Bonnaire had led them to Lady Francoise's estate; a grand white house set in a backdrop of lush green fields and trees. It was paradise. If you ignored the plantation set right next door to it where Francoise probably got all of her money.
"That's Lady Francoise there," Bonnaire said, pointing to a very well-dressed woman walking towards the pavilion. "The diamonds I sold her were to be a gift for her darling Serena."
"Right, so what's our plan?" D'Artagnan asked, leaning down so he could look past the tree. Ellie slid to the side slightly, avoiding D'Artagnan's sword as it nearly stabbed her in the leg.
"Well, since you're the one who asked…" Athos said, trailing off. D'Artagnan slowly turned to look at his friend as Athos raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, this is going to be good," Ellie said, smirking as D'Artagnan groaned but walked down the grass to the pavilion where Lady Francoise had disappeared too.
Ellie, knowing nothing was going to happen for at least ten minutes, sat down on the grass, leaning against the tree. She put her hat over her face and settled down for a power nap.
"So, Elizabeth."
Ellie swore quietly, moving her hat back onto her head to glare at Bonnaire who was staring down at her. "What?"
"You've really…flourished since we last saw one another," Bonnaire said.
Athos snorted, failing to hide it with a cough and if he hadn't been so far away, Ellie would've punched him.
"Ahuh, it's called aging," Ellie said, pulling her hat back down and ignoring him. She could feel her patience with Bonnaire fading and the more he talked, the worse it got.
"But you really are a beautiful lady," Bonnaire continued. "Given what you went through those years, it really –"
Ellie had had enough. She stood up and in one swoop, pulled her dagger out, shoved Bonnaire against the tree and pressed her dagger against Bonnaire's neck.
"Whoa, calm down, Ellie" Aramis said from behind her, moving forward slightly so he could grab her.
"Elizabeth," Athos warned, hand moving to his own sword.
"Say that one more time, Bonnaire and your fancy clothes won't be so blue," she hissed, pressing the dagger against his throat. "And I'm sure you're rather attached to your life."
Bonnaire swallowed against the dagger. "Yes, I am. And I am sorry. I did not mean any offence."
Ellie rolled her eyes as Aramis reached forward, putting a hand on her shoulder and pulled her off Bonnaire.
"Whatever, Bonnaire," Ellie muttered, sheathing her dagger back into her belt. She brushed Aramis' hand off her shoulder and stalked over to a tree furthest away from Bonnaire, sitting down underneath it.
Ellie pulled out her dagger again and began twirling it between her fingers, fiercely glaring at Bonnaire as she did so.
"Can you…can you make her stop doing that?" Bonnaire asked Athos, staring at Ellie nervously.
"I could," Athos said, leaning against the tree. "But then I'd ended up with my throat silt and, like you, I'm rather attached to my life."
Bonnaire flinched as Ellie threw her dagger into the tree in front of her, the weapon hitting its mark.
Aramis sighed in relief as D'Artagnan emerged from the pavilion, nodding at them to come join them.
"He has perfect timing," Aramis muttered to Porthos as they walked over to D'Artagnan.
Athos walked next to Ellie, constantly watching her in his peripheral in case she tried to attack Bonnaire again.
As they reached him, D'Artagnan chucked a bunch of ropes at Bonnaire, the man barely catching them in time and dropping most of them.
"So, who's Serena?" Athos asked as D'Artagnan began walking, leading them behind the pavilion.
D'Artagnan shook his head, chuckling slightly as he stopped in the field behind it. "That is Serena," he said, pointing to the white horse stood in the field, munching on the grass.
Ellie burst out laughing, surprising nearly everyone and making Bonnaire jump back into Porthos.
"Oh, please tell me you got slapped," Ellie said, giggling. D'Artagnan sighed, rolling his eyes. "Oh my god, you did. Oh, this is hilarious."
"Is she ok?" Bonnaire asked Porthos quietly.
Porthos sighed, pinching his nose. "Honestly, I've no idea."
D'Artagnan cleared his throat and gave Porthos a look. "May I continue?" Porthos nodded, clearing his throat. "Thank you. The diamonds have been woven into her tail."
"Unbelievable," Porthos muttered. "Labourers toiling in that field and in this one, a horse wears diamond!"
