Chapter 18: And A Woman's Salvation
"Well, if it wasn't Fleur, who was it?" was the question on their tongues. They were at the morgue the next morning. For now, Cosette was unaware that Ninon had confessed to those terrible so-called crimes.
"Where's the bag?" Athos asked. He took Sestini's bag that Poupart had found. He gestured to the thief that stole from Sestini a couple of mornings ago. "Did you ever find out how he died?"
"Some form of apoplexy. He was having a drink at an inn nearby. One moment he was laughing and joking, and the next he convulsed and fell down dead on the spot."
"Just like the Cardinal," said Cosette.
"Sestini," said Athos.
Athos spilled the contents of the bag onto the table as both he and Cosette looked through them. Most of them were religious objects but two of them were Bibles. Meanwhile, Aramis and Porthos were near the thief's body.
"Open his mouth." said Aramis. Porthos gave him a distasteful look.
"You open his mouth," Porthos said. Aramis glared at his best friend one last time before he opened the dead man's mouth and smelled. it. Quickly, Aramis covered his mouth and nose. "Eurgh! He stinks."
"Well, he's dead," said Porthos.
"Not like that. He's... There's something bitter on his tongue. Oh! Either this man had disgusting eating habits or something's badly wrong. Eurgh."
"I know that smell. It was on the Cardinal's breath," said Porthos.
"The pages are damp," Cosette said. She was holding one of the books.
"Poison. Wash your hands," Athos pointed her over to a bowl. "Everything's soaked in it."
"Damn it," said Cosette, she quickly washed her hands with the soap and water.
"This is where it came from," said Athos, showing them the bottle. "He must have drunk half the bottle before he realized it wasn't alcohol. The rest spilled in the bag."
"Sestini's still at the abbey," said Cosette.
"The Cardinal's still alive," said Athos. Quickly, they ran out of the morgue, racing towards Sapphire and their horses.
"This is the Cardinal we're talking about," Porthos muttered to Aramis. "Why are we running?"
Not even Aramis had an answer for that question.
"What's this?" Athos asked as soon as they were at the Abbey. The men were setting up for a pyre. They were running out of time. This was enough to prove Ninon's innocence. "The death sentence was commuted."
"The Comtesse confessed," answered one of the Pyre builders. Quickly, the Inseparables ran away from the execution. They had to get to the Cardinal before he got into any further trouble. The group searched the whole abbey when they saw him heading towards the Cardinal's room. Cosette and her friends entered the room, where they saw that Sestini had been stabbed by Richelieu. Athos shot and killed Sestini as his body landed on the floor.
"You're late!" Richelieu snapped.
"We're glad to find you well, Your Eminence," Said Athos. he was trying to be professional but the Cardinal did not take it lightly.
"I doubt that," said Richelieu, "but thank you for the sentiment."
"You know it was Sestini who tried to poison you," said Athos.
"A sacred relic soaked with poison. An old papal trick. I should have guessed earlier." Richelieu said.
Cosette looked out the window, and she saw what she feared, Ninon being burnt at the stake.
"We're running out of time," said Porthos.
Athos did something the others did not expect him to do: he went on his knees and begged. Begged to the Cardinal.
" You don't need to kill her. Please! You can have everything you want and still let her go free." Athos cried.
"He's right, you don't, Your Eminence," Cosette said. The men could not stop her from landing on her knees as well. "Please, I beg the lord and, on my knees, you don't let Ninon die."
Athos looked at her rather surprised but Cosette could not help but say it: she was going to beg like Athos.
"This is all very Dark Ages, isn't it?" said Richelieu. "A glimpse of your own mortality... does make one rather less eager to harry others to their doom. I'm not a cruel man. Just a practical one. What do you propose?"
Quickly, the Inseparables ran towards the pyre. The Red Guards attempted to stop them. However, Athos proclaimed that these actions had been commuted by the Cardinal himself. Both he and Cosette both helped Ninon off the pyre.
"I'm not going to die today?" Ninon asked in relief.
"Not today, Madame," said Porthos.
Ninon stopped Cosette and Athos to Aramis. She thanked Aramis for his efforts, as she was proud to say his God did not abandon her. Despite that, Cosette looked at Ninon, who smiled back at her. Cosette ignored Aramis, knowing full well he was going to tease her as soon as they got back home.
"As far as the world is concerned, Comtesse Ninon de Larroque died on that pyre today," said Richelieu.
Ninon, though slightly shaken, stood her ground, as she had been fitted with a fresh set of clothes, as well as a cloak. Richelieu continued speaking.
"Your lands, your property, and your money will all be forfeit to the state. But... I will allow you a small income... to live a quiet life somewhere outside Paris. If you try to tell the truth of these events, your original sentence will be reinstated. Do you accept my terms?"
