The four musketeers walked with determined strides down the long marbled hall. Sunlight entered through the windows and cast light across the floor. All four bore the look of determination: Porthos with a hint of disdain, d'Artagnan with a look of threat, Athos held the bearing of a man who knew his enemy and what to expect, and Aramis radiated determination to protect those he cherished and would stop at nothing to do so.
Even the king recognized the looks of men who had been pushed too far and too long. Louis cleared his throat, looked toward Treville and his musketeers as they raised from a bowed position.
Cardinal Richelieu clinched his jaw, flared his nostrils, and kept his gaze a few inches above the heads of the men he despised. At every turn they were there, putting a stop to his plans. Richelieu's goals were the betterment of France, spreading her borders, and building the king into someone he was incapable of building himself. He felt his heart quiver, his blood pulsed frantically through his veins, and his mind ran wild with assumptions. Tomas had succeeded, but only in part. Richelieu had watched Tomas' ploy materialize, and he had watched the players fall into place like a blade within its sheath. The last part. The part that had not been well planned had fizzled and failed, miserably so. The evidence stood before him: slightly damaged, but more determined that ever. Richelieu stood next to the king, and looked at the results of that failure. He tried to hide behind a stern face, set jaw, and hardened eyes.
When Richelieu caught Athos' unyielding eyes, he knew they had been pushed too far for too long.
"What's this about, captain?" King Louis asked. He shifted his feet on the travertine floor and the sound echoed for just a moment in the library.
There was an uncomfortable silence in the room that bore the weight of contempt. The vastness of the space didn't help. High ceilings, leather-bound books from floor to ceiling, sparsely furnished with only a couple of chairs, candlesticks, and grand windows that overlooked the gardens. The room itself was lifeless, despite the facade of knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment.
"A gift, your majesty," Treville said with a curt nod. He looked toward Richelieu, who pursed his lips in discomfort.
"I do love gifts," Louis said with an exaggerated smile. He clapped his hands together and placed his hands on his hips. He glanced from Treville to the cardinal. "Where is this gift, and who's it from?"
"Baron Serres, sire," Treville said and stepped aside.
Richelieu coughed and quickly cleared his throat.
"The baron insisted on sending your majesty four of his finest mares in appreciation of helping him identify Tomas Vaux — a man with deep ties to Paris, and a few of her inhabitants." Treville glanced toward the cardinal, but focused his attention on the king.
King Louis cocked an eyebrow in confusion, but set his jaw in anticipation. "Who is Tomas Vaux and who is he tied to in Paris?"
"The musketeers, sire, attempted to arrest Monsieur Vaux on the grounds of forgery." Treville stepped forward with the letter instructing the four men to escort the baron to Paris and handed it to the king.
Louis frowned and shook his head. "This forgery is quite impressive — I may have confused this myself." He handed it to Richelieu with a cocked eyebrow. "Perhaps, Cardinal, it might be time to evaluate who has access to your quarters — had it not been for the musketeers, something like this could compromise all of France." Louis looked toward Treville. "You said attempted to arrest?"
Treville nodded and glanced from Louis to Richelieu. "He was killed in an unfortunate escape attempt, your Majesty, as well as several of his associates."
Louis took a deep breath and nodded. "While I'm sorry to hear this man will not stand trial… I am relieved he is dead." He exhaled slowly and looked toward Treville. "And the horses?"
Treville nodded, motioned with his hand toward the exit, and followed Louis. Porthos, d'Artagnan and Aramis followed. Athos paused and looked at the cardinal, who moved to follow but paused.
"Perhaps, your Eminence," Athos said, and glanced toward the exit as Aramis waited and stood in the doorway. Athos returned his gaze to the cardinal. "You and I can come to an understanding —"
"There is nothing between us that needs such an arrangement," Richelieu said. He cocked an eyebrow and pursed his lips.
"Your relationship with Monsieur Vaux says differently," Athos said, "as well as the… courtesans' you both shared."
Richelieu paused, tightened his fists, and exhaled slowly through his nose. "This understanding?"
Athos met his eyes. "For matters of state, I will not interfere, nor will any of the musketeers — but abandon your incessant need for revenge." He clenched his jaw and pursed his lips. "Next time it will not be my drink that's tainted."
Richelieu twitched his right eye. "Are you, a lowly musketeer, threatening me? You may be one of the king's favorites, Athos, but pedestals are quickly shattered," he quirked the corners of his mouth, "once again you are without proof of any wrongdoing, just absent minded assumptions and baseless accusations — unless you have proof of my supposed wrongdoing, I suggest you get back in line with the rest of the musketeers and do what you do best… pine away for the wife you failed to execute, and the friends you fear will one day recognize you for the man you are."
Athos nodded and took a deep breath. He looked up with casual, unimpressed eyes, and said, "That's how we differ, your Eminence… sin is sin, no matter the attire that adorns it, and the heavier the burden of it, the more it reveals itself." He met Richelieu's eyes. "Our duty is to the king, it has always been to the king, perhaps that is the anger that drives you most, our duty and devotion no matter the cost to ourselves." He took a step closer and said, "Proof is not difficult to obtain, your Eminence, when one knows what to look for." Athos stepped back, bowed, and left the room.
Richelieu took a deep breath, clenched his jaw, and watched as Aramis tipped his hat toward him and then followed Athos from the room, quietly closing the door behind him.
Thank you all for joining me on this ride! I hope to have another story posted soon. Have an idea for a story... please feel free to share it, I'm always looking for creative avenues to take!
Blessings!