Chapter 47

Thanks for reading this story. Thanks to NicoleR85, starrat for their reviews. Thanks to all the followers and the one who favorited this story.

Note: Second season is over and so is this story. But do not fret my friends because Emma's adventure continues in a new story that I will publish soon. I'm just changing my writing style. It will be a third person point of view narrative. I have so many things in store for her and the musketeers. Keep a look out for it.

New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.


Constance Bonacieux walked into the light with a heavy heart. She would die by the hand of Rochefort. He might not be holding the sword but he's the one who ordered her execution. But we, musketeers, would not let that happen. We wouldn't abandon one of our friends in Rochefort's hands. All for one. One for all.

Under disguise, Athos and I were standing by the three horses that would help our escape. Tréville was standing next to Rochefort overseeing the execution of Constance Bonacieux. As for D'Artagnan, he was waiting for the right moment to act. Constance knelt down as the Executioner stood behind her. He held his heavy sword in the air but never got to bring it down on Constance's neck. D'Artagnan fired his pistol, shooting the Executioner.

I threw away the mask and the hat I was wearing. I kicked away the Red Guard that was standing in my way. "Get her up!" Athos ordered D'Artagnan. I threw away the black coat, Athos helped me on one of the horse and climbed up behind me. D'Artagnan and Constance climbed on the second horse. "Come on, Athos!" Tréville screamed over the noise. We led the third horse to him and he climbed on it.

The gates exploded as we planned, the rest of our fellow musketeers were waiting for us behind them. We rode through the gates and away from Rochefort. The rest of the garrison followed us and escorted us. This escape just put a dent in Rochefort's plans but also just made us traitors to the crown. It didn't really matter. As long as Rochefort would pay for all the wrong he's done.


We took Constance back to her old household. The one she used to share with her late husband.

"We should just end this now." D'Artagnan suggested. "One shot is all I need."

"Killing Rochefort solves nothing." Tréville retorted.

"You saw what he's capable of. Aramis is at his mercy." D'Artagnan replied.

"Aramis is a musketeer." Athos said stepping in the room.

"None of us are musketeers, now. We're outlaws." Tréville reminded. "They find us. They'll shoot on sight."

"It's not the man, we have to destroy. It's his lies." Constance said.

"You want to let him live? The man was seconds away from killing you." D'Artagnan reminded her.

"I know. But kill him now and the King might never discover the truth." Constance answered.

"And Aramis' and the Queen's lives remain at stake." I added.

"Everything depends upon getting Vargas to the King. He's the only one who can discredit Rochefort's claims." Athos said turning around to face D'Artagnan.

"And if Porthos fails to capture him? Or he refuses to speak?" D'Artagnan asked. "What then? What about Aramis? Milady is the only one who can still get into the palace. She has to help him."

I glanced up at Athos who looked back at me. "Get some rest. We'll leave to help Porthos as soon as night falls."

"I'm coming with you." Constance said as Athos walked away.

"No, you're not." D'Artagnan said.

"Rochefort murdered Lemay in front of my eyes." Constance reminded him. "He's my enemy as much as anybody's."

"Very well." D'Artagnan agreed nodding. "But when the time comes, Rochefort's mine."


I left to find Milady. D'Artagnan was right. She was the only one who could enter the palace still. The only one who could rescue Aramis. We needed her help. She was staying in an Inn, not too far from the garrison. I waited for her at a table, in a dark corner where others couldn't see me.

She sat in front of me. "All of Paris is looking for you. What is so important to draw you out of hiding?"

"Another favor I want to ask you." I replied. "Aramis has been made prisoner by Rochefort. If we don't get him out he will die."

"I suppose I am the one who has to get him out?" She asked.

"It's the last I will ask of you." I answered leaning back in my chair. "And then you are free to do as you please."

She sighed. "Very well." She said.


When we reached the rendezvous point, Porthos was under enemy fire. But he was fighting like a raging bull. He had taken down most of his enemies. All by himself. We barely had to do anything. We shot the last few of them. Only Vargas remained standing. We needed the man, after all.

We aimed our pistols at him as we walked onto him while Constance just pressed her sword to his neck from behind.

"Surrender Monsieur." She ordered.

"You bring women to fight your battles." Vargas stated.

Constance just slid her sword lightly forward. "Perhaps I bring men to fight mine." I couldn't help but smirk at Constance's reply. Tréville disarmed him as Porthos joined us.


