Chap 13 secrets answered
Athos looked at the three men that sat before him and then spoke "Ramon, did you ever wonder why the Queen allowed you to became a musketeer?"
Ramon looked at the older musketeer for a moment and was quite confused by the question. "I thought it was because of the Duchess."
Athos nodded his head "That was part of the reason. The girl we are searching for is actually part of your family. Your eldest sister Angelita fell in love with the King of Spain. It was a forbidden love your sister was to marry the King's cousin. They fell in love and she ended up with child. She feared what her father would do when he found out so she ran and hid.
The King and Queen of France found out and thought that maybe a treaty could be formed between the two countries. There were many who did not want a treaty to happen. Assassins were sent to kill the young woman to keep the treaty from being signed.
She was attack on French soil so that the King of France would be blamed for her death and there would never be a treaty. When Angelita's father found out about her death he swore he would never have anything to do with the French. If they were attacked then he would watch them bleed as he believed they did with your sister."
All three men sat there in shock at what was told to them. Then Ramon looked up at the man with tears in his eyes. "You mean that Jacqueline is my niece and the reason my father does not like France is because my sister was murdered here."
Athos looked down to the floor. "Your sister did not die in the attack, but it was shortly after. She went in to labor and gave all of her strength to allow the child to be born. She thought that there would never be a treaty because that was the last words that were told to her by the assassins. Her heart gave up on her; she lost the only man she really loved and her family.
But she wanted to make sure her child would survive. As soon as the child was born D'Artagnan arrived, he had heard about the attack and went to see if he could help her.
He had made a promise to protect the child from harm. The king of Spain had given a cross to us to place upon the neck of the child. The child was placed with a family and the King and Queen of France did not even know were she was. For the child's safety the fewer who knew the safer she was.
The treaty has never been signed because the king of France had died and The Cardinal hid the papers for the treaty. The Queen has been unable to find the documents that were to be signed."
D'Artagnan Jr. looked at the man that was telling him all of this in complete shock "You mean she is a princess!"
Athos just shook his head. "She can not claim the crown unless something happens to the other children he has fathered. She was born out of wedlock and there for has no claim. But her father was deeply in love with her mother and made a vow to do what he could for the child."
Then Ramon looked over at D'Artagnan Jr. "What does this have to do with D'Artagnan?"
Then Athos started to laugh. "I was wondering when you would ask that!'
"Well his father had made a promise to protect the girl. The King of Spain heard about this and heard he had a son. Well the King of Spain said if his daughter and D'Artagnan Sr.'s son were to marry then he would consider a new treaty."
The Jacques (Siroc) spoke up. "You mean they are betrothed!"
"Well in a way I guess you could say that"
Ramon looked at his friend and said. "I know you love her and I give you my blessings as well."
Then D'Artagnan Jr. got a look on his face of fear. "Does that mean the assassins are after her?"
The others looked at each other and D'Artagnan Sr. spoke up. "She should be safe as long as no one knows where she is at."
But they did not see the figure in the shadows listening to every word that was spoken.
In the Castle in Paris
The young King and the Queen were talking
"Mother, Why does this woman have to be pardoned?"
The Queen was rubbing her forehead. She had been trying to explain to her son for over two hours who she was and what had happened to her.
"She was only trying to protect herself surely that is not a crime!"
She looked at her son, how he reminded her so much of his dear father. Then she got a brilliant idea. "She does have sisters and they are princesses one of them might make a good bride."
He looked at his mother, "Do you think they would like me?"
His mother smiled and thought this plan might work after all. "Of course! Everyone who knows you likes you. And it would make a very good alliance. Spain is a very strong country."
He looked back at his mother and gave her a smile. "We could have a celebration for them and everything! The entire Royal family could be invited."
The Queen knew that France would have an alliance with Spain and her son would make sure it would happen.
The king took out a piece of parchment and a quill and ink "I will make a proclamation. The woman is not a fugitive and she is under the protection of MY musketeers." Then he took the royal seal and made it official.
The Queen was relieved that the issue was finally resolved.