Chapter 23
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A few musketeers came to take Athos' dead body away. Porthos and Aramis took me back at the garrison. Once I arrived in the safety of my chambers, I abandoned my grief stricken face and wiped my tears away. I took a black corset, black shirt and a black skirt from my chest. I laid them on my bed when I heard my door opened behind my back.
"How does it feel to be dead?" I asked without looking back.
"Not really agreeable." Athos answered as he pulled a chair to sit down. I turned around to face him and flopped down on my bed.
"Hopefully, you won't be dead for long." I retorted. "I don't know if you know but shedding tears is an exhaustive exercise."
"I apologize to put you through that." He gave me that crooked smile while he crossed his legs.
"Oh, I don't mind I'm doing this for you so it's worth it." I replied without really thinking about what I was saying.
"You mean for the King." He corrected. I thought about it and yes; part of me was doing this for the King and the Queen of France. But another part of me was doing this to help Athos, to help him to mourn over his failed marriage, to recover from this betrayal.
"And for you." I whispered softly. I cleared my throat and said louder. "About the sleeping arrangements for the night." I pulled a mattress from under my bed. "I sneaked this in before the whole killing you thing. It will be more comfortable than the floor." Then I took a bottle of wine from my chest and put it on the table. "And this is for you. So, make yourself at home."
"Thank you, Emma!" He gently smiled.
"You're very welcome, Athos!" I replied returning his smile.
Later on, I pulled the screen out and changed behind it. I put on my night clothes while Athos stayed up some more and was sipping at his wine. I watched him while he was doing so. His movements when he would raise the glass and the way he looked inside. How his head will lean back as he downs his glass. I was trying to figure out what I really feel for Athos; I think that deep down I knew. But I was scared to face my true feelings, plus, I was sure that Athos will never feel the same for me. My eyelids dropped slowly and soon enough I was in a deep sleep.
I woke up in the morning to see that Athos had already left my chambers. Today was his funeral and I had to cry again. I put on my clothes and went into the graveyard that was in back of the garrison. Obviously, we were going to put in the ground an empty coffin but Athos' death has to look real. All the musketeers were there. I was standing between Aramis and Porthos. The Captain was in front of us and he was the one who will do the speech for his funeral.
"Today, we buried a lost comrade and brother. Athos was a loyal friend and a fine warrior." The Captain started.
"Great!" Porthos interrupted. "He was a great warrior." I turned to him and looked at him through my faked tears.
"A great warrior." The Captain corrected.
"A brilliant swordsman." Aramis added also interrupting the Captain. This time I glared at him through my tears.
"A great warrior and a brilliant swordsman." The Captain said.
"He'd like that." Porthos said to us. I rolled my eyes sniffing. They couldn't just take this seriously.
"His death is a tragic waste." The Captain continued.
"He was considered handsome." Aramis interrupted one more time. The Captain just groaned at this interruption and raised his eyes up to the sky.
"He was more rugged, I'd say, but you know…" Porthos replied.
"Well, I suppose it's in the eye of the beholder." Aramis countered. I glowered at both of them.
"May I continue…?" The Captain asked. I nodded to him. "His death…is a tragic waste."
"Was a funeral strictly necessary?" I found myself asking.
"Milady might be watching." Aramis replied looking around. "We had to make it convincing."
"It's very emotional." Porthos said with a catch in his voice.
"There, there." Aramis said patting his shoulders behind my head. "He's not actually dead."
"I just wish this day will never come…for any of you." I said sadly.
I went back to my chambers while Porthos and Aramis went to talk to Athos. I remained in there for a few minutes. I put on my trousers and kept my black corset and black shirt. I threw on my cloak and put on my hat. I grabbed my weapons and went for a walk. I was walking for a few minutes already when I was met by an old friend. If I can call him that.
"Sarazin, to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence here?" I asked keeping a safe distant with the man.
"Mademoiselle De Sauvignon or shall I call you, the female musketeer?" He greeted me.
"Don't call me at all that would be easier for you and for me." I spat in his face. I turned around and started to walk away.
"I wouldn't do this, little thief." He called behind me.
"And why not?" I turned around to face him again.
"Your dear friend, Constance Bonacieux, is my prisoner." He smirked. "If you want to see her alive, you are going to do something for me."
"No, I won't. You've never been able to make me do whatever you wanted me to do and you won't today either." I growled. I then felt a pistol against my back.
