His words hit the other three musketeers like a bombshell. Understand exploded over them and it all made sense. D'Artagnan's undying loyalty to Louis, his dogged hope that he could somehow influence him to goodness. And Celeste's words in the chapel beneath the monastery.

Celeste breathed a sigh of relief. He had indeed told them.

Aramis looked at her. "You know. All along."

"All along," said Celeste. "And I tried to tell you…"

"I never had any idea you existed," said D'Artagnan to Phillippe. "Until they found you. And in all that time, I never had a moments pride as a Father…until now."

Phillippe stared at him. Then suddenly, he stepped forward and hugged D'Artagnan. Surprised D'Artagnan stood there, stunned. But slowly he returned the embrace.

Athos was staring at him. "Your son?"

D'Artagnan nodded. "Louis and Phillippe…are my sons."

Athos's face was pale. He looked at Aramis. "I have sinned!"

Aramis raised an eyebrow. "Now is hardly the time for a confession, Athos."

"I asked him…to go against his son!" cried Athos.

D'Artagnan looked at his blade for a long moment. "And now I go against one of them…willingly," he said softly.

Suddenly, from the iron barred door, there was a powerful pounding.

Celeste jumped slightly.

The Bastille soldiers where trying to break it down.

"Time is running out," she said. "What are we going to do?"

Aramis peeked around the corner and down the corridor to the other door where Louis and his guards where. The musketeers riffles bristled like spikes. Aramis turned back. "D'Artagnan, those are young Musketeers down there. They have been weaned on our legends. They revere us and it is our advantage. Why don't we charge them?"

D'Artagnan looked at his son and niece. "But…"

Aramis looked at Celeste. "And half of them are in love with Celeste anyway. They wouldn't; be able to bear killing her. It's our only hope."

"I trained those men myself. They will stand and fight. But if we are to die, let it be in this way." He looked at Celeste. "My only sorrow is that you have to die."

Celeste smiled slightly. She raised her sword and pointed it to the ground. "Again I say, what better way to die?"

D'Artagnan smiled and touched his sword to the tip of hers. Aramis, Porthos and Athos all did the same.

Celeste looked at Phillippe.

He bent and picked up a fallen sword and touched it to theirs.

"All for one," said D'Artagnan.

"And one for all," finished Celeste.

Then they turned and charged around the corner.