The day you die, is just like any other day.
Ellie sighed happily as she woke up, Brujon's arms around her. For once, the house was almost silent, everyone clearly struggling to wake up on the gorgeous late summer day. Once again, Ellie had mysteriously 'lost' all her other shirts as she was wearing yet another one belonging to Brujon, nothing else on underneath.
The Garrison was just coming to life, the sound of the blacksmith being one of the only noises from down below. Only a few of the cadets were actually up, most of them probably still in bed.
Brujon sighed, rolling closer to Ellie, nestling his head against her shoulder. Ellie smiled, pressing a kiss to his head and tracing patterns across his arm.
You wake and dress...eat and drink…just like every other day.
Brujon was quietly dozing in the bathtub, arms resting on the sides of the tub. Ellie smiled, leaning against the door frame, watching him fondly.
"I can feel you staring," he said, and Ellie chuckled softly. She stepped into the room, crouching down next to him, grabbing the cloth from the water and dragging it across his skin.
Brujon reached a hand up, tucking Ellie's hair behind her ear and leaving a trail of water behind on her cheek as he dragged his hand down her face. He grabbed a fistful of her shirt, pulling her closer and kissing her.
"We'll flood the bathroom," Ellie pointed out between kisses.
"So?" Brujon asked and Ellie shrieked a he yanked her into the bath, water sloshing over the side and onto the stone floor as she landed in the water.
You don't see death coming…because you are too busy living.
Somehow, the two of them managed to fit in the tub together, Brujon wrapping his arms around Ellie, holding her close to him as she played with the necklace he was wearing.
"I love you," he whispered, kissing the side of her head.
"Mm," Ellie said, shifting slightly causing more water to slosh over the side of the bath. "I'm glad I said yes last year."
Brujon chuckled. "Believe it or not, that wasn't intentional."
Ellie looked up at him and smiled, fishing her own necklace out of her shirt and playing with the ring she tied to. "The best surprises are always the unexpected one."
Too busy enjoying your life. Sating your appetites.
Ellie pulled out a clean shirt – a navy one that belonged to Brujon – and a brown pair of trousers.
Brujon walked in from the bathroom, towel around his waist. He stood behind Ellie, taking her shirt off and helping her into the new one.
"No," Ellie giggled as Brujon's hands began to wander. "I need to go. Was flooding the bathroom not enough?"
Brujon shook his head, lifting Ellie up as she laughed, throwing her head back and wrapping her legs around his waist.
Rich man or beggar…it does not discriminate.
The sun was shining after days of endless rain. It made a difference to the entire city – everyone was out and about, selling their items and chatting. She waved at Brujon as she passed the window, smiling as he blew her a kiss.
Death doesn't care about your demons or making amends for them.
She'd told Brujon everything after they'd been together for a year. It'd involved a lot of wine and tears, but he knew everything about her. From the circus to Rochefort, everything. And he hadn't run away. Not even when she'd shown him the scars decorating her back.
Not once had he stopped loving her. Not after Scotland or England. He'd been her rock through everything, and she loved him for it.
It doesn't care about any of that. It cares only that this is your time
Ellie strolled down the street; half eaten apple in her mouth as she struggled to tie her hair up. She narrowly dodged being run over by a horse and cart, side stepping onto the pavement, stopping before she knocked over a stall.
She mumbled an apology over her shoulder, sighing as her hair fell out again. As she turned the corner, she paused, glancing over at a group of children sitting in the street. Glancing down at the loaf of bread in her hand, Ellie sighed. She walked over to the children, holding out the bread.
"Here," she said, and the children eagerly snatched it, yelling a thank you as they devoured the bread.
Your day
The Garrison was bustling as Ellie practically skipped in, smiling over at D'Artagnan as he brushed the horses down with some dry straw. He smiled back, giving her a wink.
Ellie sat down on the bench next to Aramis, who was evidently trying to get a tan, and sighed happily, leaning her head on his shoulder. Porthos waved at Ellie as he pulled two-coin purses out of his belt, checking the contents was still there.
