Chapter 42
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"Signore Galileo has proven the moon circles the Earth, as the Earth circles the Sun." The King was carrying the dauphin walking up and down in front of his courtiers. His mistress, the sweet Milady de Winter was among the audience. "As the new moon orbits the Earth, it moves in front of the sun, like so." The King held up a mirror. "Milady de Winter, would you do us the honour of playing the moon?"
"But I am Venus, sire." Milady answered smiling at the King. I couldn't help but rolled my eyes.
"Well, for the purposes of the experiment, you shall be the moon…"
You must be asking to yourselves what the reason behind this experiment or the explanation is. Well, the King and his court has been kindly invited by the astronomer Marmion in his observatory to watch a solar eclipse. Of course we, musketeers, must be his escorts with the addition of Rochefort's men. No need to tell you by I was irked by Milady's presence here.
"I can't be here. I'm going back to the garrison." Athos informed us.
"Scared to see your wife and your mistress in the same room?" I asked dryly. Athos' jaws tightened as he turned around with his horse. My eyes fell shut as I tasted the bitterness of my words towards him. It was unfair but I couldn't help it. The words were out of my mouth before I could think about them.
"For a moment, only darkness prevails. But then as the moon moves on the light slowly returns to the Earth." The King finished his explanation. The audience applauded.
"A brilliant explanation. The great astronomer Marmion could not equal it." Rochefort commented. "They say he has transformed the old fort at Chatillon into a mysterious new world."
"We shall see." The King retorted.
"You're regretting it." Porthos stated as we rode to Chatillon.
"Every single word." I sighed. "I'm turning into a sour and bitter woman." Porthos chuckled. "You're supposed to say 'No, Emma, you're not bitter just feisty.'" I said laughing along with him. "Now, tell me, what's going on between you and the Captain?"
"Nothing." Porthos replied gruffly.
"Porthos?" I said softly.
"He knows something he's not telling me."
"About what?"
"I don't know yet." Porthos said shortly as we reached the old fort.
A young man was waiting for the King and his company. We followed the King and his courtiers down the path that led to the old fort.
"They say an eclipse is like God putting his hand over the sun." Porthos told us as we walked side by side. D'Artagnan and Constance were right in front of us.
"Very poetic." I smirked.
I looked around us, at the old fort. There was a strange ambiance, the grass was high, the fort was, well, old and there were those men at the windows. They were all wearing a bird mask. Not really reassuring.
As we stepped in the fort, glass of wines were given to the guest. They were also given special lenses in order for them to protect their eyes. It was a warm welcome. We walked further up into the fort.
We arrived in a strange room were we could see a representation of the universe. Standing next to it was Marmion. The young man led the King downstairs, so he could join the astronomer's side.
Aramis, D'Artagnan, Porthos and I stopped next to each other. "I'll check downstairs." D'Artagnan said.
"I'll check the other side." Porthos said.
"I'll go with D'Artagnan." I said before we went our separate ways.
D'Artagnan and I went downstairs. We walked each on one side of the room and we stuck to it. He was on the right side and I was on the left side. The astronomer Marmion made a great show of it, as if he was in a theater playing in front of an audience. Of course, Rochefort lost his patience. Apparently, he didn't really appreciate being here or he was really impatient to see the eclipse.
Still making a theatric show of it, Marmion uncovered the viewing surface on which we could see a reflection of the sky. The King, the Queen and their subjects gathered around the viewing surface and put on their black lenses. I took off my cloak and left it on the steps and joined D'Artagnan's side.
"Do you think I can take a peek?" I asked D'Artagnan in a whisper.
"I don't think that's possible." D'Artagnan replied. "Duty comes first, remember."
We chuckled lowly. Suddenly, the young man that welcomed us, unsheathed a dagger and held it against the King's chest. A second passed before we fully realized what was happening. I unsheathed my sword and dagger and so did D'Artagnan. We started to fight the masked man. I heard D'Artagnan called for Porthos and Aramis. More men came in, I continued to fight them. A shot rang and I froze my sword held against one of my assailant's neck.
"One more step and the King dies." Marmion threatened us.
"No!" The King gasped. Marmion's men took my swords and dagger and two men held my arms tightly.
Marmion looked up. "There is no escape."
"End this now and the King might yet grant you clemency." D'Artagnan tried to reason Marmion.
"Will you, Sire? If I say sorry, will all my sins be forgiven?" Marmion questioned the King.
