Time got away from me today. I'm blaming my dog Waffles, who has decided toilet paper is a superb chew toy. Thank you all for your support and for continuing this journey with me.

Onward we go...

"I love Paris," King Louis said. He stood on the veranda and looked across the gardens and toward the rooftops of buildings in the distance. "My father built many of the roads, bridges," he paused and clenched his jaw and then placed his hand on his waist, "many of the fruit trees you saw as you traveled here," he looked at Henry, "my father had planted." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "We have been at war for so long we know little of peace, and what peace we know has been tarnished with threats of war."

"As long as there are empires, Your Majesty, we will always have war," Henry said. He looked at Treville, who nodded once, and then at the musketeers who stood guard a short distance away. "When will you meet with your generals?"

King Louis looked at Treville in question.

"The French military will be ready — if — the time comes for us to join you in this fight." Treville stood with his hands behind his back and tightened them into fists.

Henry raised his eyebrows and tilted his head in Treville's direction. "A guarded Minister of War is essential in times such as this. Cardinal Richelieu was much more aggressive in matters of state, but I can see," he looked at Treville, "that caution and devotion are qualities needed in these trying times."

Louis glanced from Treville to Henry and quirked a smile. "Indeed."

"Might the Musketeers be assigned to this endeavor? Or… will they remain here to guard you and your queen?" Henry glanced at Athos and then Porthos before he returned his attention to Louis. "They have quite a presence. Do you trust them?"

Treville frowned and shifted uncomfortably.

King Louis tilted his head to the right and pulled his eyebrows together in question. "What are you implying?"

"The King's Musketeers are the finest soldiers in all of France, Prince Henry," Treville said. "There is not a one of them who is untrustworthy, or unwilling to sacrifice their own life for their king or for their country."

Henry looked at Athos, who looked him in the eyes. "You are the captain of the regiment?"

"Yes, Your Highness," Athos said.

"I expected someone older," Henry said and looked at King Louis. "You have a problem, Your Majesty. But," he paused, "perhaps your Musketeers can help you solve it."

"What problem might there be?" Louis said and cocked an eyebrow. He looked over Henry's shoulder as Queen Anne and Prince Henry's wife, Amalia of Solms-Braunfels, walked together toward them. Average in height, Amalia had walnut colored brown hair that hinted of red in the sun's rays. With a round face, soft features, and a long nose, she was not classically beautiful, but her compassion added to her features. Their son, William, all of six, ran around them and was quickly admonished by his mother, but he ignored her and climbed onto the pillar near the steps that led to the gardens. Louis cocked an eyebrow and watched the boy's antics.

Porthos chuckled and shifted to disguise his response when he recognized the king's annoyance.

"General Raboin," Henry said and smiled at his wife as she dusted the front of her gown and stood next to the queen. He bowed at Queen Anne's presence, as did the musketeers and Treville.

Treville looked to Athos and clinched his jaw, but remained silent as Prince Henry continued.

"Raboin, is your cousin?"

King Louis nodded and raised his chin toward Anne, who slipped her arm around Amelia's and motioned toward the chairs near the doors to the palace. William continued to climb and run along the veranda and the king watched his movements with a cocked eyebrow and his mouth askew, a clear sign of exasperation by anyone who knew him. "Raboin was placed into his position at the request of my mother nearly twenty years ago. He has served France well in his position and I see no need to remove his commission as General of the Northeastern Army —"

Treville watched Louis grow more impatient and uncomfortable. He shifted his weight and crossed his arms over his chest, and Prince Henry frowned as he recognized the behavior. Athos watched with discretion, as did the others, who continued to stand guard.

"Your cousin, Your Majesty, is not fit for duty," Henry said. He stood to his full height, and despite his short stature, calmed his voice, and sounded like a father guiding his son. It was a familiar tactic that Treville had mastered after watching Richelieu for many years. "He is unpredictable, self indulgent, and he has compromised himself, his men, and France —"

"And what proof do you have of this?" Louis said. "I find your accusations most offensive —"

"You are about to face a war, Your Majesty, that you will not win if you do not have sufficient resources in place and those resources include your highest ranking military officers."

"I ask again…" Louis said, "What proof do you have?"

Henry took a deep breath. "None — but," he raised his eyebrows and looked critically at Louis, "if you have men you trust, men who will put you before all else, ask them to discreetly observe the general and…" he took a deep breath, "if proof avails itself…" he shrugged, "so be it."

"You're suggesting that my Musketeers spy on my cousin?"

"I'm suggesting your Musketeers protect their king… at all costs, Your Majesty." Henry shifted and again glanced toward his wife, his son, and then at the vast gardens that in the days to come would absorb the excess rains and flourish beneath the sun's rays. "I understand your familial devotions…" he swallowed and scratched his chin, "but you — above all else — understand the fragility, and strife that follows you simply because of who you are." He turned and looked again at the king. "If you trust these men… the Musketeer Regiment… the regiment that you built and created, then allow them the pleasure of defending your honor and your name by identifying those around you who would do you harm."

"His request, Sire," Treville said in a calming tone, "is not unjust."