"Oh, what it is to have money," Ellie added, sighing.
Aramis hummed in agreement. "And they wonder why civil war looms in England."
"Stay here," Athos said, confidently walking up to Serena. "This won't take long."
Ellie shook her head at him, knowing exactly how it was going to go.
"This is going to be good," she whispered to D'Artagnan.
As Athos approached, Serena whinnied and raised a hoof at him, bucking nervously. Startled, Athos jumped back a bit before regaining his composure
"Rope," Athos said, holding out his hand. Bonnaire handed it to him and Athos stepped forward, ready for a second attempt.
Aramis and Porthos, seeing that Athos wasn't having much success, both stepped into help, trying to corner the horse and capture it.
Ellie sighed, shaking her head as she sat down on the grass. "Do we tell them?"
"Nah," D'Artagnan replied, chuckling as he crossed his arms. "This is too good."
"D'Artagnan, Ellie, fancy helping us out?" Porthos snapped and the two of them shrugged.
"You're managing just fine, Porthos!" Ellie yelled, trying not to laugh as Serena darted off to the left as Aramis came at her from the right.
Aramis evidently becoming infuriated by the horse, angrily took his doublet off and threw onto the floor, glaring at Ellie and D'Artagnan as he did so.
Porthos and Bonnaire – who had decided to help – ran into each other at one point as they both tried to avoid being kicked by Serena.
After another five minutes had passed, Aramis strolled over to where D'Artagnan and Ellie were standing, panting heavily and sweating.
Ellie wordlessly offered him her water skin and he took it, muttering his thanks as he drink some, took his hat off, and poured some over him.
Athos joined him a moment later, struggling to not fall over into the grass, as he glared at the horse.
"Aramis…" Athos panted, "shoot the horse."
"Serena?" Aramis shook his head. "No, I'm not shooting a horse, Athos."
Athos sighed, pulling his pistol out, clicking the safety off and aiming it at Serena.
"Athos," Aramis sighed, shaking his head.
"Hey," Porthos called, waving a hand.
"Wait," D'Artagnan called. He stood up, pulling Ellie to her feet and walked over to Athos. "Give me the rope."
Athos all but dropped the rope into D'Artagnan's hand, glaring at him as he passed.
"Can't believe you were going to shoot a horse, Athos," Ellie tutted as she passed, narrowly dodging the punch on the arm he aimed at her.
"Be careful," Athos called as they walked up to the horse.
"Trust me, I used to be a farmer," D'Artagnan said, scoffing slightly.
"And I practically lived with them," Ellie muttered.
As D'Artagnan approached Serena, Ellie quietly walked up to her, stroking her nose and whispering to her. D'Artagnan gently hit Serena with the rope, causing her to bend her leg down. Once her head was lowered, he simply threw the rope over her head, successfully catching her.
Ellie glanced over her shoulder and laughed at the bewildered expressions behind her. She pulled an apple out of her pocket and gave it to Serena, patting the horse on the neck.
D'Artagnan bowed down, smiling smugly at the exhausted group in front of him.
"You could have done that before," Aramis panted.
"Well, of course, but where's the fun in that?" D'Artagnan replied, shrugging as he rubbed Serena's nose lovingly.
"Bonnaire, grab the diamonds," Athos said, evidently done with the horse and Bonnaire.
"Me? Er, no," Bonnaire said, shaking his head.
"Well, aren't you the fearless highwayman?" Aramis replied, smirking.
"Yes, yes, I suppose I am," Bonnaire said. He threw the rope down on the ground and walked up to Porthos. "Pass me a blade," he faltered as Porthos just shook his head, "someone." He moved on to Aramis who handed him his sword. "Yes, I suppose the horses tail will just grow back, won't it."
"Your head won't if you try anything," Porthos countered and Ellie laughed.
It was physically painful to watch Bonnaire try and cut the braid from Serena's tail. Ellie gave up waiting and walked over to Aramis, grabbing the water from him as Bonnaire finally cut it off and chucked the braid to D'Artagnan.
Bonnaire, rather fancying Aramis' sword, began swinging it about, pretending he was actually a musketeer.
"Come on, give it back," Porthos said, walking up to him. Bonnaire reluctantly handed it over and Porthos, unable to resist the opportunity, then slapped him in the face.
