The mood in Ellie's house the next morning was a sombre one. Only a few Musketeers had been invited to attend the funeral of the three killed in Gaston's attack but that didn't stop the cadets from wearing a piece of black fabric on their arms that day instead of the usual blue.
Ellie had left her house before anyone else, Brujon pressing a kiss to her cheek as she passed. She'd met up with Porthos as he'd left his lodgings, walking quietly down to the church together, neither really up for talking.
Aramis, Athos and D'Artagnan were waiting for them outside the church as the mourners filed in, Christoph and his wife among them. They were the last to walk in, sitting right at the back, out the way for fear of upsetting anyone.
After all, it was their presence which caused the men to die in the first place.
"Any idea who the thief is?" Athos asked quietly as Christophe stood up and walked to the front of the church.
"We'll find out soon enough," D'Artagnan replied, looking around the room.
"Can we pay our respects first?" Porthos snapped quietly, turning to glare at Athos and D'Artagnan.
Neither said anything back, settling down in their seats as Christophe cleared his throat and began speaking.
"With the Lord at your back…you need not fear the destruction that wastes at noon. He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings, you will find refuge. You will not fear the terror of night…nor the arrow that flies by day." Christophe paused, evidently trying his best not to break down at the podium as he glanced at the three coffins lined up next to him.
"A thousand men…" he trailed off again, his voice cracking with emotion.
Ellie turned her head as Aramis stood up, the bench creaking slightly.
"A thousand men may fall at your side," Aramis finished, giving Christophe a knowing look. Christophe gave him a small smiled back and nodded, allowing Aramis to come up to the front.
Ellie looked over her shoulder and froze. She nudged Porthos with her elbow, nodding over at the man hiding behind a pillar.
"Excuse me," Porthos asked, tapping the man in front of them on the shoulder, "who is that man?"
"Lucien Grimaud," he replied as Grimaud walked off. "He kindly met the cost of this service."
Ellie watched as Grimaud left the church, quietly shutting the door behind him. Had she seen him before? His face was weirdly familiar to her. She was just about to turn away when the door swung open and Marcheaux stormed in, flanked by his men.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," she muttered, glancing over at Aramis and catching his very annoyed expression.
"This is a house of God!" Aramis yelled as Ellie stood up, intercepting Marcheaux before he could get any further into the building.
"These men are to be arrested by order of the Duke of Orleans," Marcheaux announced, holding up a piece of paper with somebody's handwriting on it.
"You really do have no shame, do you?" D'Artagnan snapped, moving to stand next to Ellie.
"The shame belongs to whoever stole from the Duke," Marcheaux replied, smiling sinisterly. "But since they will not come forward, we'll flog everyone to get the truth."
"It is Orleans who should be flogged!" Christoph yelled, barging through the crowd, only for Aramis to stop him.
"And his bastard brother," someone else added.
Ellie saw Marcheaux's smirk expression fall and frowned. She only registered his gun raising and firing when the man who'd just spoken fell to the ground. There was a yell as some of the soldiers tried to launch themselves at Marcheaux, Porthos and Athos forcing them back. Ellie glanced down at the man who'd fallen at her feet and could tell from the expression on the people around him that he was dead.
"Enough!" Treville yelled, storming into the building with a furious expression on his face. He turned to face Marcheaux. "Withdraw, Captain." Marcheaux stayed where he was, glaring at Treville. "I am your Minister and I order you – withdraw!"
Marcheaux smiled sinisterly, turning his head to his men. The scoffed and walked out the building, Marcheaux following after them, smirking.
Christophe brushed past Ellie and she quickly followed. As much as she'd like to see Christophe kill Marcheaux, it would make an awfully big political mess and she'd rather not be executed.
"Christophe!" She yelled, running after him, Porthos following her. She reached out a hand to grab him, but Christophe turned around and shoved it off.
"Get your hands off me!" Christophe yelled and Porthos moved in front of Ellie – something she rolled her eyes at but let go. 'You brought that monster into my home! All this is your fault."
"These men are trying to help," Treville cut in. Christophe moved to punch Treville, but Porthos caught his arm, pushing him back. Christophe caught Sylvie in the crowd and glared. "I should never have listened to you!" He yelled. "I should've killed them all when I had the chance. Four of ours have been taken. We march on the Palace. Take one of theirs! Orleans. Return to the tavern for the weapons!"
