Chapter 34

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"No!" Lucie gasped before Porthos burst through the door, his pistols aimed at us.

"You're not dead then!" D'Artagnan stated as I breathed in relief.

"Not even close." Porthos replied. "General De Foix, I presume."

"Yes."

My eyes fell on Athos as he stepped through the door. There was nothing more I wanted to do than to jump in his arms. But I couldn't, not now, it wasn't the place nor the time. Athos looked at me briefly and nodded quickly. This is all the comfort I would get for now.

"It's him." I heard Porthos said. Aramis elbowed the Spanish guard that they stopped entering in the room. Lucie walked to us and slapped D'Artagnan right across the face. And I was about to receive the same treatment but I blocked her hand.

"We were only doing our duty but you won't understand since you're a woman." I said releasing her hand.

"So are you." She looked at me flustered.

"That's exactly why I know what I'm talking about." I replied.

"You don't know what you're talking about." D'Artagnan told me while De Foix introduced his sister to our friends.

"My mouth spoke faster than I could think." I answered with the corner that earned a chuckle from him.

"Sister? Why didn't you tell us she was here?" Athos questioned Rochefort.

"A woman's hinder can only hinder our escape." Rochefort answered.

Lucie was about to say something but I stopped her before she could. "Right now, I'm not woman, I'm a musketeer."

"If my sister stays, I stay." De Foix declared.

"It's settled. She comes with us." Athos said walking to the door.

I walked after Lucie and followed my fellow musketeers and Rochefort out of the castle. Porthos and De Foix behind us. We walked down the stairs that led to the yard of the castle when the Spanish guards shot at us. I ducked and pulling Lucie down with me. I shot back at them twice before Athos ordered us to get back inside.

"Is there another way out?" Athos asked Rochefort reloading his pistol.

"If there was I'd know." Rochefort answered.

"They sometime bring in supplies at the back of the castle." Lucie spoke up. "There might be a gate there."

"One stupid move and you die." Rochefort threatened the Governor while we left for the back of the castle.

I rushed down the stairs behind General De Foix. Athos opened the backdoor and to make sure of the General's safety, I followed after him. We ran to some sort of mechanism that allowed us to go from a cliff to another on the other side. A river ran between the two cliffs.

"General, you must go first." Athos said after looking down the cliff.

"Not before my sister." De Foix refused.

"You're the prize they want. Go." She reminded him. They hugged each other and General De Foix took place in the seat that was attached on the wire that goes across to the other side.

We took place behind the barrels and covered De Foix's escape as the Spanish guards were firing at us from the battlements. De Foix landed on the other side of the river. D'Artagnan wheeled the seat back on our side.

"Whatever happens, get De Foix back safe." Athos ordered yelling.

Porthos pushed the seat over the edge and leapt on it and flew over the river across to the other side. Lucie was next to cross, but the mechanism stopped abruptly between the two cliffs.

"Lucie!" De Foix shouted.

"I'll go." D'Artagnan said. He grabbed the rope and moved over to her. After a few seconds, D'Artagnan was able to make the seat move again.

I went to wheel the seat back on our side but Athos stopped and did it instead. "You go." He simply told me.

"Athos…" I started.

"Just go!" He repeated sternly.

Without a word, I took place in the seat and slide to the other side. Porthos helped me down. Aramis and Alvarez joined us a bit later. The Spanish guards were now coming from the back of the castle and ran over to Athos and Rochefort. They both fought the Spanish guards. At one point though; Rochefort aimed his pistol at Athos and for one moment I thought he was going to shoot Athos. But he didn't he shot at the man that was behind Athos. Rochefort and Athos then grabbed some guards' belts and threw them over the rope and used them to cross over to our side. And I breathed in relief, once more, seeing that Athos was safe. And we ran into the woods away from the enemy fires.

"The ball passed cleanly through his side." Aramis stated as he was tending to the General. "I'll need bandages to staunch the bleeding."

Lucie ripped the hem of her skirt and handed it to Aramis. "Will this do?" I moved to Athos' side.