Your day to die
"You're in a good mood," Aramis said, glancing down at her. "You're also wearing another new shirt."
Ellie lifted her head up and kissed his cheek. "It's a nice day," Ellie replied, looking over at a smiling D'Artagnan as he watched them. "I treated myself."
Aramis chuckled. "Ellie," Aramis whispered, leaning down, "I know that's Brujon's shirt."
Ellie groaned. "Half the garrison knows!" She exclaimed, throwing her hands up.
"What, that you've been wearing Brujon's shirts for the past two months?" Porthos asked, sitting down next to Aramis.
"Oh, god," Ellie moaned, lowering her head and hiding behind her hair.
Aramis chuckled, patting her on the back as Porthos handed him purse full of coins. "Thank you."
Before Aramis could open the purse, Constance appeared, snatching the purse out of his hand.
"Thank you!" She said. "You boys are expensive to feed." Porthos chuckled and Constance turned to face him. "Especially you." Porthos sighed, grumbling as Constance held out her hand for his money. "Come on, give."
Porthos muttered under his breath as he began picking out the coins to give Constance. Constance, however, grew impatient and snatched the purse out of his hands, glaring at him.
"Half of that," Porthos complained as Constance walked away.
Ellie laughed and she was glad Aramis was sitting in between her and Porthos as he glared at her.
"How are you so happy?" He asked as he got up and headed towards the stairs.
Ellie shrugged. "Good weather makes it all the easier to be in a good mood, Porthos."
"Or an early morning sh –"
"Aramis!" Ellie yelled, smacking him on the shoulder.
"Porthos," D'Artagnan called, giving Ellie and Aramis a pointed look.
Porthos groaned as he paused on the steps, tilting his head back in despair.
"It's a letter from Treville," D'Artagnan called, scanning the letter in front of him. "We are to meet General Verdet's aide in Bourgogne and escort him back to Paris. He has news from the front."
"What, now?" Porthos asked, groaning.
"No, not now!" Aramis exclaimed sarcastically as he put on his shirt. "Go to sleep, the war will wait!"
"The four of us are to leave immediately," D'Artagnan continued as Constance picked the straw out of his hair.
Ellie looked up. "What? Me as well? Joy," she groaned, standing up and attempting to tie her hair up again.
"And by 'immediately', I do presume you mean after breakfast?" Porthos asked, glaring at Constance as she passed him. "Since I've paid for it"
Ellie groaned as her hair tie snapped, her hair falling back down. "Oh, for god's sake."
Aramis chuckled, pushing her down onto the bench in front of him. He untied his own hair and began braiding Ellie's back.
"Think we should wait for Athos?" D'Artagnan asked as he watched Aramis nimbly braid Ellie's long hair. "Let him know where we're going?"
"Wait how long exactly?" Aramis asked, finishing off the braid and tying it with his tie. "At least Ellie times hers –"
"Seriously, Aramis, stop it!"
~ 0 ~
"I feel like it's been ages since we last spent time together," Aramis said as they rode down the path, the sun beating down on them.
Ellie was uncomfortably hot, Brujon's shirt sticking to her back with sweat and her hair was damp with it too.
"It was three nights ago, Aramis," D'Artagnan replied, rolling his eyes. "And Ellie passed out on Athos."
Ellie pressed her lips together, sighing. "I had hoped you'd forgotten that."
"Nope," D'Artagnan said, shaking his head. "Not a chance."
Ellie laughed, but cut herself off when her horse suddenly spooked. She held the reins tighter, shushing her skittering horse as she kept her balance.
D'Artagnan looked behind him, holding a hand up. "Hold, hold, hold," he said, forcing them all to a stop. He turned his horse around, looking at the way they'd just came. In the silence, there was the faint sound of hooves thudding on the ground. "Do you hear that?"
"How many?" Porthos asked, hearing it too.
"Five riders," Aramis guessed, suddenly on edge.
"Maybe more," Ellie added, turning her horse to face the right way.
D'Artagnan quickly urged his horse on and they left the road, riding under the trees as the hooves got louder.