"This might convince you." A female voice said to me. I reached for my dagger. "I wouldn't do this if I were you, Baroness." Sarazin moved closer to take my weapons from me. His hands were wandering on my waist. "You are coming with us and you'll be reunited with your friend."
They both led me to a secluded area of the town. There was an old building that was used for storage I guess it was empty now. Sarazin was keeping a firm grip on my arm. Milady opened the door and punched Constance who fell on the floor. I knelt down next to her as soon as Sarazin let me go and turned to Constance's gaoler. The young girl has a wound on her face. Sarazin dismissed her saying she was no longer of use for him. He then turned on Constance accusing her of making him lose one of his courtesans.
"Our friends will be looking for us." Constance said to Milady.
"Your friends are tearing themselves apart." Milady countered.
"Athos is dead. D'Artagnan killed him." I informed and lied to Constance. "Only because you've manipulated him." I snarled to Milady.
"I know you were evil." Constance said looking up at her. "From the first moment I saw you, I knew."
"You have such spirit. I understand what D'Artagnan sees in you." Milady said kneeling in front of us. "What a shame it must end like this."
"So, that's what you're doing now, Sarazin. Abducting women and working for the Cardinal or just for Milady." I called to Sarazin. "Or is it Anne…oh, I know Madame de La Chapelle…I'm sorry I'm losing count. What's in it for you?" I took a dramatic pause and my lips curved into a smile.
"Milady and I used to be associate." Sarazin answered. "I'm just doing her a favour."
"Sarazin, you don't do favours." I replied. Then it dawned on me. "Oh, I get it now. He promised to help you, if you agreed on working for him again. So, will you be his new courtesan? Actually you might be a little too old for this." Milady backhanded me sending my face to the side.
"Now, now, Milady…don't loose your calm." Sarazin chuckled. He walked to me and grabbed me by my arm and hoisted me up. "You've always been so clever, little thief. What a shame you refused to work with me."
"Actually, I just made the smart choice." I retorted. Milady walked slowly towards me.
"While I understand what D'Artagnan sees in the dear Constance, I don't understand what Athos saw in you." She smirked.
"I won't even acknowledge that." I dismissed her remark. I don't know what she's talking about and I'm pretty sure that Athos sees nothing in me.
"You're just a filthy little thief and yet, he only had eyes for you." Milady said bitterly.
"Maybe your late husband had affection only for the criminals." I bit back. "After all, he married you."
"You lost nothing of that fire, my little thief." Sarazin laughed.
"I'm not a thief anymore, so, stop calling me that." I snarled. He pulled me closer and let his hands wandered, one more time around my waist.
"I'm going to have so much fun with you." I pushed him of off me. He fell on the ground.
"I doubt that." I hissed. "And to you I will say that Athos had never set his eyes on me. We were just friend. I will never forgive you for what happened. You'll pay for all the crimes you have committed. I promised."
"You're just fooling yourself." She simply said.
I just stared at her. She talked a bit with Sarazin and then she left for her rendezvous with the Cardinal. I sat on the floor next to Constance. She was putting a brave face but she was scared. I kept up the lie of Athos' death; with Sarazin around it wasn't the good moment to tell her the truth. Soon enough, Milady will discover that her dead husband is not so dead anymore. I squeezed Constance's hand to reassure her. She smiled at me gratefully. Sarazin baited me into talking to him but I just ignored him.
"How do you know him?" Constance whispered into my ears.
"Who? Sarazin?" She nodded. "Well, it was a few years ago, when I first arrived in the uptown. I've started small. Stealing some purses here and then, I thought I was discreet enough…"
"And she was wrong." Sarazin intervened. "I saw her; she was this spitfire girl, eager to make herself a reputation in Paris. And in the same time she has this pride that could be seen in her steps and the way she held herself." Sarazin took a pause as he was remembering this day. "You know what I really liked with her. She was able to be whoever she wanted to be. She used this talent to steal purses, the best pickpocket I've seen so far."
"The only you've seen at all." I corrected. "You might as well say the truth."
"I offered to take her under my wings and make her the best. She refused, claiming that she won't work for a murderer." Sarazin continued. "So perceptive."
Milady came back at this instant. She ordered to Sarazin to take us to rue Saint-Jacques. She didn't utter a word; she just remained silent on our way to Saint Jacques. I was sure of one thing though, she was mad and furious and probably scared. She kept sending cold and death glare to me. In less than an hour I would be reunited with my friends. Still, we have to remain on our guards; Milady seemed to always have a solution. Sarazin and Milady had set up an ambush for musketeers.
