Athos walked slowly through the halls of the Tower of London. He was set on finding Milady and having her arrested. As much as he hated doing so, he knew it had to be done. He knew that if he did encounter her, she would try to tempt him so, he decided to give into her little game until she thinks she has won and then he would catch her off guard and have her arrested, if the guards were there, of course.
At the end of the hall, he saw that a door was left ajar and there was a light flickering in there. Athos had his hand at his side, where his sword was, and cautiously advanced towards the door. He walked in slowly and examined the room. Everything seemed normal, that is, until the door closed behind him.
"Looking for me?" A voice asked behind him.
"As a matter of fast, yes." Athos answered and turned around to see Milady standing before him in front of the door.
Milady smirked. "That's very kind of you. Have you come to make sure that I am safe?" She asked.
"Somewhat."
Milady smiled and slowly walked around the room. Athos watched her, mesmerized, but at the same time, on his guard.
"That dress looks lovely on you." Athos said.
Milady batted her eyelashes at him. "You really think so?"
Athos nodded. "Yes. Red is simply your color."
"I know. Buckingham gave it to me." She said. "If you're trying to get me to tell you where the King and Queen are or where Buckingham is, you might as well leave now."
"Oh, no, no. That's not my task." He said.
Milady raised an eyebrow. "Your task? So you assigned each Musketeer a task? That's very sweet. Good luck with the completion of your tasks."
"Thank you." Athos said.
"And you won't succeed in arresting me."
"What makes you think-"
"I know you, Athos. You've been trying to have me arrested for a while now." Milady said and walked towards the window.
Athos watched her as she continued. "Well, now that I know for sure that those were your intentions, I'm afraid I'm going to have to leave you, now. Have a blast!" Milady smirked as she opened the window and was quickly gone. Athos quickly made his way to the window. "Milady!" he called out. Then, he heard that oh so familiar hissing noise. He looked behind him and there was a stick of dynamite igniting right before his eyes.
"Damn." He muttered to himself and ran out of the room as fast as he could. The dynamite exploded and the impact of it made Athos fall. Once the smoke died down, Athos propped himself up and saw that he was surrounded by broken stone. The dust and remaining smoke around him made him have a coughing fit.
"I-" He began to say but was cut off by his own coughing. He lay back down on the floor and stared at the ceiling.
"I hate that woman." He muttered.
"Did you hear that?" Porthos asked as he bashed another guard on the head with a wooden barrel.
"Yes, I did. What do you suppose it was?" Aramis asked as he threw a guard against the stone floor.
"An explosive, obviously." Porthos answered as he moved to the other side of the room.
"Hope none of our friends got hurt." Aramis said.
"Oh, let's hope not." Porthos replied.
"There. Now that seems like all the guards in here. Let's continue to the next room, yes?" Aramis asked.
"Yes, we should. I would really prefer some wine, though."
D'Artagnan, Arabella, and Planchet all poked there heads out from behind the stone wall. Two guards were standing in front of a wooden door where there were jail cells. Planchet had found the executioners outfit in one of the empty rooms and was dressed for the part. He was to go up to the guards, have them let him in and while he was in the room, D'Artagnan and Arabella were to get rid of the guards.
"Go." D'Artagnan whispered to Planchet while he and Arabella hid behind the wall. Planchet took a deep breath and walked over as the executioner. The guards straightened their stance when they saw him.
"What do you want?" One of the guards asked.
Planchet deepened his voice. "I-I-" Planchet began.
D'Artagnan cringed behind the wall. "Come on, Planchet." He whispered.
"Well?" The other guard asked.
"Buckingham sent me to speak to the King and Queen and I must report anyone who thinks otherwise." Planchet said.
"Very well." The guard said and opened the door.
"Thank you." Planchet said and entered the room and closed the wooden door behind him.
"Now?" Arabella asked D'Artagnan.
D'Artagnan nodded. "Now."
D'Artagnan and Arabella ran out from behind the wall. D'Artagnan had his sword in hand and went up to one guard while Arabella attacked the other and stole his sword. D'Artagnan looked at Arabella and gave his sword to her. Both guards were on the floor and Arabella had both swords pointed at them both.
"Is this little girl going to kill us?" The guard laughed.
"She doesn't have the courage to." The other guard said.
"Oh, yes, I do." Arabella replied and looked at D'Artagnan, who had picked up a barrel.
"Prove it." The guard said. Arabella glanced at D'Artagnan, who rolled his eyes and threw the barrel at both of the guards.
"She doesn't have to prove anything to you." D'Artagnan said to the two unconscious guards. Arabella smiled at him and began dragging one of the guard's body into an empty room. D'Artagnan did the same and locked the guards away in the room. When Arabella and D'Artagnan walked into the room where the King and Queen were, they were already set free by Planchet.
"Arabella! D'Artagnan!" The Queen said happily and ran up to both of them and hugged them.
