Chapter 22

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Three months has passed since the attempted assassination on the Queen. My grandmother was back in Bordeaux but I didn't follow her. I've decided to go once we'll discover and reveal to the King who's really behind this scheme against his wife. Concerning the moment I shared with Athos in the Convent, I've tried to ignore it the best I could. But everytime I will lay my eyes on Athos, I would remember this moment and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment and something else. A feeling that I didn't know, that I've never felt before. A feeling that I was scared to feel. Concerning Aramis and the Queen's little affair, well, I've decided to ignore it and to put in a really dark corner of my mind. I've decided to never think about it again.

This day, I was sitting with D'Artagnan and Aramis at the garrison. Aramis was cleaning his pistols and D'Artagnan and I were sharing an apple. It was a peaceful and quiet evening.

"Respect your weapon and it will respect you." Aramis said to D'Artagnan. "Another thing you need to learn if you want to be a good musketeer."

"Just so I know this all 'D'Artagnan new apprentice musketeer' thing, how long does it last?" D'Artagnan questioned Aramis.

"Well, as long as it's fun." I replied. D'Artagnan chuckled.

"You're not a musketeer, Nellie." D'Artagnan replied.

"It doesn't stop me from laughing about it." I countered cheekily. Porthos arrived running in the garrison.

"Athos." He said out of breath. "He's taken a woman hostage. He's trying to kill her." We all followed him. He led us to the town square. Athos was holding his wife hostage. Yes, his wife, the same woman who came at the Countess' trial, the same woman who tried to kill Athos by burning down his house. She was the one that Athos was holding hostage. Athos was drunk too. He was wearing his shirt loose and he wasn't wearing his jerkin.

"Athos, please let her go." I said raising my hands, to show him that I mean no arm.

"She's a liar and a murderer." Athos replied. "And she is the Cardinal's spy." His hand was around her neck and he held his pistols against her neck. "And she is my wife." I wasn't surprise to see or to hear this news but the other three musketeers were.

"Athos, my friend, you're drunk." Aramis reasoned with him. "Just release her and we can talk."

"D'Artagnan." She called. What? "Help me! He's gone mad." She begged my friend.

"You know her?" Athos and I asked at the same time. We all stared at him. He looked at us scared.

"So, she's your mysterious benefactor." Aramis said with realisation in his voice. "Are you lovers too?"

"Once before I knew you." D'Artagnan replied.

"You slept with her." Porthos accused him.

"You don't understand." D'Artagnan retorted. Porthos shoved D'Artagnan.

"Porthos!" I gasped. What was happening?

"You kept all this from me." Athos said coldly.

"Athos, I swear. I didn't know. I didn't know." D'Artagnan tried to convince him.

"Well, you know you must choose, D'Artagnan." Athos countered. I would have intervened but I just couldn't. I was horrified and my throat was dry. I watched with wide eyes, all my friends tearing themselves apart. "If you help her, you're not fit to call yourself a musketeer." How can you choose between the life of a woman and your friends? Although this woman is not important to you but still is that enough reason to let her die by the hand of your best friend? Because this is what they are, Athos and D'Artagnan are best friends.

"I can't let you murder her." D'Artagnan answered defeated.

"D'Artagnan help me!" She asked one more time. Athos raised his pistol and pointed it to D'Artagnan.

"Athos! Please, don't do this!" I begged him almost screaming. "Let's talk about this when you'll be calmer, please."

"Stop this at once!" The Captain said when he joined us. "That is an order." D'Artagnan moved to disarm Athos. The pistol went off and D'Artagnan fell backwards.

"You fool." Athos exclaimed. The Captain caught D'Artagnan and Porthos and Aramis knelt next to him.

"Emma, take Athos away from here!" The Captain ordered me. I didn't move, I just stood there watching. "Emma, now!" I jumped and I went to Athos. I grabbed his arms but he ripped it away from my grip and walked ahead of me. I followed him after a last glance to D'Artagnan.

The walk to Athos' house was a long and painfully quiet one. Athos and I walked side by side. Drunk, Athos was stumbling here and there, and I caught him everytime before he fell face first on the ground. We finally arrived to where Athos is living. I helped him climb the stairs. I opened the door with my foot and I threw him on the bed.

"Now, explain to me what just happened?" I asked. Athos sat up.

"You saw what happened, Emma." Athos replied.

"You were supposed to shoot him in the arm, Athos. In the arm." I seethed.

"Emma, be quiet." Athos admonished me. "Everything is alright. D'Artagnan will be fine." Athos got and put a hand on my shoulder. I sighed.

"Remind me, whose idea is that?" I questioned.

"Yours." Athos gave me a crooked smile.

"I should leave you now." I said returning the smile. He nodded and kissed me on me forehead.

