Thank you for reading & reviewing.
Enjoy ch 46 xx Kira
Chapter 46
"Marie, what is so important, that I have to be awake at that early morning hour?" King Louis complained. He was standing in his white night gown in the throne hall.
"My husband and I will leave in an hour and I wanted to thank you for your hospitality." She smiled warmly at her brother.
"You could stay longer … at least you can wait with your departure after lunch, then I could still lie in my bed and dream of this wonderful feast." He whined. Then he looked down at his bare feet.
"Rochefort, I need some socks and shoes. I am sure you can fetch me some." He ordered a tired looking Rochefort. King Louis smiled and sat down on his throne, while Rochefort slightly bowed his head.
"Of course, your Majesty." The he limped slowly to the door and talked silently with a page.
Louis smiled.
"It was such a fun seeing your husband win yesterday, Marie. He is the right husband for you. I expected no less from my brother-in-law. Where is he, Marie?"
"He is at the stables. He said he has ordered some goods from some merchants in the streets and he is waiting for the goods to be delivered."
"Oh … He could have asked me. I would have been delighted to help him." Louis mocked.
"Marie, don't you want to stay a bit longer?" The Queen interrupted her husband. "It is such a joy to have you around."
"I really wish, we would stay longer, I already miss Paris even when I'm here, but Victor has some urgent state business that cannot wait. We are very grateful for the good trade exchange France and Savoy will have in the future. The contract is better than the Spanish ambassador could offer Victor." She smiled.
Louis seemed to be bored.
"The Spanish cannot guarantee a French princess the same conditions. It is good that your husband accepted my generous offer. Don't you think that too, Tréville?"
King Louis observed the Captain of the Musketeers a little longer. He looked very tired.
Well, the old fox isn't used to my long feasts any longer. But everything went perfect, besides that poor nobleman. The King thought.
"I agree with you, your Majesty." Tréville bowed his head.
"Tréville what is it? You look tired and exhausted.
"Er … I … I need to speak to you in private." Tréville tried to sort his thoughts.
"Oh come on Tréville, now I am curious."
Before Tréville could answer the door opened again and Rochefort returned together with the Duke of Savoy.
"I really think it is the best that I should …"
"No, I want to hear it now. We are private enough. It's only my family and Rochefort. Spit it out."
"I am afraid it is not good news. Er …" Tréville's hands clenched his hat which he held in them. "The nobleman that died yesterday. We believe … we know that he was poisoned."
"Poisoned?" Louis asked unbelievingly. "You are kidding, Tréville, who would poison the old Comte de Montéant? Except perhaps the Spanish ambassador and his attendants. I remember that he didn't trust the Spanish at all. He always thought that they would start a war with us. And he always told Anne that she wasn't the Queen of France. It was ridiculous. Isn't that right, my dear, he always let you know that he were not welcome. How absurd!" Louis exclaimed. Queen Anne looked uneasy.
Before Tréville could answer the Duke of Savoy shouted out loud.
"Incredible, Louis, every time I visit you, you have an assassin lurking around. Come, Marie, it is time for us to leave, the faster the better." He tried to pull Marie with him.
"Calm, Victor! I am sure that Tréville is mistaken.
"I am afraid, I am not. And there is more."
"What do you mean, there is more?" Louis angrily asked.
"The young court-lady who died several days ago was poisoned with the same substance and …"
"No!" Queen Anne shouted loud. Tears appearing in her eyes. "Please tell me that it isn't true Tréville. She was such a good person. She never said an evil word, never gossiped. Who would have a reason to poison and kill her?"
"We are still investigating, your Majesty." Tréville looked into the pale face and the watery blue eyes of the Queen, who was sitting next to her husband.
"Do you have any proof, any suspects?" Louis wanted to know.
"We think that this Irish merchant, a former soldier, has something to do with their death and we have another victim."
"Another victim? Who?" The Duke of Savoy asked faster than his brother-in-law.
