I'd just like to say Happy Holidays!- and best wishes to those reviewing, or simply reading this. Whatever your holiday style/religion, we are all having the same amount of time off work/school to relax, regardless of activities, so I hope you're all having fun J If not, and you're bored, well, I hope this measly story is able to entertain you in the least ;)
Five minutes of searching faces can feel like forever when you're in a dire situation such as the musketeers were.
Queen Anne had seemingly disappeared into thin air from her husbands side, the only indication that it had occurred had been the shriek of surprise mingled with worry that had brought all ears in the immediate vicinity to peer over and spot the source of the commotion.
Only to find nothing.
Heart in his throat, every nerve in his body tingling with adrenaline fuelled dread, D'artagnans' agile body allowed him to dash from the scene quicker than his brothers.
Branching out seemed to be the best solution to such a disaster, covering more ground, in less time was the least he could do to help.
And what better way to do that than to reach the second floor to scan all faces at once down below?
Admittedly it would still be tricky due to the sheer number of guests attending, but D'artagnan had a solution for that too, simply call their attention with some spectacle or other than drew their attention.
Nothing that may hint anything hideous may have happened to Queen Anne of course, merely announcing raffle numbers- that were in the process of being handed out.
It was slightly deceiving, he knew, and may cause a commotion later, but it was a small risk he was well willing to use to his advantage.
Prepared to round the corner to stand on the overhanging balcony lying between the two descending staircases to put his plan into action, D'artagnans' attention was suddenly caught by the two double doors that were swinging on their hinges madly.
Someone had been through here in a hurry. But was it Queen Anne?
Taking a second to flounder madly at his brothers in the crowd down below and alert their attention to his findings, D'artagnan dashed away once more, through the double doors to pursue their runner.
As he ran, D'artagnan tried to logically piece together how someone had managed to get up the staircase, past his position on the balcony to the doors behind him.
How could he have missed someone coming towards him up the stairs at such a pace and escape through the doors?
The only time he hadn't been watching was when he'd spotted his woman, Constance among the crowd below and offered her pleasantly surprised face the inclination of his head and a slight bow.
She had attended with her husband of course, of whom supplied the Queen and her maidens some exquisitely tailored, royal ball gowns- as was his business, thus leading to their invitation.
To his horror, D'artagnan concluded that is must have been this foolish blunder that had lead to the distraction of a life time.
How could he have been so selfish to have neglected his guard duty for even a moment to ogle at his untouchable lover, he would see that he accepted full responsibility and punishment that came with such behaviour, D'artagnan vowed miserably.
By the time D'artagnan had made peace with his faults he had reached the end of the long, eerily quiet hallway, coming to an intersecting hallway that ran both left and right.
Pausing long enough to slow his breath and hear his surroundings, D'artagnan hungrily eyed both direction for clues while straining his ears for any sounds of fleeing criminals or queens in peril.
All it took was a barely heard, and noticeably subdued yell off to his right and D'artagnan took off again, his brothers boots now only steps behind, straining to keep up.
Reaching the end of the short hallway, D'artagnan noticed in surprise that they were heading to the king and queens bed chambers.
Drawing his sword from his sheath in anticipation of battle, D'artagnan booted down the golden encrusted oak doors to find- Queen Anne sat on the end of her bed, now dressed in only her nightgown with Captain Treville standing by her side…
I imagine at this cliff hanger you are all mildly surprised to say the least, what is Captain Treville doing in the royal bed chambers? Why is Queen Anne dressed in nightly attire? Why all the commotion before hand at the ball?
I assure you, though it may seem implied, nothing sexy is or was about to happen between the two ;) We all know who Queen Anne really loves…but the musketeers don't know what is going on now do they? ;)
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