Ellie pulled out her pistol, clicking the safety off and aiming it at the road as a small group of Red Guards, led, typically, by Marcheaux appeared from the trees.
"I don't know whether to be glad or not," Ellie muttered, riding forward from under the trees.
"Aramis," Marcheaux called, "you are to return with us to the Palace. The King commands it."
Aramis frowned. "We have business on behalf of Minister Treville."
Marcheaux pulled his pistol out, examining it. "Are you questioning a royal order?"
"Oh, believe me, if we were, we wouldn't be taking it up with the messenger boy," D'Artagnan snapped, sitting up straighter, his hand hovering near his sword.
"If you come now, you won't be arrested," Marcheaux said, loosely aiming his pistol at Aramis.
Porthos causally pulled his pistol out as well, resting it on his shoulder.
Ellie, who hadn't put hers away, lifted it up to rest on the edge of her saddle.
Aramis chuckled at his friends, shaking his head. "Very well." He turned back to them as Marcheaux and the rest of guard began to move off. He turned to look at his friends, nodding his hat at them. "I'll see you all back at the Garrison."
With a final look over his shoulder, Aramis followed after the Red Guard, a cloud of dust behind him
"What does the King want with Aramis?" Ellie asked as they rode back onto the road, resuming their journey.
"Who knows," D'Artagnan replied. "I just hope it's not anything bad."
"Knowing Aramis, it probably will be," Porthos muttered.
They urged their horses on into a canter as the road widened, allowing them to ride side by side.
After a while, the trees thinned out and disappeared leaving just an expanse of brown all around them.
They'd slowed down after a while, not wanting to tire out their horses in the heat.
"What are you doing?" Porthos asked as Ellie dropped the reins and began unbuttoning her doublet.
"If I don't take this off, I'm going to pass out," Ellie muttered, pulling her arms out and tying it to her saddle.
"Do you need to stop?" D'Artagnan asked, glancing behind as him at her.
Ellie shook her head, smoothing her hair back from her face and putting her hat back on. "I'll be alright," she replied, smiling.
They slowed right down as they rode up a particularly steep hill.
D'Artagnan glanced behind him again at Ellie as she fell to the back of the group, quietly plodding along as she took another drink from her water skin.
"D'Artagnan, every time you turning around, I keep thinking you're going to fall off," Ellie called, noticing him watching her. "I'm fine."
D'Artagnan didn't look convinced but nodded, turning back to the front. He slowed down slightly, allowing Ellie to catch up so he could ride next to her.
"Are you sure?" He asked, taking in her shiny face and flushed face.
Ellie nodded. "It's hot, that's all. For once, I'm behaving myself," she replied, chuckling.
"Is that it?" Porthos asked, pointing to a ruined house at the top of the hill.
D'Artagnan and Ellie rode up to him, slowing down again once they'd caught up with him.
"Is it normal for a general's aide to meet in the middle of a field?" Ellie asked, frowning at the abandoned, ruined house surrounded by miles of farmland.
D'Artagnan shrugged. "Let's have a look around."
Ellie raised an eyebrow but followed D'Artagnan to a post just outside the buildings. She dismounted her horse, grabbing hold of the saddle for a moment as her head span slightly. Ellie took her hat off, leaving it on her saddle as she tied her horse to the post, grabbing her doublet and shrugging it back on.
"Why would a general's aide choose to meet somewhere like this?" D'Artagnan mused, standing in the middle of the land and looking around.
"That's a good question," Porthos said, squinting as he looked over at the crumbling walls.
"Isn't that what I just asked?" Ellie questioned, staring at them both.
"Yes, but I wasn't as suspicious then," D'Artagnan replied. "I am now, however."
"Let's go see what's inside," Porthos said, nudging Ellie with his shoulder as he passed.
"I'll wait here," D'Artagnan called as he looked around the crumbling walls.
"This place looks like it's been abandoned for years," Ellie said as she pulled a pistol out of her belt, holding it in her hand. "This cannot be where we're meant to meet the aide."
"It's inconspicuous," Porthos said as he stepped inside one of the buildings. "No one around. Perfect for meetings no one can know about."