Ellie choked on the water, nearly spitting it out as Porthos walked over with a shit – eating grin on his face.
"How long do you think I'd have to serve to buy Constance just one of these?" D'Artagnan asked, looking at the diamond fondly as he plucked it out of the braid.
"Well, there are other ways to keep a woman content, aren't there?" Aramis asked, frowning.
"You can say that again," Ellie muttered, taking her hat off and running a hand through her hair. She stopped, staring at the three men who were staring at her. "What?"
Luckily, Porthos came over before anyone said anything. He snatched the braid out of D'Artagnan's hand, ripping a diamond out of it before handing it back to him.
"Erm, Porthos?" Athos asked, frowning as his friend threw the diamond into the field next door.
"They'll find that and put it to better use," he explained, walking back over.
"Alright then," she said, clapping her hands and beginning to walk off. "We done?"
"No," Athos said, grabbing her shirt and pulling her back. Ellie fell back into him and he put a hand on her back, catching her. "We've got more to find, come on."
Ellie groaned loudly but followed Athos back to their horses. D'Artagnan put an arm around her shoulders and looked down at her, smirking.
"Got plans?" He asked, glancing down at her with a teasing expression.
"Oh, shut up," Ellie snapped, elbowing him in the side.
~ 0 ~
Constance looked up as she heard the tell-tale sound of hooves on cobbles at the entrance of the Garrison. She smiled at D'Artagnan as he rode in, leaning up to kiss him as he dismounted.
"Some of the diamonds," D'Artagnan said, handing the pouch to Constance. "Take them to Treville and tell him there are more to come."
Constance opened the pouch and looked at the sparkling diamonds longingly. She sighed, smiling at her husband.
"You'll have one of your own, one day, I promise you," D'Artagnan said, kissing her again. "In the meantime, go."
"Is Ellie alright?" Constance asked suddenly, noticing the murderous look on her face as Bonnaire started talking at her.
D'Artagnan sighed. "Bonnaire and Ellie…well, she hates him." He looked behind him as Bonnaire jumped down from his horse, Ellie trying not to hit her head on wooden pole behind her as he kept talking.
"Aha," Bonnaire said, spotting Constance. "You must be Madame D'Artagnan…"
Constance raised her eyes up at D'Artagnan and D'Artagnan sighed despairingly, turning his head to the sky as Bonnaire walked over.
Ellie sighed heavily as she walked over to Bonnaire, mouthing an apology to Constance as she approached.
"…which goes to show that behind every great Musketeer –"
"Are two women who want to kill you?" Ellie asked as Constance stepped forward and hit Bonnaire in the stomach.
"That is for the women you robbed," Constance hissed, glaring at him. "Now, get back on your horse."
Ellie looked up at the balcony, trying not to murder Bonnaire, when she caught sight of Brujon watching her from above. She waved at him and he waved back, giving her a smile. He nodded to where the kitchen was, a silent question of 'you staying?"
Ellie glanced behind her at Athos, sighing quietly as she glanced back at Brujon. She shrugged and Brujon nodded, still smiling albeit slightly less joyful.
"Ellie, you coming or staying?" D'Artagnan asked, catching sight of torn expression as she watched Brujon disappear back inside. He silently raised his eyebrows and Ellie bit her lip, looking between the door upstairs and Athos.
"Surely it isn't going to take four of us to get some diamonds back," she said quietly, turning to face D'Artagnan.
"D'Artagnan!" Athos yelled as he and Porthos began riding out the garrison, Bonnaire in tow.
D'Artagnan sighed, glancing over to where Athos and Porthos had ridden off to. He turned back to her and smiled. "Fine, but you owe me one."
Ellie nodded, handing her horses reins to the stable boy. "Thank you!" She called as D'Artagnan rode after Athos and Porthos.
Ellie turned around and walked smack bang into Aramis. He reached out a hand, grabbing her waist as she stumbled back.
"Oh, hi," Ellie said, straightening her doublet as Aramis shook his head.
"Why are you here?" Aramis asked, frowning.
"Reasons," she replied. She looked behind him at the woman he'd been talking to. "Why are you here?"
"Reasons," Aramis repeated, a knowing smile on his face.
"And does your reason have a name?" Ellie asked, nodding her head at the woman standing next to him, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"I'm Pauline," she said, holding out a hand for Ellie to shake.