Porthos forced Vargas on his knees. "You are a poor interrogator. Mere pain is nothing." Vargas grunted. Porthos put more pressure on his shoulder which earned a groan from Vargas. Athos rushed to him and pulled him away from Vargas. "I will never betray my country."

"You already have." Athos told him.

"What do you mean?" Vargas asked.

"Does King Philip want to see his own sister murdered?" Tréville asked him.

"Rochefort intends to kill her." D'Artagnan continued. "She may only be hours away from her execution."

"The King loves his sister. If she dies, he'll want revenge and he'll come to you first." Athos added.

"Rochefort was never told to harm the Queen." Vargas replied.

"He's a monster of your making." D'Artagnan commented.

"He's no monster." Vargas retorted. "But he is mine."

"Give evidence against Rochefort and you save the Queen." Athos suggested.

"If you run, she dies." Tréville said. "So, do you."

"Rochefort's capacity for suffering was remarkable." Vargas told us. "When I turned him, I had great hopes for him. But even I could not imagine he would climb so far."

"You created him. Now you must destroy him." Athos said.


We rode back to Paris with Vargas as our prisoner. Back to the Bonacieux's household. Weapons were laid out on the table, pistols, swords, daggers. Vargas was sitting in a corner watching us without saying a word.

I checked my pockets, making sure that two notes I wrote after my meeting with Milady were still there. I would keep my words to her, I would give her a chance to start over. There were loud knocks on the door. Porthos armed a pistol and threw it to Athos as he walked to the door. I armed my own pistol stood next to Constance, behind a wall. Athos opened the door and in stepped Aramis. I breathed out relieved and glanced at Constance smiling.

Athos pulled Aramis to him and kissed him on the cheek. "Come here." Porthos chuckled and pulled him into a hug. "Good to see you my friend."

"You just won't die, will you?" D'Artagnan said hugging Aramis.

"All right, there'll be time for that later. We need to get to the King." Tréville reminded us.

"It's good to see you, Aramis." Constance said hugging him in her turn.

I pulled him to me and kissed his cheek. "I'm glad you're alright." I told him.

Athos and Milady disappeared in another room. I did not follow, instead I remained with the others. Preparing ourselves to, what we hoped to be, our last fight against Rochefort. It was the moment to destroy the man and his lies. It was time the King saw him for who he really was, a traitor and a murderer.

Athos came back in the room but alone. So, I went to talk to Milady.

"Thanks for saving Aramis." I said as I stepped in the room.

She was standing by the window. She turned to me. "You are now free of me." She said. "My husband and you can now live happily ever after."

"Yet, he is still your husband." I sighed. "But I did not come here to speak of this. I came here to give you these." I gave her the two notes.

"What are those?" She asked taking them.

"Your new life." I replied. "My grandmother lives in Bordeaux and she will welcome you. You have her address. The sealed letter is for her. I explained to her what happened and who you are and the reasons why I'm sending you to her."

"And she will give me my money?"

"And more. If you wish." I answered. "You can remain there as much as you desire or leave once you have your money, if this is what you desire. Either way you are free to do as you please." I stepped closer to her. "Start a new life, Milady. Away from the monster everyone believes you to be. You deserve a second chance."

"It's time to take Vargas to the King." D'Artagnan said as he stepped in the doorway.

I nodded at her before leaving her on her own.


I followed Athos and Tréville in the undergrounds of the palace, closely followed by D'Artagnan, Constance, Vargas, Porthos and Aramis. We climbed the stairs coming to the realization that the palace has been deserted.

"Where are all the guard?" Vargas was the one to ask. "With such poor protection, no wonder France falters."

"There are no servants, courtiers." Constance remarked.

"I must go to the Queen." Aramis announced.

"I'll go with you." Constance volunteered.

"Get Vargas to the King." Aramis asked us.

I followed Athos and Porthos up the stairs, only for us to be stopped by Red Guards. "Musketeers!" They yelled.

I unsheathed my swords and started to clash swords with the red guards. Our goal was to bring Vargas to the King, no matter what. Rochefort's schemes were ending on this day. We went up another flight of stairs and again we were stopped by Red Guards. D'Artagnan pulled me with him through a door as the red guards shot at us. I pulled out my pistol and returned fire.

"Keep Vargas out of sight, we'll draw as many away as we can." Athos ordered.

