Chapter 1: keep Your friends Close
For the day, Cosette, Athos, Aramis- and Porthos were sent by the King to retrieve one of his old friends. Cosette had no idea what they were getting into. It had been nine months since the whole cardinal and Milady de Winter incident. And so far, cosette d'Artagnan kept that small secret that she was a woman in disguise. So far, only Aramis and Porthos supported her and as for Athos, he had no clue who Cosette really was. Initially, Porthos and Aramis were against the idea of hiding something this big from Athos. However, now that they knew how Athos reacted when it was discovered when milady turned out to be a killer, Porthos and Aramis both tried finding a way to help Cosette tell Athos but none of them had been successful. To say the least, Cosette and Athos were still friendly with each other but the secret was ruining their friendship
The quartet stopped by for the hour. Athos told Porthos, Aramis and Cosette to stay put then he went to refill their water skins and rest the horses.
"I don't understand why we cannot just have stayed at home, " said Cosette. Aramis looked at her unsure.
"Well, Cosette, it was either this or attend the Cardinal's funeral," Aramis said. "Now I've known you for a while, little sister, and I know which one you prefer."
He was right, Cosette thought. None of the other Musketeers were up for the job. They went to the funeral. A couple of months ago, the Cardinal summoned Aramis and learned from him that he was dying. And then a couple months later, the old age took Richelieu. Now that he was the least of their problems, they could move on.
Porthos invaded Cosette's thought process.
"Careful, Cosette, your starting to show," Porthos whispered so Athos wouldn't hear them. Cosette looked down and quickly adjusted her jacket so Athos wouldn't spot it.
"You know, I've been thinking," said Cosette. "Maybe we should tell Athos. I hate lying to him. And besides, I talked with Constance and she agreed with me that ..."
"Please sister," said Aramis, "you helped Constance get her a job as the Queens lady-in-waiting."
"Yes," She thought of another option. "And the Queen offered me the job as her lady in waiting too before I declined. She still stands by it. And maybe if I accept the job, then maybe we can finally tell Athos the truth."
"Cosette, please," said Aramis. "We've been over this. We cannot tell Athos. Not until he is ready."
"Come on, it's been nine months since you two figured it out. He's our brother and deserves to know. Just a few months ago, you were Keen in the idea we tell him and I take the job."
"Cosette, we told you why you shouldn't take the job," said Porthos. "As a Musketeer, we can protect you better.
"Look, I don't need protecting, guys," said Cosette. "I'm sixteen you know. And if you don't let me tell Athos, I will walk out of here and you'll never see me again."
Porthos and Aramis thought for a while as Cosette waited patiently while tapping her toe. Before they finally spoke, Aramis and Porthos knew that they couldn't let her go. She needed her. Cosette was right. They waited long enough to hold the truth from Athos.
"Cosette Marie d'Artagnan," Aramis began. "We promise, Once this mission is over, we'll tell him after the mission but right now we need to focus on it. And well make sure he understands."
He held out his hand before Cosette sighed and nonchalantly, accepted his handshake.
"Yeah, we will, kid," Porthos rest assured, even though he wasn't too keen on the idea. After Athos return, they mounted back up on their horses and began their journey once again.
"I don't understand," said Cosette. They're been traveling for three hours now. "How is it you guys don't know who this man were meeting is?"
"TheCaptain doesn't know his identity," Porthos answered.
"All I know is that we are to meet him at the village inn at noon," Athos added as Cosette drank from her skin "He'll make himself known."
"Why the mystery?" Aramis asked and looked over to Athos.
"The King's council has been in chaos since the Cardinal died," Athos answered.
"Ah, well at least we're not in Paris pretending to grieve for him," Porthos pointed out.
"They say he wore out his heart in the service of France," Athos stated sarcastically.
"it'sa pleasant surprise to hear he had one at all," Cosette muttered. She really couldn't stand the Cardinal. He had tried to kill Queen Anne, sent Milady to do is dirty work, and threatened to reveal her secret to the King. That's why, when earlier, Porthos and Aramis had been on the edge and often on alert when it came to Cosette. They didn't just not tell Athos so he wouldn't lash out on her. No, they were worried that another maniac would use Cosette's as leverage against them. Aramis mostly had been protective of Cosette lately because of his previous relationship with other women. Also, Aramis held nothing against Cosette holding her secret. He held one of his own. He slept with the Queen and Cosette and Porthos know nothing about it. It was his secret that Athos knew, so in a way, Cosette not telling Athos (until after the mission) her secret was the same way Aramis and Athos kept the affair from Porthos and Cosette. Now, Aramis was on the edge even more than Porthos. Porthos was still wary of Cosette's ideas, but if she wanted to tell Athos, then it's her decision. At least they didn't tie her up or prevent her from fighting.