"Elizabeth," Ellie said, smiling as she shook it. "If you need me, look for Brujon or Constance," she yelled over her shoulder as she ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
"She's nice," Pauline said once Ellie had gone. She looked at Aramis. "She a friend?"
Aramis sighed. "A sister. A very annoying but beautiful sister."
~ 0 ~
Ellie sighed heavily as she shifted in her chair, putting her legs up on the table in front of her. She leaned forward and poured some wine into two cups, grabbing one before she sat back in her chair.
The door behind her creaked as it was opened and Ellie tilted her head back, smiling at Brujon as he walked in.
"You stayed?" Brujon asked as he sat down next to her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Mmm," Ellie answered, sipping her wine. "D'Artagnan's covering for me."
Brujon chuckled as Ellie sighed loudly as he rubbed her shoulders. "Long day?"
"Bonnaire did not shut up all day. That man could probably talk his way out of being executed if he spoke for long enough."
Brujon chuckled as he refilled Ellie's cup. "I heard him before I even saw you in the yard." Brujon nodded to Ellie's shirt. "Anyone comment on your clothing choice?"
Ellie chuckled, blushing slightly. "No. Besides, you don't even wear this shirt, Brujon."
"I'm wearing it now," Brujon replied, grabbing the front of her shirt and pulling her towards him.
"No, I'm wearing it," Ellie corrected, taking her feet off the table and leaning forward so that she could kiss Brujon. "But that could change."
Brujon laughed against her lips as he kissed her back, pulling her off her seat and onto his lap, wrapping a hand around her waist as their kiss got more passionate. Soon, Ellie's doublet was on the floor, as well as her weapons belt. Brujon untied Ellie's hair, letting it fall down as he began pulling her shirt out from her trousers.
"Ellie –"
"Get out!" Brujon and Ellie yelled, the unsuspecting cadet quickly slamming the door shut.
Ellie groaned, burying her head into Brujon's neck and hiding behind her hair. "Why can we never just have some peace?" She moaned, getting off his lap. She stormed up to the door and swung it open, the cadet cowering slightly. "What?"
"Madame D'Artagnan needs you," the cadet squeaked, trying his best not to look at Ellie's untucked shirt and doublet on the floor.
"Of course, she does," Ellie muttered, shoving her hair back from her face. "Fine, where is she?"
"Oh, I'm meant to pick this up, am I?" Brujon asked as Ellie stepped out into the corridor
"Technically, it is yours," Ellie called, winking at him as he glared at her.
The cadet lead her upstairs and down a corridor, towards Constance's office. He knocked on the door and, before he'd even finished, disappeared down the stairs.
Ellie sighed and rolled her eyes, letting herself in. She shut the door behind her and glared at Constance.
"You bloody well knew what I was doing," Ellie complained as Constance smirked at her from behind her desk.
"And we've got work to do," she said, holding up the book which had all of their taxes and payments in it.
"Seriously? Now?" Ellie groaned, throwing her head back. "Constance, I was in the middle of something!"
"I know you were," Constance said, grabbing Ellie's hand and dragging her out the room and down the stairs. "And I need someone to help me."
"Why are we going down to the cellar?" Ellie asked, frowning. There was a loud bang followed by raucous laughter and Ellie sighed. "Again? Really?'
Constance nodded. "Yup."
"I thought I'd banned that," Ellie muttered as they walked out into the yard. "Armoury it is then."
"What happened to your shirt?" Constance asked as they walked down the corridor.
Ellie paused, frowning. "What do you mean? I'm wearing it?"
"That's Brujon's shirt."
Ellie stopped walking and stared at Constance. "You're too observant for your own good, you know that?"
She brushed past her laughing friend, barging the cellar door open, stopping short when she saw Aramis and Pauline standing inside. Pauline gasped trying to hide something as the two of them stared at her.
"Oh, I am so sorry," Ellie said, stumbling forward as a still laughing Constance bumped into her.
"I had no idea you'd still be here," Constance said, genuinely apologetic. "We needed somewhere quiet to work."
"We?" Ellie hissed, jumping when Constance elbowed her sharply in the ribs.