Christophe shoved his way through the crowd, a determined expression on his face. His men followed after and Ellie watched them all leave, anxiety rising up in her.
"We should go after them," Porthos said to Treville as they watched Christophe march off.
Treville shook his head. "No. Come with me."
"The Duke ordered the Red Guard to attack that church. Did he have your authority?"
Treville had marched them up to the palace and into Louis chambers where the King was still in his night clothes.
"But he was robbed!" Louis replied as way of explanation.
"As are Parisians, every single day yet you don't see them murdering people," Ellie muttered and Porthos smirked.
"Majesty, this is about more than money," Athos said calmly, ever the diplomat.
"Your own war heroes are arming themselves to march on the Palace," Porthos added.
"Well, then, we'll slaughter them," Louis said simply, and Ellie sighed, hanging her head in despair.
"There are men just like these in every borough of Paris," D'Artagnan said.
"What will they do when they hear how the king treats their brothers?" Treville finished.
"Majesty, this is a fire that must never be lit," Athos said.
"Force the Duke to show remorse. Make a public apology –"
"Enough!" Louis snapped. "You do not tell me what to do, Treville. Now get these Musketeers out of my quarters immediately!"
Ellie didn't bother to bow properly, quickly storming out of the room before she did something she'd regret.
Ellie slowed her walking pace as Treville met them in the corridor. They'd gone to find Aramis, who'd been mid conversation with Anne, collected him and returned to the King's chambers.
"The King wants me to speak to these men on his behalf," Treville said, sighing.
"That's not a good idea," Porthos told him.
D'Artagnan sighed. "They blame us, Treville."
"I have to contain this before it spreads," Treville said, silencing their protests. "I will speak to them as a soldier, not a Minister."
"What's happened?" Athos asked, realising that Treville's tone had changed.
"They saw us help them against the Red Guard," Treville explained. "They'll listen to me."
"Are trying to convince us or yourself?" Ellie said quietly and smiled at Treville's smirk.
"You're going alone?" Athos asked.
"If I go with you, it will provoke them."
"Go without us, they might kill you," Aramis batted back.
"If they reach the palace, we'll kill all of them. I cannot risk any more blood on Royal hands."
"I'm coming with you," Porthos said suddenly, his tone indicating that he'd well and truly made his mind up. Treville just sighed, walking off down the corridor.
"I thought we were telling each other everything," Athos muttered to him as they walked down the corridor.
"Looks like I'm not going home anytime soon," Ellie muttered to Aramis, who put an arm around her shoulders.
"And they've built themselves a barricade," Ellie groaned as she rode towards the tavern. She'd been minding her own business when one of Christophe's soldiers had stormed in, announcing that they had Treville and Porthos, which came of no surprise to her. She'd seen it coming.
"Where's the Minister and my Musketeer?" Athos demanded.
Christophe emerged from behind the barricade and nodded to his friend who handed Athos a piece of parchment.
"You won't see them until you've taken our demands to the King," Christophe said.
"This is never going to happen," Athos said, reading the demands.
"It'll happen in one hour, or your friends die," Christophe snapped.
"Stand down," D'Artagnan told him.
"We can still end this peacefully," Aramis added.
"THIS WILL END!" Christophe yelled, startling the horses. "But whether or not it is peaceful…that's up to you. One hour." He turned and headed back behind the barricade.
"Stay here," Athos muttered as he turned around and rode off.
"Oh joy," Ellie muttered, dismounting from her horse. "A stalemate."
They'd built themselves a barricade whilst Athos had been gone. It was a definite stalemate between the two sides. Christophe's lot still had their guns trained on them, even as they piled wood and chairs together.
Ellie had settled herself in-between Aramis and Brujon, giving her lover a reassuring smile as she loaded her pistol.
"Stay calm," D'Artagnan said as he paced behind the waiting cadets. "Make sure they can see us at all times, no sudden movements. He paused, glancing at Brujon who was raising his pistol. "What are you doing? Lower your pistol." D'Artagnan glanced over at Ellie and Aramis, both of whom were readying their pistols. "No one is to draw a weapon without my order."
"Sorry sir," Brujon said quietly, lowering his pistol to his side.
Ellie glanced over at Aramis as he patted her on the back, squeezing himself next to Brujon.
"Look to your left," Aramis said quietly. Ellie smiled at Brujon as he glanced at her. "Now look to your right. A musketeer is never alone, Brujon. Remember that."