"My voice will never be silenced," said Ninon. "But I promise you will never hear it."
"What about the monks? They'll know," said Cosette.
"It's a closed order. Gossip is not encouraged," said the Cardinal. "We need a body to make this look convincing. Luckily, one has just become available. Today I find my vision... clearer than ever. Nothing, no person, no nation, no God will stand in my way."
As Athos escorted Ninon out, she stopped by Aramis and placed his rosary back in his hand.
" Take this, Monsieur. May it bring you as much luck as it did me."
Before Ninon left for the new life outside of Paris, she looked towards Cosette. Wishing for privacy with D'Artagnan.
"What do you plan on doing?" asked Cosette. "When you get to the village those people are taking you too."
"I hope to open a school, for the poor," Ninon answered. She looked at Cosette. "You're welcome to join me, Cosette. I could have a companion ship with someone like you."
Cosette nodded but she couldn't help but disagree. "I thank you for the offer, Ninon, but I'm already home. I cannot abandon my family. And Ninon, I know why you know who I am. Fleur Baudin told you."
Ninon nodded. "Yes, she did. At first, I thought it was because you were ashamed of you being a woman, but now, I see. You are only thinking what's best for yourself. Now, I have seen it all, Cosette. You're a strong woman and have embraced both sides of yourself beautifully. You have a good hart, Mademoiselle d'Artagnan. And those boys are lucky to have you. It was a pleasure meeting you.
"Maybe, we will see each other again," Cosette said. Ninon nodded.
"One day, Cosette, one day," said Ninon. She grasped Cosette's hands.
"Good luck to you, my friend," said Cosette. Ninon smiled and laid a hand on Cosette's cheek. The young woman was moved by the older woman's sentiment. She watched Ninon walk away, going to join Athos, who was going to lead her towards her new home.
Athos, just like Cosette, asked what Ninon was planning on doing. She answered that she was going to open up a school for the daughters of the poor and voiced her enjoyment of being a teacher. There was still one thing on Athos' mind.
"Madame de la Chapelle. Did she ever tell you anything about herself?" Athos asked.
"Now that I think of it, very little," said Ninon. "So, you did know her after all?"
"In another time. In another life," Athos answered. The thoughts of her killing his brother made clear that he still suffered from that tragic day.
"Be careful, Athos," said Ninon, as she grabbed his hands. "She has the Cardinal's protection. A blow against her is a blow against him, and he won't take it lightly. And that boy, d'Artagnan. I see you're rather fond of him."
"As were you," said Athos. "Were you ever…."
"Oh, no," said Ninon. "Like you and that woman, we too have known each other in another life time."
It was true in another life time because Ninon knew that Cosette was a woman but she kept it discrete.
"Promise me you'll look after him," said Ninon.
Athos smiled. "I already am." Because, in truth, D'Artagnan was becoming something of another younger sibling and she had the same innocence as his brother. Ninon brushed her hand on Athos' cheek.
"I could have loved a man like you," said Ninon.
"It's a pity neither of us is the marrying kind," Athos answered.
He watched as her carriage went into the distance. And now Athos, with his might, had never felt so sadden before in his entire life.
"Constance!" Cosette broke away from her thought.
"Oh! You won't believe what's happened!" said Fleur. She grabbed onto her friend's hands. "My father has changed his mind! I don't have to marry yet! He's even letting me continue my education!"
Constance smiled.
"I wonder what happened," said Constance.
"It's strange. He said a woman persuaded him. I'm sure it was Ninon. She was so beautiful and inspiring. Her example made even my father see sense. I'll pray for her every night."
"I'm happy for you," said Constance with a smile. She hugged Fleur, who looked at Cosette.
"And Cosette, I'm sorry for telling Ninon about you. I was trying to help you."
"I know you were, Fleur, I'm happy for you too, " said Cosette. Fleur smiled to Cosette, giving her a hug and then she looked to Constance before hugging her as well.
Constance looked at Cosette who was smiling.
"It was you who went to Baudin, wasn't it? You pleaded for Fleur," Cosette said. Constance looked towards her best friend but she tried feigning innocence.
"Alright, you figured it out," Constance said. "But don't tell anyone, Cosette. I beg you."
Cosette smiled. "I love you, sister." Constance looked at her surprised. Cosette smiled but then she realized that she called Constance "sister." Then she clarified. "Of course, when I say that, I mean admire, respect. And... I don't mean to say."
"Say it again," said Constance. Cosette was not sure how to respond.
"I love you, sister," Cosette answered. Constance smiled and without another word, Constance brought Cosette into another hug.
And that they were. Sisters at last.