"Constance is practically family," Aramis said, putting a hand on Pauline's shoulder. "And, well, Ellie is family. You can speak freely," Aramis said, reassuring Pauline. "I trust them both with my life."
Ellie shut the door, pulling her shirt off her shoulder and glaring at Constance as she tried to laugh.
"God, I'm in so much trouble," Pauline sighed, hands shaking.
"Aramis, wine," Constance ordered, setting down the pile of books she was holding and pulling a chair out for Pauline to sit in. "Tell me everything."
Ellie perched herself on the edge of table next to Pauline and put a gentle hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly as Pauline closed her eyes and sighed shakily.
Pauline smiled at the women and sat up a little straighter. "Well, these, er, these letters," she handed them to Constance, "they started arriving just after my engagement to St Pierre."
"I'm guessing they're not the typical congratulation cards you normally get," Ellie guessed.
Pauline nodded. "They'll tell that I was a prostitute in the brothel that I grew up in," Pauline admitted, sighing again.
"That we grew up in," Aramis corrected, sitting on the edge of Pauline's chair and handing her a cup of wine. "My mother worked there. I lived with her until my father came to take me away, and… I haven't seen Pauline since."
Ellie smiled at Aramis behind Pauline, reaching over and squeezing his hand. Aramis gave Ellie a grateful smile and turned back to Pauline.
Constance looked at Aramis. "Your mother was…"
"My mother," Aramis said, and Constance nodded in understanding. "She was a beautiful woman. Her choices were always for the sake of her children."
"Well," Constance said, standing up and handing the letters back to Pauline. "We call come from somewhere. I mean, Ellie came from a circus and still acts like she lives there."
Ellie jumped off the table and glared at Constance. "I jumped off the balcony one time," Ellie muttered. "Why do you hate me?" Constance gave Ellie a knowing look and Ellie groaned, blushing. "Oh, look, I'm sorry. I was busy!"
"Yes, shagging – "
Ellie quickly stepped forward and shoved Constance out the door. "Yes, thank you, Constance!" Ellie slammed the door behind her and turned back to an amused Aramis and Pauline. "Sorry."
"It's fine," Pauline said, waving it off, smiling.
Ellie looked at Pauline, frowning slightly. "Forgive me, but won't St Pierre love you regardless of this?"
Pauline shrugged. "I don't know."
"None of us can change our pasts, trust me, I know," Ellie said, and Aramis gave her a sad smile.
"Yes, except I feel like my old life doesn't exist. I am…a new lady. I am the woman you see before me." Pauline sighed sadly. "I just hope St Pierre takes the same view." She turned to Aramis. "Will you help me?"
"Of course, he will," Ellie said, smiling as she opened the door again. "He's too nice to do otherwise."
Aramis smiled back at her and Ellie winked at him, shutting the door quietly behind her.
"You really are too perceptive for your own good, Constance," Ellie hissed as she passed her friend in the corridor.
"Try wearing a shirt that belongs to you!" She yelled as Ellie walked up the corridor. "Then maybe it wouldn't be so obvious!"
Ellie stuck a finger up at her friend in return.
~ 0 ~
The sound of someone screaming woke Ellie up suddenly. She groaned, looking around blearily. Brujon was half awake next to her, the two squashed onto Ellie's old bed.
"Oh, this is weird," Ellie said tiredly, standing up and pulling on her trousers and Brujon's shirt. "Old room."
"It's too small," Brujon mumbled, moving into the middle of the bed and pulling the blanket up over him.
"That's because it was just me," Ellie replied, leaning down and kissing his head. "I just hope that wasn't Clairmont stabbing himself again."
Ellie walked down the corridor, towards where she thought she'd heard the scream, and into the dining room, stopping short when she saw Bonnaire lying on the table, bleeding everywhere, Porthos on top of him and Athos and D'Artagnan sharing a bottle of wine.
"When I said, 'kill him', I didn't mean it literally," Ellie said, announcing her presence, leaning on the door frame.
"For once, I didn't actually do it," Porthos said raising his hands up.
"Wine?" D'Artagnan asked, handing the bottle to her. Ellie shrugged and took a swig, passing it to Athos.
"So, you get the diamonds?" She asked, sitting down backwards on a chair, leaning on the back of it.
"Yup," D'Artagnan said, nodding, leaning against the wall.
