Auther's Note: Sorry it's been awhile. Life has a way of getting in the way. Many thanks to Raven my beta, I hope ya'll enjoy. Please R&R as usual. Meg
They turned as an earsplitting scream pierced the air and took off toward the sound. When they arrived, the Queen was fanning herself, looking every inch the horrified damsel in distress. Jacqueline shifted her weight trying not to appear impatient as they waited for her majesty to speak. The Queen's ladies-in-waiting fluttered around with smelling salts and fans creating more distractions and eating up valuable time that could have been spent trying to apprehend the culprit. Edward seemed equally upset beside her, as he tapped his rapier and repeatedly clinched his jaw . A servant stepped forward giving the Queen Mother a glass of wine, which she drained in two gulps and set down with a thunk that seemed to echo in the silent room.
Several minutes later, the Queen finally spoke. "I saw him, he was like a ghost, silent and quick." Jacqueline resisted the urge to roll her eyes heavenward in frustration, they would hardly get useful information from the Queen.
"Forgive me your majesty, but can you give us a description of this person?" The Captain asked with smooth charm, causing Anne to snap out of the shocked state she'd previously been in.
"Tall, yes, quite tall, silent and menacing." She stated matter-of-factly to them.
"Just one man, your majesty?" Jacqueline added for clarity.
The Queen paused before she responded. "Yes, he was quite alone." She stood up, with her ladies surrounding her. "Thank you gentlemen, please leave me now, the experience has quite fatigued me." The Cardinal's Captain and the Musketeer bowed and exited the room, having been dismissed. Two of the Cardinal's guards joined them and reported to Edward that the palace grounds had been searched and that they were secure and that any sign of an intruder was gone. Ramon chose that moment to join them.
"His majesty is safe but has seen nothing." Edward sighed, disappointed that they had no additional information from their young King- to -be.
"Gentleman, I'm sure Duval will want a full report, I will stop by tomorrow to see if you have any information to share, and of course pass on anything we find." He turned the corner and barked orders to his men, leaving the two Musketeers to find their own way out.
Ramon turned to Jacqueline.
"El Capiton will not be happy about this." Jacqueline only nodded in agreement to her comrade's assessment of the situation.
"A Mysterious intruder?" D'Artagnan asked them, appearing to be mildly intrigued.
"Si, and you know what that means. No?" Ramon commented sadly.
"More patrols, a full investigation and added practice sessions." Siroc replied sounding excited.
"No sleep and all meals in the garrison." Jacqueline added, feeling Ramon's pain.
"What's wrong? Going to miss out on your beauty sleep?" D'Artagnan mocked with a raised eyebrow. Jacqueline swatted at him in pretend anger. Siroc ignored them as he stood staring into the air thinking. Ramon started noisily munching on an apple, not concerned with his comrade's behavior.
"Beauty sleep? You need beauty sleep, not me. I'm not the one that has hordes of women fawning over me." "Oh D'Artagnan" she said as she imitated one of the admirers, waving her hands at her face. D'Artagnan winced as her words seemed to hit home.
"Hey! I don't encourage them!" He protested, trying to regain some sort of dignity . Siroc chose that moment to snap his fingers, causing the other three to stop and look at him.
"I have it! This potion," he walked over to one of his shelves and removed a bottle, "will show footprints. All we need to do is pour it on the ground where he was seen and follow the direction of the footprints." He paused thinking again, "We need to get back into the palace, and quickly." The four rushed out of the room only to be stopped by another private telling them to be in Duval's office in ten minutes. Siroc's brow arched up and he tightened his grip on the bottle in frustration at the delay in his plan. "We will go immediately after," he muttered more to convince himself than anything.
Captain Duval of his Majesty's Royal Musketeers paced back and forth awkwardly leaning on his cane, his movements showing his anger and frustration. The four musketeers waited nervously for their commanding officer to address them. Finally, he stopped and pinned them with a glare that caused them to flinch.
"This is outrageous!" he bellowed. Jacqueline leaned back slightly at the forceful words, feeling guilty somehow. "No evidence of an intruder, no body, NOTHING!" He spat the last word as if it was poison. "We can not afford a mistake, the future of the Kingdom is dependent on seeing Louie safe, with a crown on his head," he paused. "His head attached to his body!" The four nodded their understanding. "Full patrols in six hour shifts, and a full investigation!" He stopped and glared at Ramon. "All meals to be taken in the garrison and eaten quickly." He turned to D'Artagnan and held eye contact. "And NO late-night dalliances," he glanced at each musketeer. "That goes for the lot of you." Four groans were the answer to the restrictions. Duval pointed his cane at the door. "Now get to the palace and get started! Do not come back without SOMETHING!" They hurried out of the office before they could be assigned any other duties from their upset captain.
"I'll saddle the horses," D'Artagnan muttered to the others.
"I need to get a few things from my lab." Siroc announced turning to Ramon, who nodded. "We will meet you in the stable." Jacqueline silently followed D'Artagnan into the stable and took the saddle he offered. She put it on her horse, not looking at him. When D'Artagnan still did not speak, she took a breath and willed herself to speak.
"Our 'wager' will have to wait," She started. D'Artagnan shrugged, seemingly unconcerned. "I was looking forward to it." She continued and this time his head came up and he met her eyes. His curious expression making her nervous.
"Really? I would've thought you'd be glad to miss our 'wager'," he stated. She felt her face flame and hoped it didn't show.
"No, I enjoyed the other day, and besides, I promised I would try not to presume the worst in your intentions." He smiled at this and touched her shoulder.
"Then there is hope for us yet." He turned around and lead his horse out, knowing she was right behind him. He could almost feel happy; now if they could catch the intruder, all would be well.