Torment and Heartache
Chapter Sixteen.
The wooden splinters and dust particles filled the putrid dark and dank underground chamber. Fragments lay strewn across the already grimy stone floor, vermin screeched and scurried having been disturbed from their foraging. The sound of falling wood chippings as both musketeers fell through the trapdoor to the ground below with a sudden thud.
Silence fell upon the darkness, the two friends lay motionless, just the sound of the last of the falling tatters and shards as they hit the stone ground.
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Anne had remained sitting at the table, the guard had not spoken once within the hour Rochefort had left her with him in the chamber. She had heard yelling and then nothing, she prayed silently that Constance was faring well, slight hope filled her mind as she realised the musketeers where somewhere within the run down chateau.
Anne shivered, her gaze turning to the fire grate.
"The fire is low...I shall put on more wood." she said suddenly, prompting the guard to glance up.
He glared towards her, his thin ashen face appearing hostile.
"I shall do it, you stay where you are."
Anne nodded in acknowledgement as she pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. She watched as the man picked up a log and through it into fire, the flames rose suddenly and cracked.
"Tell me...why do you associate yourself with such a man as Rochefort, you do know he will take you down with him do you not? she pressed. "The king will hang him and the rest of you...
The guard turned to her as he interjected her words, his features iritated, his loud growl had startled her.
"Hush your mouth woman...I do not have to justify myself to you...
Anne turned away from his glare, tears had welled in her eyes.
That moment the doors opened slowly prompting the guard to aim his pistol at the creeking entrance.
Anne held her breath as she watched another guard enter, she felt suddenly despondent, where were the musketeers, was Rochefort still at large. Her mind wandered, would she ever see Louis again.
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Athos and d'Artagnan crept along the passageway into a hallway. Both musketeers scanning their surroundings as they went, the hall was well lit with torches at either end of the walls. Both musketeers exchanged glances.
"Where is everyone, there is no sign." whispered the Gascon.
"It's evident they have been in here at some point, looking around here, there seems to have been some sort of melee." answered Athos in low tones.
That instant voices filled the gloom.
Both Athos and d'Artagnan hastened backwards into the darkness, both observing two of Rochefort's associates as they disappeared down the opposite direction.
"One of them came out of that doorway to the left." muttered d'Artagnan.
Gripping their pistols, one in each hand both musketeers approached the hallway.
Several torches burned in their sconces as the two men crept slowly.
Athos glanced up into the rafters noticing ragged and torn battle banners hanging from the wooden beams as he continued to creep down the passageway.
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Anne was now alone in the chamber, the guard had left with another man locking the large doors behind him. The young monarch searched around the chamber for ways out to no avail. Not even a window in sight as she pulled back drapes, she scanned the room seeing nothing, just the unfinished feast that Rochefort had had brought in to her. She tried the door once more, it was no good, the large metal doors were fast and locked. Anne turned towards the table noticing the two pronged food forks, she hastily picked one up and began to push the prongs into the lock, she twisted and turned to no avail, the frustration evident on her face.
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Athos and d'Artagnan paused in their tracks having heard the sudden rasping as the haft of the door turned back and forth.
Both musketeers exchanged perplexed glances.
Athos pointed down to the foot of the door as he noticed the light coming from underneath.
d'Artganan nodded having also become aware.
Athos put his ear to the door and listened, he heard nothing.
Both musketeers in silent converse as they realised the chamber was obviously occupied.
The twisting in the lock prompted both friends to stand either side of the door frame, a pistol gripped in each hand.
d'Artagnan glanced across at Athos before putting his right eye to the door lock.
The Gascon stood upright and shrugged his shoulder.
Suddenly Athos tapped with the butt of his pistol.
Both musketeers swapped unsettling anticipation.
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Anne recoiled backwards into the chamber, someone was out there, but why knock, was Rochefort trying to humiliate her by playing with her mind, she wouldn't put anything past the madman.
The rap occured once more, this time followed by a familiar voice.
"Your majesty!
Anne felt sudden elation as she put her hand to her mouth and gasped.
"Athos...is that you Athos?
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Both musketeers exchanged jubilant glances, her joy was evident in her voice.
"It is your majesty." replied the swordman.
"I am locked in Athos...one of Rochefort's men left about fifteen minutes ago."
"We could do with Porthos and his keys." commented d'Artagnan.
Athos reached into his doublet pocket and retrieved a bunch of key fitting, he dangled them in front of the Gascons face and raised a brow.
"You were saying? he muttered as he began to try different sorts.
d'Artganan shook his head.
The swordsman suddenly heard the click as the lock turned, the door opened.
Anne cried with sudden elation as the two musketeers emerged into the chamber.
"Oh thank God! she gasped.
"Are you hurt your majesty." asked Athos scanning the dreary room.
"No...no, Rochefort's men took Constance...she was locked in a cell when I last seen her." the queen's voice coming in gasps.
"Sit down your majesty, you are safe and so is Constance, we need to get you out of here." said d'Artagnan ushering the queen to a chair.
"Is she with Aramis and Porthos? she asked suddenly.
"We have not seen Aramis and Porthos, I fear they may have been aprehended by Rochefort's men." answered Athos. "But first things first we need to get you out of here."
d'Artagnan opened the door slowly, he peered down the hallway, not a sole to be seen, he nodded towards Athos.
"Come your majesty! said the swordsman.
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To be continued...
Hi Guys,
Hope you are still enjoying the ride.
Well are Aramis and Porthos alive?
Will Athos and d'Artagnan get the Queen to safety?
What is Rochefort's next scheme for our boys?
Until next time.
Thank you
Pippa xxx
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