Chapter 7

Thanks to all the followers and the one who favorited the story. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter and you will like it. I decided to write the episode to include my character in them. Don't worry she will have her own storyline.

New Chapter, read, enjoy and review


Emile Bonnaire, was a merchant trader and explorer. The King ordered the musketeers to arrest the man because he broke a trade treaty between France and Spain. I didn't have anything better to do so I went with them. We were in Le Havre. D'Artagnan and I were following outside. He arrived aboard a ship, wearing a big hat and a smirk. He was walking like he owned the place and he thought himself irresistible. He entered the tavern where the other musketeers were waiting for him. D'Artagnan and I followed him inside. Porthos and Athos were sitting in the back and we both joined Aramis at a table near the door. On the waitress served him his drink and he draw a feather from his bag and offered to the waitress. Talk about flirting, I scoffed. My two companions looked at me and raised their eyebrows. I ignored them.

"Seduced by a feather, really?" D'Artagnan asked

"Anyone, can tell a woman she is beautiful. Making her believe it…it's the way the genius works" Aramis explained

"In other words, seduction is an art, then?" I questioned Aramis.

Apparently we weren't the only one to be after Emile Bonnaire. There were quite an amount of men surrounding who were waiting for an occasion to kill the man.

"Emile!" A woman called. She unsheathed her dagger. D'Artagnan made movement to intervene but Aramis stopped him.

"I want to see how that plays out." He explained

"And never get involved in a women's fight. It can get ugly." I added. The woman cut the feather and tried to stab the waitress. The latter dodged her attack. The woman ripped the sleeve of the dress. The waitress grabbed a basket on the table and used as weapon. She then was grabbed by the back of her neck and was pinned on the table by the woman who then straddled her waist. She then looked at Emile.

"I'll kill you." She threatened

"Darling, calm yourself, I beg you. It's far too early in the morning." He replied. And a man got up and went to attack Emile Bonnaire. The latter got his musket and shot the man.

"Touch him and you die." The woman threatened the man on the ground. Another man tried to attack Bonnaire but D'Artagnan tripped him. Aramis put his foot on his neck stopping him from standing up. Another man with chains sprang into action but Porthos knocked him down by pushing into the wall. Aramis then let the man go and walked towards the woman.

"You can't stay away too." She said pointing Aramis with her dagger.

"A moment ago you wanted to kill him." He reasoned her.

"I have the right. You don't" She replied. She went to attack him. Aramis grabbed her wrist and then twisted her arm and pushed her to D'Artagnan once she was disarmed. She bit D'Artagnan. It was funny, Porthos and I were now laughing at him.

"She just bit me." He announced.

"I saw that. Does it hurt?" I smirked and he groaned.

"Gentlemen, thank you." Emile Bonnaire started. And Athos and Porthos joined our little group. "Thank you. I can't thank you enough. Lucky for me you were here."

"Not entirely. Emile Bonnaire I am Athos of the King's musketeers, you under arrest." Athos informed him. "We are taking to Paris to appear before the King."

"Uh…no…I'm afraid I can't…travel today because I got important business…" He started to excuse himself

"Your business will have to wait." Athos told him

"What about her?" D'Artagnan asked referring to the woman.

"I have a name. It is Maria Bonnaire." She introduced herself.

"Gentlemen, my wife." He beamed.

"That explains a lot" Aramis chimed in.

"It sure makes things interesting." I agreed. Porthos chuckled.

"Any hidden weapons we should know about?" Porthos asked Emile.

"No, no I never carry any concealed weapon." He said as Porthos was taking the musket attached to his ankle. "I completely forgot about that one."

"Easily done" Porthos smiled pushing him to the doors. Two men were blocking their path.

"I would hate you to lose anything so valuable." One of them said with a Spanish accent and giving him some sort of tube. "You wouldn't this to fall into the wrong hands." He warned. Porthos took the object.

"Well, gentlemen, Paris it is." Bonnaire said, apparently scared him off. He then changed direction and walked towards the entrance of the tavern. "Oh, uhm… Grant me one last favour before we go." He asked. "A few moments alone with my wife."

"You must think we are stupid." D'Artagnan chuckled. And I agreed with him. We then looked at the other musketeers and they were ready to grant him his favour.

"I'm terribly sorry. Apparently we are." I stated.

"I must have your guarantee that you won't try to escape, monsieur." Athos warned him.

"You have my word on it…" Porthos raised his eyebrows to his words "…as a gentleman."

Athos and Porthos led the couple to one the bedroom upstairs while D'Artagnan, Aramis and I waited by the horses. A few minutes passed by as we were conversing about me adjusting to the life in the garrison. Athos joined us later telling us that Bonnaire had escaped and Porthos was already on the carriage that was transporting Bonnaire we just had to join him. Porthos made the driver leave his position and Bonnaire sat with him. The four of us rode behind. It was a long ride to Paris. I was in my own world admiring the landscape. I was riding beside Athos, D'Artagnan was ahead of us and Aramis was riding far behind us. He was making sure that we weren't followed. D'Artagnan wasn't happy with how slow we were riding to Paris. He wanted to abandon the wagon but Athos thought that we have to humour Bonnaire. The latter thought that his exotics gift could soften the King's mood. Bonnaire and Porthos were getting along.

"We're being followed." Aramis called to us. "By two men dressed in black about a mile behind."

