Anne

Everything in her screamed to stop d'Artagnan and Milady. She needed to ask about Aramis. She could not stay here… nor she could leave Constance who had nearly given her life for hers. However Anne's place was at her husband bedside, wasn't it?

He can barely tolerate my presence. Looking at me humiliates him as I am his damaged toy.

Anne was desperately fighting her tears. The musketeers had taken away the bodies of the attackers but the Queen could still hear the shots fired by the musketeer and Milady. She picked up Constance's gun but it seemed too heavy for her. She honestly did not know how to hold it, let alone how to use it.

She had to sit down as she felt the well-known cramps in her stomach. She excused herself and went further in her rooms and took care of her needs. Never had she felt so relieved. Her lips moved with a thankful prayer even as she saw the bitter irony of the situation. She fell on her knees in front of the holy Virgin and let her gratitude take better of her.

Finally, Anne felt ready to return to her beloved friend. Claude was a silent guardian in the room.

"Has she regained consciousness?", Anne asked dismissing quickly the musketeer's bow.

"No, Your Majesty"

She sighed as she wanted to thank her friend for the herbs she had given her. For the herbs which might have saved her from bearing the monster's child.

There was a subtle knock to the door and Milady's voice reached them, "Don't shoot me!".

"Come in", Anne murmured.

"The King is asking about you", Milady stated slightly inclining her head. There was a kind of anxiety in her gaze that unsettled young Queen.

"Isn't it a good news?", she asked when they left.

"His state of mind is quite… specific. Treville tries to calm him down."

"Why? Why does this man hate us so much?", Anne wished she could have held back her words. She should not trust Milady with her bitter thoughts.

"He's insane with his desire to claim you. The mental damage caused by Spanish tortures shattered any reason which could tame his animal instincts. Only death can end his misery."

Anne shivered listening to the low voice of King's lover, of an assassin. Treville himself had warned her about Milady.

"Why do you help me?", she asked suddenly.

"I am only doing whatever a woman can do to help protect her country and her Queen.", Milady murmured humbly. Then she lifted her head and caught the Queen's gaze. "And hope for protection in exchange", she finished. The green eyes seemed to reach Anne's very soul.

"The hope is not misplaced", she replied solemnly. She felt the weight of their conversation and their alliance.

Milady gave a small nod. They walked in silence but for the first time the young monarch felt truly comfortable in company of her husband's lover.

Finally, they reached the King's chambers. He was not in his usual bedroom, as the air there might still be poisonous.

Louis was resting on a comfortable bed. Anne felt blushing a bit as it was the place they had spend many nights during their honeymoon. Her husband was so sure she would end up pregnant after all their activities. She had disappointed him so much.

She shivered and she easily blamed it on the chill air coming through the huge, ajar window giving a view on the garden and bedflowers full of little colorful blossoming plants. Anne envied their careless existence. She took a deep breath and focused on her husband, who was half sitting half lying, his eyes glassy. Treville was kneeling near the bed.

"Your Majesty, thank you for coming."

"How is he, Treville?", she asked.

"He has calmed down a bit but hallucinations had been tormenting him. I hoped your presence would do wonders."

The Queen smiled sadly.

"Please, leave us", she asked against herself.

Treville nodded and left. Milady followed him.

Anne gently took her husband hand.

Why are we so strangers to each other? I tried to love you, I tried to befriend with you… When have I stopped trying? The night with Aramis was only the consequence, not the reason. I am so sorry I did not manage to be a wife you needed. Mother of your sons. I wished it so much! I hoped to bear you children. To make you proud!

"My King?", she whispered when Louis seemed to look at her.

"Why are you here?"

"I wanted to know how you feel, Sire."

"How kind of you!", he mocked.

"My King?", Anne asked with trepidation as all possible reasons of her husband's animosity were coming to her mind.

"You're dead! Go away! I won't join you!"

"Sire?", she hated that she felt relieved - he was simply seeing things not knowing her secret.

"I order you to live!", Louis gasped.

Anne gently stroke his hair. He leaned into her touch as never had he done before. She caressed lightly his hair and his face.

I am treating him like a scared child. There's nothing else in my gesture…

Suddenly, her guilt overwhelmed her.

We're so distant from each other. You have your beautiful lover who's my ally and I have dreams about my musketeer who'll never be truly mine. We're so broken and lost in this world imposed on us. I think I used to be your friend. Were you ever mine?

She bowed her head. She would not cry.

Louis seemed to fall asleep. She looked at his pale face and slowly got up. Behind the door Treville and Lemay were waiting talking softly.

"What can you tell about my husband condition?", she asked quietly.

Both men curtsied.

