D'Artagnan swung the door to Athos's apartment. He lifted the lantern in his hand and filled the room with light. He sighed as he stepped in and shut the door behind himself. He set the lantern on the table. He was alone.
He shouldn't have come here. There where no clues anywhere as to where Athos had disappeared to.
He turned to leave but caught a glimpse of a familiar painting hanging beside the door. He picked up his lantern and moved forward.
It was a portrait of him, Aramis, Athos, and Porthos. The four musketeers, best friends, in their prime. Together they where inseparable.
"My friends…where have you gone?" whispered D'Artagnan. He stared at the portrait for a moment more, then turned and left.
The scroll that the Warden had sealed the day before was now in the hands of the king. He read it and then rolled it back up. He thought for a long moment, then handed the scroll to Claude. "Take this to my mother."
The Queen was in her private rooms, brushing her long thick hair. She took the scroll, opened it, and read it. She gasped. Her eyes filled with pain, grief and guilt. She instantly turned away.
The lady that had handed it her, blinked. "Milady, are you…"
"Please, just go away!" said Anne.
The lady turned and left the room.
D'Artagnan walked slowly down the hallway toward his office. He had come straight there from Athos's place. He looked at the Queen's door and then at the clock on the wall. He then turned to his room and moved to the window. He sat there, waiting, to catch a glimpse of her.