Bonnie groaned. "Please, get Aramis, I beg you," Bonnaire whimpered as Porthos ripped open his shirt.
"Aramis isn't here," Ellie said simply, smirking. "No idea where he's gone."
Bonnaire lifted his head slightly, glaring at Ellie, before dropping it down on the table again.
"Don't worry," Porthos said, getting comfortable. "I've watched him stich men up many times." Porthos smirked as Athos handed him a needle. "This is going to hurt me a lot more than it will you."
Bonnaire turned his head to look up at Porthos hopefully. "Really?"
"Nah. Hold him down."
Bonnaire caught sight of the needle and immediately passed out, his head hitting the table with a loud thud.
"Did he just?" Ellie asked, pointing at him, trying not to laugh.
"Yep," Porthos said, chuckling. "Turns out he's been in England the past five years. Jumped off the ship as soon as we left him."
"Son of a bitch," Ellie gaped. "Wait, England?"
"Trying not to get infested with lice," Athos added, a hint of a smirk gracing his lips.
Ellie hummed, snatching the bottle of wine off Porthos and taking another swig. "So, how many more diamonds?"
"One more, I believe," D'Artagnan said, sitting down on the floor next to her. He looked down at her shirt, frowning. "Is that a new shirt?"
Ellie froze, the bottle of wine halfway to her lips. "Yes," she said, trying to think of an excuse, "I got a hole in my other one that I couldn't fix."
"Huh," D'Artagnan said, nodding. "It's nice."
Ellie frowned. "Thank you?" D'Artagnan reached over and snatched the wine off her again, taking a swig of it. He handed it back to Ellie and leant his head against her leg. "Are you just going to fall asleep there?"
D'Artagnan shrugged. "It's comfy."
Ellie stared at him; eyebrow raised. She sighed, shaking her head. "Of course."
~ 0 ~
Ellie glared at Athos' back as he walked down the stairs.
"Why have I got to guard him?" She asked, following after him, ignoring Brujon laughing at her from behind.
"Because, unlike Porthos, you won't kill him," Athos said simply, stopping on the bottom of the stairs.
Ellie stared at him. "Athos, I held a dagger to his throat…a dagger."
Athos sighed, giving Ellie the look. "Stay here, guard Bonnaire, we'll be back in a bit."
Ellie swore quietly as Athos headed over to his horse, ignoring Ellie as she grumpily walked to where Bonnaire was locked up.
"Ah, Constance!" Ellie exclaimed as she spotted her friend emerging from Bonnaire's room. "Are you keeping an eye on him?"
"I doubt he needs someone to guard him, Ellie," Constance said, shaking her head. "He was stabbed in the back."
"Good, so I can go do literally anything else?" Ellie asked, crossing her arms.
Constance chuckled. "Go find Brujon." She pushed Ellie out into the courtyard with a laugh. "And find a shirt that belongs to you!"
~ 0 ~
Ellie threw an apple at Clairmont, her friend catching it without looking.
"Hello," Clairmont said, picking up his knife and slicing the apple into quarters. "How was Brujon?"
"Oh, shut it," Ellie replied, smiling as she nudged him. "Since when was my love life Garrison gossip?"
Clairmont smirked. "Since Eddie walked in on the two of you doing it."
"He told you?!" Ellie exclaimed, slamming her hand on the table.
"Lizzie, he told anyone who would listen," Clairmont replied, chuckling. "Not them, though." Clairmont paused, looking at Ellie. "Are you ever going to tell them?"
Ellie frowned. "They know I'm with him," she replied.
"I meant the other thing."
Ellie sighed. "Maybe. I don't know, Clairmont. Telling them anything about my love life terrifies me because of…you know who." Ellie shrugged, picking a thread of her doublet. "I am surprised they don't know that Brujon and I are –"
"Bonnaire's escaped!"
Ellie shot up off the table as the cadets began running around, searching for Bonnaire.
"I thought you were guarding him!" Ellie yelled at Constance as she marched across the courtyard.
"He was chained to the wall; I didn't think I had to!" Constance yelled back and Ellie groaned, following after her friend.
"Athos is going to murder me," Ellie muttered, stepping out from under the stairs. "Oh, I found him."
