No, Treville sent out men early this morning but he doesn't know when they'll be back.'

'I'm sorry Constance.' Catherine replied sadly at Constance's down turned expression.

'No need, we'll just have to go tonight ourselves and find them!' Constance said firmly.

'We should go around four in the morning if we can.' Catherine advised. 'Its still dark enough for us to get out of Paris but late enough for daylight to be rising when we get on the road.'

Constance nodded again. 'I guess that means we can get some sleep at least.'

'I guess.' Catherine said although it was fairly obvious that both knew that neither one would sleep.

'Where shall we meet?' Constance inquired.

'Meet me at the stables at four, I'll make sure the horses are fed, watered and saddled.'

They both fell silent as Marie came over and told them that the Queen was waiting.

'Will she manage on her own?' Catherine asked eyeing Marie's pale countenance closely.

'She'll have to.' Constance replied as if stating a matter of fact.

Both Constance and Catherine spent the remainder of the day fussing over the Queen trying desperately to leave on a good impression. Both of them knew their jobs were as good as forfeit the moment they left Paris but they still felt there was no harm in trying to gain favour at the last. Catherine tried purely for Constance's sake, apart from finding Athos she had little care right now for her position.

As eleven o' clock came and went both women went to there separate rooms to finish preparations - or in Catherine's case pace anxiously until half past three arrived.

When three o'clock arrived Catherine could no longer wait and, checking anxiously to see if any guards were around, headed to the stables hiding her basket under her cloak. She watered and fed the horses first before tacking them up, something she found exceedingly hard without a light which she refused to light considering she didn't want to wake the stable lad. She had barely finished tacking up her own horse when Constance arrived with her own basket.

'Shall we change now or later?' she asked.

'Let's at least wait until we are near the outskirts of Paris.' Catherine murmured holding Constance's basket as she mounted. Constance in turn held both of their baskets as Catherine mounted and covered herself in her cloak.

'What about the guards at the gates?' Constance hissed.

'There's only ever one by the back entrance, he shouldn't be much bother.' Catherine replied.

Sure enough there was only one guard. The expression of utter shock on the man's face when she punched him right on the side of his temple made Catherine sympathise with him, but that feeling was soon behind her as both her and Constance made their way as silently as possible through the streets of Paris.

They stopped at Constance's old home to change their outfits leaving their rich silk gowns in one of Constance's cupboards.

'Right have we got everything?' Constance checked.

'I think so.' Catherine said feeling the cold touch of her uncle's sword against her leg. 'Are you absolutely sure you want to come with me?'

Constance nodded. 'Let's go,' she said quietly 'if my husband wakes up they'll be hell on earth to pay.'

The trip out of Paris despite being long and dread filled was uneventful. As they emerged out of the streets into the open surroundings Catherine took the map out from its usual spot and pointed to the direction that both were to take. As the two women began their long journey into the darkness some very tired men in full length dark blue cloaks finally made it back into the musketeers garrison. Unfortunately there was only three of them…