Ellie frowned at the soldiers running around as she walked into the palace, surprised at the unusual amount of activity going on.
Treville had sent for them but had said nothing about why just that it was urgent.
Which meant they were all already on edge.
Treville turned around as he heard them approach and walked towards them. "Where's Aramis?" He asked, frowning as he noticed his absence.
"He left the garrison at dusk. No one has seen him since," Athos replied. "I will deal with him in due course."
Treville nodded. "The King is missing."
Athos frowned. "He isn't in the palace?"
"No, he isn't," Treville replied. "Search the gardens and do it quickly."
Ellie quickly took off towards the gardens, peeling away from D'Artagnan and Porthos. She turned down one of the many hedged walkways, peering down each side path, looking for any sign of Louis.
Seeing no sign of him in the hedges, Ellie turned back towards the palace, weaving her way through the numerous flower beds and statues dotting the gardens.
"Here!"
She looked up at D'Artagnan's yell and began running in his direction, catching a glimpse of him as he ran towards the fountain. Ellie followed after him and saw the King sitting with his back to the fountain, blissfully unaware of the panic he'd caused.
Ellie crouched down in front of him. "Majesty?"
Athos and Treville ran up behind them, both staring at the King as he looked around wistfully.
"She's angry with me," Louis mumbled.
"Your Majesty?" D'Artagnan asked, frowning.
Louis groaned. "She's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, you know," Louis muttered.
Treville bent down. "Who, Majesty?"
Louis tutted. "Milady De Winter, of course," Louis replied, shaking his head.
Ellie stared at Louis as she stood up, slightly astonished by his remark. She glanced at Athos as he stood up, surprised at the lack of reaction from him.
"The physician gave him a new medicine for his pain," Treville said quietly. "He's taken too much."
"An opiate?" Athos asked.
Treville nodded. "A very powerful one. It can cause delusions."
"So, he's high as a kite?" Ellie asked, staring at them both.
Athos gave Ellie a pointed look and she raised her eyebrows at him.
"What?" She asked. "He is!"
"He's still the King," Athos reminded her. "Let's get him back into the warm." D'Artagnan pulled Louis to his feet and he and Athos began walking him back inside.
"What happens when he starts seeing the Cardinal?" Porthos asked, watching them walk away.
"That's when we panic," Ellie replied, sighing. "Well, I'm panicking now, but you know."
~ 0 ~
"Do I need to move in here?" Ellie asked as she followed Athos and D'Artagnan down to the Queen's chambers. "I feel like I'm here more than I am the garrison."
"We are the King's musketeers," Athos reminded her.
"Athos, he didn't know we existed until six years ago," Ellie shot back. "Besides, what does the Queen want with us? Don't suppose it's anything to do with Aramis disappearing?"
Athos shook his head as he opened the doors to the Queen's chambers, bowing as he entered.
"Your Majesty," Athos said as he approached her. "Treville."
Treville nodded at them. "We have a problem."
"We?" Ellie muttered. "It's not normally we."
"Shush," D'Artagnan said, kicking her foot as Treville handed Athos a letter.
Athos read it silently before handing it to D'Artagnan, a steely glare on his face.
"What?" Ellie asked as D'Artagnan sighed heavily. He handed it to her wordlessly and Ellie scanned it quickly. She looked up at Treville and the Queen. "You can't be serious?"
"Releasing the Spaniards would deliver a devastating blow to Your Majesty's reputation," Treville said, as Athos took the letter off Porthos.
"They're due to hang tomorrow," D'Artagnan added.
"You'd abandon Aramis?" Anne asked, staring at the five of them.
"He'd expect us to," Athos replied quietly as he re-read the letter.
"Either that or have the people turn against you," Treville countered.
Anne sighed. "Aramis had made two journeys before without incident. There was no reason to suspect – "
"The Spanish are our enemy," Porthos blurted out suddenly. "I'm sorry, Majesty," he said, realising what he'd just spoken.