"I'm so glad you both are safe, Your Majesty." Arabella said.
"We weren't sure what was to become of you." D'Artagnan said.
"We are very grateful." The Queen smiled.
The King joined his wife's side. "Yes. We are very grateful and tired and hungry and-"
"Now, now, Darling." The Queen scolded.
"Homesick." The Kind added quickly.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. You'll be home soon enough. We need to get you two out of here." D'Artagnan said.
"What of Buckingham?" The King asked.
"He should be getting arrested right now unless your guards haven't arrived yet." D'Artagnan answered.
"My guards? They're supposed to be here? Well confound it all, where are they?" The King asked and looked out the window. "Oh, they're here!"
D'Artagnan ran to the window and looked out. "Ah, perfect timing. We need to get you to out of this place. Come on." He said and began walking.
Arabella turned to the King and Queen. "Try to remain as silent as you can and be extremely careful." "All of France will never forgive us if you two get hurt." Planchet added.
"Planchet is right." Arabella whispered. "And take off that executioner mask, you look frightening."
"Oh, right, sorry." Planchet laughed and took the mask off.
"What is taking so long?" D'Artagnan asked in a hoarse whisper.
"Sorry!" The King said and the four of them followed D'Artagnan through the stone halls and staircases.
"And then I told her, oh, no, no, no. I prefer-"
"Porthos, look." Aramis said as he stopped his friend from walking and studied something on the floor.
Porthos looked over his shoulder. "What? What is it?" He asked as Aramis knelt down and picked up a small piece of what looked like, blue fabric.
"Oh… Lovely color." Porthos said. "Now tell me, why is it of importance? Did we really stop walking just for that? And did you really just interrupt my story for that little piece of garbage? Really, Aramis? You are positively the-"
"Porthos, you know a lot about clothes and fabric don't you?" Aramis asked, clearly not paying attention to anything Porthos said before.
"Uh, well, I… I suppose?"
"Then tell me where this comes from." Aramis said and handed the blue fabric to Porthos. Porthos examined it and looked at Aramis. "This looks like the same type of fabric used in my lovely vest that makes me look dashing and sophisticated. You know the one I bought in London. It is silk I believe."
"And Buckingham has one of those, does he not?"
"I don't know, man, I don't look at his clothes!" Porthos said. Aramis glared at him. "…Yes, he has one. I envy him for it." Porthos said.
"Thank you." Aramis smirked and kept walking. The two were now in search of Buckingham. They had gotten rid of most of the guards in the tower. The King's guards that had just arrived would be getting rid of any that were left over. Buckingham hadn't been seen all the while they had been there. Aramis even began to question whether or not he was still in the tower or if he had fled.
Athos walked angrily through the halls of the tower, muttering his thoughts to himself as he went along. He peered into an empty room. "No Milady." He muttered and walked, and continued mumbling to himself. "Damn her. I come all this way to do France a favor and she won't cooperate. She never cooperates…Never has." He smiled at his comment. "And Buckingham, oh, I hope he's dead. So harsh, Athos? Yes. When I find Milady, she will be sorry she ever left me in that room. I will tie her up, throw her at the guards and when she begs for mercy I will tell her that I will not show a woman like her any mercy because she is a…"
D'Artagnan was standing across from Athos with a huge smile on his face. "Did I just catch you having a conversation with yourself, Athos?" He asked.
Athos would have started yelling angry things at the boy but kept himself composed because the King and Queen were watching right behind Planchet. Athos cleared his throat. "I was merely reminding myself of what I had to do."
"Of course. As you can see, we have found the King and Queen." D'Artagnan said. "And Arabella!" Planchet added.
"Oh, yes, I noticed." Athos said. "The guards are ready for them outside. From here, the King and Queen will be put in carriage and taken safely back to the palace."
"Then we should leave now." The King said.
"Planchet will take you." Athos said. Planchet smiled and led the King and Queen out of the tower after the Queen said her thanks. Wanting to get rid of Planchet, Athos sent him to go back with him. D'Artagnan and Arabella were left with him.
"Now, what to do with you two?" Athos said
"I can help you find Milady or help Aramis and Porthos." D'Artagnan said.
Athos nodded. "You may help Aramis and Porthos. Arabella, do you happen to know where Milady likes hiding out here?"
"I might. Earlier today she was in the tower that's a few halls over." Arabella said.
"Will you show me the way?" Athos asked.
Arabella nodded. "I most certainly can."
D'Artagnan raised an eyebrow at Athos. "Wait, wait. She's going with you? Why can't she go with me? I don't want to walk through these unknown halls by myself, I might get lost."
"You're a big boy, D'Artagnan, you won't get lost." Athos said, smiling slightly.
"And you are the one who didn't want my help in the first place." Arabella added.
D'Artagnan grunted. "Fine. But if I get lost or killed, you two will be the first I will haunt."
