Equals

Chapter 2

The body hung lifelessly from the end of its tether, the woman's voluminous skirts fluttering coquettishly as she swayed in a morbid mockery of the women bearing witness. The ladies in waiting screamed at the sight.

Christine turned the Queen from the grizzly display and pulled her against her as Porthos and D'Artagnan ran to try to free the woman.

"Anne, Anne, don't look," Christine soothed as she held the Queen against her, shielding her from the gruesome sight. The Queen shook and pressed her eyes closed as Christine held her close.

More guards and musketeers had flocked to them when the screams had gone up. Aramis was kneeling next to the body of the woman. Porthos and D'Artagnan had run to the second floor in the hopes of apprehending whoever had perpetuated this horrid display. Aramis looked grim as he shut the eyes of the woman. She was dead.

Athos commanded the guards to escort the Queen and her ladies inside.

"Athos," called Christine, as a guard forced the Queen into the palace. "Athos, I know her," said Christine with a hollow voice.

Athos nodded. "Stay with her Majesty. Aramis will come for you once we have taken control of the situation," he said.

Christine nodded and followed the Queen up to her apartments.

oOo

Athos commanded the other musketeers to keep the area clear, then went to stand by Aramis.

He was examining the rope that had been fastened around the girl's neck.

"What have you found?" he asked the medic.

Aramis sighed. "The girl was dead before her body was desecrated this way. These ligature marks were made by a pair of hands, not by a rope. Whoever did this wanted to shame her. Look," he said, passing Athos a placard. "This was hanging around her neck."

Athos turned the board over. The word "Whore" was written across it in red.

Porthos and D'Artagnan came sliding into view.

"Any signs?" Athos asked.

Porthos growled. "Only the one you're holdin'. We couldn't get there fast enough once we cut the girl down. The bastard must have taken off quickly and blended in amongst the people inside. No one seemed disturbed by a fleein' murderer."

"He must have been dressed as either a servant or a noble," echoed D'Artagnan.

"This rope," Aramis said standing. "It looks as though it was only used for this purpose. It's high quality – expensive and there are no signs of wear," he said.

"Who would do this?" D'Artagnan whispered, his eyes drifting from the girl to the slur in Athos' hand.

"A monster," said Athos as he saw Captain Treville making his way towards them.

Aramis explained what they had so far discovered and Treville nodded grimly.

"Have the body removed to the morgue," he said. "The King and the Queen should not see this."

"This happened in front of the Queen," Porthos rumbled. "She was with Christine when this happened. Christine shielded her from it as much as she could…"

Treville's mouth tensed.

"She also recognized the girl," Athos said.

"Where is she now?" asked Treville.

"I sent her with the guards and the Queen's entourage. She's comforting the Queen. I said we would send for her once the situation was under control."

Treville nodded. "Bring her to the morgue to examine the body and confirm the identity," he said, his eyes flickering from Athos to the grim face of Aramis. "We'll reconvene at the garrison. I need to inform the King of what happened."

"He should be dining with the Baron de Carbonne," said D'Artagnan.

Treville nodded and left the terrace to deliver the grim news to the volatile monarch.

oOo

Aramis knocked before entering the Queen's apartments.

He saw Christine pacing by the window. The door to the Queen's bedchamber was slightly ajar.

Christine ran to Aramis as he entered and he engulfed her in his arms.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"I'm fine," she muttered. Aramis lifted her chin in his hand and looked her in the eyes, his eyebrow raised sceptically. She looked down. "To be honest," she whispered, "I'm not really sure how I feel."

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "How is the Queen?" he asked.

"Shaken," she replied, "But she's strong. She's resting now."

"Should you leave her? I need you to come with me to the morgue to properly identify the body," he said delicately.

Christine bit her lip.

"I am fine, my friend," came a voice from behind them. Christine spun and rushed to the Queen's side. Aramis bowed as he took in her pale complexion.

"Anne," Christine began, addressing the Queen as she only did when they were in private.

The Queen shook her head. "I am alright," she said. "Shaken yes, but unharmed. Go," she said. "Help them find out what monster could have done this," she said, taking Christine's hands and holding them against her chest.

Christine smiled at her and squeezed her hands and gave them a quick kiss. Grey eyes met blue, which burnt with resolve.

"Aramis," called the Queen as they made to leave the chamber, "keep her safe."

"I swear," he said with a bow and they exited the room.

oOo

The morgue was cool despite the heat of the day, causing the walls to glisten slightly with condensation. Aramis helped Christine descend the steps to the depths where they met Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan who were gathered around the table. A sheet covered the body.

As she stepped towards the table Porthos gave her shoulder a quick squeeze of comfort. She had been closest to the grim action and had acted out of duty and friendship to shelter the Queen. Sometimes Porthos thought that Christine was as deserving of a pauldron as any of the musketeers.

Christine stood next to the table and Aramis slowly drew the sheet back from the young woman's face. The lifeless body was already tinged with blue. Her neck was a lattice of bruises, many of which Christine's medical-mind deduced happened posthumously. She stared into the face of the girl that lay on the table and pressing her fingers first to her own lips, she laid them on the girl's forehead. Then she closed her eyes and stepped away from the table.

"Cover her, please," she whispered as she felt Aramis' arms encircle her. She swallowed thickly.

"Christine…" Athos said. Aramis shot him a fierce look.

Christine opened her eyes and gazed at Athos. "This is Marie Pont-Neuf…was… She was engaged to a man named Marius, the Viscomte de Coulombe. She was such a sweet girl. And they were so in love. Someone will need to tell him…"

Athos nodded. "Marie…was she popular at court?"

Christine frowned. "She was new. She and Marius only became engaged recently. She made her court debut only about a month ago – after the engagement."

"Is there any way she could have made any enemies in her time there?"

Christine shook her head. "No. Impossible. She was a shy, and quiet girl, but clever and sweet when she did speak."

"What motive could anyone have for harming her?" D'Artagnan asked incredulously.

Christine shook her head. "I don't know," she said, "but jealousy can be ugly. The Viscomte was considered a very eligible bachelor. I can imagine that some of those at court could be upset by the engagement."

"But upset enough to kill her?" D'Artagnan said, the disgust and incomprehension clear in his voice.

Christine and Athos made eye contact but said nothing. They knew about the dangers and politics of court and the lengths some would go to in order to increase their power, wealth or favour with the King.

"We should rendezvous with Treville. He may have more questions for you."

"Athos," said Aramis fiercely, his dark eyes glaring at the swordsman.

"It's okay," she said, placing her hand on his chest. "Whatever I can do to help."

He looked at her, his eyes full of concern.

"Please," she said as she stared back at him.

He ran a hand through his hair. She caught it, and rested her hand at the base of his neck. He sighed and nodded, and they left the morgue and returned above ground to the garrison.

oOo