Chapter 41
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I stood in the field in front of the mansion waiting for Athos. I was enjoying the light breeze on my face and breathing in the fresh air. This place was lovely in spite of what happened five years ago. I don't know all the details but I just knew that Milady has broken Athos' heart. And now, with Catherine, I knew there was more to the story but I'm not one to pry. After all, Athos doesn't know everything about me. We both have our secrets.
"Emma!" I heard Athos called behind me. I was standing under the big tree behind the house.
"Are we leaving?" I replied walking up to him.
"I think I have the solution to all of our problems." Athos retorted smirking, his hand resting on the small of my back.
"And may I know what it is?" I asked trying my best to ignore his hand.
"We must return to the village first." Athos answered. "But I shall explain it on the road."
"Not enough powder or shot to frighten the birds, let alone Renard's men." We heard Tréville said as we approached the inn. "An army of scarecrows with no horses, no swords and no firearms."
"There's more at the house." Athos spoke.
D'Artagnan and Tréville turned around. "I see you haven't killed him."
"Told you I won't." I smirked at D'Artagnan's greetings.
"How much more?" Tréville asked Athos.
"Enough to make a fight of it." Athos replied.
"You came back." D'Artagnan stated smiling at Athos before looking down at me.
"Not my doing." I said quickly and dryly.
"Do you want to get the weapons or do you want to stand here and chat?" Athos said instead.
"Straight to the point." I commented. "As usual."
We took a cart and left the village. We went back at the Comte de la Fère's mansion. D'Artagnan and I followed him inside. He grabbed a key from a burnt furniture and open a hidden door.
"What made you change your mind?" D'Artagnan asked him as we descended the stairs that led to the cellar.
"A woman reminded me of my duties towards my people." Athos replied. "And you were right. Whatever happened here, the people of Pinon are not to blame. They shouldn't suffer because of my mistakes."
"I bet that woman was very beautiful. Since she was able to make you change your mind." I said bitterly.
"Every nobleman had to raise a local militia in times of war." Athos continued smirking down at me. "My father kept a secret armory, and I continued that tradition." We reached an iron barred gate.
Athos opened the gate. He wasn't lying when he said that he had enough weapons to raise a little army. I walked past the pistols, the swords. I walked towards the barrels of powder. There were tons of that. I vaguely heard Athos snorted behind me but I didn't hear what it was saying. My eyes were drawn to the tomb that stood out in the light.
I slowly walked up to it. There was dust onto it. I swept it away. Something was written on it. It read Thomas D'Athos 1598-1625. "The family vault." Athos came up standing beside me. "My ancestors—a dozen generations or so."
"Who was Thomas?" I asked him quietly.
"My brother. He was murdered by my wife." He replied quietly too.
I didn't know what to answer to that. I could said something clever but I didn't have the heart to do it. It must really be true love, if he's still love her even after she killed his brother. "I always thought that Athos was your first name." I said instead. I turned to him. "What's your first name?"
He didn't reply and turned around to talk with D'Artagnan. "Is the powder good?"
"I think so." D'Artagnan replied.
"Then let's get out of here."
I exhaled deeply, grabbed a barrel and got out of the cellar with it. I was still thinking about Athos, his brother, his wife, Catherine. I said I have a past before meeting Athos. But my past was quite simple. Never been in love, never got married. My parents were dead and I was a thief. But Athos…well, Athos' past was different. It was more than just complicated. There was so much more and I was afraid that he would never be free of it. That he will never be free of Milady's hold on him.
"That's all the gunpowder." Athos said as I put the last barrels of powder in the cart. I climbed into the cart and saw that Catherine was standing in the doorway. "D'Artagnan, allow me to introduce my late's brother's betrothed, Catherine de Garouville."
"Is he a musketeer too?" Catherine asked
"Yep, like me." I replied.
She gave a disdainful glare. "From the Comte de la Fere to a common soldier." She commented dryly. "It makes no sense."
"It makes sense to me. More than anything else." Athos replied to her.
"So you are going to fight Renard."Catherine stated.
"Come with us. You'll be better off with the other villagers." Athos invited her.
"Don't confuse me with them." I don't really like her. "I wasn't born to this life."
"Forgive me. I was simply thinking of your safety." Athos said oh so sweetly. I grunted, D'Artagnan smirked at me. I slapped his shoulder muttering a quick 'Shut up!' "There's one thing you should know. My wife is still alive. She lives in Paris, mistress to the King."
Catherine stared at him shocked to find out that Milady has lived after all. And then, she slapped him. "She destroyed all my hopes, she ruined your life and yet she still breathes!" She seethed. "What kind of man of honor do you call yourself?"
"It never ends. I should have gone when I had the chance." Athos said turning to us.
"If you did, you'd never have forgiven yourself." D'Artagnan told him.
"You think you know me, but you don't." Athos retorted.
"And apparently neither do I." I retorted. "Come on, D'Artagnan, drive the damn cart."
