Well then, here we are with another chapter. Thank you to .54, Merick, DoubtfulGuest, Keesha and Twitch88 for the reviews on the last chapter, I'm glad you enjoyed it :-)
When Athos awoke, the sky had barely begun to lighten. Eleanor lay facing away from him, her back tucked neatly against his chest and his arm resting across the gentle curve of her waist. She still slept soundly, her fiery hair spilling across the bolster and her shoulder left bare where the covers had slipped. Carefully, the musketeer disentangled himself from the warmth of her body and slipped from the bed, careful not to wake her. Quietly he retrieved his clothes from the floor and pulled them on, his gaze shifting to the door as he heard a soft sound from downstairs. With one last glance at the still sleeping Eleanor, he picked up his jerkin and opened the door, stopping in his tracks when he came face to face with Anna.
The housekeeper looked him up and down before glancing behind him to where her charge lay; her expression telling him that she had indeed taken note of the rumpled covers and clothes on the floor.
"Well then, I am shocked." She turned her gaze on Athos, and the musketeer could swear that she looked pleased.
"Madame...I..." Once again the woman had Athos stumbling over his words, terror at the thought that she might report back to Treville overcoming him.
"I would have thought better of you, monsieur, sneaking out and leaving the lady alone." The woman glared at him and Athos almost sighed with relief. "Get yourself back in there and conduct yourself in a proper manner; you still have time before your young friend arrives." She raised an eyebrow, seeming satisfied when Athos arranged his features into a suitably contrite expression and inclined his head.
"If d'Artagnan should arrive early..."
"Then I will distract the boy with breakfast and tell him that you have not yet risen from much needed rest." Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. "Now get back in that room before she wakes and finds you gone." She reached out, pushing her hand gently against his shoulder to urge him back into the room and he obeyed, stepping back as Anna reached for the door handle, pulling the door closed with a soft click.
Athos turned his back to the door, as his gaze once more settled on Eleanor he was surprised to see her mouth turned up in a smile.
"How long have you been awake?"
"Long enough." She opened her eyes and shifted, one leg emerging from under the covers. "She's right you know; it is rude to sneak out of a lady's room." She shifted again, stretching like a cat and propping herself up on one elbow, amusement on her features.
"So I have been informed." Athos carefully draped his doublet over a chair and made his way towards the bed, watching her head tilt as she listened to his approach. "I must beg your forgiveness." His tone was formal but Eleanor could hear the smile in his voice.
"I might forgive you." Her smile was impish as he sat on the bed beside her and she curled her body around him. "You'll just have to make amends." Athos did not need her to say how; her smile told him all he needed to know and he leant down, placing his fingers under her chin and tilting her face towards his.
"Then that is what I shall do." She gasped as he quickly closed the gap, pressing his lips to hers in a deep kiss as his other hand came up to caress her bare shoulder. After all, he reasoned, they did still have time before d'Artagnan arrived.
The next morning, Treville saw Aramis as the Spaniard headed to his rooms for fresh clothes after spending the night guarding Eleanor.
"How is she?"
"She seems much happier now, Captain; remarkably so in fact."
"Really? I would have thought she would grow more fractious by the day."
"Apparently not; she seemed quite content last night."
"Well I'm surprised to hear it but well done. Whatever you're doing, keep at it."
"Yes Sir." Treville watched the musketeer go and shook his head in mild amazement; his daughter had never liked being caged and he marvelled at the ability of his four Inseparables to keep her happy.
That evening, Athos made his way to the house, mentally gathering himself. He did not want to do what he was about to, but his mind had been turning circles all day and he had eventually come to the conclusion that it was the right thing.
What is right is not always easy.
Anna let him in, her shrewd gaze sweeping over him and a small frown appearing on her face when she saw him. Porthos and Eleanor were sat in the study, she at the spinning wheel and he in a nearby chair. Athos watched for a moment from the doorway, his gaze following the movement of her hands as she drew the wool fibres towards the bobbin, her foot moving the wheel steadily. They both turned as Athos stepped into the room, Eleanor's hands not stopping their steady movements. Porthos stood, his gaze sweeping over his brother as he realised that all was not quite well; although Athos could school his expression to perfect neutrality, there was still something in the set of his body that left an alarm ringing in the back of Porthos' mind.
