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Chapter XIV: Loose Ends... wrap things up neatly and set the stage for my next tale…Taken.

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Unto Dumas: Pax, Disney, Hallmark and United Artists too

Give credit where credit is due,

I'd be writing something subtly different…

If not for all of you.

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Chapter XIV: Loose Ends

In January, Queen Anne and her retinue secretly fled Paris for Rueil; it was believed the king went with her. Cardinal Mazarin would join them there, after he arranged for prince de Condé and his troops, freed by the Peace of Westphalia, to blockade the capital.

It galled Mazarin that things had gotten so out of hand. Now, to make a treaty with Spain-- so he could recall the army and besiege Paris-- was more than humiliating…it was maddening in the extreme. The calculating Cardinal had only wanted a small uprising. He needed an excuse to remove a handful of troublemakers and perhaps arouse public sympathy in his favor, while making the king's guard seem inept.

The plan backfired. He lost many loyal supporters, his network of informants was hopelessly fractured and there were a considerable number of people crying for his exile! Still, no one seemed to make the connection that Prince de Condé, who led the royal forces, was the brother of two of the most visible leaders of the fronde -- Armand de Conti and Mme de Longueville.

Even if that link came to light, no one knew all three had connections to the Knights of the Dark Order or could guess Mazarin's role in triggering the unrest. The Cardinal had been very careful. Now, he could only hope the people would settle down before there was too much unnecessary bloodshed. After all, what use was controlling the crown if there were no people left to claim dominion over?

0-0-0-0

The Queen and her attendants took up residence at Rueil in the château once belonging to Cardinal Richelieu. She spent much time in the chapel there. Through the winter months, Anne mourned the situation in Paris and wept for her son… swept beyond her reach in such an unsettled time. She imagined her dear Louis hemmed in by enemies on every side. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, she was spent. Her dear Charles wasn't much better, worn thin and nearly beside himself. He had failed to locate her son as he had promised and return him to Paris. What's more, it had been HIS son who was responsible for spiriting Louis away in the first place.

Anne wandered disconsolately through the terrace, blind to the magnificent frescoes she had so admired in Richelieu's day. Her weary steps brought her unfailingly to the gardens. She had visited them many times over the years. In spring, the carefully manicured lawns always seemed lush and velvety against the dazzling carpet like flowerbeds. She recalled how air seemed heavy with the fragrance of orange blossoms and pomegranate trees. The sound of fountains in the water garden had often filled her heart with joy. The Great cascade was said to be the finest in all of Europe. But it was winter now and the laughing fountains were silent.

The Queen shouldered her way past sleepy winter-gray pines and wondered aimless through the desolate garden. Winter bear branches seemed so much more suitable to her melancholy. She marveled at the ebony arms thrust upward in supplication to the stark grey sky. The Queen was so consumed by her thoughts she nearly missed hearing the hushed whisperer. But the playful breeze snatched the word even as it left the speakers lips and brought it to her ear like breath of spring in her winter world. "Mother?"

Anne stopped in her snowy tracks, pushed the hood of her ermine edged cape away from her ears, and gazed widely about, seeking the source of the sound. "Here." The voice she longed to hear most in the entire world said, and a figure emerged from a nearby grotto. She hastily flung herself into her son's arms.

"Oh my dear boy" she whispered, kissing forehead and cheek in a very un-queenly manner. "You are safe, and back with me at last!" She squeezed him and toyed with his curls careful not to dislodge the wig. Her cheeks were flushed with emotion as much as the persistent chill of winter. "Does Charles know you have returned?" She asked and gently chided, "You realize he was fearfully put out at not having been notified about your plans in advance. He is my champion as well as the head of my guard…and he cares for you. You should not treat him so shabbily. "

"I know mother." The colorfully clad youth said touching her face gently, as if to reassure himself she was real, and no vision conjured by the cold.

"Louie sweet what is wrong?" She asked wondering at the tears that shown brightly in her son's eyes.

"I'm Louie, Mamma." a second voice said, "That is Philippe." The new figure garbed in dark greens and grays emerged from the grotto. His wig was dark and wavy tied in a queue with a velvet ribbon but the voice and eyes were indeed very like those of her son.

"Philippe!" Anne gasped and nearly fainted. Both boys moved quickly to gently help her to a wooden bench, both nearby and free of snow. "How!" she whispered breathlessly.

"It was time we knew… wasn't it?" Lewis (the real one) asked. "Eleven years we have been alone together…and I never guessed what was missing." The young king bit his lip and wondered how she was going to take his next revelation. "Philippe is a prince of the blood… as royal as I am. Isn't it time His exile is over."

'As royal as I am?' The Queen mother mused silently the dubious tone in her son's voice as he said the words opened old fears. "You are king… you were named the heir…Your sire was king…"

"A king among Gascon's?" Louis added, eyes shining playfully. "There is no one here you need not dent it.

"Oh, do not say such things, even in jest. I fear so for you… for you both." She said enclosing her sons in the circle of her arms.

"He doesn't know." Epée nodded to his royal brother. "You see, I said she never told anyone, not even the elder D'artagnan."

"De' Batz suspects… he must." Lew frowned, "He's been around my whole life; why else would he be so devoted?"