"Musketeers don't die easily." Constance said to her. I saw fear flashed across her face. "If I were you, I'd run now." Sarazin whit his pistol pressed to Constance's neck led us in the middle of the street.
"You move you die, both of you." He warned shoving Constance into my arms. I steadied her and took her hand in mine.
"You were right, musketeers don't die easily and they don't betray easily." I smiled to her.
"What do you mean?" She asked not facing me.
"Athos is alive." I replied. She looked at me relieved somehow. "Don't worry, D'Artagnan will come for you." I squeezed her hand.
"And Athos for you." She gave me one of her cheeky smile.
"Now is not the time. Do you trust me?" I questioned when we saw a cart being pulled by two horses. She nodded. "When I say duck, you duck. When I say run, you run. Understood?"
"Yes."
The cart stopped for a few seconds. These few seconds felt like minutes and even hours in my case. The cart moved again and shots rang in the street. "Now." I yelled to Constance. I pulled her on the ground with me. I shielded her body with mine. I felt someone pulling me up by my hair. "Run" I yelled to Constance. I stomped on the foot of my assailant, then I elbowed in his stomach. He released my hair, I fell on the ground. I took the first that I found and used it against my assailant. I drove a sword through his body. He fell on top of me. I pushed him off of me. I saw that Constance was still on the ground; I hoisted her up and got her away from the fight. Sarazin stopped our escape. Sarazin shot me in the leg and took Constance with him. My leg burned me and I fell on the ground one more time. I was pulled up by D'Artagnan. I told him to go after Constance and assured him that I would be able to defend myself. It was a difficult exercise but I did it. I grabbed a musket from one of Sarazin's men and used it against the man himself and I turned around to cross swords with a second one. The blood was streaming down my leg and the pain was excruciating. When the fight was over, Porthos who was closer put his arm around my waist and put my arm around his shoulders. I was limping and the four other male walking next to me. D'Artagnan has won his duel against Sarazin. We made our way to where Milady was. Milady was holding Constance with a pistol pressed to her head.
"One more step and she dies." Milady threatened. Athos stepped closer to her.
"Stop this now." Athos ordered her softly. "You've hurt enough people."
"You dare to talk to me about hurt." She countered pointing her pistol at Athos. Constance pushed her arm up and the pistol went off. Constance ran in the arms of D'Artagnan. I started to feel lightheaded and was leaning more and more on Porthos.
"I'm sorry, what I said. I didn't mean any of it! None of it! None of it was true!" Constance apologised with a trembling voice. D'Artagnan pulled her in a kiss; this action brought a smile to my face.
"Enough. It's over." Athos said to Milady. He was holding her close to him. I didn't like their proximity. "Kneel." Milady pulled away from Athos and took a few steps back. Athos unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Milady. Porthos, Aramis and I took a few steps forward. The movement made me feel a bit dizzy and I thanked God that Porthos was still supported me. "Do you have anything to say?"
She pulled off her shocker. "Go ahead. Finish what you started."
"You don't have to do this." Aramis said to Athos.
"Leave this to the proper authorities, Athos." Porthos agreed.
"I made her what she is. Her murders are on my head." Athos replied.
"It is you who should be on your knees." Milady declared gritting her teeth. "Now kill me…and do better job of it than last time."
"Athos!" I breathed out. Athos sheathed his sword. He pulled her up.
"Go to Spain, England. Anywhere. I don't care." He told her. "But if you ever show your face in Paris again…I will kill you without hesitation."
"You know there can be no peace for either of us, until we are both dead." Milady said as a goodbye. That's where she is wrong, Athos will find peace somehow, or he already has.
"I'm glad you saved her." D'Artagnan declared once Athos was facing us.
"Perhaps I was saving myself." Athos replied. He threw the necklace he owned or he wore as a reminder of Milady on the ground. He then walked to me and surprised me by carrying bride style away from Rue Saint Jacques.