God have mercy on his soul," Aramis muttered while crossing himself, cosette, when she looked at him raised an eyebrow while Porthos and Athos followed her lead. Aramis gave a scowl in return. "He's dead. We can afford to be generous."
Despite not agreeing, the other Inseparables just let Aramis be, well, Aramis.
They never got to enjoy the rest of the ride, for as they made their way to the village, the Inseparables saw an angry mob leading a man to be executed by hanging from a small tree. Cosette could scream right now. They weren't supposed to be dealing with this, not today. They approached the angry mob slowly, Cosette ignored Aramis and Porthos' stances. She's been getting more and more like Athos every day. She mounted off of Sapphire.
"Who is this man and what has he done?"
"It is none of your damn business, lad," said the villager. He glared at her. Athos knew he was going to regret this so he came to Cosette's much needed aid.
"We are King's Musketeers," Athos said as he came up from behind Cosette.
"So, answer the question," said Porthos, him showing no fear and instead challenging the villagers, raised an eyebrow. "Politely."
"He shot our innkeeper in cold blood," the man explained. "A good man is dead and there is a dozen witnesses."
"There will be no lynching today," Aramis said
"Now, if there's a case against him, you can take it to the magistrate," Cosette said
Athos agreed with her.
"Take off his hood and untie him," Athos commanded. None of the villagers made a move until they saw the glares that Cosette sent them. They did as they were told. Cosette didn't know who he was but could tell that the looks that Athos, Aramis and Porthos were sending. They seemed to recognized him.
"Rochefort," Athos hissed, clearly not letting his anger hide.
"Musketeers," Rochefort glared at them all. "Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse."
"Can one of you tell me who this man is?" Cosette asked. No. Rather she hissed. She didn't like him the minute he talked to her brothers.
"Comte de Rochefort," said Aramis. He stepped slightly in front of Cosette, who knew he was apparently trying to stand a little protectively over her. "One of the Cardinal's most loyal lieutenants. His agent in Madrid."
"Go ahead," Athos said "Hang him."
"Athos," Cosette began. She didn't like Rochefort right now but still, they couldn't let the people execute him without a trial. They're Musketeers, not outlaws.
"You can't just let them kill me," said Rochefort.
"We're late for an appointment in the village," Porthos shrugged.
"With me, you idiots," snapped Rochefort Cosette had to hide her anger. They were not idiots. "Dear God, why didn't the Cardinal send the Red Guard instead of a troupe of performing monkeys?"
"The Cardinal is dead," Athos said. He began turning. Aramis and Porthos followed their brother's lead, except d'Artagnan. Athos didn't notice she wasn't with them until he saw her lag behind. He turned and grabbed her arm.
"Athos, wait a minute!" Cosette shouted. "We can't go!"
"You should listen to your boy!" shouted Rochefort. "AI have news of vital importance for the King!"
Athos sighed heavily .
'Wait!" Athos took off his hat. Cosette was right in this case. He turned around and approached the mob again."My apologies, it seems we'll take him after all."
"No, he's going to pay for his crime."
"Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be," Porthos said. He never finished that sentence, because one the men closest to him punched him in the face. Cosette put a hand on her forehead to prevent the headache from coming. Why did they always get into fist fights?
"Alright! You can have him!" yelled the head of the villagers. Before another word comes out, the man was shot dead. Cosette could not believe it. Rochefort had fired from Athos' pistol and he was on Pollux, the one Cosette named for Athos. The fist fight apparently was a distraction long enough for Rochefort to grab Athos' horse and gun. The Musketeers had an idiot to catch. Cosette got on Sapphire as Aramis and Porthos got on their horses, Castor and Lily of the valley (other names Cosette came up with).
"ATHOS!" Cosette brought a hand down and helped Athos get on her horse. The four musketeers chased Pollux and Rochefort. However, he never made it far, for the Musketeers managed to corner him and Pollux. Without thinking, Cosette took out get own pistol, as did her friends. Athos helped himself down and did something Cosette wasn't counting on: he punched Rochefort on the nose.
"What was that for?" Rochefort asked.
"To see how it would feel." Athos turned to send them a small smile. "It felt good." that caused his friends to react with a laugh.