"It's also in the middle of nowhere, Porthos," Ellie added. "Perfect for an ambush."
Ellie sighed, still unconvinced, but let it go as she stepped inside another room, kicking a piece of wood out the way as she walked.
Weeds, vines, holes in the roof, chair overturned, everything covered in a thick layer of dust.
This place wasn't only abandoned, it'd been forgotten.
"So," Ellie called, stepping out of her building and going into the one that Porthos and D'Artagnan had disappeared into. "We just wait, then?"
"Well," Porthos said as he found three cups and a keg hammer, "now we've found a nice spot in the shade, we shall."
Ellie chuckled, perching herself on an upturned crate. "At least there's a breeze," she added, watching as Porthos took a sip of the wine, sighing happily. "It good?"
"Oh, this could turn out to be a good day after all," Porthos said happily and Ellie sighed, shaking her head fondly.
"Yeah, I imagine the General's aide will be a little while longer yet," D'Artagnan said, turning back to face them, accepting Porthos' offered cup of wine.
"Let's hope so," Ellie muttered, taking a sip and moaning appreciatively. "This is good. Especially for a forgotten abandoned house."
D'Artagnan sighed, sitting on the table next to her, nudging her arm playfully. "Maybe, just maybe, this is one of those missions."
"Maybe," Ellie said quietly, drinking some more wine. "Not that there are many of those."
Porthos sat down on the ground with a heavy sigh. "How many battles did we fight, eh?"
"Too many," D'Artagnan said tiredly. "You too, Els."
Ellie shrugged. "I suppose."
"Hm, yeah," Porthos said, nodding. "We've served our country, often and well. All three of us. So, if we're rewarded with the odd mission like this, I won't complain."
"In that case," D'Artagnan began, "I'd like to propose a toast. To easy missions well – earned."
"To easy missions well – earned," Porthos repeated, smiling.
"To easy missions," Ellie finished, swallowing the remainder of her wine in one.
Ellie sighed happily, looking out the door at where the horses were tied. D'Artagnan's horse was pawing the ground anxiously, it's eyes wide. Ellie's was beginning to spook to, pulling on the reins frantically as Porthos' bumped into it.
She stood up, slowly walking up to the door.
Porthos and D'Artagnan stopped talking, watching Ellie curiously.
"Ellie, what's wrong?" D'Artagnan asked, frowning.
"I don't know," Ellie said slowly as her horse tried to pull itself free from the reins, pawing the ground loudly.
D'Artagnan stood up and walked over to Ellie, standing behind her and following her gaze to the horses.
"I don't see anything," Porthos said as he joined them at the door.
"I think," Ellie said, her voice quieter than before, "that's the point."
Ellie's eyes were frantically scanning outside, looking for any sign of anything that may have upset the horses.
D'Artagnan suddenly moved back behind the wall, pushing Ellie behind him, a concerned look on his face. "Did you see that?" Porthos shook his head. "Opposite roof."
Ellie moved in front of D'Artagnan, her arm brushing his slightly as she looked out the door. She caught sight of a shadow against the roof. "Someone's up there," she said softly, trying to swallow her nerves.
D'Artagnan tapped her shoulder and she moved back, allowing D'Artagnan to dart over to the back of the building, Porthos taking his place. He turned the barrel of wine over onto its side and began rolling it towards the door.
"No, no, no," Porthos moaned as he realised what D'Artagnan was doing. "Not the wine, not the wine!"
His complaints were cut off as the barrel rolled out the door and into the street. D'Artagnan quickly dived behind the wall as pistolshots echoed out, all hitting the barrel.
Ellie sighed as she, along with Porthos and D'Artagnan, pulled out her pistols, taking the safety off.
"Well, that answers that!" Porthos exclaimed loudly. "How many do you reckon we got?"
"More than three," Ellie replied. She glanced down at her necklace, sighing sadly as she tried to concentrate on what was happening.
Outside, the horses were beginning to grow even more anxious, pulling on the reins and neighing as they pawed the floor.