"You all right?" The big musketeer's voice was low.
"Fine, tired but nothing worse." Athos noted the frown that appeared, stating that Porthos did not believe him but would not push the point.
"Right, I'd best head off then." He turned to face Eleanor. "I'll see you the day after tomorrow, Eleanor."
"Goodnight, Porthos." Eleanor smiled; her hands steady as she joined a new piece of wool onto the end of the last one. With one last look at Athos, Porthos left the room, pushing his hat onto his head. Eleanor tilted her head, listening as he moved down the hallway. It was not until she heard the front door of the house close that she spoke, her voice soft.
"What is it?" Athos started, looking up at her and once more cursing how perceptive she was. He took a deep breath as her hand reached out to stop the wheel and she sat quietly, waiting for him to speak.
"What happened between us...it should never have happened."
"And it should not happen again, is that it?" Although her voice was calm, Athos could see by her deep, measured breaths that she was fighting to keep her composure.
"It must not." Her breath shuddered and he longed to touch her and comfort her but he stopped himself.
"By should never have happened, do you mean that you wish it never had?"
"No of course not." He paused, drawing a deep breath."But you are the Captain's daughter."
"Is that all that defines me to you?"
"No, but he has trusted me to protect you." He flinched as she took a step towards him, using his voice as a guide.
"Then protect me as my lover. Please, Athos don't end this out of some sense of honour to him." Her voice was pleading and he could hear unshed tears in her words.
"I cannot; this must end." He heard her breath catch in her chest and she placed a hand on her stomach as though to hold herself together. "I'm sorry." At these words, her tears spilled over, falling like drops of crystal down her cheeks and Athos clenched his hand to stop the urge to brush her tears away. After a moment, she nodded, drawing herself up to her full height and pulling a deep, shuddering breath.
"If that is what you wish then forgive me, monsieur for taking so much of your time. I will not trouble you further." Her tone was painfully formal and he tried not to flinch as she turned without another word and made her way from the room, her hand groping for the wall and her footsteps unsteady. He heard her make her way up the stairs and a few moments later the sound of a door closing heavily. Once he heard the door close, Athos slumped back against the desk, allowing his carefully schooled neutrality to fall away. This had hurt him more than he dared to let Eleanor know, but it was not his own pain that concerned him, that was a constant companion; her pain, however, was almost more than he could bear. Suddenly he felt the need for numbness that only wine could provide made his way to the dining room.
As he reached for the wine bottle, Anna appeared in the doorway, her hands on her hips and a thunderous expression on her face. "What have you done?"
"Madame..."
"She has bolted the door to her room and I can hear the tears in her voice. At the moment there is only one person with the power to cause her that much pain so what have you done?"
"I told her this must end." With the appearance of the housekeeper, Athos had let his carefully schooled expression to reappear, but he could hear the layer of pain in his own voice and he was certain that Anna could too.
"For what possible reason?" She had stepped into the room with the air of an advancing hurricane and Athos thought that at this moment he would prefer to face the entire Spanish army on his own than this woman.
"The Captain has entrusted me with her safety; if this...between us continues then she will be in danger...to be with me is dangerous." Athos could not find the words to tell her that people who loved him, who he loved, often died. He sat down heavily, gripping the edge of the table and staring hard at the floor as he tried to regain his composure. He heard footsteps and saw the hem of Anna's dress swing into view, a moment later she placed her fingers under his chin, tilting his face towards her. When she spoke, her voice was softer.
"She loves a soldier and that is always dangerous, but as the Captain's daughter it is a danger she is familiar with."
"But..."