"I thought for one moment that you were dead." I whispered to him, keeping my voice in check. Trying not to let my emotions in display.

"As you can see, I'm safe." Athos replied with a perfect control of his emotions. Sometimes, I'm jealous of Athos' ability to hide his emotions.

"We need to get out of here." Porthos called to us. Athos glanced down at me before turning to the General De Foix.

"Can you ride?" He asked De Foix. De Foix nodded slightly. "Quick as you can." He gestured to the others to get to the horse.

I walked down to Porthos and got on my horse and waited for the others to join us. I raised my eyes to witness the handshake between Rochefort and Athos. Athos must have thanked him for saving his life and I too am grateful for this. But that doesn't mean that I have to trust him. I was far from trusting him, there's just something about his man that I don't like. I have seen too many men like him in the Court of Miracles. They would shake your hand with their right and stabbed you with the left. You never know what is going on in their mind.

We rode all day until we crossed the frontier at the end of the afternoon. We were on French ground. We stopped in order to put our uniforms on and get rid of the Spanish ones. I hid behind my horse, being the only woman, I couldn't exactly change with the others. I was getting my uniform out of my bag when I heard a shot rang. I took my pistol and ran to Rochefort who had shot Alvarez.

"What have you done?" Athos yelled at him running to the lifeless form of Alvarez.

"He was trying to escape. He gave me no choice." Rochefort replied.

"Nothing we can do for him." Athos closed Alvarez's eyes. "We're expected in Paris. The king will be waiting for news."

I managed to change into my uniforms with no problems. And we rode to Paris. We arrived at the garrison in the morning. Captain Treville walked down the stairs as we trotted in the garrison.

"Welcome home, General." The Captain said gleefully, his hands on the General's shoulders.

"It's been too long, my friend." The General answered before they embraced. De Foix moaned in pain as the Captain brushed his wound with his hand.

"Get him inside." He ordered and Porthos and Aramis took the General up the stairs.

I led the horses to the stables, following Athos. We left them saddled as we still have to go to the court later. Without warning, I hugged Athos tightly. His arms encircled my waist instantly.

"I thought I lost you." I said against his shoulder. I felt him kiss my hair.

"You should not worry. I'll always come and find you." Athos said softly against the crown of my hair. "We should get ready for our meeting with the King."

"I need this, Athos. So bear with me for a few more moments." I countered.

I really needed this embrace. There's so much distance I can put between Athos and me before I break down. In this embrace, I put all my fears, worries, joy and relief I felt. And I was finally happy that I could finally touch him and breathe in his scent that I missed so much on this mission. I didn't care if people saw us, I didn't care if there were people at all around us. It was just Athos and I, in this blissful moment and I enjoyed it.

"Rochefort, you are a true French hero." The King started. "In the book of courage, your name will be written above all others."

"It is pleasant indeed to see my old friend cover himself in such glory." The Queen commented. Constance was standing behind her wearing a fine dress.

"Since our Cardinal's unhappy death, the position of Captain of the Red Guards has stood vacant. It is yours if you want it." The King offered politely.

"I am overcome. I will serve Your Majesty and my country faithfully." Rochefort accepted the position.

"I am glad at least one of our loyal subjects understands his duty." The king said looking over to the Captain. "Come, you must tell me how you executed your brilliant scheme." We bowed as the King left the room with Rochefort.

"His scheme?" Porthos said frowning.

"Ah, let him take the credit." Aramis replied wisely. "We don't need praise or glory."

"Praise and glory are two of my favourite things." Porthos replied and walked off. I snorted at his replied and followed him out of the room.

When we're not on a mission, Athos and I don't hide ourselves. The people on the streets don't pay much attention to us. And at the garrison our mutual friends and the Captain are the only one to really know about us. This evening as we walked on the streets, no words were exchanged between us. My hand was in the crook of his arm and I risked to lean my head on his shoulder as I walked by his side. All we wanted to have at this was some quality time, maybe some comfort after this mission in Spain. Simply a moment of peace.