Hey, I'm sorry for a long pause, but this chapter is longer then last one!
Enjoy and review.
"Why didn't you tell them?" D'Artagnan asked quietly, joining her in her place next to the broadside. She frowned and glanced at him. They were alone, the other three Musketeers found themselves other thing to do as they were flying to Paris.
"About what?" she replied looking ahead. The boy huffed annoyed,
"You saved them!" he exclaimed and Marianne shot him a warning glare. "Sorry" he whispered looking around. "I just don't get it!" the woman sighed and turned her head to the horizon.
"I don't beg for mercy" she said slowly. "Never" D'Artagnan nodded understandingly but stayed silent. However he still didn't seem convinced and Marianne could sense it. She sighed one more time and looked at him. "What?" she asked smiling. "You wanted to ask about something. What is it?" he shook his head vividly.
"I just think that they have a right to know" the boy said bluntly. "After all, without you they would be dead."
"And you think they would believe me?" she snapped but smiled at him after seeing his hurt expression. "No lad. Even if I told them they would never believe it." She added a little bit sadly.
"I believe you" D'Artagnan said emphasizing the first word. Marianne laughed in return and ruffled his dark brown hair.
"Thank you" she told him. For a while they stand side by side enjoying the view before the boy again broke the silence.
"What are you planning to do after we reach France?" he asked and Marianne shrugged. She didn't really have time to think about it.
"I'll go to my banker of course, get some sleep then, a new set of clothing and set off. Maybe I'll visit Italy? It's beautiful there this time of year." She wondered aloud. D'Artagnan seemed strangely upset. "What's going on now, lad?" She asked. "Missing me already?" he smiled and elbowed her in the ribs.
"Will you come to say goodbye before you go?" He said slowly. Marianne looked at him carefully.
"Sure lad" she replied with a small smile. "By the way, I still owe you for taking me with you" D'Artagnan just shrugged.
"I couldn't leave you there, it was a matter of honor" he replied. Unfortunately they couldn't continue their discussion because of Athos's comeback. The older Musketeer had gone under the deck before their talk and now got back with a grim face and beautiful, golden pendant in his hand. He showed it his comrades and then put it on the table. Slightly behind him entered a sweet, redhead woman in a long, rich dress. Her hair was intricately combed and her grey, cold eyes scanned everything around. She smiled sweetly, too sweetly to Marianne's liking.
"Boys" Milady acknowledged the Musketeers. All of them jumped slightly suddenly alarmed. "Long time, no see" No one respond.
"Too short, I think" Marianne muttered at last, loudly enough for the second woman to hear.
"You" Milady stated turning to her.
"Me" Marianne agreed nodding. "Funny how thing change, isn't it? I can swear that when we met last time the situation was completely different." With that she smiled slyly, remembering their last encounter, few months ago in Venice. The redhead glared at her evilly and then turned to D'Artagnan.
"Ah, and that must be the young Gascon!" she smiled letting all of them see her white teeth.
"We've met before" he stated simply and Marianne found herself wondering in what circumstances the boy encountered Milady de Winter.
"Ah, yes" Milady seemed to understand. "Small world isn't it?" she asked rhetorically. "I didn't let Rochefort kill you. You do remember it, don't you? She pointed, begging for help. D'Artagnan however didn't replied and it became clear that he wasn't to save her. Milady paled slightly but didn't give up. Instead she turned to Athos. Marianne, wondering who the hell was Rochefort too looked at him and felt overwhelming pity. His expression was unreadable but in his eyes she saw the truth. Pain. Sorrow. Betrayal. Marianne clenched her fists, she wanted Milady's death so badly that it was frightening. For the first time in her life she felt bloodlust like that.
"Did you kill Buckingham?" the redhead suddenly asked and female mercenary frowned in attempt to understand what she was up to.
"No" Athos replied grimly, his face unmoved.
"And you won't kill her." She added pointing to Marianne. The mercenary looked at her critically. If they wanted to kill her they would do it already.
"No" her repeated unhesitatingly.
"But you'll kill me." Milady stated, looking at him helplessly with strangely glistering eyes. For a moment Marianne was sure she would cry but the redhead quickly composed herself. "Why?"
"I don't hate Buckingham or her" Athos said calmly. Milady sighed apparently defeated and moved her hand to her corset. In a second all the Musketeers had their guns pointed in her head. But she just smiled sadly and pulled a scroll from behind it.
"Here, you may find it useful" she said kissing the paper and throwing it next to the necklace. Probably the moment was to be excruciating but Marianne felt only hatred and anger burning in her chest.
"Move" Athos ordered motioning her to make her way to the gap in the broadside. She obeyed silently and turned to look at him one more time. Slowly she raised her hand in his direction as to touch his cheek but hesitated. Her lips moved in a soft whisper sounding incredibly like his name. And then she jumped.