Constance growled, snatching Ellie's gun out of her belt and marching over to where Bonnaire was being intimidated by three horses and the three riders sitting upon them.
Ellie chuckled, following after her as Constance stood behind Bonnaire, gun pointed at the man's back.
"Make one move…" Constance warned as Bonnaire backed into her gun, stopping suddenly.
Bonnaire slowly turned around, smiling meekly at Ellie and Constance as they glared at him.
~ 0 ~
Bonnaire groaned as D'Artagnan threw him onto the floor, the floor squeaking underneath him.
"Your Majesty, your diamond and your thief," Athos said, handing the diamond to Henrietta.
"My gardener!" Henrietta exclaimed, staring at Bonnaire in surprise.
"Gardener?" Ellie whispered to Porthos, stifling a laugh at Porthos' unimpressed face
"Forgive me, ma'am," Bonnaire said, looking up at Henrietta. "I am the thief. But I am also the principal agent in the jewels' return."
"Hang him," Henrietta said firmly, turning away.
"I could double your money for you."
"Hang him now."
"Surely," Henrietta's lady – in – waiting began, stepping forward, "if he could accomplish that, ma'am…"
Louis held up a hand, opening his mouth to say something but Athos shook his head. "Don't trust him. Every breath is a lie."
Louis quickly shut his mouth, settling on just watching the scene unfold in front of him.
Henrietta's lady – in – waiting, Caroline, spoke up again. "He must have the money he made from the sales."
"Yes!" Bonnaire exclaimed, pointing enthusiastically. "Yes, I do. Now you have the diamonds back, you might sell them…again. Thereby all but doubling your money."
"We'd better send for your partner, then," Porthos said coldly.
Louis frowned. "Partner?"
"He has a partner," D'Artagnan said, sighing, looking at Athos.
"The partner has the money," Athos finished, and Louis shook his head, clearly done with the whole debacle.
"There shall be no bargaining," Henrietta snapped, holding out a hand and walking over to Athos "give me your sword and I will execute him myself."
"Wait, wait, wait," Louis said, standing up from his throne. "Look, double the money means double the arms for soldiers. And I, for one, would like to see you win your war, Henrietta Maria."
"He betrayed me."
"Hm. And yet he has the means to keep England safe," Louis reminded her.
Henrietta sighed. "Show me this partner."
All eyes turned to Bonnaire, who, for once, was silent. He stared down at the ground, shaking his head. "I fear that is something I cannot do," he said quietly.
Louis sighed as his sister turned back to Athos. "Give me your sword."
"Emilie you fool," Caroline said suddenly, running over to Bonnaire.
Ellie stared between the two, eyes wide with surprise. Bonnaire never failed to surprise. Louis just sighed and turned back to his throne.
"Caroline, it is you who are the fool, my love," Bonnaire said tenderly, stroking Caroline's face. "What have you done?"
"What is happening?" Ellie whispered. D'Artagnan shrugged, clueless.
"This was my plan," Bonnaire said, holding Caroline close to him. "My idea. I was only trying to make a better life for my wife."
Louis, who had sat down on the steps of the throne, was very clearly done with the entire thing, groaning and running a hand over his face in despair.
"You're married?" Henrietta gawked. "Without my permission?!"
"Hang me twice over, but not Caroline," Bonnaire said, crying as he spoke, clinging on to his wife as if she was a lifeline. "Please, I beg of you. She kept your favourite ring. That was her idea, not mine."
"Bonnaire," Louis spoke up, "do you have the money?"
Bonnaire nodded. "I do, it lies hidden."
"Musketeers take him and retrieve it," Louis said as if it was the most obvious solution. Which it was.
"Louis!" Henrietta exclaimed, glaring at her brother.
"Look, don't let your anger outwit your good sense," Louis replied, sighing.
As Porthos and D'Artagnan practically dragged Bonnaire from the room, Caroline tried to crawl after him, sobbing.
"I petition the queen!" Bonnaire yelled as he was dragged. "I demand immunity from prosecution."
"You demand?" Henrietta snapped.
"Petition…to demand," Bonnaire corrected. "Not a penny crosses anyone's palm…till you let Caroline and I walk free."
Henrietta paused, clearly not wanting to agree to the terms. She pursed her lips and sighed. "Agreed. But you shall never set foot in England again."