"I have been a French queen longer than I was ever a Spanish princess," Anne replied, shaking her head. "Philip is testing my resolve for peace. If I show him I am willing to make such a bold gesture, however damaging to my own interests…. he'll see my sincerity and we can end the war."
"Maybe his work will already be done," D'Artagnan said.
"Are you suggesting my own brother intends to harm me?" Anne snapped.
"Possibly," D'Artagnan replied.
"Unless there's someone else?" Athos said quietly. "It's not – "
"Your Majesty," Porthos said suddenly, stepping forward. Athos looked at Porthos but kept quiet. "Is such dishonourable behaviour in your brother's character?"
"Be careful, Porthos," Anne warned.
"His suspicions are well placed, Majesty," Athos said, backing Porthos up. "To begin talks, then turn in such a way…"
"The letter bears the seal of Madrid," Anne replied.
"Seals are easily forged," Ellie said quietly, speaking for the first time. "How can you be certain it isn't fake?"
Anne kept quiet, turning to look at Treville. "Treville?"
~ 0 ~
The five of them stepped out of the Queen's chambers and into the corridor.
"You were awfully quiet," Treville said, looking at Ellie.
Ellie pressed her lips together, supressing a sigh. "Couldn't think of a way to tell her my opinion without deeply offending her." She looked up at him. "So, what do we do?"
"The Spaniards' release must not be given royal assent," Treville said once Athos had shut the doors. "I'll issue the order myself."
Porthos nodded. "We'll get them from the Chatelet."
"Quietly," Treville reminded them.
"We'll escort them to the rendezvous. No one will know," D'Artagnan promised.
"And if the Spanish King is not behind this?" Treville asked.
"We still rescue Aramis and we bring his captors before you," Athos replied.
Treville nodded at them and turned down the corridor, heading back to his office.
"Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be as simple as we hope?" Ellie asked, pulling her gloves on as she marched down the corridor behind D'Artagnan.
"Whenever you say that," Porthos muttered, "you always end up being right, so, for once, can you be wrong?"
Line break
"Oh, I really hate being right," Ellie muttered as they rode into the square outside the Chatelet.
The prisoners were all standing on the scaffold, nooses hanging behind them, Marcheaux egging the blood hungry crowd on as he paced up and down.
"So much for keeping it quiet," Porthos exclaimed.
"He's brought the executions forward," Athos yelled, dismounting his horse and beginning to push through the baying crowd. "Ellie, stay here!"
Ellie frowned at him. "Why have I got to stay here!"
"Just do it!" Athos yelled.
"What's this?" Marcheaux exclaimed as D'Artagnan ran up the steps.
"We have orders to stay these executions and take charge of the prisoners," D'Artagnan said, handing Marcheaux the signed order from Treville.
"Take charge and let them live?" Marcheaux yelled, turning to the crowd again. "They want to release the murderous Spanish scum?"
"What are doing, Marcheaux?" Porthos asked, grabbing Marcheaux's arm.
"Let's see who the orders are from!" Marcheaux exclaimed, ripping open the paper. "No…royal assent."
"Minister Treville needs no royal assent," Porthos replied.
"Yes, he does!" Someone in the crowd yelled.
"Then the Spanish Queen must've leaned on him!" Marcheaux yelled, adding fuel to an already flaming fire of the crowd in front of him.
"This had nothing to do with the Queen!" Athos yelled as he began leading the prisoners off the scaffold.
Ellie jumped down off her horse and met Athos halfway, grabbing a prisoner and shielding him from the crowd as they pushed their way forward, trying to grab the prisoners.
"What is D'Artagnan doing?" Ellie asked, noticing him still standing on the scaffold.
"God knows," Athos muttered, struggling to keep the crowd at bay.
"Oi!" Porthos yelled, pulling his pistol from his belt, reaching up and firing it into the sky. "Back off!"
