A/N: I'm back! I'm sorry for the ridiculous updating schedule but we are slowly getting back on track. There will be no update next week as I am on holiday and I'm not taking my laptop with me (sorry).
Enjoy the chapter!
It had been raining all day. Grey clouds had dressed the sky since Ellie arose at seven bells and it had begun raining soon after. She'd thrown on a navy-blue shirt, brown breeches and black boots and tied her hair up into a messy bun before pulling on a cloak and hurrying over to the bakery to buy some fresh bread and chutney for breakfast. She had then stopped by the dressmakers to pick up a new dress that Treville had ordered for her - apparently being kidnapped meant she deserved a new dress - and had hurried back to the Garrison as the rain started up again.
A flash of lightning cracked open the sky as Ellie stared at her cards. She picked out the 4 of spades and placed it down onto the middle of the table.
"I win," she stated, stacking her remaining cards into a pile as D'Artagnan stared open mouthed at the card.
"But how?" he asked as he began arranging his cards into the correct order.
"I'm excellent at cards," she reminded him as she pushed back from the table and stretched. "I'm going up to see Treville," she told him picking up a piece of bread coated in onion chutney. "You coming?" D'Artagnan hastily stood up and followed Ellie down the corridor into the small dining room that was next door to Treville's office. The Captain was sat at a table, cleaning his guns as Ellie and D'Artagnan walked in. Athos was leaning against the fireplace a gup of wine in one hand and he nodded in greeting as they walked in. Treville glanced over his shoulder and smiled at them.
"What are you eating?" He asked, staring at the remaining bread in Ellie's hand.
"The rest of the bread and chutney I bought," she replied, putting the last piece into her mouth. "Well, what was left from Porthos," she amended. Treville chuckled as she sat down on a three-legged stool near the window. A comfortable silence fell as the four of them went about their jobs. Ellie picked up a book from the table and began flicking through it, stopping every now and then to read what was on the page.
She looked up as she heard the sound of a sword been unsheathed and someone dressed all in black walked in. Treville stiffened as the attacker held him in headlock and stood behind him, sword to his throat.
"I warn you, I am a desperate man. If you resist, I will kill you. I want an audience with your king and I have no time to waste," The man said, his accent sounding suspiciously like Spanish. Ellie, Athos and D'Artagnan stood up, their guns in their hands as they surrounded the man.
"Drop it," said Athos as he raised his gun and aimed it at the man's head.
"Do as he says," D'Artagnan added moving his gun to the other side of the attackers head when the man made no move to drop the knife.
"We won't hesitate to kill you," Ellie finished as she moved her gun so that the barrel of it was aimed at the back of the man's head. Reluctantly the man realised his hold on Treville and the Captain stood up and walked to the other side of the table to face the man. Ellie lowered her gun and moved to the doorway, blocking his escape.
"I know you," said Treville now that he was looking at the man. "You're in the Spanish army. This is General Tariq Alaman."
"Former General," Tariq corrected, glancing at Athos gun as a bead of sweat trickled down his head. "Now persecuted by my own country. I have come here to offer my services to France. Believe me, your king will want to see what I have brought for him."
Treville hesitated in his response. He opened his mouth and then closed it again, unsure as to what to say.
"It couldn't hurt," Ellie told him from where she was leaning against the door, arms crossed. Tariq turned around to face her and shot her a grateful look. "Either way, Louis is going to be annoyed. Might as well hope he'll be happier afterwards."
"Fine," Treville said and Tariq nodded gratefully. "I'll send word to the King."
Ellie had forgone her usual outfit of breeches and a shirt this morning. Instead she found herself pulling on a red and white gown that Constance had made for her. The overlay was made of a white and red swirl material with a red silk underlay. The sleeves just reached her elbows and the ends were decorated with thin white lace. She'd also decided to wear a red silk choker as well as her gold pendant.
"Elizabeth!" Louis called as he walked down the stone steps to where they'd agreed to meet. Louis was still in his nightdress and had an peach in one hand. "Why do people harp on about the beauty of the sunrise?" He asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
"I think it's because it's peaceful, Your Majesty," Ellie replied as she rose from her curtsey.
