Chapter 19
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The competition has begun. The musketeers had handed their entry fee. The competition started with the shooting test. Of course Aramis won that one. Then came the hand to hand combat. Porthos, as he was the strongest of all, won his fight. During the day I was just a spectator of their exploits; my musketeers and my D'Artagnan were doing well. The last trial was the sword fight. Athos was giving him some advises to D'Artagnan before the latter start his fight against Aramis. I stood next to Athos as we watched them fight. D'Artagnan was keeping his emotions under control and was able to last longer in this fight than he did before. Aramis sent him an appreciative nod. "Admit it, you're proud of him." I said to Athos. Athos answered me with his crooked smile. The competition ended almost at night. The Captain left and was announcing his final decision the day after. I stayed with Athos at the garrison; it was actually the other way around. Athos stayed with me at the garrison.
"Have you met this woman again?" He asked me while he was pouring wine in my glass.
"No, it doesn't seem she has been around lately." I replied. "But I don't think I will meet her again." I took a sip of wine. "Tell me how did you gather the money for the entry fee?"
"I had some reserves." He answered.
"I thought none of you had the money." I remembered.
"It seemed that I was wrong." He countered.
We talked for a while before we both went to bed. Now that Athos mentioned this woman, I thought about her some more and especially about her eyes. They were a deep blue just like my own, I thought. They were just like my own, just like my mother's eyes. Are we related somehow? That couldn't be possible, could it? It was with those doubts that I fell asleep. In the morning; after breakfast that I shared with my three friends; the Captain gathered all the musketeers around him. D'Artagnan entered the garrison at this exact moment. I was standing next to Aramis.
"Choosing a champion from such a fine group of soldiers is a near-impossible task." The Captain started.
"And the winner is…" One of the musketeers called and the crowd chuckled.
"For that reason, I have decided that the only man who can fairly represent you…" The Captain made a brief pause. I really hoped that D'Artagnan would be able to fight and win the competition for the musketeers. "…is me." What!? What has just happened? D'Artagnan left the garrison. The other three wore a perplexed and confused frown.
"Can he do that?" I asked no one in particular. Athos left and followed the Captain in his office. And I followed him.
"This is wrong and dangerous." Athos said calmly.
"This challenge is my doing. It is my responsibility to see it through." The Captain countered.
"What was the point of all of this, then?" I asked frustrated.
"Instead of giving yourself one last moment of glory," Athos continued. "You should be giving D'Artagnan the chance to win this commission from the King."
"You think this is about glory?" The Captain scoffed.
"All I know is that D'Artagnan has it in him to be a fine musketeer, perhaps the greatest of us all." Athos replied. "But now?"
"We'll never know because you've stolen his best chance to prove it." I finished for him. And we both left his office.
I went to my chamber to retrieve a cloak before going with the musketeers to the competition. The musketeers were all standing on one side while the red guards were standing on the other of the battle field. I was standing with the musketeers, well, as usual next to Athos. Aramis was teasing Porthos about his patroness and D'Artagnan gave us a lesson about not trusting love. And they introduced the Captain as the champion of the musketeers. The Cardinal is a sneaky little thing, he does play dirty. Guess who's going to fight for the Red Guards? The Captain Labarge.
"This is some sort of sick joke." D'Artagnan exclaimed.
"Well, the Captain isn't surprised." Aramis remarked.
"He knew." Porthos said realisation hitting him. Of course he knew, that's why he took it.
The fight started, Labarged attacked the Captain first. The two champions were really skilled swordsmen. Where the Captain Tréville was playing fair, Labarge was being brutal and was breaking the rules. The Captain was a really good musketeer that's why he was the Captain of the musketeers after all, but against Labarge, as skilled as he was, he wouldn't last long. There's no need to tell you that the five of us were really anxious. I was holding my hands in front of my mouth, silently praying for the Captain to win. I was relieved to see that Tréville seemed to dominate the fight. It didn't last though when Labarge attacked him unfairly. The Captain was now on the ground and Labarge was kicking him. Labarge then crushed the Captain's shoulder with his foot. That action itself sent all the musketeers into actions and I joined them. The Red Guards attacked us in their turn. I took care of Tréville who was lying on the ground. I fought the Red Guards that were coming into my direction and Tréville's. Stopping a sword there and kicking someone in the chest here. Catching a sword in the air and thrusting the said sword into a Red Guards' shoulder. The King stopped the fight. Tréville was standing next to me., holding his arm.
"Your man broke the rules, Cardinal." The King announced. "Captain Tréville may nominate another champion, if he wishes." The Captain looked questioningly at his best men, Aramis nodded. He turned his head to the King.
"I nominate D'Artagnan to take my place." Tréville gave his decision. That's better, D'Artagnan has now the occasion to prove himself
We retired ourselves in the back and watched D'Artagnan. They fight and in the first round, Labarge sent him to the ground. But D'Artagnan is gifted and counter-attacked by attacking Labarge's ankle. With their swords pressed together, they struggled for domination. None of them win this fight; they swung their swords to each other. Labarge hit D'Artagnan in his shoulder. Labarge taunted him. It seemed that D'Artagnan has lost control over his emotions. But in one swift movement D'Artagnan thrust his swords into Labarge's flesh and won his battle. I kept it all together. I would have loved to cheer and jumped up and down. So, just like my friends I went to D'Artagnan and patted him on his shoulder. The Musketeers has won this competition. The King left his seat and joined us on the field. The men bowed and I curtsied to him.
"You defended your Captain with great heroism today." The King started. "I admire loyalty more than any other virtue. Please kneel."
"Get on your knees before he changes his mind." Athos whispered to him with his crooked smile. The King unsheathed his sword. D'Artagnan knelt in front of him.
"I hereby commission you into my regiment of musketeers." The King put his sword on his right and left shoulder. Athos slipped on D'Artagnan's right shoulder the Musketeers' blazon. "May you serve it always with the same distinction that I witnessed today." I couldn't contain my joy anymore. Once his hugged our three companions, I jumped in his arms and hugged him tight.
"I'm so proud of you." I said choking a sob. Yes, I was crying with joy for my best friend. "You grew up so fast." I teased him. He put me on the ground.
"Well done, D'Artagnan, I'm proud to have you under my command." The Captain said to him. D'Artagnan shook his hand, thanking him over, over and over again.
We went back to the garrison. There was a really big celebration that night for our victory and for our friend the new Musketeer, D'Artagnan. There were plenty of wine and plenty of food. That night was a really good night. And I woke up with the most horrendous headache the morning after.
