Chapter 12

Thanks to FizzWizz2011 for their review. I'm happy that you like the story. Now I'm wondering will you like the twist in this chapter. Thanks to the followers and the one who favourited this story.

New chapter read, enjoy and review.


I stayed in the court of miracles trying to convince my friend to give up her little business. I even tried to discover where Beauvallon was thinking it might help if I catch him before the musketeers. But none of my plans worked. I have to tell the musketeers eventually. I can no longer keep this a secret anymore. I have to go back to the garrison but how and when? Little did I know. Porthos didn't buy my lies and he's been following me for a few days now. He still has some contacts in the court of miracles. Today, Emilie and Di Carlo were going out of the Court of Miracles to collect the taxes again. I followed them to try reason with them but none of them listened to me. I wanted more than anything else to protect my best friend—even if it means betraying the trust of my new friends. As I said before I will come to regret this decision.

"This is the worst decision you ever made in your life." I said to my friends while we were walking in the streets of Paris.

"You're still here, aren't you?" She replied smirking "And you didn't blab anything to your dear musketeers."

"So, stop moaning." Di Carlo put in. They were still doing their dirty job when I saw the musketeers and D'Artagnan coming in our directions. They all stared at me with cold looks. I knew then that they were really and completely mad at me. They will never forgive me.

A fight occurred between Di Carlo and the Musketeers. Emilie pleaded me to help her lover but I just stood there motionless; watching them fight. When I say musketeers I meant D'Artagnan was the one fighting him. D'Artagnan had the upper hand and sent Di Carlo on the ground. And D'Artagnan turned his back to his enemy for a second. Di Carlo got up and unsheathed his dagger ready to arm D'Artagnan. I warned D'Artagnan and the latter drove his sword in Di Carlo's flesh. Di Carlo was still alive but barely. Emilie was crying over his body and the Musketeers took us both to the prison. We were put in the same cell. None of them talk to me during our journey there. Emilie was sobbing the possible loss of her love. I spent hours watching her body trembling with sobs. Hours during which I didn't speak nor did any gesture to comfort her. The guards came in later and led me to an antechamber where the Captain and the musketeers were waiting.

"What happened?" The Captain asked me. "I sent you there for a reason. And you being captured weren't one of them."

"Beauvallon happened." I answered.

"Is he involved in this?" Aramis questioned.

"Actually, he is the brain behind all of this." I replied.

"Why didn't you tell anything when Porthos was there?" D'Artagnan asked this time.

"I couldn't do that to her." I sighed defeated. "I couldn't."

"We understand loyalty, Emmanuelle;" D'Artagnan said. And I have to say it hurt that he wasn't using the nickname I hate so much. "but you should have told us the truth."

"Unfortunately, we can't help you. You brought this on yourself." The Captain said. "The punishment for treason is death."

"I understand." I agreed with tears in my eyes. "You have to know at least that I tried to stop them. I didn't betray the King neither did I betray you."

They didn't answer me. The guards just took me back to my cell. Emilie wasn't in. As I was talking to the musketeers and their Captain, the Cardinal asked to talk with her. I don't know what's been said in the privacy of the Cardinal's office—but Emilie never came back into the cell. She made a deal with the Cardinal in exchange of Di Carlo's life. He will pay for his treatments if she told him the name of the person responsible for the illegal taxes collection—guess what? She gave my name as a form of revenge.

Constance came the day after with one of my dress. She helped me to dress. She believed that if I was in my best dress the magistrate will be tolerant. There's not enough dress in the world that would make them change their mind. I am guilty in their eyes and Emilie accusing me is more than enough to send behind bars for the rest of my life. It is possible for them to make an example of me.

"Thank you, Constance. But this is not going to make much difference." I said resigned.

"You don't deserve this." Constance was fuming. "The musketeers should do something to help you."

"Why should they?" I asked her.

"You are their friend. You helped them and saved their life." She explained. "It is much more than you were supposed to."

"Oh my dear Constance, you have such a kind heart. Please, don't change." I gave her a teary smile.

"Now, tell me; did you steal that money? Did you betray the King's court?" She asked.

"No, I didn't." I replied. "But that doesn't change anything because today I am to be found guilty of any crime they are accusing me of."

"They must do something and they will…" She started and a guard came to take me away.

"Goodbye, my friend." I embraced her before the guard took me away.