The ride back to the village was a quiet one. It gave me time to think about a lot of things, maybe too much. I'm pretty sure that both Athos and D'Artagnan could hear my thoughts. What was I thinking about? For the last few weeks, I was thinking about one thing and one thing only, Athos and Anne. I was starting to regret my choice of letting him go. My choice of giving him time to make his peace with Anne and his past. I was afraid that he would realize that he still loves her that what he felt for me was…nothing compared to what he felt for her. I was scared that I would get out of this with a broken heart. I didn't think I was ready for this. I let out a sigh. "A sighing heart never breaks." Never really understood that saying but if I have to take it literally, then they're wrong. A sighing heart mostly fears to be broken.
I entered the inn before Athos and D'Artagnan. It seemed that all the villagers were in the inn having a drink. I took a seat between The Captain and Porthos. D'Artagnan sat across me next to Aramis. Athos took a seat on the other side of Aramis.
"It's true, I left without a word." Athos said suddenly. "And true, I never gave a thought to your fate. But you have made my absence a reason to surrender responsibility for your own lives."
"What future do we have without the protection of a lord?" A young girl asked and I frowned up not knowing who she was.
"Jeanne, Bertrand's daughter." Porthos whispered in my ear. I hummed nodding slowly.
"Then take Renard. Let him have the land and you with it." Athos replied. "Exchange one noble name for another. Your attachment to my family is touching but it is no longer practical."
"This lands belongs to you." Jeanne reminded him.
"It can rot for all I care." Athos answered.
"But it's our home-everything we know." Bertrand told him.
"Then take it." Athos stood up. "I've no use for it. I give it to you."
"Just when you think he can't surprise you anymore." Porthos said.
"He does." I breathed out.
"Face down Renard, defend the village and the land that your family has worked for generations will be yours." Athos continued.
The villagers stared at him dumbfounded and I knew why. They are not fighters, they are farmers. "Listen to me. All of you. In any war, you have two choices. You can sue for peace on the best terms you can get. Or you can fight." The Captain told them. "If you choose to fight, we will stand with you. But ask yourselves—is your cause worth dying for?"
"We're dying already." Bertrand said.
"How can we defeat Renard and his men? We're not soldiers." Another villagers pointed out.
"You are defending your homes, your children, your lives. You have something worth fighting for." Tréville continued. "Do they?"
"Speaking like a true leader." I commented smiling at D'Artagnan.
"If you choose to make a stand, be here at sun up."
I followed Jeanne to the chamber in which I was going to spend the night in. I took off my jerkin, placed it on the chair. I sat on the bed. I thought I put all of these doubts behind me, I thought I could ignore them and today, I realized that I was wrong. I couldn't. I couldn't put them behind me. Simply because…simply because…I probably don't know why I just couldn't do that but I just couldn't. Athos is the man I love and Milady is the woman he loves. That's maybe why I couldn't ignore those things or put them behind me. Because it hurts to know that you're not the one he loved first.
The morning after I was up with the sun. The men were already outside. I stood next to Porthos waiting for the villagers to show themselves. We've waited for several minutes but none of them came. "They're not coming." Aramis declared.
"You can hardly blame them." D'Artagnan retorted.
"They've made their decision. Let's go." Athos said. I pushed myself up as he said that and followed Porthos to the Captain's side.
"Wait!" The Captain said looking behind us.
There was a boy standing in the middle of the village alone. The Captain walked up to him as we stood behind. More villagers came out, joining the young boy. We were staying after all. All we have to do now was to turn all of those farmers into soldiers.
"Alright, bring me all you can get. We are building a barricade." I instructed to the children while most of their parents were being trained by the men. "The key to a good offensive is to have a strong defense."
I wiped my brow with my forearm as I went to get some water. "Still mad at him?" Porthos stood next to me.
"I'm not mad at him." I replied.
"What's with the cold shoulder, then?" Porthos questioned raising his cup to his lips.
"I don't know what you're talking about." I retorted and then growled when I saw the redhead woman walking into the village and Athos walking by her side.
"Who is she?" Porthos asked me.
"Catherine de Garouville. Athos' sister in law." I said darkly before walking away from Porthos.
The barricades were up and we were waiting for Renard's men. The Captain made a small speech, telling us that compared to Renard and his men, we had an advantage that they didn't have. We had cover when they didn't have one. And it was true, we had an advantage.
I was in my position but I couldn't stop my staring at Athos and Catherine. They were standing side by side talking to each other. It was bothering me that they were talking and it was bothering me that I was actually jealous. I couldn't help but be jealous. She was irritating me with her arrogance and the way she looked at you. As if you were inferior to her in every way. And it was obvious that she had feelings for Athos and it wasn't platonic.
I was brought back to reality when a shot was fired. I ducked down immediately while the Captain ordered everyone to go to their stations. I held my position, holding my pistols, staring down the barrel but the only problem is that I couldn't see the men that were shooting us. Some villagers took their chances but Tréville yelled to them to hold their fire.
Renard's men got out of their hiding, in the clear. Where we could see them. Actually there was only one that was immediately shot down. A second one tried his chance but he followed his friends in death. After those two there weren't any more soldiers.
The wounded and the dead were taken inside. It allowed us a moment of rest before Renard and his men tried to attack us again. We reloaded the pistols and the muskets. "Jeanne, have you seen Athos?" She pointed at the stairs and I nodded my thanks to her. I climbed up the stairs and stopped outside of the room in which I could hear Athos and Catherine's voice rose.
