TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE.
Chapter Seven.
Royal Palace.
Shafts of sunlight shone through the large throne chamber windows catching the ornate gold picture frames that hung on the wall.
Queen Anne sat at her husbands side as Captain Tréville bowed his head and handed the missive to Louis. The king eyed the musketeer captain and stood swiftly from his chair, he opened the broken seal and scanned down the page.
Louis began to pace back and fourth, pausing now and then as he read down the page of the crumpled parchment. He suddenly stopped in his tracks and turned to Tréville and his three musketeers.
"Prey tell me Tréville how you came by this letter? he asked in low tones.
Athos and Aramis swapped discreet side glances as they stood side by side.
"Musketeer's Athos and Aramis discovered them in a Madame Anon's lodgings Sire."
Louis cast a quick glance over the three men as they stood almost statuesque, each musketeer avoiding eye contact with the monarch as they continued to stare ahead.
Anne broke the silence as she stirred in her chair.
"May I ask as to what this missive contains Louis? she asked suddenly.
Louis handed the missive to his wife almost unheedingly as he retook his seat and began to ponder the contents.
Tréville knew the letter had irked Louis, he was pale, he had become agitated. And who could blame him when his own First Minister and his entourage were scheming behind his back.
Porthos side glanced Athos and Aramis, who in turn caught a discreet glance from their captain. Each man musing over the exact curious thoughts.
"How can we be certain Deacon Arouet wrote such guile Tréville? asked the king sounding enraged.
Athos lifted his head to look at Louis in sheer bemusment.
How can he actually ask that, what more does he want.
Before Louis could answer Anne suddenly spoke.
"Come now Louis, who else could it be? this is certainly proof that Musketeer d'Artagnan is innocent surely?
Louis glanced at his wife and took the letter from her, he read again before turning to Tréville.
"The cardinal should be with us early morn on the morrow. He will be leaving LaHarve very soon after his trading voyage to England. We shall tarry until then captain...I will personally ask him myself."
The musketeers exchanged iritating glances that did not go unnoticed by the monarch.
"You seem rather incensed musketeers...prey speak freely. Come now Athos, you always seem rather pragmatic in these matters."
Athos stood to attention suddenly as the king eyed him, he could feel all eyes on him.
The swordsman stood forward and bowed his head.
"The missive we found your majesty, why would it be in the hands of Madame Anon? It is evident that some conspiracy is occurring here, I have reason to believe it is indeed the handwriting of Deacon Arouet."
Porthos and Aramis discreetly side glanced each other.
Louis eyed Athos and nodded slightly.
"You agree with your man Tréville? asked Louis turning on the musketeer captain.
Tréville furrowed his brow as he glanced back at his three men, he turned back to the king and sighed heavily.
"I do Sire, it is most clear that there is a dissident at work here, I feel it may be unfolding to something more immense."
Louis leaned his elbow on his chair armrest and began to muse as he rested his chin on his fisted hand. Anne cast a glance towards the musketeers, it was evident in her features she was iritated by her husbands dawdling response.
"I am in accordance with the captain Louis, I do believe something sinister is going on, and whatever that may be, it seems it needs nipping in the bud. It seems to me someone wants Musketeer d'Artagnan dead, I am at a loss as to why."
The musketeers swapped glances, each man clearly agreeing with the
Queens declaration.
Louis shot a glance towards his wife before turning to Tréville.
"Do you suppose this Madame Anon is a spy Tréville? he asked.
Tréville furrowed his brows and nodded slightly.
"We have no evidence of such clandestine occurence at this point Sire, but I do believe she is working for Cardinal Durand and his entourage for reasons I have no answer. But one thing is for sure, d'Artagnan is an innocent man."
Louis lifted his head suddenly, he turned to his yeoman and ushered the man over.
The servant moved swiflty towards his king and bowed.
"Yes your majesty?
"Have Deacon Arouret summoned to my quarters forthwith! demanded the monarch.
Athos caught Trévilles eyeline and quirked a brow.
The man bowed once again.
"Certainly your majesty."
Silence fell on the chamber, just the sound of the yeomans rapid footfalls could be heard as they reverberated off the walls and the closing of the large doors behind him.
oooOooo
Bastille.
d'Artagnan sat against the cold stone wall, a blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders. The same blanket his brothers had given him on their visit hours before.
His features that of anguish and vexation as he stared into the dimness of the cell. Cries of mercy echoed through the damp passageways, as other confined prisoners pleaded for food and water.
The Gascon ran his fingers through his hair and sighed with frustration, he leaned his head back against the wall as his mind began to dwell on the past hours, the recurring images in his head of approaching what he thought was a unpleasant situation for a young woman, and waking in a strangers bed. He had tried with all his might to remember what had occured in that instant to no avail.
Why?
"Did someone have a belligerent and malicious gripe about him, or was it really the musketeer regiment. d'Artagnan wiped his hands over his face and exhaled with foreboding iritation. Would his brothers find out the truth.
He was suddnely interrupted as the large cell door rasped against the stone ground and opened ajar. A red guard appeared holding a pewter bowl.
d'Artagnan glanced up slowly.
"'ere get that down yer musketeer." he growled almost throwing the bowl onto the ground at the Gascons shackled feet.
d'Artagnan took the bowl and grimaced at the contents.
"I would rather starve to death than eat that sludge."he groused.
The guard snorted as he wiped his running nose on his sleeve.
"Fine with me musketeer...saves you from the gallows I suppose." he sneered.
d'Artagnan felt enrage inside.
"I will be out of here sooner rather than later...you will see." he sneered back to the mocking guard.
The guard laughed out loud sounding pig like.
"They all say that lad...yer no different from them peasants. Your getting yer neck stretched in three days time."
The cell door was slammed shut and locked behind him leaving an incensed musketeer behind him.
d'Artagnan kicked out at the bowl of swill in anger,spreading the entire contents across the opposite wall, the bowl hitting the door as it found the dirt ridden floor.
He could hear the loud sniggering as the red guard walked away from the cell, the laughter waning as he went.
oooOooo
Royal Palace.
The large ornate doors were opened as the yeoman entered swiftly.
Porthos glanced to each of his brothers.
"He's in a rush." he murmered out of earshot to the king.
Athos and Aramis eyed the man as he approached Louis. Something was amiss.
The king turned on him instantly.
"Well man...where is the Deacon?
The yeoman bowed nervously.
"Your majesty...it would seem he has fled the palace...
Louis interrupted rapidly.
..."FLED! what do you mean...where has he gone?
Tréville glanced towards his men, his features that of perplexed unrest.
"I have learned he left a couple of hours ago your majesty, it is unknown where he has fled to."
Louis turned red with rage as he turned to Tréville.
"I wager he has gone to meet the Cardinal as he returns from LaHarve Sire."
"Dear God Tréville it would seem I am surrounded by scoundrels and rogues." yelled the king dramatically I cannot even trust the clergy."
oooooOOooooo
TBC...
Hi Guys,
Hope you are all well, the cold weather is beginning to set in here now.
Thank you very much for the brilliant comments, love reading them so much.
Well what next for our boys, will they manage to have d'Artagnan released from the Bastille.
Will post ASAP!
Take Care
Pippa xxxx
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