Author's Note: Ok here it is... I promise next chapter, Edmund's secret. Thanks to Heather and remember feedback is a must. Meg

Charles d'Artagnan, Eliza and Edmund climbed out of the dark passage into a dark corridor of the palace.

"The audience room is that way," Charles said, pointing as he led the way. They entered the room to see the baron and eight of his guards surrounding the king and queen mother. "Your majesties, we have come to free you," Charles stated to them respectfully. The king started to respond when the baron motioned to his guards and four of them broke off towards them.

"Arrest them for treason," the baron said as if he was mildly bored by their pathetic attempt to stop him.

Charles, Edmund and Eliza pulled out their rapiers and stood in fighting stance as the guards neared. Edmund attacked first. Deciding they were equally matched, he resorted to using his fist to knock the guard unconscious. Eliza fought teeth clenched, afraid for the royal family's safety and annoyed with the baron for forcing them into a distracting battle. She grew impatient with her opponent quickly when he got sloppy, giving her the opening she needed. She thrusted her rapier into his stomach hard and pulled it out covered with blood as the man fell to the floor. Charles was on the opposite end of the room, thrusting and pulling back with the remaining guard. Both men were covered in sweat.

The baron held up his hand, indicating the guard should back off. "Surrender now and I promise a swift execution and the safety of the young mademoiselle here."

Charles lowered his rapier searching the room for his granddaughter. "Release their majesties, Baron!"

Mazarin entered followed by forty guards that took up positions around the musketeers. "Their majesties will stay where they are until they are no longer useful," he hissed, pulling out a rapier and holding it to the king's throat. "Captain Duval's sword will kill them and the musketeers will be disbanded once and for all." He threw his head back and laughed a sinister laugh that made everyone's blood turn cold.

Eliza stepped closer to him, anger in her eyes. "Mazarin, you will not get away with this! My parents will destroy you as they should have before I was born!"

Mazarin sneered down at her and motioned for a guard, who then took her rapier. "You have your mother's courage and your father's foolish pride, but it will not help you." He held up the rapier over her head. "I will put an end to that now!" Eliza closed her eyes and waited without fear.

"No!" Everyone turned at Jacqueline's shout. She stood in the entryway with d'Artagnan, Siroc, Ramon, Duval, Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and a handful of musketeers.

Mazarin turned towards his guards sneering at the nuisance this would cause them. "Kill them all!" he ordered. Charles broke out and thrust his rapier against Mazarin's to prevent him from killing Eliza. "That was foolish old man." Mazarin practically spat the words at him. The two began their battle.

Eliza kicked the guard and grabbed her rapier in time to block his attack as all chaos broke out in the room. Everyone was now engaged in battle. Edmund stood protectively, his back against hers as they fought.

Jacqueline and d'Artagnan also stood back to back engaged in battle. The sounds of metal clashing against each other caused ringing in their ears. The sickening sound of metal slicing flesh rang out and blood and bodies began to cover the floor.

Edmund was tired and sweaty and surveyed the situation around him. They had lost two men and only ten guards had fallen. The situation was grave but far from over. He pulled his rapier out of the guard he had been fighting and rushed towards the captain of the guards who was waiting for him. The captain gave him a menacing smile as he held out his blade and charged forward.

Charles desperately ducked another attack and pushed his rapier up to block. He was getting tired. Mazarin had barely a scratch on him so far. "You are getting weak, Musketeer," Mazarin said, sneering at him. Mazarin stepped aside to avoid the coming attack.

"Your plans always seem to fail, your grace. Why not just give up?"

Mazarin glared at him and swung low connecting with his left leg. Charles cried in agony and push Mazarin's blade away. "Sooner of later I will win," Mazarin said, giving him an evil half smile. Charles stepped forward swinging his blade barely, missing Mazarin's head because the Cardinal blocked again.

"Not today, Mazarin."

Jacqueline was breathless and out of practice. She felt like she had been fighting for days. Blood ran down her check from a cut on her face. She glanced around, taking in the chaos that surrounded her. D'Artagnan was also mildly hurt and had blood on his arm. Duval had a wound across his stomach but it was not fatal and he was still fighting. She was relieved to note that Eliza though scratched a bit seemed to be all right otherwise. Edmund was limping with an arm and leg wound on his right side and had lost a good bit of blood. The handful of musketeers that had accompanied them were either dead or unconscious she noted sadly. Aramis, Athos and Porthos were still engaged with the remaining guards. She ran towards the king and queen seeing at they were now unprotected.

"You majesties are you alright?" Louis was pale and a bit shocked but he inclined his head towards her.

"Yes, Viscomptess, we are grateful to you and the musketeers." Eliza joined Jacqueline by the king and queen, rapiers out and ready should a guard choose to threaten their majesties.

Mazarin and Charles still fought rigorously. "Your time has come, Musketeer." Mazarin struck unexpectedly from behind. Charles' eyes widened in shock as he started to fall and barely registered his granddaughter's scream.

Edmund pushed the captain back, panting. He was wounded badly and the world spun as he tired to see around him. Mazarin was alive and still battling Charles d'Artagnan. He turned as he heard Eliza scream. The 'holy' man's sword had entered Charles, sliding out as the aged musketeer fell to the ground. Edmund plunged his rapier into the captain, utilizing the distraction, and rushed up behind Mazarin, piercing the Cardinal with his already bloody sword. He watched helplessly as Eliza ran forward screaming, tears falling.

"Grandfather! Don't leave me!" she shouted through gasps of breaths that accompanied her tears.

Charles slowly spoke. "You would have made an excellent musketeer, my beautiful girl." Blood poured out of the wound and he started to cough up more, soaking Eliza's clothes in it. Edmund bent down to check the wound as Charles weakly tugged at him. "Take care of her," he ordered as his son dropped to his knees beside them, tears in his eyes.

"Father?"

Charles coughed again. "I am proud of all my family. They are…" He never finished as his breathing stopped.

Edmund shook his head and pulled Eliza gently to her feet. "I am sorry, Eliza. He's gone." Eliza sobbed into his chest as the king shouted for a doctor to be sent immediately.