The Prize, Ch. 4
"Will you not speak to me?" Marcello asked her as they rode across her property.
Christine sighed. "I don't know why you came here, Marcello," she said, not looking at the man.
"I came, because I am still in love with you," he said. "I needed to see you. I came to convince you to return to Paris with me."
"Marcello, please. My answer to you remains the same. Though I value your friendship, I do not love you."
"Not yet, but you might," he said with a smile. "My sister has returned to Italy. I refused to leave without at least attempting to win your hand."
Christine ignored that comment. "The King set out a few hours ago with his Musketeers. If we are lucky they should not be too far in," she said.
"His musketeers?" Marcello asked, his tone growing cold.
"Yes," she said. "Captain Treville, Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan and Aramis," she said pointedly.
"Aramis," he hissed. "So, have you reconciled with that musketeer?" he said. "I stand by what I said before – he is not worthy of you. Perhaps when you can see us in focus side-by-side, you will realize that I possess all that he lacks."
She scoffed slightly. "All that he lacks is a title to those that care about such inane things. Luckily, I have one, which more than satisfies that need."
"We shall see," said Marcello, with a gleam in his eye. He had missed the way she challenged him. She spoke her mind and was undaunted by him and he relished it. "I said I came here to win your heart. I welcome the competition."
oOo
The hunters' trail was easy to locate and the Comtesse and Duke soon came upon the hunting party within a small clearing.
"Marcello!" called the King as they approached. "What excellent timing! Have you come for the tournament?" he asked. Christine reddened. Aramis and the Duke eyed each other coldly. The Duke shifted his gaze to address his cousin, the King.
"Alas your majesty, I came only to throw myself at the feet of this magnificent creature," he said, gesturing towards Christine. "I'm afraid I do not know what tournament you're referring to."
"Well!" said the King, "How fortuitous! We shall be hosting a tournament tomorrow in which the prize shall be a kiss from the Comtesse! I expect you'll be entering?" he asked with a grin.
"Without hesitation," said Marcello, "Though I doubt any man here is worthy of such a prize," he said, his eyes flashing at Aramis.
"How has your hunt been?" Christine asked the King, changing the topic.
"Most excellent. Aramis took down the stag we were tracking with an excellent shot," he said.
"Only because you injured him, your Majesty," said Aramis.
"Louis," corrected the King. "And don't be so modest Aramis. Your skill with a rifle is well known in Paris. I'm sure even the Duke here has heard of your talents."
"I know all I need to of Monsieur Aramis," said Marcello curtly, his grin belying the sharp tone and the challenge in his eyes.
"Come," said the King, beaming at the Duke. "You are just in time to catch the end of the hunt! Let's be off!" he said, firing a pistol into the air in his excitement.
The sudden burst startled Philomena, who reared suddenly, unaccustomed to gunfire. Distracted, Christine was unable to keep her seat and fell from her horse who took off through the woods.
Aramis was at Christine's side instantly, cradling her against him, his hand gently stroking her face. She opened her eyes and looked into his, her hand automatically reaching for his.
"Good god!" exclaimed the King. "Are you alright, my Lady?"
"I'm quite fine," she said a little groggily, Aramis' brow furrowed in concern.
"You most certainly are not," remarked the King.
"Perhaps it would be a good idea for the Comtesse to return to the house to recover," Treville supplied.
"Yes, I quite agree Treville," the King said. "Aramis, you will return the Comtesse to her bedchamber where she is not to exert herself for the rest of the afternoon," he commanded.
Aramis mounted his horse as Porthos easily lifted Christine into his arms. He held her tightly and she breathed deeply as she rested her head against his chest. He looked down into her eyes and she smiled up at him.
"Thank you, your M-Louis," she corrected with a smile. "I shall for once be a good patient and take your advice and rest for the remainder of the afternoon."
"Aramis will see that she is comfortable," said Treville confidently.
"And you're not to over exert yourselves," Porthos whispered to the marksman with a smirk.
With a small grimace at Porthos, Aramis turned his horse and began to ride slowly through the trees back towards the manor.
Upon returning to the stables, Marcus and Victor rushed to greet them.
"Mistress!" cried Victor, "I'm sorry! What happened?"
"You were right Victor, Phil did startle. It was not your fault though. I was distracted and not aware of the warnings."
"Take my mare, and see if you can find her," said Aramis as he dismounted and helped Christine descend.
"She's probably in the orchard," said Marcus thoughtfully. "She likes to eat the unripe fruit."
oOo
Aramis brought Christine to her room off of the study and lay her gently on the bed.
"I'm quite alright," she whispered as he lay himself next to her.
"I'm sure," said Aramis, "But I've been granted permission to give you a thorough examination which I believe includes holding you in my arms for the next few hours until the King and his party return."
She smiled and kissed him fiercely. "In that case, I believe that I am quite ailing and will require all of your focused attention."
He kissed her lips and smiling sadly, he brushed a strand of hair from her face.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
"The Duke of Mantua," he said. "I know that he's in love with you. He confronted me in Paris. He will enter this competition tomorrow."
She pulled her fingers through his hair and held his head so he couldn't look away.