"You should become the new inspirational speech master," Ellie muttered to Aramis.
"Haha," Aramis shot back, nudging her playfully.
Athos suddenly appeared behind them, pulling D'Artagnan and Aramis off to the side.
"He said no, didn't he," Ellie said quietly, watching the two talk. "I don't know why I'm surprised." She turned to face Athos as he came over. "They said no, didn't they?"
Athos nodded. "I've got an idea, however. Just wait until I tell you."
He and D'Artagnan walked around to the other side of the barricade. "I need to know my men are alive, Christophe," Athos called.
Christophe nodded to someone and they disappeared inside, reappearing a moment later with Porthos.
"Make it quick, Captain," Christophe ordered.
"Treville?" Porthos nodded. "As soon as I give the word, the King will organise an emergency council meeting. Be over soon, my friend. Until then, be strong, as you were at Alsace. Tell the King they're alive."
"What's Alsace?" Brujon asked quietly as D'Artagnan disappeared inside a building where Aramis had gone.
"No idea,' Ellie muttered in reply.
The air was thick with tension as both sides waited for the inevitable. Ellie could see Porthos and Treville in the window and knew that Christophe was behind them with a gun to their backs.
"Stand by, Brujon, it's time," Athos said and Brujon nodded. He watched Athos carefully as he crouched down behind a crate. Athos nodded and Brujon raised his pistol, firing it at the wood of the barricade, causing everyone behind to duck.
"Here we go," Ellie muttered, taking the safety off her gun and firing it as the cadets around her did the same. The soldiers the other side of the barricade all ducked down, quickly recovering from the surprise attack.
"Return fire!" Christophe yelled and the soldiers popped up from the barricade, firing back at them. All of the cadets ducked, wood splintering around them as the bullets hit. There was a lull in the soldier's fire and they quickly reloaded and returned their fire.
Suddenly, there was a loud explosion which rocked the ground, causing them all to stumble. Somewhere to her right, smoke poured out of a building and a quick look at Athos told her that whatever was happening, was not going to plan. Christophe disappeared inside his tavern, leaving a close friend in charge as there was a sudden lull in the battle.
The lull was broken by a gunshot from behind. Ellie whirled around, swearing when she saw a small army of Red Guards marching towards them. Some were pulling a wagon between them, covered with a red tarp. The guards started firing, the bullets narrowly missing the cadets as they all cowered on the ground, struggling to reload their guns whilst being fired at.
"Defend yourselves!" Athos yelled. With that order from their Captain, all the cadets began jumping over their barricade, ducking down and firing back when they got the chance. Athos shoved Ellie behind a wagon, grabbing an injured cadet at the same time. Brujon fell down against Ellie as she pushed the wagon against the wall, sealing their 'wall'.
Ellie picked up an abandoned pistol that was lying on the floor. A quick check revealed that it was still with ammunition and Ellie quickly reloaded it, clicking the safety off the pistol. There was a brief lull and Ellie used to her advantage, standing up and hitting the Red Guard doing the majority of the firing directly in the stomach, the pistols he'd been holding clattering to the ground.
Ellie barely managed to duck back down in time as they started firing again, falling into Athos as he reached out a hand to steady her.
"Covering fire!" Someone yelled from behind. Ellie glanced behind her and saw Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan with their pistols up as Treville stood behind them. Christophe fired his pistol over their heads as D'Artagnan moved the table out the way, coming out and taking out some of the Red Guards.
"Fall back!" D'Artagnan yelled. He didn't need to repeat himself. All the cadets quickly stumbled their way over to the tavern's barricade. Athos helped the injured cadet up, practically carrying him to safety as Brujon followed. Ellie went to go but had to duck back behind the wagon as someone, probably Marcheaux, fired at her.
Aramis made eye contact with Ellie, giving her a single nod as he rested his gun on top of a crate. Ellie nodded back, crouching down, ready to run. Aramis fired his gun and Ellie sprinted over to the tavern, skidding down onto the ground as another bullet flew over her head, landing in the wooden door. Porthos caught Ellie before she collided with the wall, helping her up and handing her a freshly loaded pistol
"Marcheaux!" Treville yelled, trying to make his voice heard over the bullets and the yelling.
"He won't listen!" Athos yelled back. He was crouched down, tying a makeshift bandage around the injured cadet's wound.
"This attack has no legitimacy!" Treville yelled back, ducking slightly.
