Celeste stared at him. "There where so many times," she whispered, "That I wanted to tell you how much I loved you. And you're right, we may not come out of this mission alive, but I do love, Aramis."
And Aramis kissed her. It was not like his last kiss to her. But this kiss was gentle and full of the love that was spilling over between the two of them.
Suddenly, the rear door opened and Athos and Porthos started in but stopped when they saw Aramis and Celeste.
Celeste's eyes popped open and she tried to step away from Aramis.
But he caught her and held her still for a moment longer.
Porthos grinned.
Athos watched them skeptically.
At last Aramis let go of Celeste.
She stepped away from him, her face bright red.
"Oh Aramis!" exclaimed Porthos, clapping his hands together. "I am so proud of you!"
Aramis ignored him and picked up Celeste's cloak and fastened it around her. "This way." He led them all out of the catacombs and across the moonlit courtyard of the monastery. A hooded Jesuit was standing guard on the steps in the shadows. He immediately recognized Aramis and Celeste and let them into the monastery. Aramis immediatly took them all the forge, where more hooded Jesuits where working, heating iron, red hot in the bellows of the furnace.
Celeste and Aramis stood and watched the work with a satisfaction on their faces.
"What are they doing ?" asked Athos.
"Making the key the throne," said Celeste.