"I can promise you, ma'am, that will never happen," Bonnaire said, bowing deeply. "God save you!"
Ellie rolled her eyes as Caroline ran after Bonnaire, tears still falling down her face as she tried to catch up with her husband.
"Please, never be like that," Ellie muttered to Athos as they walked out the room. "I don't think I can bear it."
Athos chuckled, smiling as Ellie shivered in mock disgust at the thought.
~ 0 ~
"You having fun down there?" Ellie asked, squinting against the sun as she looked at Porthos.
Bonnaire had admitted that he'd hidden the money when they'd spotted him the other day, hiding it amongst the dead bodies on the wagon he'd hidden on.
The dead bodies which were now in a rather large mass grave.
That they were now searching through.
Ellie was just glad she'd called guarding Bonnaire and Caroline. Not that they were going to try anything. Still, it made her feel good to causally point a pistol at Bonnaire, picking at the grass underneath her with her other hand.
"You could help," Porthos grumbled, his voice muffled by the scarf he'd tied around his face to try and reduce the stench.
"Nah," Ellie replied, shaking her head, smirking when Porthos gave her the dirtiest look possible.
"Down amongst the dead men," Aramis said as he approached them. Ellie looked up, smiling as he stopped behind her.
"Look at it all." D'Artagnan sighed longingly as he stared at the pile of money. "You could live like a king."
"What of us?" Caroline asked suddenly, looking at Bonnaire.
"We have the Queen's pardon, Caroline," Bonnaire reassured.
"But not theirs," Caroline pointed out, flinching slightly when Ellie moved her pistol an inch. "Who would know if we ended up in this grave?"
Aramis pulled his gun out, clicking the safety off. "Are we doing this?"
"Comrades," Bonnaire began.
Athos glared at him. "Don't push it."
"Much as it pains me to say, he did save my life," D'Artagnan said, shrugging.
"Assuming he wasn't aiming at you." Athos turned to look at Porthos. He'd been unusually silent during the entire conversation, sullenly sharping his dagger. "Porthos?"
Porthos paused his sharpening, contemplating what they were about to do. His answer wasn't in words. He simply put his dagger into the mud and that was it.
It was enough for Bonnaire and Caroline, however, who both sighed in relief.
They both quickly scrambled up, moving on to the grass away from the musketeers.
"Well, that's that…gentlemen, Elizabeth." Ellie tipped her hat to Bonnaire. "All that remains to say…all for one?" Bonnaire asked, putting his hand out. He was met with four unimpressed faces and sighed. "Yeah, run."
Ellie watched as Caroline and Bonnaire disappeared, hopefully to never be seen again.
"Love makes people do weird things," Ellie said quietly as she stood up.
"Agreed." Aramis looked down sadly and Ellie reached up, squeezing his hand.
"Drinks?" She asked, giving him a cheeky smile.
"Only if you're paying," Aramis countered, and Ellie smacked his arm.
"The cheek of you," she muttered as Aramis laughed, his eyes creasing up.
~ 0 ~
"That's your third cup," Porthos said, slightly impressed.
Ellie nodded as she poured herself a fourth. "Yup. My tolerance has really increased. I'm like Athos, rarely get drunk."
Athos scoffed. "I can get drunk."
"After about four bottles," Ellie countered, leaning back in her chair as Athos glared at her. "And I'm not a grumpy drunk, I am a happy drunk – "she cut herself off as she leant too far back in her chair, nearly falling backwards. Athos sighed, reaching out to catch her chair and push it forward onto all for legs.
"Good," D'Artagnan said, shoving another bottle towards her, "have some more."
Ellie shook her head as she swallowed the end of her fourth cup. "Nope. I can't be seen getting drunk – bad example."
"To who?" Aramis asked, chuckling.
"The cadets! I'm always tell them off for…for getting drunk…and fighting."
D'Artagnan nodded. "Right…"
"They never stop," Ellie mumbled, slumping against Athos as she waved her cup around. "Always problems…no solutions."
D'Artagnan watched, not at all surprised, as Ellie passed out, falling sideways into Athos, Aramis rescuing her cup before it spilt everywhere.
Athos sighed, catching her and moving her head so that it was leaning against his shoulder.
"She never ceases to amaze me," Porthos said, shaking his head in amazement.