Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, here's chap. 6 guys. Meg
Edmund circled the fire, checking to make sure the wood was not burning out. He glanced briefly at Eliza. The girl irritated him to no end. He had only been escorting her for several days and wished the whole thing were over and done with. He watched as she ate the piece of meat. She held it gingerly between her thumb and index finger as she took small bites. Edmund shook his head. She acted and thought like a well brought up lady. She leaned forward a bit, exposing a shiny object around her neck usually hidden under her clothes. Edmund had seen it before, the other night while she was sleeping. He had been awake keeping watch and thinking. She had groaned in her sleep, and he had gone over to check on her. As she turned over, the object had fallen out from under her clothes. It was a necklace of some sort, though he did not get close enough to inspect it. She kept it hidden and that made him wonder what it was and what it meant. He turned away from her so she would not notice him looking. Eliza was beautiful, and that he could not deny.
Edmund shook his head and got up walking to a nearby stream. He splashed some water on his face to shake her image. He needed a distraction — something to keep his mind off of her. He glanced back and saw the fire was growing a little low. He moved towards the forest to gather more wood.
Eliza ate her dinner quietly. Her eyes stung and threaten to spill tears. Today was her mother's birthday, and she was not at home with her family. Eliza watched Edmund walk down to the stream. She felt so alone. He could not be considered a companion. All he did was lecture, if he spoke at all. She tugged at her necklace. It was the only thing she had of her mother's and it felt nice to touch it. She kept it hidden around others, including Edmund for fear they would ask about it. It held a secret her family kept from most of France. Eliza had to blink away more tears that threaten to come. The youngest d'Artagnan could not remember a time when she had been away from her family for so long. She did not expect it to feel like this. When she noticed Edmund was no longer in sight, she let the tears start to fall freely down her face. Eliza wanted to make it go away. She stood and walked down to the stream, striping off her clothes, her necklace and her pain. She gingerly stepped into the water and washed away her tears and sorrow with the dirt. Eliza let her mind go empty of all thoughts and feelings and she floated with her eyes closed, savoring the quiet around her.
Edmund walked back with the wood and put it on the fire. He looked around and nearly panicked when he saw no trace of Eliza. It did not take him long to find her. He watched as she floated with her eyes closed. Her brother's friend mentally chided himself for looking, and continuing to look, but he could not tear himself away. His eyes caught the shine of her necklace, which was laid carefully by her clothes near the tree. The musketeer looked at it curiously till he was startled from his thoughts by a sudden sigh. Remembering propriety at the sound, he headed back to the camp and waited for her to return. It was another half hour before she joined him. He noted with dismay that she looked even more beautiful than before.
"Where were you? I was worried," he asked as she sat down and wrung her hair out by the fire.
"I wanted to be clean," she replied simply.
Edmund shrugged slightly not caring for her disrespect in answering him. "Next time, inform me first," he said in a slightly scolding tone. Eliza looked away and he saw a stray tear roll down her face. He instantly regretted being so stern. "Mademoiselle, I did not mean to upset you." He paused. "I am only concerned with your safety." Eliza nodded but more tears fell. "Is something wrong?" he finally dared to ask.
"I miss them. My family." Edmund did not speak. "I have not been away from them for so long before." He moved closer to her and felt his heart stir in response to her pain. "You must think I am some silly young girl to act like this," she said.
"No, I think you are a brave young woman," he told her sincerely. "You think of France before you think of yourself. That is true musketeer spirit."
Eliza offered him a weak smile. "Thank you," she replied honestly.
Edmund felt he should say more. "I know how you feel," he whispered softly.
Eliza stopped sniffing and looked at him curiously now. "Oh?" she asked, prompting him on.
"My mother, she died when I was a young child. My father, a few months back. As far as I know, I have no family. I hope to find that out when we reach Italy."
Eliza put her hand on his shoulder. Her eyes had softened as she listened to him. "I am sorry, Edmund," she told him. He looked down at her now. Her beautiful eyes staring up into his. He felt himself loosing touch with reality as he leaned closer to her. Their lips were inches apart now.
"Eliza, I…" he started then stopped as he started to lean further down towards her lips. Her gasp caused him to pull back and glance at her. Eliza backed away from him; her face full of shock and very pale.
"What? How could you?" She did not allow herself to finish. Edmund grabbed her hand.
"Eliza, I know your brother, Gerard. He is my friend." Eliza pulled away and started to run. He had been lying to her from the start. Edmund stared after her for a moment before jumping up to go after.