In the morning the first thing I've noticed was that I was in a clean night gown. The second one was that my wound has been taken care of and the pain wasn't as unbearable as the day before. I put a robe over my nightgown and went outside, on the balcony. Athos, D'Artagnan, Aramis and Porthos were all sitting at the table eating their breakfast. I tied the robe around my waist and walked down the stairs. I joined them at the table; Aramis was the first to greet me and helped me to sit down at the table with them. Apparently, on our way to the garrison, I lost consciousness and Aramis took care of my wound. Between his confrontation with Milady and this morning, Athos has changed. It's almost as if the weight Milady used to be for him was taken away from him, lifted off of his chest. Athos remained Athos but he seemed at peace with himself or maybe it's just the blood loss talking. We ate in a light mood and my comrades told me to get ready because we've all been called to the court for a short meeting with the King. So, after the breakfast I went up to my chambers. I braided my hair on the side; I put a brown corset on and my usual purple shirt. I put on my black trousers and my black jerkin. New weapons were provided to me and Athos helped me to climb on my horse. The five of us then set off to the royal palace.
"I never expected this Cardinal." The King started as soon as his Eminence stepped into the council room. "Not after so long. The Queen…is with child." I immediately glanced over at Aramis who stood across me and Athos. I then exchanged a quick look with the latter.
"Pregnant?" The Cardinal asked.
"Indeed. Isn't it wonderful?" No, it's not. Especially when you know that the father of this child could be hanging for treason against the King. The King clapped and we all followed his example.
"May I offer my most hearty congratulations to your majesty." The cardinal said bowing.
"I'm certain you share our delight." The Queen replied smiling. Now that she knows who he really is and she knows his secret, the Cardinal was at her mercy. I would have never thought that Anne the Queen of France would enjoy having the Cardinal at her mercy but she did.
"No one could be happier than I." I'm sure you are, your Eminence.
"In honour of this marvellous news, the Queen has asked to grant her two of her wishes." The King announced. "First, the Count Mellendorf has been granted a full amnesty for his crimes. In fact, she was quite adamant on the matter. What do you say, Cardinal?"
"The Queen's mercy is a lesson to us all." The Cardinal answered knowingly and somberly. "Provided the Count himself has no complaint to make."
"I am content simply to return home with my beloved daughter Charlotte." The Count replied cautiously. "I hope to never hear another word of this matter again."
"My sentiments entirely." The Cardinal agreed. After a pause the Cardinal asked of the second wish.
"The Queen gently reminds me that the female musketeer; Emmanuelle De Sauvignon; has protected her life against the assassins." The King informed the Cardinal. I chocked on my own spit when I heard my name. "Lady De Sauvignon, please step forward and kneel." I stood frozen for a few seconds before Athos gently nudged me. I stepped forward and knelt with a bit of difficulty on my right leg. The King put his sword on my right and left shoulder and pronounced those words at the same time. "I hereby commission you into my regiment of musketeers, as the first female musketeer. May you be an example and a symbol of hope for all the women of France." There's no pressure.
And did this just happen? D'Artagnan slipped the Musketeer's blazon my right shoulder and he helped me to stand up. I was still shocked when the King announced that the Queen needed to rest. They withdrew themselves from the room. I was hugged by Porthos and Aramis. They both congratulated me and were glad to have me in the regiment. D'Artagnan hugged me and spun me in the air.
"I'm so proud of you, Nellie. You grew up so fast." He chuckled echoing my words when he was promoted musketeer. Athos smiled his crooked smile and kissed my hand. The Captain congratulated me and said that he was proud to have me in the regiment. Aramis the disappeared for a while and we went outside to wait for him. We went to fetch the horses from the stables and waited for our comrades near the fountain. Aramis walked back to us. Athos and I glanced at each other upon seeing him and we fixed him with our eyes.
"What am I missing?" Porthos asked.
"Aramis has been saying farewell to Charlotte Mellendorf." Athos lied to our friends.
"I didn't know you two were close." Porthos remarked.
"He's very discreet when it comes to affairs of the heart." Athos replied.
"So at the end of it all, what do we have?" Aramis asked changing the subject. "No glory."
"Puh, no money." Porthos added.
"No love." D'Artagnan added.
"None of the things that make life bearable." Aramis said with finality in his voice.
"We have honour." Athos said. My four friends put gave some thoughts to that statement.
"I can live with that." Aramis declared.
"For honour then." D'Artagnan agreed.
"Still, a little money would be nice." Porthos complained.
"Boys, wait!" I called before they sent their horses in a full gallop. "I'm a musketeer." I beamed now that it was finally sinking in. "Can you believe this? Me, the thief became a musketeer." I continued while they were laughing at my expense. "Who would have thought a year ago that I would become one? Surely, not me." They sent their horses in a full gallop and I was still rambling. I was content to be a musketeer and I will do everything to be as righteous and honourable as my friends.