"He's got direct orders from the King, Treville," Ellie yelled, firing her pistol and chucking the empty one to Brujon so that he could reload it. "Marcheaux can kill all of us and Louis won't ask a single question."
Treville groaned. "We fight him," he said firmly, looking between them all for confirmation.
"Together," Athos said, glancing at Christophe.
Christophe nodded. "Together."
"How much gunpowder do you have?" Aramis asked as he reloaded his pistol, chucking a spare one to Porthos.
"Two barrels inside," Christophe answered, nodding his head to the tavern.
"I'll go," D'Artagnan said, ducking down and disappearing inside the building.
Ellie swore as another bullet flew over her head, hitting the wall behind her. "For fuck's sake!" She stood up and fired at the guard, hitting two of them before she had to duck back down.
"This is like Scotland all over again!" Brujon yelled as he ducked down next to her, swabbing his empty gun for a new one.
"You and I remember Scotland very differently," Ellie said frowning as she chucked a pistol to Aramis who was crouched down next to Ellie.
"What happened in Scotland?" Aramis asked as he began reloading Ellie's pistol.
"None of your business," Ellie and Brujon said at the same time, both of them standing up together and firing their guns.
D'Artagnan came back out with the barrels of gunpowder, quickly getting to work on loading the guns with it. He threw a fresh one to Ellie and she put her last bullet into it, hesitating slightly before clicking the safety off.
"They're reloading!" Aramis yelled as the guns fell silent for a moment.
"Fire!" Treville yelled and all of them stood up and fired their guns, smoke filling the air again.
Ellie didn't waste her last shot, hitting on guard directly in the head, causing him to fall into another guard, knocking him to the ground.
"I'm out!" Porthos exclaimed as he sat down, leaning against the barricade and throwing his pistol against the ground.
"Same here," Ellie added, resting her head against a crate as she panted.
"Fire!"
All of them instinctively ducked down behind the barricade as a fresh attack came in, the Red Guard clearly having an endless supply of guns and bullets.
"We're outgunned!" Athos exclaimed, falling down against the barricade next to Ellie, swiping his hair out of his eyes.
"Is there another way out?" Aramis asked, glancing over at Christophe.
Christophe shook his head. "We're trapped."
Ellie felt her heart sink, and judging from the looks around her, everyone else felt the same. She glanced over at Brujon, giving him a look, she hadn't given him since Scotland. Brujon nodded, giving her the smallest smile and Ellie smiled back.
"Whatever happens, I've got your back," Aramis said, patting Porthos on the back.
Porthos nodded, giving his friend a knowing smile. "I know."
All five of them looked to each other, giving each other a nod. As one, they stood up and drew their swords, turning to face the Red Guard in front of them. But, all of them froze as the sound of yelling got closer.
Ellie laughed as she caught sight of Constance and Clairmont running towards them. As the Red Guard turned their attention to the new threat, Ellie and D'Artagnan pulled the table down and ran to join them, the sound of metal on metal quickly filling the space.
"Nice of you to join us!" Ellie yelled as she, Brujon and Clairmont fought the Red Guard, the three of them with their backs to each other.
"Couldn't miss Scotland part 2!" Clairmont yelled and Ellie groaned as she pulled her sword out of someone.
"This is not going to become Scotland," she snapped back, throwing a dagger at a soldier who was creeping up behind Athos.
"Ahuh," Brujon replied, his tone indicating that he knew she was lying. Ellie just rolled her eyes and broke from the circle, running up the stairs next to her and attacking the guards up there.
There was another war cry and Sylvie emerged from the other end with her friends and it was soon clear that the Red Guard were outnumbered and outgunned. Ellie stood next to Brujon on the top of the stairs as they watched the cadets and musketeers surround the Red Guard, swords aimed at them.
"No one's watching," Brujon said quietly and Ellie chuckled.
"Fine." She leant in and kissed him, her hands coming to rest on his waist.
"I don't know why you won't tell them," Brujon muttered as Ellie let go, resting her head on his shoulder.
Ellie sighed. "Reasons I don't quite know myself, Brujon. Fear, maybe. Judgement," she shrugged, "either way I don't want this to be ruined quite yet."
"Well, I can add to 'this' later on," Brujon muttered and Ellie giggled.
"We'll see, Brujon, we'll see."
A/N: my last update of 2019 :( We're nearing the end of this saga (finally) and it will definitely be done by 2020. I'm going to miss my muskeeters.