"We have to go." Athos said and began walking through the next hall while Arabella followed quickly behind. "I would imagine he would still be mad at you because of last night."
"Oh, he is." Arabella asked.
"I don't blame him." Athos said while Arabella gave him a quick glare.
"Hey! Hey! Don't have secret conversations about me!" D'Artagnan yelled.
Arabella laughed and went through all the necessary hallways with Athos. She did get yelled at for bringing him to a dead end a few times but in the end, they were on the level they needed to be at and were now searching through all the rooms in search of the infamous Milady.
"You're certain she's in one of these?" Athos whispered.
"Yes." Arabella whispered back and kept walking. She abruptly stopped when she saw someone's shadow from one of the rooms.
"Athos. Athos, I think she's in there." Arabella whispered. When she heard no reply nor felt Athos's presence near her, she turned around. Athos was gone. She looked around herself and called out quietly, "Athos?" She asked. Once again, she looked but no one was there.
"Athos has been called away by a certain someone." A voice said in one of the rooms. Arabella quickly ran into one of the rooms and saw Buckingham leaning against a wooden table. "You-I thought Milady was up here!"
"I thought you said you wouldn't betray us." Buckingham said.
"Promises can be easily broken." Arabella replied.
Buckingham grinned. "I knew you would bring Athos up here. Milady and the other guards left over are locking him up in a different area of the tower where no one can free him and don't think you'll be the one to free him, either. You will probably be either dead or with us and the other Musketeers will be dead, as well. All of you are ruining my plan. Whoever interferes must pay..."
Arabella only gave half of her attention to her brother. The other half of her attention was devoted to the small dagger that was on the wooden table in front of Buckingham. If she just reached for it quick enough, she may have a chance to catch him off guard and wound him. As much as she despised her brother, she just couldn't kill him right then and there. It was something she would probably never be able to do. But this was already way out of hand and chances were to be taken. It was either takes the life of her own brother, who causes chaos and danger, and save her best friends and the country, or, does she let him live and let the danger ensue? She had to make a fast decision. She decided to reach for the dagger. Her heart beat faster as she lunged for the dagger as Buckingham continued talking. She had the dagger in her hand and had her arm aimed straight for him. She lifted her arm up with the dagger and quickly brought it down. She thought she had stabbed him but saw that she actually hadn't. Something was stopping her arm from going any further.
Arabella only had a quickly moment to react before she felt herself being thrown. The next thing she knew was that she was on the stone floor and her head was throbbing.
"Do you think they've found Milady De Winter?" Porthos asked as he walked with Aramis and D'Artagnan.
"I'm not so sure." Aramis said.
"Well, Arabella said she knew where he was so I believe we should trust her." D'Artagnan said.
Porthos chuckled. "Fancying her again, boy?"
"Well, yes. I never stopped. It's just that I umm-"
"Aramis! Porthos!" They heard someone yell.
"Is that... Wait, I know that voice." Porthos said.
"That's Athos!" Aramis said and quickly opened one of the doors.
"Thank you." D'Artagnan said quietly to himself.
The three Musketeers found Athos heavily tied up and locked in a cell. Porthos coulden't help but laugh.
"I fail to see what is so funny, Porthos." Athos said.
Porthos kept laughing. "Oh, I'm sorry. But you look so helpless and pathetic!"
Aramis smiled at Porthos' comment. "It's like when a fish get's caught in the net and all it can do is bounce around." He added.
Porthos laughed louder. "Ah! Yes! That's exactly what it is like!"
"Yes, it's so humorous." Athos glared.
Porthos wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes and tried to regain his seriousness. "Oh, I'm so sorry, friend. Who locked you away?"
"Milady."
"She did a good job." Porthos whispered to D'Artagnan.
"I can hear you." Athos said.
"Sorry."
"There are no keys anywhere. There is absolutely no way we can get you out." Aramis sighed.
"Where's Arabella?" D'Artagnan asked.
"I was with her and then I felt myself get hit over the head with something and I remember hearing Buckingham's voice and Milady's voice and then I blacked out and I woke up in here a little bit ago and then heard you three."
"So she's with Buckingham?" D'Artagnan asked in a panic.
"Possibly…" Athos said.
"Well? We have to find her! What if she's in trouble? What if she-"
"Boy, she's fine. What makes you think she would be in trouble?" Athos asked.
Right after Athos had asked that question, an explosion was heard from above.
"Does that answer your question?" D'Artagnan asked.
"I think the explosions are getting a little bit old don't you think?" Buckingham asked.
"No. I think they're just fine." Milady smirked.
"I suppose. We're still going on with the last phase of our plan, yes?"
"Oh, most definitely. The Musketeer's are still in the tower doing who knows what."
"Looking for us probably."
"Well, they won't be by the end of the day." Milady smiled. "And they'll never find us here."