They put me in a carriage. The closer we were from the trial the more nervous I was. I don't want to die for something I didn't do. I was able to turn my life around and now because of an error of judgement I will probably die or end up in prison. I lost everything. All I have left is my life and my freedom. I'd rather them took my life away than my freedom. It might sound stupid to you but not to me. My father always repeated to me that Freedom is the best gift God did to the humanity. We were all born free therefore we all shall die free. If I have one regrets—it would be lying to Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan. It would be trusting the wrong person. It would be choosing that person over my duty to the King and to my real friends. I am seeing it now and it is probably too late. Would it be a surprise if I tell you that the trial did go as I expected? No, that's what I thought. They asked numerous questions to which I answered sincerely. They then questioned Emilie and she blamed it all on me. The worst part in her statement is that I'm not surprised she is doing this. Actually, I don't feel anything anymore. I felt numb. No more hope, no more friends and soon enough no more life. The sentence was death. They took me back to the carriage. It never arrived to the prison. It was led outside of Paris.

"Took you long enough." I breathed relief to see the musketeers and D'Artagnan. "For a minute there I really thought it was the end of everything for me."

"You are a good actress, Nellie." D'Artagnan smirked.

"So are you. Oh, that reminds me—don't ever stop calling me that." I slapped him on his shoulder.

"I thought you hated it?" He asked.

"I still do, it just doesn't feel right when you don't." I explained. "Now, give my clothes and please turn your back, gentlemen." They did as they were told.

I took off my dress and put the dirty clothes they brought to me. Now, I can tell that you, my readers, are confused. Let me explain. It all started when I bring my friend with me to the garrison. The Captain already knew she was working with Beauvallon and he wanted me to confirm it. It wasn't easy for me to do so. After all she was still my friend then and I had a hard time to believe this. Then I saw it with my own eyes when her name was on the list. When I left for the court of miracles it was all part of the plan. I had to act as if I was clueless. I still hoped she was innocent but I was naïve. When Porthos came I just wrote the confirmation on a piece of paper for him and the Captain. Di Carlo being injured wasn't a part of the plan and as the Captain said neither was I being captured. The conversation we had in the antechamber was witnessed by some red guards. Now was time for plan B.

"I'm decent now." I announced and they looked at me. I had the dusty clothes on and my hair was hidden in the worn out hat. I put some mud on my face to complete the disguise.

"You have until tomorrow at noon to bring Beauvallon to us." The Captain informed me.

"Otherwise, I will be executed." I sighed. "I know. It's not going to be easy."

"Never say it will." Athos added "I know you can do it."

"Thank you, Athos." I smiled. "Oh my god, Constance is going to be so mad at me when she'll know the truth."

"Don't worry about this for the moment." Aramis chuckled. "Just be careful."

And with that I left again and went to the court of miracles as a young boy who needs to eat. I just hoped that my disguise will be enough to fool Beauvallon and Emilie. The second part of my mission was to lure Beauvallon out of the court of miracles—this way the musketeers will be able to arrest him. I was going to follow him at a distance once I will find out where he was. Then I was to lure him out. I already have an idea for this.

I arrived at the court of miracles a few hours later. There's a lot of young homeless boy in this part of Paris that I will easily go unnoticed by others. I followed Emilie and Di Carlo all day. They stopped for medicinal supplies and food here and there. Their last stop was Beauvallon's lair. They stayed there a few hours. I was half asleep on the street when they got out. Now I was going to use his son Lazarus to draw him out. If he wants to see his son he has to be at rue Férou at ten O'clock the day after. I paid a young boy to deliver the letter to Beauvallon. He went into his lair and stayed there for a few minutes. When the boy got out, he had a letter with him. In this letter Beauvallon agreed to come. Now I don't expect him to come alone. I expect him to bring some reinforcements with him in case this is a trap. All I had to do now was to go to Constance and ask her to call for the musketeers which she did. I gave them the letter and they assured me everything will be alright. Now this might seem easy and it was. That's why we were all on our guards. I stayed at Constance's for the night. Needless to say that she was really unhappy with my lies. The day after I accompanied the musketeers to rue Férou and there was Beauvallon waiting for us. He panicked when he realised that he was all trap but he didn't come alone. He called his men out and once again we were outnumbered. We managed to fight them back and only a few men only were left. This time I went after Beauvallon. He was a skilled swordsman and my skills were actually nothing compared to his. He had the upper hand when Athos intervened. Athos fought him, blocking every one of his blow. He finally was able to send Beauvallon on the ground when the red guards showed up. The musketeers covered my exit while I was running back to my cell. I know people usually run from prison—not to prison but I needed to be there before noon. It's a good thing I took my dress with me before coming here.

I arrived just in time before the guards came to my cell to lead to the pillory. No execution was needed when the musketeers showed to the King and the Queen that I was innocent. They released me. I went to the court of miracles one last time to see Emilie. I warned her that if I see her and Di Carlo out of the court of miracles ever again, I will personally send them to prison. Some weeks later I will learn that they simply left France. I thought for a long time that she was a friend for life when she wasn't. Now I know who my true friends are. They are here with me at the garrison and they will put their life and their honour on the line to save mine.