"Athos, my Lieutenant. He was poisoned too. Luckily his body fought the poison. He was already recovering, but yesterday there was a second attempt on his life. He was knifed by a stranger near the palace. He …"
"One of my Musketeers was poisoned too?" Angrily Louis stood up. He ignored his bare feet touching the cold floor. "This is not only an attack against your man, but an attack against France and me. Arrest this Irish merchant. I want answers!" Louis shouted angrily. "You should have told me earlier. Maybe this insane man has poisoned me too." Anxiously Louis walked up and down in front of his throne.
"We haven't found any evidence that you were in any severe danger at any time. Otherwise we would have informed you earlier." Rochefort answered. "My men are helping the Musketeers to locate and arrest O'Sullivan. This man still wants money for his poisonous plants. I am convinced that he will come back."
"He will get nothing!" Louis shouted. "Arrest him, question him and if he is guilty the death penalty will wait for him. Come Anne. You look shocked I will take you to your quarters." Louis exclaimed.
XXXXX
Porthos chuckled as he watched Aramis convincing Athos to eat more gruel. Aramis was sitting on Athos' mattress, next to his chest, holding a brown bowl under Athos' chin, while the swordsman, a spoon in his right hand, tried to turn his head away. His face was still pale, but Porthos couldn't see any sweat on his forehead. Only red-rimmed eyes that showed an odd contrast to the porcelain white cheeks.
They had helped Athos with drinking some more water earlier, but now as Aramis asked his bedridden friend to eat more than five spoons of the gruel, the Comte angrily turned his head in the other direction. Aramis followed Athos' head with the bowl. He had no intention of letting him go.
"Aramis stop feeding me like a baby. I am not hungry!" Athos glared with an annoyed stare at the medic.
"You have to eat, Athos. Your body is still weak. You need food to get better."
"I am absolute fine with broth or soup, a slice of bread, cheese, but gruel …"
"Gruel is good for you!" Aramis emphasised in a more angry tone. "Besides the doctor said that it helps your stomach so that those hurtful cramps don't come back."
"Let him be."
Porthos softly said, putting a hand on Aramis' arm. He could see Athos flinching by remembering the horrible stomach cramps he had endured only one day ago.
Aramis stood up, taking the bowl away and putting it down with a loud thud on the table. Athos flinched, his ears still didn't like loud sounds.
"Now he is angry." Athos mumbled to Porthos.
"Rubbish! He is just overtired and he wants you to be better."
"I feel much better, besides …" Athos stopped in the middle of his sentence and closed his eyes.
"Besides what?" Concerned Aramis stepped next to Athos' head. "Do you need another pain potion?" He asked softly.
He slowly bend down over Athos' face. Putting protectively his hand on Athos' forehead, checking for a fever, but Athos' skin was just warm, not too hot. Anyway his face was still very pale.
"Why … why can't I remember what happened?"
Athos' head was spinning, he blinked tears of frustration away, as he opened his eyes again. Questioningly he looked in Aramis chocolate brown eyes.
"Sometimes our mind plays tricks with us to … to protect us …" Aramis leaned on Athos' mattress.
"But from what?" Athos answered confused, his voice raspy.
"We don't know, but we will find out." Aramis squeezed Athos' hand that felt warmer than the day before.
"What can you recall?" Porthos asked from the other side.
"Until the throne hall … until the nobleman collapsed … after that I … my head hurts …"
Athos slurred.
Aramis tried to give Porthos a sign to stop the asking, but Porthos sensed that Athos really needed and wanted to know. He sat down on the chair next to Athos on the left side, which had previously been occupied by Tréville.
"Why don't you start from the beginning, from what you remember from the days before you were poisoned until you were poisoned? He suggested.
Athos turned his head in Porthos' direction.
"Why? I have already told you …?" Athos said frustrated.
"Because sometimes it can help to remember other things first and the last time you told us, we had to guess more than we really could understand you." Porthos put his hand on Athos' left shoulder, with a much softer voice he continued. "You had trouble concentrating and speaking clearly the day you told us. Do you remember that?"