"I wasn't finished." Her firm tone silenced him. "Her Father has entrusted you and your friends to protect her body, but she has entrusted you alone to protect her heart. So take it, protect it, let her love you and love her back in whatever way you can instead of causing yourself all this pain." She stepped back and gazed down him, nodding in approval when he nodded and stood. "Good, now get up to that room and apologise." Athos nodded and turned for the door, pausing before he left the room.
"My thanks, Madame, for your advice."
"You're welcome, but I have one more piece of advice for you." She waited until he had turned fully to look at her before continuing. "If you hurt that girl again then her Father will be the least of your worries." She raised an eyebrow at him and Athos could well believe that she would make his life hell if he hurt Eleanor again.
"I shall bear that in mind, Madame." He inclined his head graciously and left the room, preparing himself for his next battle.
He paused at the foot of the stairs, looking up at the door of Eleanor's room. His feet felt like lead and he sighed before making his way heavily up the steps. He paused outside the door, staring at the dark wood and trying to find the right words to say to the girl on the other side. He could hear his own breathing and the blood pounding in his ears as his heart crashed against his ribs. If he concentrated, beneath that, he could hear Eleanor through the door, her breaths shuddering softly as she cried. Mentally cursing himself for being a coward he raised his hand and knocked on the door. There was no answer.
"Eleanor?" He heard her breath catch as he spoke, and, when there was a long silence, thought that she would ignore him.
"Leave me alone, Athos." He flinched; there was no strength or anger in her voice, only a deep sadness.
"Please let me in, I must talk to you." He could hear a note of desperation in his own voice. There was another long silence and eventually he heard movement, after what seemed like an eternity, the sound of the bolt being slid aside came through the door. After pausing to gather himself once more, Athos reached for the latch and pushed open the door, stepping hesitantly into the room.
Eleanor had moved away from the door and now stood in the shadows on the other side of the room. There was just enough light from the moon outside for him to make out her pale face and the glisten of tears that ran down her cheeks. As Athos looked at her, he felt pain in his chest; she looked utterly dejected, worse even than when the King had upset her. The thought that he had caused her worse pain than the thoughtless monarch was almost too much to bear.
"Say what you have to say, Athos. Is it not enough that you've upset me? That now you must come and see what you've done?" Her voice was hard and Athos flinched as she lashed at him with her words.
"I..." He began to speak but Eleanor shook her head, dragging in a deep breath.
"I'm sorry, that was cruel." She looked ashamed and more tears coursed down her cheeks, dripping onto the white lace at the top of her shift where it showed above the corset.
"You have every right to be." He stepped forwards, stopping when she flinched away, her arms wrapping around herself. "Anna spoke to me; she helped me see the error of my ways." He stepped forwards again, until he stood just in front of her and dropped to his knees, his head bowed; he could think of no other way to show how contrite he was, even if she could not see him. "I must beg your forgiveness, my lady. If you still wish what you asked downstairs then I will honour your wish; but if you will no longer have me then I understand and I will not ask again." There was a long silence but Athos dared not move, he remained with his head bowed, more deferential to her than he had ever been to the King. He saw the fabric of her dress shift as she moved and held his breath as he saw her hand lift from her side, questing forward as she searched. After a moment, her fingers brushed his hair and he heard her breath catch as she realised that he knelt before her. She ran her hand across his hair, resting her palm flat across the back of his head.
"I wish it, oh God I wish it." He could hear hope now, intermingled with the tears in her voice and let his breath out, relief flooding through him as he looked up at her to see her smile. He stood, pulling her into his arms and she came willingly, resting her head against his chest as he held her tightly.
"Forgive me; I thought it for the best." Even as he said those words, Athos realised he had been a fool. He did not want to let her go and to hurt her had been unthinkable.
"I forgive you; you only wanted to do your duty." She raised her face to his and he kissed her, tasting the salt from her tears and resting one hand on her cheek. Gently she disentangled herself from his arms and grasped his hand from where it still rested on her cheek. As she turned, leading him towards the bed, Athos realised that he was now as beholden to Eleanor as he had ever been to her Father.
Well there we go, hope you liked it xx