Porthos and the Captain with the company of Vargas disappeared through another door. "Cover!" D'Artagnan yelled. Athos fired his pistol at the red guards as I rushed over to him. And together we provided cover for D'Artagnan.

The three of us climbed down the stairs, we got rid of the two red guards that were coming our way and kept going as the ones upstairs followed us down. We drew them away from the King's chambers. Giving time to Vargas to tell the truth to the King. And we stopped.

We fought the red guards, all that followed us. I blocked a sword and stabbed a red guard, before pushing the first one with my right foot. I slashed another that staggered back, thrust my sword into his flesh. I wasn't thinking, it's like my body was acting on his own. I knew where they were and where to hit them. And quickly their numbers diminished. And there were none left.

Athos ordered us to go to the King's chambers immediately. Once we arrived there, we discovered that Vargas has told the truth to the King and the Captain ordered us to go the Queen's chambers, where Rochefort was.

We stood in the antechamber, our swords raised towards Rochefort. A dagger was planted in his shoulder. He walked up to us, pulling out the dagger. We lowered our swords as Vargas, followed by Tréville, stepped in the room.

"It is finished. The French King knows everything." Vargas confessed.

"You have betrayed me?" Rochefort asked him.

"You left me no choice." Vargas replied.

Enraged, Rochefort attacked Vargas. But Athos stopped him, they clashed swords before Athos slapped him and Rochefort fell onto his knees and hands. "Surrender." Was Athos only word. All five of us surrounded him, swords up. He swung his sword at us, weakly. We didn't fight back, except for Porthos. D'Artagnan gestured him to stay back.

As he asked us, we left Rochefort to D'Artagnan. In his weakened state and facing D'Artagnan's vengeful wrath, Rochefort didn't stand a chance. D'Artagnan thrusted his swords through his flesh and Rochefort was violently pushed against the wall. He slid down on the floor.

Rochefort spat blood on the ground and removed his eye patch. He looked up at the Queen. "Liars." He said.

"Yours are the lies, Rochefort." The Queen said back. "And they will join you in your grave."

Vargas walked up to him. "Spain thanks you for your service."

"None of this was for Spain." Rochefort retorted. Tréville walked away with Vargas. Rochefort turned once again to the Queen. "I am alone." And he breathed his last breath.

Aramis knelt down at his side and was about to close his eyes but Her Majesty stopped him. "No, Aramis." She said. "Not for him."


The courtiers and the servants were all back, the palace was buzzing with life again. The King finally stepped out of his room, no longer afraid for his life. The Queen was proven innocent and now she could hold her son again.

It was a bright day still. My fellow musketeers and I were facing His Majesty in the gardens of the palace. We all had our cloak on, tied under our right armpit. "Rochefort wrapped my mind in such terrible lies." The King started. "It is as if I have woken from a nightmare."

"He deceived many wise men, Your Majesty." Athos declared. "But you were the last."

The King then walked away from us and towards his wife, the Queen. "He has grown stronger since we last held each other." She said speaking of her son.

"And so, have we." He retorted. "You are a good and loyal wife." He took his son from her arms. "Oh, look at him! Course he's my son. I'd need a mirror to find a better likeness." We all knew the truth, though but we didn't have a choice. We had to hide the truth from him. The Dauphin fussed and cried and Constance took him in her arms. "And you have been grievously wronged, Aramis. And I'm sorry for it."

"You have no cause to apologize, Sire." Aramis retorted. "I am…your humble servant."

"Spoken like a true soldier of France." The King approved. "We have urgent business to discuss, Tréville." And he left with the Captain.

The Queen stepped towards us. "You are safe now, Majesty." Aramis said. "You're both safe."

"Thanks to you." She said back. "And to your friends." I smiled and glanced at Aramis.

"Come, my dear." The King called her. She smiled at us once again before leaving, followed by her maids.


We walked alongside each other, glad I assume that everything was over. And also looking forward to D'Artagnan's wedding to Constance.

"I need to tell you all something." Aramis said. "I'm resigning my commission and retiring at the monastery at Douai."

"He's going to become a monk?" Porthos said looking at Athos.

"Why now?" I asked him.

"I made a vow to God and I have to honor it." Aramis replied. "If I'd told you sooner, you would have just tried to talk me out of it."

"We're still going to." D'Artagnan told him.

"Is this really what you want?" Porthos asked him.

"With all my heart."