"But it happens every day with tedious regularity," he moaned coming to a stop. Ellie sighed and followed Athos and Treville as they stood next to the King. Tariq walked over to a stone statue that was standing in the middle of the garden and crouched down, pouring a small amount of white powder onto its base. He then placed a fuse on top of the powder, placed a stone on top of it to secure it and stood up.
"Please move back. Back. Please, Your Majesty, back," Tariq said as he stood up.
"This had better be worth it, Treville," grumbled Louis as h begrudgingly moved back. Ellie glanced at Athos who gave her a look that spoke volumes.
"There's barely enough powder to fire a musket," Aramis stated as he walked back from the statue. Tariq brushed to flint stones together, creating a spark that lit the fuse. He quickly stood up and hurried away from the statue as the fuse began to burn away.
Suddenly, an almighty explosion erupted from the statue, causing it to explode completely. Ellie chuckled in awe as Porthos drew his sword, shocked and unsure at this new gunpowder. Louis laughed as he placed his foot on top of the rolling head of the statue, clapping his hands like an excited chid. He walked over to Tariq, taking a bite out of his peach as he walked.
"A few grains of this miraculous powder could sink a galleon," Tariq informed him as he held the small tube of powder. Louis looked at Treville in amazement. "I am prepared to give up its formula."
D'Artagnan nodded, sensing the unfinished statement. "At what price?" He asked.
Tariq turned to him and looked at him as he answered. "The Spanish have kidnapped my daughter. They are holding her here, in Paris. I want her back." He turned to Louis. "Do we have a deal?" He asked.
"Genera Baltasar will exchange Samara for the cypher machine at the Place de L'eglise at six o'clock," Treville said as he marched through the armoury.
"On market day?" Asked Athos as they followed him to his office. "It will be packed."
"Ambassador Perales has brokered a hand-over with the kidnappers," Treville replied, shutting a door so that they had complete privacy.
"Baltasar hopes to hide amongst the crowd," Tariq realised.
"You know this man?" Aramis asked as he shut the door to the armoury behind him.
"All too well," Tariq said. "I once thought of him as a friend. He was my most trusted Lieutenant. What I never knew was that he always hated me."
"Well, what makes you say that?" Porthos asked.
"I was born the wrong colour," Tariq explained. "An issue you may be familiar with."
Porthos nodded. "Nothing I can't handle," he replied.
"We were ordered to destroy a village, kill every man, woman and child," Tariq said. "Loyal Moors, like me, innocent people, whose only crime was their race. I refused. Baltasar didn't. That was when I understood what type of man he really was."
"It would be helpful if we could see the cypher machine," said Treville as he sat on the edge of his desk.
"At the square," Tariq replied, distrust evident in his voice. Not that Ellie could blame him.
"You don't trust us," D'Artagnan realised.
"Of course, he doesn't," Ellie muttered under her breath. But apparently, it was loud enough because Treville sent her a look whilst Tariq looked surprised.
"I have no reason," Tariq countered, regain his composure.
"Musketeers are men of honour," Athos told him.
"The King of Spain swore he loved me, then had me arrested on false charges. He was a man of honour, too," Tariq replied and none of them knew what to say next.
"You seem to be more aware of your surrounding then most people," said Tariq. Ellie jumped, startling Jesper. He pawed the ground and whined, tossing his head up in the air. "I am sorry, I did not mean to startle you."
"It's ok," Ellie replied, stroking Jesper's nose affectionally as she fed him an apple. "People do say I'm quite aware."
"How is it you know so much about the Moors?" Tariq asked, moving to stand next to her as she brushed Jesper's back.
"I grew up in some of the poorest parts of France," She said. "I saw a lot. I met a lot of Moors who were running. They were kind enough to explain to me the ignorance of the world towards them. I swore never to be ignorant to another's suffering." Sighing, Ellie turned to face Tariq who was stroking Jespers mane. "I also heard things I never want to hear again."
"You seem very wise for one so young," Tariq stated. "You remind me a lot of my daughter. She too is like you: not ignorant of the world's suffering."
"I believe that you should judge a person, not by the colour of their skin, but by their actions," Ellie replied as she tied a net full of hay on to a metal ring. "Just because someone is born the wrong colour doesn't make them evil."