Milady De Winter, who was once Anne De Breuil and Athos' wife, was now the spy of The Cardinal and a murderer. This despising woman was manipulating people around her, with lies and acting. But two can play this game. The musketeers are good actors too. After all as the great Shakespeare would say it; "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." So, the musketeers, the Captain and I were merely playing Milady and trying to force her at revealing herself or at least revealing the Cardinal. Now, let's just hope that tonight's show has her convinced.

In the morning, I was having my breakfast in my chambers. I took a look out of my window and I saw Constance running in and distraught. I hid behind the wall. I didn't want to face Constance; I didn't want to lie to her about what really happened. But it was only for her protection. The less she knew and the better she'll be. I felt horrible and guilty. But this is what I have to do to protect the King and the Queen from the Cardinal and the vile Milady de Winter. I'm a coward. At least it's worth it, well I hope. I looked through the window one more time and saw Constance left the garrison. I joined the two other musketeers downstairs. I sat with them for a moment and strode in the garrison but didn't stay with us. He disappeared, only God knows where. A few minutes after, D'Artagnan strode in.

"Well, well" Porthos said getting up and walking to D'Artagnan. Aramis followed his example. "Where have you been?" I remained seated.

"In bed, injured." D'Artagnan replied. I just watched from my seat.

"You weren't alone, I think." Aramis retorted. "How is Madame de La Chapelle or is it Milady de Winter?" Porthos wore a confused face and gave a little wave with his hand. Aramis shook his head. "Oh, I lose track." Me too.

"She was well last time, I saw her. No thanks to her loving husband." D'Artagnan countered.

"I see you've risen from the grave." Athos said joining them. I got up and joined them.

"You failed to kill me. If that's you were referring to." D'Artagnan replied. They have a little stare down.

"What are you doing here?" The Captain asked from his balcony.

"I'm still a musketeer. Despite what Athos may wish." He answered. I glanced at Porthos and Aramis.

"We'll settle this in private." The Captain said. I was the first one to climb the stairs followed by the four musketeers. I entered the Captain's office and went to stand on the left side of the room. D'Artagnan came to stand next to me followed by Porthos, Aramis and Athos. "So?"

"You're not dead." Athos stated.

"And you're not drunk." D'Artagnan stated. It was silence for a minute and then we all burst out laughing. The musketeers fell in the arms of each other in an embrace. I stayed in my corner waiting for them to finish. But D'Artagnan pulled me in the embrace with them. I feel like one of the boys and I feel like I finally belong to the musketeers. In fact I do belong with them.

"Careful, I'm a wounded man, remember?" D'Artagnan said to me as I was patting his side.

"Sorry about that. Is it bad?" Athos apologised.

"Bad enough. You were supposed to shoot me in the arm, Athos." D'Artagnan reminded him.

"I shot to the side that was so much more authentic." Athos replied jokingly.

"You're not claiming you aim there, deliberately?" Aramis questioned in the same tone.

"Accuracy isn't easy after three bottles wine." Athos answered.

"Three bottles?" I shrieked. "You weren't supposed to drink."

"Our part was genuine at least." Porthos chuckled.

"D'Artagnan!" The Captain reminded us of his presence and the reason why we are here. "Does Milady believe that we abandoned you?"

"Almost." D'Artagnan sighed. "This is one tiny detail I need to convince her."

"What's that?" Athos asked.

"Nothing too difficult." D'Artagnan replied. "I just need to kill you."

I felt ridiculous, of course, they weren't going to kill him for real but for me it felt as if it was real. The only thought of loosing Athos was horrifying me. It was the same feeling I felt when we were in convent, the same feeling that I felt when I believe Athos to be injured or worse; dead. That thought horrified me and I couldn't stand it. I would feel the same if any of my friends were to be killed but that feeling was much stronger when Athos is concerned. This truth scared me because this will mean that Athos is much more than just any friends to me. I wasn't able to say what he really was to me, yet?

Athos was going to die at midday in the town square. Athos, Porthos and Aramis were dinking in the town square and I was walking to join them. D'Artagnan arrived and drew the attention to us. I watched our surroundings and saw that Milady was watching the scene from afar. D'Artagnan wanted to settle their disagreement like gentlemen. He pulled off his gloves and used it to slap Athos. Athos moved to attack D'Artganan but Aramis and Porthos separated them and I put myself between them. D'Artagnan said to Athos that he knew what he did to his wife, and how Athos disgust him. Aramis shoved Athos lightly and I moved to the side. Aramis told them that this duel must be done properly according to the rules. Athos, on the other hand, decided to damn the rules and drew his pistols out and shot at D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan ducked when Porthos called his name to warn him. He then raised his pistols and shot at Athos. Athos fell on the ground. I knelt down next to his body and broke the blood bag on his chest and here come the tears. "He's dead!" I wailed. "Murderer!" Yelled Aramis and ran after D'Artagnan and raised his pistol but never shoot. Porthos passed his arm over my shoulders and pulled me to him and I cried into his chest. The tears were only for the show, I swear.