D'Artagnan stared at Anne's door for a long moment, then turned and went back to his desk. As soon as he sat down, Andre, his lieutenant appeared.
"Duty lists of the day, Captain."
D'Artagnan took them and began scanning them. "Thank you, Andre."
He saluted and turned to leave.
D'Artagnan's eyes narrowed. "Wait! There's an entry here…Messenger sent by King to residence of Mademoiselle Michelle Beaufort." He looked up. "Why?"
Andre's eyebrows rose. "Well…"
D'Artagnan shot from his chair as understanding dawned on him. "Send for my horse."
Every head in the Inn turned as the door opened and D'Artagnan stepped in.
Except for Celeste's. As soon as she heard everyone get quiet and saw Porthos's eyes widened, she knew who it was. She drained her second bottle and tossed it aside.
Wordlessly, Porthos pushed another in front of her.
She reached for it but a black gloved hand snatched it away.
"Put it back, D'Artagnan." Celeste's voice was completely steady. She kept her eyes straightforward and didn't even turn to look at him.
"Celeste, I need you."
Celeste drew her pistol. "Put…It…Back."
D'Artagnan sighed angrily and set the bottle back down. He wasn't in the least afraid that she would shoot him but she might shoot something else.
Celeste looked at it for a long moment then picked it up and took a drink. She put her pistol away. Then turned her head and looked at him. "Why do you need?"
Celeste held up a hand.
D'Artagnan and Aramis stopped.
Someone was playing the violin. It was a sad melody that floated eerily down the hall.
D'Artagnan stepped around her and banged on the door.
The playing stopped and the door opened.
"D'Artagnan!"
"Athos, my friend."
The two friends embraced with deep affection. They where friends who had shared each other's darkest times and would never forget them.
"Celeste! Aramis! Come in. Come in!"
"It's been too long," said D'Artagnan.
"Life is too long," said Athos. "Except when we have our friends." He looked D'Artagnan over from head to toe. "Look at you! You're still a boy!"
Celeste smiled.
D'Artagnan shook his head and smiled.
"Sit, sit!" exclaimed Athos.
"No, thank you," said Celeste. "I've been drinking."
"Like I taught you?"
"Exactly."
"Good. Well done." Athos looked at D'Artagnan. "Wine?"
"Thank, but not for me."
"You can't drink with a friend you haven't seen in months?"
"I have ordered a drill for the Royal Guard for midnight and I must be clear-headed for it." He glanced at Celeste.
Her eyes where perfectly clear and she was standing with her arms crossed.
"Midnight! Mon dieu! Driving the youngsters hard!"
"They must say sharp," said D'Artagnan. "There was an attempt on the King's life today."
"Another? How many times have you saved his life in this year alone? Three? Four?"
"Funny," said Aramis. "When we where musketeers, for one attempt to be made on the King in a year was a rare thing indeed."
D'Artagnan ignored both comments. "I heard your playing."
"I was feeling sorry for myself," said Athos with a smile. "Raoul will be getting married. He proposed today! I love that boy beyond all measure, I've spent all I own to give him education and opportunity. Now he has complete happiness and I mope."
Celeste's smile faded.
D'Artagnan's face darkened and he opened his mouth.
But Athos turned.
They could all hear someone climbing the steps outside.
Athos glowed as he opened the door. "That must be Raoul!"
Raoul stood in the doorway for a long moment. He cast a look at Celeste.
She unfolded her arms. "Raoul…"
"Raoul! Look, D'Artagnan's come to visit…!" Athos's words trailed off. "What's wrong? You look awful!"
"Michelle, she…" Raoul looked at his Father. "The King has invited her to come live in the palace."
Sheer agony entered D'Artagnan's eyes. Athos was his best friend. They where closer than brothers.
"But…are you sure?" asked Athos.
"We were are her door. I was just taking the ring from my pocket, for the third time today, when a young Musketeer brought the invitation for her to become a lady-in-waiting for the Queen Mother."
"Raoul…" began Celeste.
"Michelle cannot possibly accept!" burst out Athos.
"She cannot refuse," said Raoul sadly. "Her family is poor, they have less even than we do." He looked at Celeste. "And along with the invitation, the King sent the diamond pendant, from the piglet."
Athos stared at him for a spilt second. Then he turned and looked at Celeste and then turned back to Raoul. "Piglet? What are you..."
"Never mind," said Raoul. "That doesn't matter now. She loved me once. I want to die remembering that."
"Die?" asked Celeste. "What are you talking about?"
"I have rejoin the army and asked to resume my commission at the head of the troops of General Fromberege."
"Fromberege!" gasped Celeste. "Raoul!"
"At the front?" asked Athos. "No!"
"It's already done."
"Raoul, you cannot do this," said Celeste.
"She's right," said Athos. "Listen to her. No matter how your heart is broken…"
Raoul stopped him with a hug. "Goodbye, Father. I am sorry."
"Raoul," began Athos.
But Raoul turned and left the room.
The change in Athos was startling. Only moments ago, he had looked so joyful. Now he held his head in his hands as if his brain was exploding.
Celeste and Aramis exchanged glances.
"This cannot be. Everyone knows the Queen Mother is a recluse and the ladies-in-waiting are but mistresses for the king!"
"Athos, that's not fair to Anne," said Celeste. "She stays to herself to keep out of Louis's way.
"If the young woman truly loves Raoul…" began D'Artagnan.
"She's a woman, D'Artagnan! From a poor family. You may still be young enough to believe love conquers everything, but I am old and hard and I've seen too much. Even when kings are hunchbacks, they have any woman they desire, because power seduces even more than love!"
D'Artagnan fell silent.
Celeste looked at him. She knew what the others did not. D'Artagnan was ashamed. Ashamed of the King's behavior.
Athos stared at him and understanding dawned on him. "You knew this was happening. You knew and that's why you came."
"I fear I know our King," said D'Artagnan. "I came to try and bring you hope."
"What is there? A wartime commission cannot be vacated except by the king, and what chance is there of that? Fromberege is on the battle line and Raoul…"
"I have dispatched a message to Fromberege requesting that Raoul be kept far from the frightening."
"Raoul is everything to me," whispered Athos.
"I know," said D'Artagnan.
"Oh my friend." Athos gripped D'Artagnan in gratitude. And his eyes where full of desperate hope.
"I will also speak with the King, for he is surely unaware of the problems his invitation to Mademoiselle Beaufort has caused."
Celeste looked at Aramis. They both knew it was not so.
"You trust his character more than anyone else does."
"We must go," said Celeste. "Raoul is already gone."
D'Artagnan nodded. "Raoul is hurrying to the front, so I must hurry too."
"Good bye, my friend," said Athos.