Chapter 32

Thanks for reading this story. Finally starting on series two. Thanks to NicoleR85, Miss Scarlet Darkness, Fangirling007, and to aireagle92 for their reviews. Thanks to all the followers and the one who favourited this story.

Newchapter, read, enjoy and review.


I was riding with my comrades musketeers, wearing my deep blue cape and my uniform. My hair was braided and falling down my back. The Cardinal Armand Jean de Richelieu was dead, saying that I was actually feeling sorry for his death would be polite and hypocrite. I have never wished for him to die. But I think France is a safer place without him in it.

"And we've no idea who this man is?" D'Artagnan asked the others while we walked with our horses.

"The Captain doesn't know his identity." Porthos replied.

"All I know is we're to meet him in the Village Inn at noon and make himself known." Athos continued.

"Why the mystery?" Aramis questioned.

"The King's council has been in chaos since the Cardinal died. No one knows who's in charge." Athos answered.

"Well, it's a pity though that I'm not in Paris right now, pretending to grieve for the man." I started. "I have planned everything. I was going to wear my best dress, blowing my nose with as much noise as possible."

"What a charming thought." D'Artagnan commented.

"They say he wore out his heart in the service of France." Athos said.

"It's a pleasant surprise to hear he had one at all." D'Artagnan replied and Porthos chuckled.

"God have mercy on his soul." We all stopped and looked at Aramis. "He's dead. We can afford to be generous." I shook my head at him.

"You're going to swing!" I heard someone shouted in the distance.

"The rope!" Another yelled.

In front of us in the distance, villagers were leading a man to the rope where, it was pretty obvious, he was to be hang. We all climbed on our horses and trotted to the group of villagers. We stopped when we reached and get off the horses.

"Who is this man and what has he done?" D'Artagnan asked the villagers.

"None of your damn business." One of the villagers spat in our faces. He seemed to be the leader.

"We are King's Musketeers." Athos informed them.

"Even her?" Another one asked.

"Especially her." I glared at the man.

"Answer the question." Porthos ordered them. "Politely."

"He shot our inn-keeper in cold blood." The leader obeyed. "A good man is dead and there were a dozen witnesses."

"There will be no lynching today." Aramis said out loud to the crowd.

"No, if there's a case against him, you can take it to the magistrates." D'Artagnan added.

"Take off his hood and untie him." Athos demanded.

And they obliged. They took off his hood after some hesitation. A blonde man was hiding under the hood and I didn't like the look of him.

"Rochefort." Athos said with recognition.

The blonde man, I mean Rochefort, spat on the ground. "Musketeers." He sneered. "Just when I thought my day couldn't get any worse."

"Will one of you tell me who this man is?" D'Artganan asked to the three musketeers who seemed to know who that Rochefort was.

"Yes, I'm curious too." I added.

"The Comte de Rochefort, one of the Cardinal's most loyal lieutenants, his agent in Madrid." Aramis answered.

"Go ahead." Athos called out to the villagers. "Hang him."

"You can't just let them kill me." Rochefort reminded him.

"We're late for an appointment in the village." Porthos replied.

"With me, you idiots." Rochefort hissed. "Dear God, why didn't the Cardinal send the Red Guard instead of a troupe of performing monkeys?"

"Alright, first, there's no need for insults." I answered. "Second, the Cardinal is dead." We turned back to our horses, leaving him to be taken care of by the villagers.

"I have news of vital importance for the King." He called out to us

"Wait!" Athos took off his hat. "My apologies. It seems we'll take him after all."

"No." The leader shook his head. "He's going to pay for his crime."

"Let's not make this more difficult than it needs to be." Porthos tried to calm them down. But we all know how this is going to end. A villager punched Porthos in the stomach and Porthos punched him back in the face.

Well; always loved a good fight. The villagers attacked us all at once. I punched the first that came at me, threw my cape on another and kicked another one. Rochefort took the opportunity to take one of our horses to try an escape.

"All right, enough!" The leader yelled. "You can have him." A shot rang and the leader dropped on the ground. Rochefort has killed him and was now running away.

"That bastard!" I exclaimed, running back to my horse. "Need a ride love?" I asked Athos climbing on my horse. He didn't answer and just sat behind me.


We rode faster than Rochefort and we were waiting for him, hiding in the woods. Rochefort stopped and get down from the horse. I could see that he was listening to sounds that could inform him of our whereabouts. I pointed my pistol at him and cocked it. Rochefort raised his hands, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan followed my example.

Athos get down and walked to Rochefort. They stared at each other for a few seconds and then Athos punched Rochefort.

"What was that for?" Rochefort asked from his position on the ground.

"To see how it would feel." Athos replied. He turned to us. "It felt good." And that's one of the reasons why I love him.


"I demand you release me." Rochefort started. We have bound his hands and tied him up to Aramis' and D'Artagnan's horses. "I'm not a dog, I'm the Comte de Rochefort. The Cardinal would have had your heads for this."

"Pity he's currently at his own funeral." Aramis countered.

"He was a great man. His only mistake was failing to destroy you, Musketeers." Rochefort sneered.