"I've discussed the poison with Milady de Winter and we have managed to draw some conclusions. First of all, the poison was meant to kill him in his sleep. If the King had spent more time in his bedroom, he would not have woken up. Quite often a substance like this causes hallucinations while given in lower doses. However, there is always a risk of brain damage. Especially taking into consideration previous exposure to some kind of poison. I would be able to say more when the King truly wakes up."

"Thank you, doctor. We are in desperate need for a safe place. Captain Treville could you find a such place for my family?"

"Your Majesty, it's easier to protect you here in Paris. A disguise might give you some safety though…"

"I am worried about my son and my husband. I have no intention to leave. Can you find a safe place for them?"

"The King will not be happy and I doubt he would remain in what would have to be a house of commoners."

"Milady might convince him"

It was insane how easily she decided to let her husband stay under his lover's care. However after the birth of her son their marriage was virtually non-existent. Both of them were to blame for it. She had become completely devoted to her son as she could not to his father and Louis satisfied with fulfillment of his duty as a husband and as a King felt free to seek entertrainment.

"Well. I need to make a few arrangements. I will contact you as soon as it's possible, Your Majesty.", Treville bowed.

"Captain, I'm waiting for information from you.", she made it clear he could disturb her if he found it fit.

"Doctor?", she turned to Lemay, "When do you think Constance can be moved?"

"What do you mean by being moved, Your Majesty? Another room should be no problem, though travel in cart is out of question", Lemay replied.

Anne only nodded. She was not quite sure if she wanted her friend gone from the palace, but she would not jeopardize Constance's life for her own comfort. However, Lemay's answer saved her from this dilemma.

They both heard hastened steps and turned attention to that direction. Anne felt so vulnerable and defenseless, even when musketeers' guard appeared in the vast corridor to intercept any threat. But they lowered their weapon immediately when they saw the newcomer who passed them in hurry.

It was d'Artagnan and the Queen's heart skipped a beat.

"Doctor Lemay, please! He's getting worse!", the young musketeer cried with despair and only then he gave a bow in Anne's direction though the monarch was sure he had noticed her earlier.

"Go!", she ordered quickly to both men and followed them. She knew about whom d'Artagnan had spoken. However when she entered the room, she froze.

Aramis was half lying in the bed, his face was bathed in sweat, he was breathing fast through his open mouth reminding her of a fish out of water, desperately gasping for air.

"His fever is rising", d'Artagnan stated the obvious.

Anne was not sure how she managed to be suddenly so close to her fallen musketeer she realized it only when she took the hot rag from his forehead and immersed it in a bowl of cold water standing near the bed.

"What's wrong with him, Lemay?", she asked trying to sound less emotional than she felt.

"He was exposed to a poison before when he inhaled much smoke. His body had no time to heal.", he replied checking on the musketeer.

"Will he live?", she asked.

"Too early to say. I am sorry, my Queen…"

"He's my husband's savour. Do whatever you need to heal him", Anne masked pain in her voice with the order. A trick she had learned as a small girl.

"I'll do my best.", Lemay replied solemnly.

Aramis leaned into the coldness of the cloth. He tried to say something but only started to cough. Anne gently pressed her finger to his lips.

"Hush… don't speak… you're safe… you saved the King…"

She wanted so badly to be here fully for him. To take him in her arms, to kiss the sweat away from his face.

"I need some herbs. I'll be back", Lemay left in haste. She knew she was so careless! D'Artagnan busied himself with something in the corner of the room having turned his back to her.

She slowly took Aramis' face in her hands. She whispered his name and froze when his eyelids fluttered.

What if he doesn't recognize me?! What if he mistakes me with someone else and accuse of their deeds?!

Anne was sure she could not bear that. Dark eyes slowly focused on her face. A small smile appeared on his cracked lips.

"Must be dreaming", he whispered. His trembling fingers touched her face.

Though he mistook reality for a dream there was no confusion in his eyes, only pure love he offered her. Never after their stolen night had she seen so deep affection to her not bothered by pain. She remembered how he had avoided her in Fontainebleau and now she was certain it had been only a mask. He had not stop loving her.

"Aramis! Fight for me. Stay with me… ", she said her hoarse voice sounding like a desperate prayer.

He nodded slightly, a smile of innocent joy appearing on his lips.

"Ana…", he barely whispered, but she heard in it his promise. She gently touched his cheek and nearly withdrew her hand when she felt how hot his skin was.

"You're my knight, my protector… You cannot leave me", she pleaded.

A knock on the door immobilized her.

"It's Lemay", d'Artagnan reassured her.

"Let him in.", she told him and fought hard to compose herself.

"He's conscious", she hastened with the information and stood up, though her heart screamed at her to stay at her beloved man's side.

A/N

Great thanks to Legate of Apples for betaing!