I already know the answer to that question. "Yes. I will consider it." His majesty answered but that was a lie and Marmion knew that too.
"We both know you would hang me from the nearest tree." Marmion told him. "The die is cast. There is no turning back."
"Show some compassion and at least let the women and the dauphin go." Aramis suggested him.
Marmion looked up at Aramis and climbed the stairs to the higher level. "What did you say?"
"Have compassion. Let the women and the baby go." Aramis repeated. I looked up, Marmion was standing in front of Aramis. He glanced behind me and suddenly he pushed Aramis through the window.
"No!" I yelled struggling in the arms of the men that were holding me. I punched one of them in the stomach, the other one slapped me and threw me onto the ground. A pistol was fired.
"I, too, have lost friends." Marmion said loudly as two arms pulled me up. "I, too, know the anguish of bereavement. The powerlessness, the injustice."
"You are going to pay for this." I threatened in a low voice.
"Take the female musketeer into the donjon." Marmion ordered to his men.
I struggled in their arms but to no avail, my hands were tied together. They pulled me behind them and up a flight of stairs. They threw me in the first room we reached. They untied my hands briefly. They dragged me to the walls at the end of the room and chained me to the wall.
I couldn't believe it. Aramis was probably dead, the King, the Queen and the Dauphin was hostages and I was stuck in here. I couldn't do anything to save the situation. Nothing I could do to call for aid. If only I could pick this stupid lock.
"I should have stayed at the garrison this morning. Better yet, stay in my bed." I groaned. "I am going to kill this Marmion." I leaned my head on my right arm and tried to touch my hair with my right hand. "But first I need to get out of this." I tried to reach my hair, extending my hand as far as I could. The shackle bit my wrist in the process. "Damn it!" I cursed.
I stopped and groaned in frustration. What are the odds for us to get in trouble yet again? It couldn't be a calm and peaceful promenade. No, we had to meet a crazy astronomer. A crazy astronomer who has planned everything to get the king here, in his observatory. Revenge must be his motive. But revenge for what? Next time, I'll declare myself sick.
"If I get out of here alive, I promise I will apologize to Athos." I said looking up at the ceiling. "I was going to do it anyway." I exhaled deeply. I rested my head against the wall. "I don't need you anyway." I said out loud. "If I can't get out of those shackles, I will have to change my name."
I repeated the operation. I leaned my head on my right arm and once again tried to reach my hair. But this time I went for the back of my head. Once again, it was impossible. I was talking to myself, I was on my own and I was losing my patience. How could this get any worse? It would have probably been worse if Milady was in here with me.
Did I really need to say those words to Athos this morning before he left? Can you blame me? If only I could move my head a bit higher. There was a wall on my left side. It was close enough for me to put my foot on it. It will give me some leverage to move my head higher.
I put my foot on the wall, I leaned my head slightly down but it wasn't touching my arm. I pushed against the wall and tried to touch my hair. My fingers only grazed my hair. It was a good start but I had to do it again. I repeated the operation for a few more times until I could fully touch my hair. The shackle around my right wrist had cut into it, leaving a red angry mark. I could see it and I could feel the pain. But I couldn't stop not now. One more time and I'll be able to get out of here.
After one great push against the wall, I was able to grab a fistful of my hair. I didn't let go as my left foot touched the floor again. It's odd to say this or maybe not but I was pulling my hair right now. I pinned my hair between my fingers and started to feel for a pin, not the one I initially felt earlier but still I was looking.
I was in an odd position and if someone saw me right now they would have laughed in my face. I got one pin in my hand and pulled it out of my hair, pulling some hair in the process. Now, all I had to do it was not lose it.
I held the end of the pin between my thumb and my index and the other side in the lock. And I started to work on it. Twisting it around, my tongue tucked out as I focused on picking the lock.
I let out a small cry of joy when the shackle finally opened and let my wrist free. I didn't lose time and immediately worked on the second one. Faster than the first one the shackle came loose. I rubbed my wrists, the right one was pretty much sorer than the left one but I could bear the slight pain.
Bad habits die hard they say. And it's true. As a thief I've always kept one more dagger in one of my boots as a precaution. And today was no exception. I was just lucky that no one knew about it. I reached for it before knocking on the door. I leaned against the wall waiting for the guard to come in.