Athos nodded. His eyes drifted away, he seemed to be in the distance, somewhere else. Porthos paused. Now he wasn't sure if it was such a good idea to force Athos to remember those dreadful days his friend had had to endure and was still enduring. He shared a brief look with Aramis.
"You helped Tréville with the planning of the trade summit. Maybe you heard or saw something? It could help you to remember." Aramis spoke softly, pressing Athos' right hand.
Another shiver went through Athos' spine and he pressed his lips together to suppress a moan. His back was still hurting him and the healing wound had started to throb. He forced himself to concentrate on something else.
Maybe talking with them will help me to forget about my pain.
"Very well, I'll tell you, but you have to tell me who you suspect as well." Athos pledged.
"We will." Aramis smiled reassuringly, not sure of what he should share and what he should leave out.
"Alright then, where shall I start?" The swordsman sighed.
"Two weeks before you were poisoned. That must have been the time when the first guest arrived for the trade summit." Aramis helped.
Athos closed his eyes he tried to concentrate, to think back. Slowly, very slowly some details returned. Porthos looked at Aramis.
"Are we pushing him too fast?" Porthos asked with his eyes.
"He will tell us, when he wants to stop." Aramis answered in the same way.
"The Duke of Savoy …" Athos softly said, his eyes still closed. "He arrived about three or four weeks ago. I don't remember the exact day, but the Captain will know."
"Did the Duke do something suspicious?" Aramis asked, feeling himself becoming agitated and trying to stay calm.
Milady suspects the Duke …
"He was in a very bad mood and when he saw me on his arrival, he simply ignored me. He tried to hide the fact that we fought with each other last year. I think I offended his pride with drawing blood from him. Maybe it was too much … I humiliated him in front of the King. And …" Athos gulped and looked for his cup. He reached for it and drank a few sips.
"And?" Porthos asked curiously.
"He is a good fighter. I saw him yesterday …" Athos paused.
His head started to spin again, the hand in which he was holding the cup started to shake. Aramis reached for it to keep the water from dripping on Athos' blue scarf.
"It's alright!" He soothed.
"No it isn't!" Athos growled. "I am dizzy, but I can recall more details from yesterday, from the sword fight. The Duke … he was fencing with Rochefort. He had the upper hand the whole time." Suddenly a bright smile appeared on Athos' lips.
"Why are you smiling?" Porthos asked bewildered.
"Rochefort … he was kicked by the Duke of Savoy, like a dog. I am glad that I could see that." Athos stated firmly.
He opened his eyes and looked first at Porthos then at Aramis. Porthos laughed out loud.
"It's good to see you smiling! And Rochefort really looked like a beaten dog. Glad you could see that." Porthos said softly pressing Athos' left shoulder.
Athos squeezed his eyes shut.
"Not too loud Porthos." Aramis chided. "Think of Athos' still painful head."
Nevertheless he couldn't help but smile too.
"It's alright." Athos told him. "I missed your loud laugh, Porthos."
"Well, can you think of any reason why the Duke of Savoy would poison you?" Aramis asked.
"Apart from the fact that I humiliated him, no. He sought out to the Spanish ambassador to discuss some important issues with him, but I couldn't hear what they were talking about. Maybe the Spanish tried to contact him again to make him a better offer for his country, but that wouldn't explain why he would have poisoned me. Hmm …" Athos thought for a while. "The only reason why he might have poisoned me is that I humiliated him. Do you suspect him, Aramis?" Athos observed his friend hesitatingly.
"He could have done it, Athos, humiliating a nobleman can end deadly, never forget that."
"I am a former Comte." Athos chuckled. "Believe me I know how nobility works."
"Do you recall something else?"
Athos hesitated.
Should I tell my brothers about Anne and the King.
No, it's too early.
But they should know that I have seen her.