"It's one thing I couldn't bear to let go." I heard Catherine said. "I always dreamed I might be able to wear it again one day. When I was restored to my proper position." She sure loves the sound of her voice. "Do you ever wish…that you'd chosen me?" She didn't dare ask him this question. And yet, I was anxious to hear his answer and I couldn't wait to hear it. "Even after everything that's happened, you still prefer her." Catherine said when no answer came.
"It's not her that I prefer." Athos' quiet voice replied.
"Emma?" Jeanne tapped on my shoulder.
"Yes."
"The others are asking for you and the Count." She informed me.
"Thanks." I nodded. "Athos is in here, you should inform him."
"I will."
I walked down the stairs with Athos' words echoing in my head. "It's not her that I prefer." Was he talking about me? Maybe, I don't know. I didn't…didn't want to think or to hope that Athos will choose me over his wife. Over his first love.
Standing behind the barricades among the villagers waiting for Renard and his little army to come back because they will. Anxious and nervous, the villagers were standing proudly next to us, ready to fight for their lands. Speaking of Renard, here he comes with his son Edmond, waving a white cloth.
"I thought we might avoid any further unpleasantness." Renard said after he blew in his handkerchief.
"Go on." Athos invited him to continue standing next to me.
"Since you seem so determined to renounce your God-given nobility, sign over your lands to Edmond in perpetuity and I'm willing to spare those poor folk." He continued.
I looked at Athos. "He sounds almost sincere, don't you think?"
"Take the offer or you all die." His son Edmond said.
"My dear son's words may lack elegance, but his sentiment holds true." Renard added.
"The land is no longer mmine." Athos revealed to him.
"The land belongs to us now!" Jeanne told him.
"To all of us!" Bertrand stood next to his daughter.
"And as you can see they're ready to fight for it." I smirked up at Renard and Edmond.
"I have given the estate over to its people." Athos continued.
"So, you're trespassing on our land." Jeanne warned him.
"You mean to give the land to them?" Catherine asked Athos.
"Of course. To everyone. You included." Athos replied.
"What did you expect? That he gives the land to you and you only?" I questioned her further seeing her shocked expression. "Sorry, Catherine but that's the kind of man of honor he calls himself."
"…is going to die in pain." Edmond's voice sounded on the other side of the barricades. Catherine left not without glaring at me first.
We didn't have to wait long for Edmond's assault. A shot rang before the men charged at us. In spite of Tréville's order, the villagers fired. I rested my hand on the people next to me and hissed at them to hold their fire. The men were still charging when they were close enough to the barricades. Tréville roared his order to fire. I aimed at one of the man and fired. He dropped on the ground. I dropped my pistol next to me and unsheathed my sword.
I jumped on the other side of the barricade and fought the men of Renard. I blocked a sword with mine and kicked the man in his guts, throwing him on the ground. I swirled around and hit another on his side. Blocked a sword and disarmed another. The fight went on for a few more minutes until Edmond's men ran away.
We tended to the wounded, reinforced the barricade and reloaded the weapons. D'Artagnan and Aramis two barrels of powder in the ground. D'Artagnan got this idea. The plan was to slow them down by shooting the barrels which would explode afterwards.
Again, we haven't had to wait long for Edmond and his men to come back. But this time we didn't wait for them to get close to shoot. We jumped over the barricade to meet them. I shot a man. Swung my sword to another catching him in his stomach. I took his sword and fight another man, using the two swords at the same time. I thrust one of the swords in one man's flesh and left it there. I punched another man and soon enough, there wasn't anyone left to fight. The only one that was still fighting was Athos. He was fighting Edmond.
Athos overpowered Edmond pretty quickly. But guess who made an unfortunate appearance? Yes, her. Madame Catherine De Garouville. She aimed at Athos asking him to drop his sword. I stepped forward but Aramis held my arm tightly. Silently telling me to let Athos deal with it.
"I can't breathe in a world where your wife still lives." She said bitterly. "If you won't do anything about it, then I will."
"She's the King's mistress. Neither of us can touch her." Athos replied.
"What will you give me for him?" Catherine asked Edmond.
"I'm sorry what?" I couldn't help but let out.
"I thought you meant to give me my life back." Catherine continued. "That at least might have been some compensation. But you deceived me there too. Perhaps he can give me what I deserve."
"Put the gun down, we can talk this through." Athos said.
Edmond let out roar as he sprang up with his dagger attacking Athos. Catherine shot them and they both fell on the ground. "Athos!" I screamed rushing to his side. I rolled him over on his back. "You're not hurt?" I asked checking for any wounds.
Athos grabbed my hands. "I'm alright." He said before slowly getting up. I followed his example but not once did I pull my hand away from his.
Renard came to his son's side and cried over his dying son. We left him there by Edmond's side.
It was time for us to leave Pinon. Athos made his arrangements and named Bertrand Mayor of Pinon. He has renounced to his birthright becoming an ordinary man, well, not really ordinary. At least not to me.
I hope I'll be able to update another chapter soon.
