Travesty Of Justice.

Chapter Two

Royal Palace

Paris.

King Louis rose from his seat and began to pace back and forth, his features that of confusion and enrage, he suddnely paused and turned to Captain Tréville, three of his men stood side by side as their superior officer ranted hoarsley in defence of his accused musketeer.

"This is an outrage Sire...my musketeer would never commit such a heinous crime...NEVER!

Louis turned sharply and glared at his musketeer captain.

"What would you have me do Tréville...if the man was caught red handed and arrested...I am a king not a wizard. All the evidence points to one thing...your man is guilty. It has indeed manifested into an utter outrage, having one of my musketeers apprehended for rape and attempted murder".

The three musketeers exchanged glances as they heeded their dear brothers fate.

Tréville shot a glance towards his men before turning back to the king.

"In that case Sire...I beg you delay sentence, I would indeed wish for my men to investigate the allegations further."

The king reclaimed his seat and sat eyeing the musketeers one by one.

"What are you saying Tréville? he asked quirking both brows.

"I believe my musketeer has been incriminated in this heinous deed." retorted Tréville suddenly. "I also believe someone somewhere is relishing seeing a musketeer suffer for it."

Athos stirred with a sudden bow of the head making the others swap glances. The swordsman looking quite irked.

"If I may be permitted to speak your majesty." he murmered.

Louis rolled his eyes and sighed, he waved his hand in the air gesturing towards the swordsman.

"Prey do Athos...anything to get this over with."

"This is not d'Artagnan your majesty...he would never perpetrate such brutality upon anyone...let alone a woman. As captain Tréville has stated, he has been used as a scapegoat."

Aramis and Porthos exchanged glances as the swordsman spoke in his usual sonorous tones, both nodding in agreement.

Louis heeded the musketeers words, silently musing over Athos' words he turned to Tréville.

"Very well Tréville, you have four days to find out who the perpetators are, thats if there are anyone else involved in this travesty. I shall delay sentence until then. It is indeed a pity Cardinal Durand is not here, he would have known what to do, but alas he will not return until the morrow."

And it would not surprise me if this was not his doing. Tréville bowed his head as he thought.

"I thank you your majesty...my men will do everything to clear musketeer d'Artagnan's name."

The others bowed in unison as they turned to leave.

They all paused in their tracks as the kings tones suddenly reverberated off the ornate walls.

"You had indeed better be correct in your assumption Tréville...I will not have disrepute within my elite regiment."

Tréville turned and bowed once again.

"That stands to reason Sire...I too will not have such dishonour, that is why I will aim to prove my musketeers innocence."

Tréville walked down the passageway towards the main hall followed by his three men.

Red guards sniggered openly as the group marched past them. Coutiers and dignitaries gossiped in groups as they cast shameful eyes upon the musketeers.

Porthos clenched his teeth in rage as he caught one of the red guards eye.

"I'll put 'im though the bloody wall if he sniggers again." he seethed to the others.

"Don't rise to it mon ami." murmered Aramis "That is why they rile us so."

"We do not retaliate to any goading gentlemen...not until we find out who plotted this mockery." retorted Athos.

Tréville turned to his three men.

"We will start with the Bastille...see what d'Artagnan has to say."

The others nodded.

Dover.

England.

The towers of Dover castle loomed above the tall trees and grassy mounds of the countryside, a salty wind blew in from the sea. The royal guards patrolled back and forth along the battlements. The local farmers, natives and traders knowing full well that king Charles was in residence as the English flag buffeted on its mast above the high turrets of the castle.

Cardinal Theodore Durand was a lean individual, the mans white collar length hair matched his thinning beard. His scarlet robes swirled and brushed the ground as he walked. His features showing no emotion as his cunning mind contemplated notions and schemes. Captain Tréville had only known the cleric a matter of months, he had been declared King Louis's adviser soon after the death of Cardinal Richelieu. The musketeer captain had been enraged as he became aware of the mans behaviour, he was beginning to make Richelieu look somewhat forbearing and meek compared to himself. Just when they all thought they had rid France of contempt and revulsion another scheming scourge manifests itself.

Durand suddenly glanced towards king Charles of England as he entered the grand hall chamber, the monarch yelled out his name.

"Ahh my dear Theodore!

Durand bowed instantly.

"I believe you wish to speak with me majesty?

Charles smirked slightly.

"I am indeed most pleased with your suggestion Durand...I concur that I have three of my best soldiers recruited within the red guard regiment, they have always served me well and are most admirable when it comes to gaining such intelligence. But will Louis actually recuit my men into his regiment?

Durand snorted and cleared his throat.

"When it comes to red guard recuitment majesty, I indeed have the last word, I will personally make certain they are drafted swiftly."

"I do hope you are right Durand, the more intelligence my men receive the better, I trust you will endeavour to make certain they are within hearing distance to Louis when on duty in the palace. I wish to know everything that passes my brother-in-laws lips. I am relying on you cardinal, I do hope he does not intervene into your plans."

"I can change the kings mind like the wind changes direction majesty, he believes I am in talks with you about certain matters of trade. But I will indeed do my upmost to have your most impeccable soldiers placed at strategic points within the royal chambers as to heed the information you so desire."

Charles eyed Durand as he stifled a grin.

"That is my dear brother-in law you speak of Cardinal, you should choose your words wisely."

Durand knew instantly he had forgotten himself, his face manisested a scarlet hue.

"I beg your forgivness majesty...I speak of my king in jest."

Charles smirked.

"Speak as you find Durand, I am simply jesting with you man...I have never liked my dear brother-in law, but we cannot pick our family members like we can our dear friends."