"Gave it a good try, didn't he?" D'Artagnan replied.

"Oh, that he did!" I nodded.

"France will be a more honest place without him." Athos said.

"Well, the last we heard, you were rotting in a Spanish Prison with no hope of release." Porthos continued.

"So, what happened?" I questioned Rochefort.

"I was being transferred to Madrid. By God's grace, I escaped." Rochefort told us.

"I think it was the Devil but believe what you want." I shrugged.

"Why not go straight to Paris?" D'Artagnan asked him.

"I needed protection. A lot of people would like to see me dead." Rochefort retorted.

"I can understand the sentiment." Athos commented.

"If you don't get me to the king soon, you'll regret it." Rochefort snapped.

"What is this vital news of yours?" D'Artagnan questioned him.

"That is for his ears alone." Rochefort answered annoyed.

"Captain Treville will decide what's fit for the king to hear." Porthos said.


"Bring him in." The Captain shouted through the door. I followed D'Artagnan through the door, as he stepped after Porthos.

"Captain Treville." Rochefort greeted. "I wish I could say it's a pleasure."

"You want to see the king, why?" The Captain asked.

"I'm not spilling my secrets to a Musketeer flunky." Rochefort answered. He does hate us with a passion.

"It's either that or rot in the lock up." Treville warned him.

"I was not the only French man in my prison fortress." Rochefort finally spoke. "One of my fellow captives was General De Foix."

"De Foix? He was killed, fighting with the Swedes at Nuremberg." Aramis said.

"Did they find his body?" Rochefort asked him. "I saw him with my own eyes. He was taken prisoner and handed over to the Spanish." The Captain sat down at hearing his words.

"Are you all right, Captain?" Porthos asked him.

"The General and I were like brothers. We were at military academy together." The Captain said as an explanation.

"This is all very touching." Rochefort said sarcastically.

"Oh, don't be smart." I snapped. "How about you tell us why you're here and not De Foix?"

"He was more closely watched." Rochefort replied.

"De Foix is the chief author of our military strategy against Spain." Athos stated gravely. "If they find that out…" Silence fell for a moment.

"What are you proposing?" D'Artagnan questioned Rochefort.

"A rescue." Rochefort answered.

"Is that possible?" Treville asked hopefully.

"It's difficult but it can be done." Rochefort extended his hands in front of him. "Now will you take me to the king?"


We took him immediately to the court. Personally, I wouldn't trust him and I don't think the others trusted him. I don't know what it was but there was just something about him. Something that must be the reason why the Cardinal made him his personal lieutenant. I didn't dare think about the possibility of Rochefort crossing paths with Milady de Winters. I shuddered at the thought. It's better not to think about it.


"You are welcome home, Rochefort." The Queen told him when we were presented to them. "You have suffered cruelly."

"The thought of you majesty's grace and beauty sustained me through my long hours of confinement." Rochefort answered kneeling in front of her. Isn't he full of charms?

"The Comte de Rochefort and I are old friends." The Queen revealed. "He tutored me in preparation for my marriage and taught me all I knew of France."

"We look forward to hearing of your daring escape." The King declared. The doors opened and the man went through. He was dressed in black and earing a big golden cross around his neck.

"I insist on an audience with the king." He staid walking forward.

"His excellency Don Fernando Perales, Ambassador of Spain." The man near the door announced.

"So I see. Don Fernando, how are you?" The King greeted coldly.

"I demand this man's arrest. He's a fugitive from justice." The ambassador pointed to Rochefort. "If the Cardinal were here, he would advise Your Majesty to take the path of diplomacy and common sense."

"How dare you invoke the Cardinal's name when he's scarcely in his grave!" The King seethed. "Rochefort is a French citizen and a patriot. No, he will not be returned."

"You would be wise to listen to me…" The Ambassador started but Rochefort got between him and the King and punched the ambassador.

"Who do you think you are talking to?" Rochefort asked angrily. "Never insult the king again in my presence."

"Will you let this outrage pass?" The Ambassador asked.

"Frankly, I wish I'd done it myself." The King answered. I couldn't help but chuckle at this. "You're a dangerous man, Rochefort, but an entertaining one. Now, what is this urgent news of yours?"

"If I might to Your Majesty in private?"


Rochefort is clever man, I have to give him that. Which makes me feared for the future. Slowly but surely, I think he will gain the King's trust. If it's not done already and it seems it already has the Queen's trust.

"Monsieur Bonacieux, how are things in the drapery business?" Athos said as soon as he saw the man.

"Should I be buying wool or silk this season?" Porthos continued as they dragged him down the stairs leaving Constance behind.

"It's so unseasonably cold." Aramis followed. I chuckled shaking my head at the three musketeers. I kissed Constance quickly on the cheek and left her with D'Artagnan.

"Wool is always the most versatile of clothes." Monsieur Bonacieux was saying to the three musketeers who were following him.

"Oh, really is it?" Aramis answered. "It's good to know."

"Monsieur Bonacieux, tell me when my new dress will be ready?" I questioned him following their steps.