The crowd, realising they weren't going to win, began to back off and Ellie shoved her way through, dragging a prisoner with her.
"If it wasn't grounds for execution, I would've murdered Marcheaux by now," she muttered as she tied the prisoners to her horse.
"When the times comes, feel free," Athos replied, glaring at Marcheaux.
~ 0 ~
Brujon and a few other cadets were waiting for them as they rode into the garrison, prisoners reluctantly following behind.
Ellie handed the rope to him, glaring at the prisoners. "Buy some decent wine tonight," she told Brujon, "I need it."
Brujon nodded as he dragged the prisoners off.
Ellie jumped down from her horse and began walking towards the stairs but Porthos grabbed her by the wrist, dragging her back to stand between him and Athos.
"Marcheaux was quick to bring the Queen into this," he said, looking between them.
"You think he's involved?" Athos asked.
Porthos raised an eyebrow. "Don't you?"
"For the record, I think he's been involved since the beginning," Ellie muttered, crossing her arms. She glanced over at D'Artagnan, frowning when she saw two cadets escorting one of the men set to hang to his quarters.
Athos and Porthos followed Ellie's gaze and both gave D'Artagnan a questioning look as he sighed.
"Long story," he replied, walking over to them.
"It'll have to wait," Athos replied, turning towards the stairs.
~ 0 ~
They moved into Athos office to talk, not wanting any of the cadets to evesdrop on their conversation.
Constance sighed. "If Marcheaux is in league with Gaston and Grimaud, then we need to warn the Queen."
"We have no evidence," D'Artagnan replied, shrugging.
"He had the crowd calling for the Queen's head," Porthos said, staring at D'Artagnan. "After we get Aramis back, we need to recover the Spaniards. In the wrong hands, they could be used against Her Majesty."
"He's right," D'Artagnan said over his shoulder.
"They're not going to just hand them back to us," Athos replied.
"All this because the Queen wanted peace?" Constance sighed.
"But there will be no peace if the people have turned against her," D'Artagnan countered.
Athos looked over at Ellie who was standing behind him, looking out the window. "Ellie," he called, gaining her attention. "You said that you think Marcheaux's been involved since the beginning."
Ellie nodded. "I strongly believe that, yes."
D'Artagnan shifted on his perch on the table. "Why?"
Ellie stepped forward, leaning against the back of Athos' chair. "Marcheaux has always been dodgy. He's always had an ulterior motive and has always tried to cause chaos. I believe he, and Feron when he was alive, were working with Grimaud to get rid of Louis and seize the throne through Gaston. After all, it was Feron who called him to Paris.
"I think Marcheaux or Grimaud murdered Feron when Louis turned all soft on him and then they began using Gaston as a legal heir to the throne since there's no regent yet. That's why Marcheaux had the crowd calling for the Queen's head."
The occupants of the room stared at her.
Ellie shrugged, standing up and putting an arm around Athos' shoulders. "I also believe that Grimaud and Feron were behind the blowing us up incident and that Marcheaux told Grimaud about the King's 'pilgrimage' with Aramis."
"You didn't want to tell any of us this earlier?" Porthos asked after another moment of silence.
"It's like D'Artagnan said," Ellie replied, "we have no evidence. It's all just a coincidence." She looked at them all. "Besides, would you have listened?"
~ 0 ~
"Everything points to a concerted effort by your enemies to tarnish your name, Majesty," Treville explained. "Ruin your regency's chances before it even begins."
Ellie was standing in between the two chairs Constance and Treville were sat on, patiently letting Treville explain the situation to the Queen.
"And Marcheaux? He's part of this?" Anne asked.
"It seems that way," Constance replied.
"I have tried to persuade the King to disband the Red Guard, but he will not listen," Treville added.
"Marcheaux's time will come," Anne said quietly.
"Your Majesty, Paris is full of people who fled the Spanish," Constance began. "Your enemies know that. You can't have the city against you, not when the King is…"
"You have something in mind?" Anne asked.