"Anne … I mean Milady. She is now a respected court-lady." He laughed bitterly. "But if she really wanted to poison me, she would have let me know in person. I think … we've both … moved on." Athos was struggling to find the right words.
"If you think that it's not Milady, I trust your judgement" Porthos stated firmly, knowing very well that thinking of his wife still hurts his brother.
No need to trouble him further, besides Milady has helped us with the investigation and whether I like it or not, the Captain and Aramis are convinced that she is innocent.
Athos was glad that his two brothers didn't want to know more about Milady.
"Do you recall anything else?" Aramis asked.
Athos was still fighting with his emotions thinking of Anne.
My God, why can't I erase her from my mind? She looked more beautiful than ever, even in these woods, dressed in plain old clothes with her wild hair and bright eyes, and then at the palace, dressed in silk and velvet. Why can't I think of her as the enemy she is. She tried to kill me, she tried to steal my brother, she tried to destroy everything and everyone around me, but I can't help but be blinded by her beauty, her intelligence and the memory of the days of bliss we shared so many years ago each time my eyes meet her. But she is an enemy, I must think of her as an enemy. Of course, she saved d'Artagnan and the King, but she had her own motivation. Her acts are always part of one of her machiavellian plans.
"What … sorry?" He asked confused.
"Anything else suspicious?" Aramis asked softly.
"No." Athos thought back. "Except … Constance … she was very upset?"
"What makes you think that?"
"I don't know … maybe she was angry about d'Artagnan …" Athos shook his head. "I am sorry that I cannot help you …"
"Do you want a pain potion?" Aramis asked him, as he noticed another shiver running through Athos' body.
"It's alright. What else do you want to know?" Athos murmured.
"Let's return to the day that you thought you were followed and the day you were poisoned. You were very weak and confused the last time you told us about it, maybe you can recall something else now." Aramis encouraged him.
"As I left the palace to take my scarf to that dressmaker I felt watched and followed. I turned around but every time I looked behind me, there was no one to be seen. It was raining cats and dogs and twilight had already set in and I wanted to hurry, because I had forgotten something at the palace." Athos stopped.
I can't tell them that I wanted to make sure that Aramis wasn't hanging around in the Queen's quarters.
"What had you forgotten?" Porthos wanted to know.
Aramis groaned inwardly, but he didn't say a word.
"I am not sure … I …" Athos hesitated.
"You will remember later." Aramis helped him, their eyes locking for a short moment. "So was it a man or a woman who followed you?" Aramis continued.
"From what I could see later as the person rushed away … it must have been a man. Yes, I am sure. His stature was that of a man. He was tall, taller than me and thin, but I couldn't see a face. I am sorry … The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that this was the person who followed me." Athos shivered. "I should have been more careful. I don't know why I let my guard down."
Anne she made me upset, she made me angry … why couldn't she stand down … go to England, Spain. Far … far away from me ...
"Nonsense!" Porthos said. "Stop blaming yourself for things you couldn't prevent. Or see coming!" He tried to calm Athos.
"And the day you were poisoned?" Aramis moved on. "Had the seamstress said anything to you?"
"No. Her hands were shaking, as she fastened the scarf around my neck, but it was cold outside. Her mind seemed to be elsewhere, her expression was both blank and frightened. She even tried to tell me that she didn't want money for her work, and then I felt the pain in my chest, like a bee sting. I thought an insect was caught under my scarf, so I tried to get rid of it and pounded with my palm on the spot. This drove the pin even further into my flesh, it felt more like a hornet sting then. I tried to stay calm, hurried outside and there I got rid of the scarf and saw a thick pin. I angrily threw it on the pavement. My skin was irritated and I scratched over it from time to time that day and the next."
"There was poison on the scarf too, not only on the pin." Aramis explained quietly. "So every time you rubbed over the damaged skin, more poison went into your wound." Aramis groaned.
"But who would be so ruthless to kill this poor seamstress in order to kill me?" Athos wanted to know.