"The men from the Inn?" Athos asked.

"Yes" Aramis answered

"What are they waiting for?" Athos asked again to no one in particular.

"Are we going to do something about this or not?" I questioned;

"If we stay off the road we should lose them." Athos replied.

We stopped by an old barn where we were supposed to rest for a while. Something clanked in the barn. The musketeers and D'Artagnan readied their weapons and so did I. I was walking next to Aramis. The latter unsheathed his sword.

"Come up and state your business." Aramis ordered

"That was very formal." Athos commented.

"I like to be polite." Aramis replied.

"Aramis! Nellie!" D'Artagnan yelled. Athos shot and behind us there was a man with an axe who was going to attack us.

"How many times do I have to tell you, D'Artagnan? Don't call me Nellie." I yelled.

"Ambush!" Athos warned us.

Several men got out of their hiding and attacked us. Porthos was protecting Bonnaire. It was a real mess of sword clanking. Some men had axes, others had stick of wood. One of them swing his wood stick to my head I was able to dodge it; I crouched and kicked his legs. He fell on the ground and I drove my sword into his chest. I'm not going to lie I never murdered someone but it's not the first time I killed to defend myself or another person but that's a story for another time. Porthos was stricken by one of our opponents and one with an axe at that. His shoulder was in a bad state. I joined him and Aramis who was tending his wound. I placed Porthos' head on my lap while Aramis was stopping him from bleeding to death. Apparently we were attacked by Bonnaire's associate's men. I was reassuring Porthos about his well being and not paying attention to their conversation. I considered all of them my friends now. I have the most things in common with Porthos, we were both born from slave and we were both from the court of Miracles. Do not forget we are both coloured people. I am not saying that I don't get along with the others but I considered Porthos as the brother I never had.

Paul Menier asked his men to lower their weapon and came to an agreement with Athos. I was soothing Porthos as Aramis was tending his wounds.

"Might I loose my arm?" Porthos asked through gritted teeth.

"No, but you might loose your life." Aramis answered.

"That bad?" Athos questioned

"It requires needle work and soon." Aramis informed him.

"Will he make it to Paris?" Athos asked.

"Are you joking?" I shrieked. "Porthos won't make it to the next village unless Aramis get the chance to sawn that wound."

"Then we need to leave the road and to shelter?" D'Artagnan intervened.

"Not here. We'll ride on for a few miles and find somewhere." Athos said.

"Porthos isn't fit to ride anyway." Aramis countered

"Get him on the cart." Athos ordered to D'Artagnan ignoring Aramis.

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Aramis said angry. "If we don't operate soon, he'll die."

"We'll wait till it's dark." Athos retorted. Aramis grabbed Athos by his jerkin.

"What's the matter with you?" He asked rhetorically. "Don't you care about Porthos?" I know he cares. I know Athos will willingly give his life for Porthos if he has to. But something was scaring him. He is running away, from what? I don't know. Well, he will have to overcome this otherwise we'll loose Porthos.

"Alright. I know somewhere near by." Athos finally yielded.

"Why didn't you mention it before?" D'Artagnan asked.

We put Porthos on the cart and we rode for a few miles until we arrived in a village. They were all looking in a strange way. We passed by the village and arrived in front of an enormous property. A gigantic mansion. There were several rooms; Athos led us to the study room I presume. It sure looked like it. Bonnaire was already thinking about buying the place. Now I know why Athos didn't mention it before, this property was his. Athos of the King's musketeers is the Comte de La Fère.

"How many servants did it take to run this place?" Aramis asked him.

"No more than 20, including my valet and the housekeeper." Athos replied

"Quite modest then?" Aramis insisted

"Servants makes me uncomfortable." Athos retorted.

"Look…if…if you don't mind…I'm just gonna wait outside. The sight of blood makes me faint." Bonnaire excused himself but D'Artagnan who was leaning against the door stopped him from going outside. "Or I could stay here."

"You must be skilled at this yourself." Aramis said to Bonnaire.

"Better with sail than skin." He replied.

"Fine needle work Aramis does." Porthos commented "He should have been a seamstress."

"Two inches deep that blade went but you wouldn't know, would you?" Aramis said showing one the scars on Porthos' back. "This one I trussed up during a skirmish in Poitiers. Stitches that's fine enough for the Queen's chemise."

"I agree. But perhaps you should save this tour for another time." D'Artagnan reminded him of Porthos' state.

"If you could prepare the patient." Aramis asked to Athos. The latter went on the other side of the table. He called Porthos and then punched him in the face. Porthos was knocked out cold. Aramis looked in Porthos' eyes and nodded his thanks to Athos.

"Dear God. What kind of brutes are you?" Bonnaire questioned surprised by Athos' actions. I wouldn't blame him. Even I was surprised by Athos' actions.

"It's the best way with Porthos. We've learned from experience." Athos explained.

Athos left the room and Aramis started to sawn Porthos' wound. I wanted to follow Athos and asked him more about this place, more about his past. But I didn't, his own friends didn't know about him being the Comte de La Fère. Why would he tell me; a perfect stranger? Athos didn't talk a lot unless it is really necessary. He is a silent companion and he has his own sense of humour. It's a dark and dry humour. He nerver laughs, I never saw him laugh. He only smiles and nothing more. Whatever happened in his past must have hurt him very deeply. There's no need for me to push the issue.