"Farewell then, old friend." Athos said walking up to him and hugging him.

"Are we just going to let him go?" Porthos asked clearly disagreeing with Aramis' decision.

"No." Athos replied. "He's letting us go."

I threw myself into Aramis' arms. "Don't forget us." I whispered in his ears.

"Never." He promised. "Take care of them."

"I will." I pulled away and stood next to Athos.

D'Artgnan hugged Aramis tightly. "You'll be missed." D'Artagnan told him.

"Take care of Constance." He said.

"Of course."

Porthos was last to hug him. It seemed harder for him to let Aramis go. It was understandable, among us, they were the closest to each other. He pulled away swallowing the news with difficulty.

"All for one." Aramis extended his hand. We all rested our hands on top of each other's and we stared at each other before we chorused. "One for all." And Aramis left.


I put on a long light blue dress, on my corset a Fleur-de-Lys was embroidered. I stood in the church with the other musketeers. D'Artagnan was expecting his bride by the altar. Porthos standing behind him. Athos walked Constance down the aisle. She looked beautiful in her white dress and judging by D'Artagnan's awed expression, he thought so too.

"We are here today as you have decided to give yourselves to each other in marriage." The Priest started the ceremony. "Love, honor as man and wife for the rest of your lives." I glanced at Athos briefly before turning my gaze back on D'Artagnan and Constance. "Do you, D'Artagnan, Constance to be your wife?"

"I will." D'Artagnan said looking intently at Constance.

"Do you, Constance, take D'Artagnan to be your husband?"

"I will." She answered looking intently at D'Artagnan.

"I now pronounce you man and wife." The Priest declared. "May God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…"

I did not have a chance to hear the rest of the ceremony as Athos pulled me with him. "Where are we going? It's not over yet." I whispered to him.

He did not answer as we kept on walking away and out of the ceremony only for us to be stopped by Captain Tréville.. "War has been declared on Spain." He told us. "All leave has been cancelled."

"War?" I asked frowning.

"We'll report to the garrison later." Athos said pulling me once again with him.

The Captain stopped him once again. "You'll report there now. See to your men."

"My men?" Athos asked him confused and I was as confused as he was.

"As Minister for War, I'm making you Captain of the Musketeers." Minister Tréville explained.

"Me?" Athos scoffed. "I'm not fit to lead anyone."

"The men look up to you. You can't let them down." Tréville told him. "We all have your duty, Athos."

"Amen." We heard the priest said and the three of us looked upon D'Artagnan and Constance and their short-lived marriage before war.


Back at the garrison, I put my uniform back on. I was helping the men prepare, loading up the weapons in the carts, make sure that swords and spears were taken care of. "Emma!" Athos called me.

"Yes?"

"Come." He ordered and I followed him.

"What is it?" I asked him as we stood in a corner.

He handed me a paper. "You are staying in Paris."

"What? I'm a musketeer. My place is on the battlefield." I told him. "Is it because I am a woman?"

"I know what you are capable of, Emma." Athos countered. "I don't doubt your skills. And you being a woman has nothing to do with my decision."

"Then what does?"

Athos sighed. "The musketeers are to leave Paris but the King still needs protection." Athos explained. "I don't trust the red guards with his protection. I will leave a few men with you. You are to ensure the King's protection."

"Is this an order, Captain?"

"Yes, it is." Athos said.

"Alright." He then handed me a small scroll of paper. I frowned but took it. I opened it and read. "What does this mean?"

"I broke all wedding bonds with my wife." Athos revealed to me. "My marriage to her was declared null and void on defect of will." I looked up at him. "When I come back from war, you and I are to be married."

"Is that your proposal?" I asked him.

"Will you marry me?"

"I will. With all my heart." I answered hugging him tightly. "Just return to me safely."

D'Artagnan and Constance walked down the stairs. Athos and I glanced at each other. He leaned into me and kissed me. It was a goodbye kiss with a promise of him coming back. Athos and D'Artagnan walked up to Porthos as I joined Constance.

"It's not right, is it? Just the three of us?" Porthos said looking at me.

"I have to remain in Paris, Captain's orders." I told him.

"Aramis would be here if he knew the war was on." Athos told him.

"Perhaps someone should tell him." D'Artgnan's suggested.

They all turned to the Minister. "See you return before the regiment rides to the border." Tréville told them.

And all three of them were gone. I didn't know in that moment, I won't see them for another four years.