Author's Note: ok... here's the next chapter... only 5 left... Thanks to Heather and Nicole as usual. Feedback, and enjoy, I am going to bed now. I got like 3 hours of sleep this morning after ROTS. Meg
The room was silent. King Louis stared at her, confusion on his face. The queen mother looked startled and only Queen Helen looked on calmly. Captain Duval entered the throne room, and turned to her. "Laponte?" he demanded looking puzzled.
Jacqueline turned and acknowledged Duval first. "Captain, forgive the deception. It was necessary."
Duval started at her, and then turned to d'Artagnan, who had put his arm about her protectively. "You knew?" Duval asked him.
D'Artagnan cleared his throat. "Mazarin had her father killed, so she killed his captain. It was necessary to keep that a secret."
King Louis' face now turned to outrage. "Mazarin had a lowly farmer killed?"
Jacqueline spoke now. "He did your majesty."
Siroc and Ramon entered, hearing the end of the conversation and noting the Captain's expression.
"Captain, we knew as well." Siroc spoke up. Jacqueline turned and gave them a grateful smile.
Duval stared at Jacqueline still disbelieving. "A woman musketeer?" He looked as if he did not know if that was good or bad. Ramon stepped forward, "As good as any man too." Duval turned to him with a stern look on his face. "Well she is," Ramon stammered.
Queen Helen looked at her, "so you are Jacqueline? I have heard much of you from Charles." Jacqueline's face paled. "I can see why he wanted you for his queen."
Jacqueline smiled. "Thank you, your majesty."
Queen Anne stepped down and circled her. "My dear, you are very brave. You may ask for anything and it shall be yours."
Jacqueline started for a second then regained composure. "My brother is in the Americas. He had to go there to escape Mazarin. I wish he could return as a free man."
King Louis inclined his head. "It is done. Also, from now on, women are to be given commissions into the musketeers. We need good fighters, men, or women."
Jacqueline curtsied, "Thank you, your majesties."
Duval seemed to come out of a trance. "This came for you," he said, handing Jacqueline a letter.
King Louis stood now. "Milady, d'Artagnan, the queen, and I wished to have a celebration in honor of your wedding."
D'Artagnan bowed to them. "We would be honored, your majesties."
Louis spoke again. "I imagine you and the lady are tired. You may leave now and rest." He paused and looked briefly at the queen. "When your father arrives, bring him before us."
D'Artagnan bowed, "As you wish, your majesties."
D'Artagnan turned to Jacqueline. "Who is it from?" He asked as they walked down the palace hallway and into the sunlight.
Jacqueline unfolded the letter and read it. She looked up, tears in her eyes. "It is from Gerard." D'Artagnan waited for her to go on. "He is safely in the Americas and has been there a fortnight but had no time to write. He is well but misses me." She folded it back up.
D'Artagnan put his hand on her shoulder. "Write him, tell him what Louis said, and tell him we want him here for the wedding."
Jacqueline grabbed him in a hug. "Yes, and I will write Helena too, let them know we arrived safely." She sped up keep from being left behind. Siroc and Ramon were ahead of them, deep in a discussion.
Jacqueline knelt before her parents' graves. Tears were in her eyes. "Father, Mother, I have some news," she paused. "We got rid of Mazarin; he can no longer control Louis." She hesitated slightly as her voice broke. "We brought peace to France, and I can be myself, a woman, again." D'Artagnan placed a hand on her shoulder in show of silent encouragement. "I would like you to meet someone. Your remember d'Artagnan? Well, this is his son. This is Edmund d'Artagnan." She stopped as she twisted her ring. "We are getting married soon. I just wanted you to know." Jacqueline stood up and turned to d'Artagnan. "I want to look around before we go."
D'Artagnan waved his hand at her. "You go on. I will wait here." Once she was out of sight, he knelt as she had and stared at the graves gathering his courage. "Mousier Roget, Madame Roget, I just wanted to say I wish I could ask you for her hand and your blessing as is the tradition." He stopped sadness coming upon him. "I love your daughter with all my heart and I swear to you I will take care of her and protect her." He took out his rapier and scraped his hand, blood sprinkled onto the graves. "My oath to you," he said softly. He bound his hand up to stop the bleeding and turned to the front of the farm.
Jacqueline was coming out. She pointed upwards, "My room was there."
D'Artagnan took her hand. "Sweetheart, if you want to take anything…"
She shook her head; "there is nothing here for me anymore." They stood silently looking at what was left. "We should get back to the garrison," she told him after several moments.
They walked into the garrison and d'Artagnan spoke. "We should resign our commissions soon." Jacqueline turned from the stares of the other musketeers to look at d'Artagnan. "I want to stay; we can still do much good for France."
A couple musketeers passed, them bowing to her as they went by. Everyone they saw looked at them. They continued to her room, "Jacqueline, sweetheart, you will be better off at the cottage."
She glared at him. "I am not worried about a few men. Besides, they just found out. Give them time to adjust to women musketeers."
D'Artagnan sighed. "Alright, but if anyone threatens you in any way, we are leaving."
Jacqueline turned to him as they reached her door. "Fine," she simply replied. D'Artagnan turned to head to his room, wondering if giving in to her had been the right thing to do.