"Because he still loves her." Philippe smiled, excited by the romance of the situation, and Anne blushed.

The word 'Love' had never been whispered between herself and the stalwart captain. Leo had known within days of their indiscretion. The D'artagnan was too honorable to run or hide from his mistakes. Had his king asked, Charles would have willingly surrendered his life for that single night. But Louis XIII had not asked it and nothing more was said of the matter. Only on his deathbed had the Leo admitted to Anne that he drugged the wine she and D'artagnan shared that night. He saw it as the only way to get a royal heir. After the twins had been conceived, the king grew increasingly jealous first sending his musketeers from court and later abandoning Philippe... Things got progressively worse after that. Leo suspected Richelieu's death and his own wasting illness were punishment for his sin. The king begged Anne's forgiveness before he died and she granted it willingly… but never shared these things with Charles.

For his part, Captain D'artagnan never again betrayed his king's trust. Even after Leo's death, he kept his relationship with the queen chaste out of honor of the great king's memory. But the love remained-- scratch the surface and it would pour forth like gold…like diamonds. God, how she treasured that man, and his sons… she embraced Louis and Philippe again, tears running freely down her cheeks.

"Mother, we've got a plan we need your help for." Epée began gazing longingly into her eyes.

You see," Louis explained excitedly. "All this time I've been pulled in half and only now am I whole… two souls… one king. It will be best for us…and for France if we have our cake and eat it too. As a prince, it is no weakness to be fond of play, of eating, dancing and dress; all those little indiscretions they tell me are totally inappropriate in a monarch. Yet, I can still don the crown to act in my strengths in areas of political debates and foreign affairs, not to mention host world-class garden parties and masquerades." Louis explained.

Epée took up where his brother left off, "As a prince I will he humble and unassuming; as a king I will be solemn, amiable and kind…I love to ride and shoot and fence and have an affinity for the royal pursuits my brother finds so dreary. Unlike Lew, I have an ear for music and enjoy lessons. Yet I am weak in dealing with people; and do not deny that is the arena where Louis shines. Prince or king I am good at strategy and can be warlike if the need arises."

"The thing is, Uncle Mazzie must not know… no one must know that we're twins." Lew began and outlined the plan whereby he and Philippe could switch places freely without having anyone suspect. "Firstly, We'll need privacy. My nosy body-servants need to be assigned to other duties, and you'll have to speak to the guard about giving us a bit more space."

"But who will serve you?" Anne asked wide-eyed. "You are king after all."

"I will," Philippe said, executing a regal bow to his brother. The boy cleared his throat, and placed his hand on his chest. In his most officious tone he announced, "As the person of the king is near divine and sacrosanct none but a royal prince would be fit to serve him."

"Even with such menial tasks as handing us our royal dressing gown at night or our shirt in the morning." Louis's voice took on a haughty tone also and he was sure to make use of the royal 'we' but his eyes gleamed playfully.

"Philippe, you mustn't become be your brother's scapegrace! You can not know what such a subservient roll will do to your reputation and name; history will call you weak and ineffective. Why would you let yourself become the kings pawn?" Anne cried understanding what this could do to one so much a stranger to his brother's world.

"Our plan does work both ways, Louie will serve ME on days when I wear the crown. I don't much care how history paints me…Louie XIII was considered a weak king, I sure he doesn't care a bit what scholars say now that he's gone. France is strong and that is what really matters." Philippe smiled.

Louis cut in "Please mother our plan really is best…right now I'm mostly a figure head but you have taught me what I will be expected to do as king. Epée and I together will make a far better king then ether of us could be alone. All we need is to be free to discuss in private the affairs of the day and consult with one another. If we begin now when little is expected of us later when the pressure gets too great none will suspect when we switch places."

"Lew and I have spoken about this many times over the past months." Epée continued, "I have lived in obscurity but am no stranger to deception. I crave the spotlight…and I fear it. I want to be great… to make this kingdom the greatest it has ever been. But like moth to flame, I will burn up if there were no way escape from responsibility. In truth, I don't mind if people underestimate me… if Prince Philippe is believed a bit peculiar everyone will know I have no ambition for the crown. That way Lew or I can use that guise to safely distance ourselves from court. I don't even mind if people say 'the king's brother is a fool'…But I'll not have them think I am a traitor… ever." The prince admitted vehemently.

"You will help us…won't you mother?" Louis asked Philippe pleaded with his with his eyes and her heart melted. "Together we are complete," both boys declared in one voice.

She had often suspected her son was more intelligent than he pretended to be. His decisiveness and unexpected maturity frightened her at times. But right now, she was just glad to have them safe beside her at long last. "My boys," she sniffed tearing-up, "My fine, sweet, cunning boys; how can I refuse you?"

The young royals hugged her furiously. This was a day Anne never dreamed possible, the day her family was whole once more…All that was required was a few difficult words, and then she would be free to share her joy with Charles as well. But that would have to wait for another day.

A monumental 'thank you' to JeanTre my faithful beta
Who contributed tirelessly to my effort
and didn't even try to desert given the chance.
I appreciate all you have done!

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Keep an eye out for 'TAKEN'
in which Ramon is abducted by the Dark Order
and Siroc is forced to face his painful past.