A tall guard in a black robe stepped in. I was first taken aback by his height but I recovered pretty quickly and jumped on his back. But he was already turning around and grabbed me before I could reach him and threw me on the ground. I quickly rolled over as he was already marching on me. I went on all fours and lunged at his legs. His lost his balance and landed hard on his back. I straddled him, threw a punch, grabbed his head and banged it on the floor twice and he stopped moving.
With a ragged breath, I got up and before leaving the room, I took his pistols and sheathed my dagger in my belt. I armed one of the pistols and started my trek down the stairs, hoping and praying hard not to meet another one giant as the man that was now taking a nap in my former cell.
I finally reached the corridor. Now, all I have to do was to find the others. Easier said than done. I walked through the long corridor, there was several rooms on this floor. I froze in my spot when I came close to one of them. Footstep could be seen on the floor and when I followed that trail to the room it was coming from. I took in a sharp breath. There was blood on the floor and the corpses of the member of the court. A slaughter.
I could not linger so I kept on moving. I walked back to the corridor and was now looking down at a barrel. I pushed it away with my hand slowly. "Gald to see you alive." I said to Aramis.
"Glad to see you too." Aramis answered putting his pistol down.
"Your Majesty, glad to see you are well." I said to the Queen standing behind him with Marguerite by her side.
"I'm leading them to safety and then we'll come back for the King." Aramis told me.
"Sound like a plan." I retorted. "Lead the way."
Aramis was carrying the dauphin and held a pistol in his hand. I walked next to him holding my pistol too. Since we were leading the Queen and the Dauphin to safety, we descended several flight of stairs in order to bring the Queen outside. Our road was about to be blocked by one of the guards. Aramis passed the baby to Anne and silently asked me to stay with the women. I nodded and remained with them hiding behind the wall. I saw Aramis pointed his weapon at something in front of him.
"I heard you broke a window." I recognized Athos' voice immediately.
"Better that than my neck." Aramis answered lowering his weapon.
I gestured to the Queen and Marguerite to come out of their hidings as I joined Aramis' side. "How I'm glad to see you." I said smiling at the musketeer.
"Are you alright?"
"Just a sore wrist." I replied.
"How very moving." I heard Milady said dryly behind Athos.
"Milady, it's always a pleasure to see you." I said sarcastically.
"Of course, it is." Milady retorted dryly walking past us.
"Mind to explain?" I asked to Athos.
"She's helping us." Athos answered before leaving me there.
"Captain Tréville, glad to see you." I greeted Tréville as I saw him walk through the doorway.
"Thought you were locked up in the donjon?" Tréville asked.
"All those years on the streets hasn't been for nothing." I answered. "I'm out of practice though."
"There's two." Porthos came back after he checked the corridor.
"Right." The Captain replied. "You two take this corridor, we'll take the lower. Attack on my command."
"Yes, Captain." Aramis retorted.
I followed Tréville but was pulled back by Athos. "Stay here. You'll be safe."
"Athos…" I started. "I'm a musketeer, remember. I can handle this. Don't worry, I'll be fine."
I followed Tréville and Rochefort to the observatory room. I could hear the King screaming on the other side of the door. Rochefort opened the door and the Captain gave the signal to attack. We rushed in and Marmion's men came at us immediately. The Captain shot the first men that came to us, I shot the second one. And used my pistol to hit a third one.
"D'Artagnan. Constance. You both look great." I greeted them as they struggled to keep a man tied up.
"And you look like a mess." D'Artagnan replied.
"Thank you very much." I smiled at him.
We escorted the King out of the old fort. And even when the musketeers saved his life and he saw it with his own eyes. It is Rochefort that get all the credits, Milady has been dismissed and kicked out of the Louvres, the king's palace. I would lie if I said that I didn't like this news or that I pitied her. It might be insensitive but don't blame me, please. It's true she was of a great help today and that might have forced my respect. I still don't like her, though. But if I have to choose between her and Catherine. I choose Milady.
I jumped when I felt a hand touch my back. "Athos." I smiled up at him as he rested his hand on my arm and helped me walked up the steep. "I'm sorry. For what I've said this morning." I started. "It was uncalled for."
"Very much." Athos replied as we stood next to the horses. "But apologies accepted."
"Thank you." I retorted as he let go of my arm.
And then something unexpected happened. Constance Bonacieux and D'Artagnan rekindled their love. There, right in front of all us. And that got me thinking about mine. Maybe I was wasting my time. Maybe I was throwing my chance to be happy away, like Aramis said. There was only one thing to do: stop wasting my time. Without looking at Athos I took his hand in mine and squeezed it lightly.