Durand bowed his head.

"Certainly Sire."

The king eyed him, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"I will be indeed most elated if you do implement such a task Durand, I need to gain such intelligence in order to be a step ahead of Louis."

Durand began to pace the ornate chamber floor.

"Leave Louis to me majesty, the man is an overgrown child, the queen endures his ways, but I see despondency within her eyes. Louis will never know of the three recuits, he is more interested in his elite guard, the musketeers."

"You do know my men speak french fluently...you would almost believe them to be of the same tongue." retorted the English monarch.

Durand snorted and smirked..

"That is splended majesty, even better to gain the intelligence you so desire."

The king suddenly frowned as he eyed the cardinal. His features in deep thinking.

"These musketeers you speak of, will they become a hindrance? I hear they are not a unit to be reckoned with."

Durand quirked both brows, the mere thought of the Louis's musketeers irked him.

"The king has a certain elite group of men, captain Tréville's inseperables they call them, they are like magpies, you see one and another appears. They have a certain ability to interfere into things, and always prove their worth, but do not fret majesty...I have plans for them...they will have more pressing matters to keep them somewhat occupied."

King Charles grinned, he turned swiftly to his servant to fill the goblets with wine. The servant swiftly did as he was asked as Charles continued to speak.

"It sounds very much to me Durand, that you indeed hold a loathing for the kings musketeers...prey tell me what have they done that makes you want such a scheme to work?

"They are the kings favourite majesty, they can do no wrong in his eyes, but Louis is about to become most disappointed with his elite guard. They were a thorn in Cardinal Richelieu's side, the musketeers tormented him until his death."

Durand suddenly bowed instantly as Queen Henrietta entered the chamber, her colourful robes brushing the floor as she walked gracefully towards her husband. Her dark tresses pinned up in gold threads exposing her slender neck.

"Forgive my intrusion husband, I was unaware you had a guest." she said softly. "I heeded my dear brothers name in your converse."

"My dear, this is Cardinal Theodore de Durand from Paris, he is here to discuss trade between England and France."

Durand bowed his head once more, he took the queens hand in his and kissed her pale knuckles.

"It is an honour to meet you your majesty." murmered the cardinal. "I was speaking of trading english tea to France."

Henrietta eyed him, she smiled slightly. "Ah so my dear brother is to trade with England at long last...please Cardinal do not take me as a fool...I am well aware of my dear husbands plans."

Durand caught the kings glance and pursed his lips.

Why would he even think of divulging such information to the queen, afterall Louis is her brother.

"Quite frankly, I believe it to be a preposterous notion, Louis is not stupid, he will imagine you are out to spy on him." retorted the queen.

Charles grinned as he took his wifes hand in his.

"My dear, Louis is family, he knows I would never be involved in such undertakings. My men are being sent to train as the musketeers do, I want the best regiment in England to thrive."

Durand quirked a brow as he realised Charles had indeed informed his wife of something quite different than what they had previously discussed.

Henrietta shook her head slightly.

"You men and your notions, it has all the means of antagonising conflict between two nations, are you quite mad?

The king waved his servants away, he watched as the two men disappeared through the doors.

"My dear you are thinking ahead of yourself, it is not by any means been agreed as of yet. We are still in discussion...and I am not spying on your dear brother."

Louis is proud of his musketeers, why would he even contemplate having cavaliers take their places? yelled Henrietta sounding enraged. "The whole idea is a mockery of Louis's court."

Charles frowned towards his wife and glanced towards Durand for answers.

"My dear...the cavaliers will not be replacing anyone...you are becoming quite fraught."

Henrietta glared towards Durand, her face full on anguish as she returned her glance to her husband.

"I do hope you are right my dear...the last thing we want is to evoke unrest."

Henrietta curtsied swiftly, she turned to Durand and bowed her head slightly.

"It was indeed pleasing to have met you Cardinal Durand. The queen turned on her heel and left the chamber, leaving the two men watching after her as she went.

"Forgive me majesty...I appear to have stirred up unrest...that was not never my intention." murmered Durand. "I was unaware her majesty knew of such matters."

Charles began to pace back and forth.

"My dear wife knows nothing Cardinal...she is over thinking...she adores her brother Louis...but as I have said...I do not...you will continue with our plan."

Durand nodded slightly as he heeded the kings words.

"Certainly majesty."

I would thrive on seeing my regiment replace the elite guard, but alas that will never be. All I desire is Louis's strategies and plans so I can be one step ahead at all times."

Durand smirked as the king ranted on.

"You shall endeavour to proceed with the undertakings swiftly. I am relying on your scheme to have the interfering musketeers forestalled." demanded Charles, disdain in his voice. "I have orderd my men to kill anyone who stands in their way."

Durand sneered and snorted as he scratched his chin.

"Like I stated prior majesty...the musketeers will not hinder your plan. I indeed have other matters to concern them with." Louis is about to become most enraged with his elite guard."

Charles clicked his fingers towards one of his yeoman, the man stirred rapidly and bowed to his king.

"Have one of my ships commissioned swiftly for the Cardinal, he shall be leaving our shores this evening, travelling back to France."

The yeoman bowed once again.

"Yes your majesty."

oooooOOOooooo

TBC...

Hi Guys,

Well now you all know who it is that is in The Bastille. And what is to become of him.

Will the boys clear d'Artagnan's name?

Will King Charles's men actually outwit Louis.

Has Durand got plans for Athos, Aramis and Porthos...I think so!

Speak soon

Pippa xxxx

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