"We think that the Irish merchant O'Sullivan poisoned you." Aramis said softly.
He wished he could protect his brother from the guilt he suddenly felt, being in a way responsible for this woman's death.
It's too early to tell him about the nobleman and the court-lady, it will upset him even further. I'll leave that part out, I hope that Porthos will play along.
"But why? I'd never met him before."
"Because this peacock of a Captain of the Red Guards sold him the information that you were responsible for the death of Gallagher." Porthos said angrily.
"Rochefort? Why?" Athos looked confused.
His head was spinning again. The pain in his back was now more forceful than before.
"Because Rochefort is a jerk!" Porthos told him. "I doubt that the Spanish imprisonment changed him at all. He had the chance to say bad things about you and earn money and he didn't think twice about it." He explained.
"But why should O'Sullivan try to kill me? I have never met him."
Another flashback hit him. He'd been standing in the throne room with Aramis on his left side and Porthos on his right. He looked at the man next to Lemay, this O'Sullivan, but he couldn't recall his face. Athos moaned.
Aramis looked concerned at Athos' pale face.
"I think it is enough for now my friend. You need something against the pain and you need more rest." Aramis told him, squeezing his shoulder.
"No, please. I remembered seeing O'Sullivan in the throne room, with both of you by my side, but I couldn't … I …" Athos caught his breath as his chest suddenly tightened again, he felt his heart palpitating irregularly.
No not again.
"Mmggnh … make it stop … Aramis … it hurts …" Aramis stood up at once.
"What is it my friend?"
"My chest, my heart. It is beating so oddly again … what's happening Aramis?"
Athos' breathing changed. He opened his mouth trying to catch for breath.
"Easy, Athos, easy. Breathe with me. Calm!" Porthos had stood up too.
As his brother struggled for air, he went behind him and lifted his upper body in a more upright position. Softly, he put more pillows to his back and urged Athos to follow his breathing. In the meantime Aramis put his palm on Athos' chest.
"Your heart is beating regularly again, no need to worry, it is the stress. You still need to rest. It's alright. I will give you some more coffee and another pain potion."
Athos' breathing was back to normal again. He softly pressed the hand Aramis had put in his.
"I am sorry … I can't remember anything else. What happened … after the nobleman collapsed? What happened ... to him ... anyway?" He started to slur again.
"He didn't feel well. It was very hot in the throne room." Porthos hurried to explain.
Athos' eyes started to droop again. But he still wanted to know what had happened afterwards.
"Where … what have I done … next?" He asked his eyes already closed.
Aramis shook his head.
Not now.
"D'Artagnan was with you, he will tell you later, now rest. You have already helped us a lot."
"I wanna … know … mis …"
"Shh … it will come back to you. Sleep now …" Aramis squeezed his hand.
As the sleep pulled Athos further away from them, his grip loosened until his right hand fell back onto the mattress. Aramis stepped away from his still very weak friend and Porthos looked worriedly into his eyes.
"His body needs to rest. The blood loss and the hypothermia are still making him very fatigue."
"His heart?" Porthos asked concerned.
"It is fine. I think he agitated himself too much. It was a kind of panic attack. He will be fine." With a reassuring smile in Porthos' direction he sat down again next to Athos who softly moaned.
"Next time he shows signs of waking I will give him this damn pain potion. I should have persisted on it earlier, even in sickness he can be so stubborn." Aramis said more to himself than to Porthos as he cautiously watched the rise and fall of Athos' chest.
"I can give it to him later, Aramis." Porthos told him. "You should go and talk with the Queen. She is the only one who can tell us what she told Athos. If we can tell him then maybe he can remember and tell us why he left."
Reluctantly the medic stood up.
"You are right Porthos. I will check on the guards and then I will be on my way. Take good care of him." Aramis' eyes rested on his sleeping friend.
"I will, promise!" Porthos told Aramis.
To be continued ...
Many thanks to our betas Beth & Helen xx Kira