D'Artagnan looked out and groaned. "My ammunition's out there," he muttered, catching sight of it on his saddle.
"Mine too," said Porthos, sighing. "Elle?"
"Also, out there," she replied. "Doesn't help that I can see it."
"How much have you got?" D'Artagnan asked, looking over at them.
Porthos shook his head. "Not enough."
"Don't get your hopes up," Ellie replied as she found a small purse of ammunition in her pocket, chucking it to D'Artagnan.
"Six balls," D'Artagnan said, counting them out. "That's two each."
"Better than nothing," Ellie replied, catching the two D'Artagnan threw at her.
Porthos crouched down and moved over to the boarded-up window, pushing a table on to its side and bending down below it.
"When you were searching before, you didn't happen to see?" D'Artagnan trailed off, looking at Porthos and Ellie hopefully.
"No," Porthos said, not taking his eyes away from the window. "No other entrances or exits and there's no way we're getting through these windows."
"Not unless you have a sledgehammer," Ellie added, crouching down beneath the hole for a window and loading up her pistol.
"Of course not, because that would be to our advantage," D'Artagnan muttered.
Porthos walked back over to them, setting one pistol down in exchange for a chipped plate
"You just had to throw it out, didn't you?" He muttered, trying to alleviate some of the tension. "Of all the junk in here, you had to throw out the one cask of wine to be shot to pieces. Well done."
D'Artagnan chuckled. "Easy missions well – earned, Porthos."
Ellie moved away from the wall, standing in the middle of the room, a clear view of the street before her. She nodded at Porthos and he threw the plate out, whoever was outside instantly shooting it to pieces.
Ellie lunged forward, firing her pistol at the man on the roof opposite, diving back behind the wall, skidding on a piece of wood. She caught herself on the wall and grabbed a fresh pistol, throwing the expired on onto the floor.
She stepped past D'Artagnan, taking his place, firing her pistol up at the roof again, hitting the glimpse of an arm she caught.
D'Artagnan guided her back behind him and she began re-loading her pistols, trying to be as quick as she could with shaking hands.
The men hidden outside kept shooting, presumably having an endless supply of ammunition.
"It's eight hours until dark and what is it?" Porthos said, checking his pistols as they hid behind the wall again. "Six shot balls left."
"Eight hours, six shot balls – not the most encouraging numbers," D'Artagnan replied, sighing.
Porthos chuckled. "Besides, they're not going to let us live until dark. That'd just be stupid."
There was a thud on the roof and a flaming bottle dropped through the ceiling, landing next to D'Artagnan and Ellie.
"D'Artagnan!" Porthos yelled as the fire quickly began spreading through the dead wood on the floor.
Another bottle dropped through the roof and D'Artagnan darted to the other side of the door, shooting the man above them. He fell, landing just outside the door with a loud thud.
Ellie kicked the bottle away, throwing a damp piece of cloth over it as Porthos grabbed an old, damp blanket and dropped it over the other fire, smothering it, and stamping on any flames that'd escaped.
Ellie sighed slightly as the fire died, readjusting her grip on her pistols as she stood by the door. "You know, the last thing any of them will be expecting is for someone to go out that door," she replied. She looked over at them both, raising an eyebrow.
"Because that would be suicide," Porthos said aloud, nodding.
Ellie chuckled, throwing one pistol to D'Artagnan, the other to Porthos. "Cover me."
D'Artagnan and Porthos moved to either side of the door as Ellie ran out. She bent down, grabbing the man by the shoulders and dragging him back inside and shots landed all around her.
As soon as she was within reach, D'Artagnan grabbed the man's arm and helped her pull him in, Porthos catching her as she tripped over her feet and fell into him.
"Please tell me we've got something," Ellie pleaded as she sat up, watching D'Artagnan rummage in the man's pockets.
He pulled out a pouch of ammunition, chuckling happily as he poured the contents out into his palm.
"Oh, you beauty!" Porthos exclaimed, kissing Ellie on the cheek as she smiled.
"You're welcome," Ellie replied, picking up her pistol and re-loading it.