"Yes," she said. "Marcello has said that he's in love with me. He kissed me and asked me to marry him. In Paris. After…everything." Aramis' eyes flashed with a look of hurt and regret. "But it doesn't matter," she said. "I told him then, as I told him when he showed up here, as I am telling you now again Aramis, as I will tell you for the rest of my life if you'll let me. I am in love with you Aramis. No one else. No matter the outcome of this ridiculous tournament."
She sighed. "I have spent my entire life trying to avoid this noble trap of becoming a prize in their silly games, to be recognized for my own worth...and here, now, in my own home, I have become just that - a prize - in order to satisfy my King."
He stroked her hair. "No one will ever own you or diminish who you are," he said and kissed her, passionately, until her frustrations ebbed away and they gave themselves to each other as the afternoon light filtered in through the window.
oOo
Later that afternoon, with Christine resting peacefully, He kissed her gently and she smiled. He backed out of the room and quietly drew the study doors closed behind him.
"How is the Comtesse?" a woman's voice asked softly.
Surprised, Aramis turned to face his Queen. "She fell from her horse," he said. "She is resting, but should be up soon."
"I am glad," said the Queen as she stepped towards Aramis, whispering quietly, "And I am glad for you both."
Aramis' eyes went wide.
The Queen smiled. "Christine confessed to me after I came to her with my suspicions. It is hard to hide a love that's so powerful," she said with a smile.
Aramis smiled back and bowed.
"Thank you, your Majesty. Her love has made me a truly blessed man."
"And I will champion it, if need be, in court. Something this pure and beautiful should not be hidden Aramis," she said, reaching out and squeezing his hand.
He bowed to her again as she left him in the hallway.
oOo
Dinner that night was exquisite. Cookie pulled out all the stops as they dined on the King's stag, which was cooked with early summer apples and was bedecked with the blossoms from the boughs that Aramis and Christine had collected the day before. Marcello joined them for the meal, and he was in good spirits. Charming as ever, he constantly tried to engage Christine in conversation, which she participated in politely, the Queen, Treville and Athos running interference between the Duke and Aramis. The King spoke animatedly to Porthos and D'Artagnan.
"This meal has been exceptional," said the King as he bit into another helping of one of the pastry chef's masterpieces. "The winner of the competition will benefit from a chef like that – or at least his waistline will," joked the king, at which Porthos chuckled lowly.
"Yes, my love," the Queen corrected delicately, "But the competition is for only a kiss. Once paid, the Comtesse will owe the man nothing else."
"Yes my dear one, of course. But who knows what a kiss can lead to, right gentlemen?"
"Perhaps you would enjoy some music from the country?" Christine interrupted.
"A wonderful idea!" said the King.
"Will you dance?" Marcello asked.
"Yes, do!" said the King.
Christine smiled at Louis. "I would your Majesty, alas, I am still quite faint from my fall, so I must decline," she said.
"I shall dance with you Marcello," said the Queen rising. "Though I can't say I've been part of a country dance before. D'Artagnan, perhaps you can show us. You grew up in the countryside. Gascony, I believe."
"Yes," said D'Artagnan, shocked that the Queen knew this about him and had retained it. Marie stepped to D'Artagnan's side and they began to instruct the Queen and Duke in the dance as the musicians began a lively tune.
The King and the others cheered and clapped along as the couples danced, Christine stroking Aramis' hand from beneath the table.
As the night continued, the King drew Porthos and Marcello into a game of cards, while D'Artagnan and Treville spoke to the Queen about Gascony and the different parts of France she had never visited. Christine spoke privately with Athos and Aramis, Aramis absentmindedly still holding her hand as she jested with Athos. All parties quietly internalizing the absurdity yet strange normalcy of chatting amicably with the French royal family away from a court setting.
oOo
As the evening ended and Marcello returned to his room at the inn, the others made to retire to their rooms as well. Aramis hesitated further down the corridor as he escorted Christine towards the study.
"Perhaps I should retire to the guest rooms with the others this evening," he said to her softly.
She placed her hands around his neck as he moved his to encircle her waist. "This is my home," she said. "If I am to be a prize tomorrow, should I not receive some reward tonight?" she asked him playfully. He grinned at her, his dark eyes smouldering.
She laughed as he pulled her to him and kissed her.
Stopping as they exited the ballroom, the Queen looked down the corridor to witness the display. The King quietly stood next to her.
"He's in love with her," Louis whispered, startling his wife.
"And she loves him," Anne replied softly. "How did you know?" she asked her husband as they turned away from the lovers and proceeded towards their suite.
"I had my suspicions," he said sagely, "But when she fell today, it left no doubt in my mind. It was in the way he flew to her and cared for her and the way she clung to him. It was like watching a painting come to life," he said poetically.
"If you know this," the Queen asked, "will you not cancel this silly competition?"
The King shook his head. "If he loves her, as I love you," he said taking his wife's hand and kissing it softly, "He will let no other man win her kiss. He will risk his pride for her. I would lay down my life before I let another man have what I value most," he said solemnly.
The Queen halted, overcome by her husband's emotional display, as she always was when he spoke like this. "This truly is a magical place," she said softly. He placed his hand on her blossoming belly and she kissed him in the beautiful west wing suite of the great manor home.