Constance sighed. "Show them who you really are," she said softly. "Show them they matter to you."
Anne paused. "Do you think it will work?"
"I –"
"I was asking Ellie, Treville," Anne replied, cutting Treville off. Anne turned to look at her. "Do you think it will work?"
Ellie exhaled slowly. "It's your best chance, Your Majesty. If Marcheaux knows about the King – which I'm sure he does – then so, do your enemies. They know that the regency is rocky at best and, as a result, know that the throne of France is up for grabs. Your Majesty, I don't see how this could make things any worse than they already are.
"France, especially Paris, is extremely volatile right now. By showing that they matter to you, you may be able to bring a few back to your side and, maybe, calm the situation down."
Anne looked Ellie in the eye. "And if it doesn't work?"
Ellie shrugged. "We'll come to that if it happens."
~ 0 ~
"They'll execute him!" D'Artagnan exclaimed.
D'Artagnan was trying, and currently failing, to get Athos to allow him to free his cousin, who had been due to hang with the Spaniards, and bring him along with them.
"We have a mission to rescue Aramis," Porthos replied.
Ellie thought both Athos and Porthos were being ridiculous. Athos had taken up the 'the law is the law' stance whilst Porthos was more concerned for Aramis.
"And protect three Spaniards? Espoir is a Frenchman!" D'Artagnan shot back.
"He's still a thief," Athos reminded him.
"He stole a loaf of bread," Ellie said, chiming in, "He's a victim of the war, I don't quite understand why we're still arguing about this!"
"Who do you want to save?" Porthos asked, standing up. "Him or Aramis?"
"All I'm asking is that he comes with us," D'Artagnan said, slightly calmer now. "We'll let him loose in the countryside."
"We don't need distractions," Porthos replied.
"How is he a distraction?!" Ellie asked, throwing her hands up. "All that'll happen is we arrive there, D'Artagnan releases Espoir like he's a rabbit and then we carry on and save Aramis. I just don't understand why we're arguing about this!"
"He'll be my responsibility," D'Artagnan added.
"Your loyalty to your cousin is clouding your judgement," Athos replied.
Ellie groaned in despair. "Of course, it is, Athos!" Espoir is his cousin what did you think was going to happen! All he did was steal a loaf of bread and now he's expected to hang. It's not like he murdered anyone." Ellie paused, looking behind her at D'Artagnan. "He didn't murder anyone, did he?"
"No," D'Artagnan replied, shaking his head.
"See! Athos, you can't honestly be alright with this?"
"If I let him die, my conscience will never be clear!" D'Artagnan exclaimed. "Surely you of all people can understand that?"
Athos stared at D'Artagnan, contemplating.
Porthos looked between them. "I'll get the weapons." He quickly walked out the room, shutting the door behind him.
"Athos look at me," Ellie said, leaning on the table. "If it was me. If I had been sentenced to hang because I stole a loaf of bread, would you be of the same opinion as you are now?"
~ 0 ~
Ellie tried to hide her triumphant smile as Espoir climbed into the back of the wagon along with the prisoners. She turned back to face Athos as he joined them.
"The rendezvous is half a day's ride from Paris," he said. "After that…"
"He'll be gone," D'Artagnan finished. "I swear."
"I will not have this mission compromised," Athos reminded him, walking off to his horse.
"I know he's your cousin, but if he gets in the way…" Porthos trailed off, walking off to his horse.
D'Artagnan sighed as he put his pistols onto his belt.
"Bring them back safely, please," Ellie said, watching him.
"I will," he promised, nodding. "Look after Constance."
"Always," Ellie replied, smiling at him as he jogged to his horse.
She stood back as they rode out of the garrison, the wagon rattling on the cobblestones as it drove away. Ellie nodded at Brujon from across the garrison, giving him a small smile. He smiled back and Ellie sighed softly.
She just hoped everything would still be here once this was all over.