Tariq chuckled. "I think you and Samara would get along well." Ellie looked at him over her shoulder and smiled as Jesper snuffled her hand for another apple.
"I'm looking forward to meeting her," she replied honestly.
"I thought we are meant to be blending in," Ellie muttered as she, Athos and D'Artagnan strolled slowly to the market.
"We are," Athos replied.
"Then why am I wearing this?" She gestured to the emerald green dress she had on. It fitted snugly on her top half and billowed out at the waist into a full skirt. The neckline and sleeves were trimmed with black lace and she'd allowed her hair to curl naturally.
"Because we are also keeping up appearances," Athos muttered, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her behind him as a wagon full of chickens rolled by. "As soon as Alaman has his daughter, we strike," Athos reminded them as they walked into L'eglise. It was full of people buying, trading and catching up. Ellie wallowed the lump of fear that had crept up her body. If this went wrong, a lot of people were at risk. "Aramis' first shot will take out Baltasar. With their leader gone, his men should surrender."
They walked around L'eglise, keeping a careful eye out for any of Baltasar's men. "There. One of Baltasar's men?" D'Artagnan asked, spotting a man leaning against a stack of barrels.
"I don't think so," Athos replied when the man stood up and hugged a woman passing by. He glanced at D'Artagnan who looked slightly dejected. "They're here somewhere," he sang quietly as he walked past a stall selling meat.
"Try one, sir?" A woman asked holding out a wooden plate as Athos walked up to a stand selling fruit and veg. He excepted the cherry and turned to look up at the building opposite. Aramis appeared in the window and tilted his hat in acknowledgement. Ellie looked up as Porthos and Tariq walked into L'eglise; Tariq was carrying a large wooden box under his arm.
"He's got the cypher," Athos noted as he spotted the two.
"Second archway from the left," D'Artagnan said as he popped a cherry in his mouth. Athos looked up as one of Baltazar's men hesitantly walked into the square.
"Behind the barrels," said Ellie, noticing another one appear.
"Two more by the bread," Athos added, nodding his head in their direction. Ellie coughed nodding her head over to where Baltazar was walking towards Porthos and Tariq. Behind him was a girl – who Ellie presumed was Samara – and another man.
"I swore I would hunt you down, Tariq," Baltasar threatened as he came face to face with Tariq.
"And I swore I would kill you, Baltasar," Tariq retaliated.
"Give me the cipher," Baltazar demanded, clearly annoyed at the small talk.
"The girl first," Porthos replied. Baltasar hesitated but grabbed Samara by the arm and handed her over to Tariq.
"Come on, Aramis," D'Artagnan muttered when no gunshot was heard.
"What's he waiting for?" Athos asked. Baltasar smirked as he took the cipher from Tariq, clearly happy that he got what he wanted. Ellie eyed the two men either side of her as they began to pull their pistols out; ready and waiting for the confrontation should Aramis fail to fire.
Baltasar opened the wooden box and growled. "No cipher!" He slammed the lid down and whirled around to face Tariq. He threw the box at Porthos he batted it away. "It's a trick!" Baltasar yelled as he began to run away.
"Down!" Athos yelled at the people who were milling about as a bolt flew through the air and hit the woman who had just offered them cherries. Ellie saw Porthos take after Baltasar as he ran through the arches.
"Get Samara," Athos told her, pushing her towards Tariq and Samara. She ran over to them as together they killed one of Baltasar's men.
"Run, Samara!" Tariq yelled.
"Come with me," Ellie told the girl as she grabbed her arm and led her away from the chaos. Suddenly, Ellie's arms were pulled behind her as Baltasar and his men cornered them.
"No, no!" Samara screamed as they forced her and Ellie to follow Baltasar. Ellie gasped in horror as she saw Porthos on the ground, groaning in pain from the bolt that was in his leg.
"Get the musketeer!" Baltasar yelled as they walked past.
"No!" Ellie yelled, fighting against the men as she watched Porthos fall to the ground and be dragged away. She felt something hard hit her head as she caught D'Artagnan's fear filled gaze, before her knees gave way and she sank to the floor. She felt someone lift her up and carry her away as the screams of the market faded away.