King Louis glanced at Treville and recognized the tone in which he spoke and understood immediately that there was truth to Prince Henry's words. Truth Treville had not shared. Louis then looked toward the pond in the garden that was surrounded by hedges and roses. "I have often overlooked the value of good company… it is exceptionally rare." He turned, squared his shoulders, and looked at Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and d'Artagnan, who stood strong and in positions to protect their king. "Join me for a stroll, Captain."

Treville frowned, stepped aside and watched Athos glance at him. With a descrete nod, Treville watched Athos take a step forward and then walk with the king along the path of the veranda. Porthos shifted uncomfortably, and Aramis watched the king and Athos intensely.

"King Louis is more devoted to his family than many royals," Henry said. He looked at his wife and his son, who had picked up a long stick and pretended to use it as a sword and fight with an imaginary enemy.

"The King is reluctant to bring harm to his subjects, Your Highness. He has taken pride in his ability to find peace where others have thrived in war," Treville said and then clutched at the wrist of his right hand while he watched the backs of Athos and the king.

Prince Henry huffed and raised his eyebrows. "That is a tactic that he may one day regret, Minister Treville. War is upon us, whether we are prepared or not, and I fear France is not ready — not for what lies ahead."

King Louis paused in his steps, looked at the gardens, and then crossed his arms over his chest. The flanks of his doublet flared from his sides, and his ornamental belt shifted along his waist. "Family has been a constant disappointment in my life, Captain. Without knowing the details of yours, I can assume you're all too familiar with the disappointment of betrayal," he said. "You have been a steadfast soldier," Louis shifted, looked at Athos, and then turned and glanced over his shoulder at the others. "I may find myself questioning Treville's decisions at times, but I believe he is the best judge of character when it comes to his men." He looked Athos in the eyes. "When I give the order — if… I give the order — to carefully appraise General Raboin and those around him of his effectiveness to lead the Northeastern Military… and, should you discover him," he took a deep breath and licked his bottom lip, "compromising his dedication to France…" He licked his bottom lip. "I expect you to be as just with him as you were with Milady de Winter."

The words hit Athos like a punch to the gut, but he met the king's eyes and understood his meaning. There was grief associated with the order. Grief that could not be ignored or denied, but despite that, if Raboin was a threat, he was a threat to more than just the king, but to his people and the entirety of France. "Your Majesty?"

"You are fully aware of my meaning, Captain. If I removed him now… before France is engrossed in war, I will look uncertain, and potentially weak in the eyes of my subjects, my military, and our enemy. Raboin has served too long and with moments of outstanding success, and regardless of his personal complexities, I will not, nor can I, remove him from duty if he is successful. I cannot afford to have those around me see me as threatened in my position or in my judgment when it comes to those who lead. A weak king in a time of crisis is a worthless king." He looked at Athos and said, "You disagree?"

"The people and the military will not dismiss your decisions, Majesty. If it is true that General Raboin is unfit for duty, perhaps moving him to an inconsequential position would ease your mind, and those concerned about Raboin's behavior toward his men and France?"

"He is my cousin, Captain — not by blood — mind you," Louis said, and lowered his hands and dusted the front of his doublet. "My father's sister Catherine never had children — not of her own — but she was partial to one of her husband's bastards, Raboin. My father loved him and," he looked at Athos, "I will not disgrace him." He looked again at the clouds that shifted and the sun's rays that peered through the breaks. "All men, regardless of their mistakes and the unfortunate perception a few may have of them, deserve the opportunity to die as heroes, Captain Athos. My cousin," he emphasized, "should have such an opportunity. If he is a threat, regardless of the reason… I expect you and the Musketeers to end his tenure." He raised his eyebrows and his chin. "It is not an unreasonable request, and one that could be resolved without undue distress from either of us."

"Will the Musketeers be protected?" Athos asked.

King Louis looked at Athos in question and with slight annoyance, but with a clear understanding. "You're the King's Musketeers, Captain. You and your men are held in the highest regards and will not act inappropriately, much less against my orders. And if I remember correctly, even when you were accused, the accusation was erroneous — one might say," he paused and said, "unforgivable…" He straightened and raised his chin. "Acting on my behalf is essential, regardless of the outcome." Louis cleared his throat and looked to his wife and the Prince, who stood beside Treville talking. "This is not a request I make lightly, but it is one that is necessary should the accusations be true."

Louis cleared his throat. Betrayal was always a concern, but he was not a man to make rash judgments based on the perceptions of one man. Even when Athos had been wrongfully accused, it had taken convincing by Richelieu — whom he trusted — to sentence the musketeer to death. It was not a choice he had taken lightly. And because of that moment, that dreadful decision, he needed more proof, more evidence to convict men… and women… to death. "I'd prefer the four of you escort the Prince and his family from Paris, at which time his guards can resume their role." He turned to walk back toward the others.

"How soon, Your Majesty," Athos said, "will we be expected on the front lines?"

Louis paused, swung his arms behind his back, and grasped his hands together. "Before winter arrives," he said calmly. "Though a treaty has not been signed… I anticipate that one will be in the coming weeks. I will meet with my generals in August during our annual hunt, Captain." He turned and looked at Athos once more. "It would be best to prepare your men." He paused and took in the view for a moment. "Whatever happens…" he turned toward Athos, "if my cousin is indeed unfit — or worse — has compromised himself and France… do your best to keep his indiscretions quiet."

"Of course."

"I do not need to know the details, but whatever the outcome… I pray your justice is swift."