Disclaimer: I do not own RoV.

AN: Another chapter! I swear I wrote at the speed of light. :)))

THANK YOU for reviewing and liking my stories. I'm not sure how to reply your reviews personally, is quite confusing for me and here in my counttry they block the site! I had to go via proxy vpn to access , so all the way more confusing. I spent hours just to find 'log-in' directory, it was covered by the proxy vpn web's header! I'll figure out how to reply to your reviews, until then, I hope you enjoy.

This chapter took place in 'real' RoV with noble Andre in it...

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Chapter 5

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"Are you sure you're ready to join the guards? I could give you a few more day-offs," said Oscar as she waited for Andre preparing their horse in Jarjayes' stable.

"Yes," he said confidently, he tightened the rope around the horse's mouth. "I already miss the barrack's stench."

Oscar chuckled. "Your grandmother must be heartbroken if she knew you remember the barrack and not her."

Andre turned his head to look at Oscar and grinned. And Oscar felt her heart skip a beat. She had not forget the things he said to her the night before about whom he believed he was. They did not talk about it again though, for Oscar was sure Andre was confused and he seemed not to make any effort to convince her otherwise.

Yes, Andre was confused. Whatever poison he drank that night must be messing with his brain. There was no other possible explanation. Yet Oscar could not shake the feeling that Andre had changed. His green eye was still the same, but when he gazed upon her it felt different. His gestures, although still as tender and polite as ever, were more confident and probably even careless. There were lots of questions in her mind and the best way to seek answer was to find the mysterious woman from the bar.

"I will personally conduct the investigation of your poisoning," said Oscar.

Andre looked surprised. "You will?" He shook his head. "You can't. You just found out your orderly was unconcious in a bar, someone kind enough to take him to your place, then he woke up unharmed. It's not enough to conduct an investigation."

"Well maybe not officially. But I could have my men patrolling in Versailles this evening and we could go to the bar."

"Even if we go alone to the bar, Oscar, I do not think she would show up. Our uniforms alone might scare her. Not to mention she knows both of us and if she's guilty for what you pin her, I do not believe she would like to meet us again."

"Wait," Oscar said, "she knew me? How?"

Andre shrugged. "We've been to the bar several times. She must be seeing us then."

"It's been months since the last time I went to that place..." she said timidly. "That means she's been watching us."

Andre raised his eyebrows. The fine lines on his forehead were quite visible now. "You're assuming the woman has something to do with the poisoned liquor but she probably just some random person who happened to be in the wrong time and the wrong place."

"I have interrogated everyone while you were unconcious for days. The only person missing is this unknown woman you made out with!" Oscar said furiously, which shocked herself. What was wrong with her? Everything seemed to infuriate her. Even Andre was taken aback by her uncontrolled rage.

He did not say anything though. And after he was done, he silently offered her the horse's rope. "Grandier, at your service, Commander," he said, but this time with gleam in his eye. And Oscar had to hide her traitorous blush.

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oOo

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Later that night, Oscar decided to supervised her men patrolling around Versailles before going to the bar with Andre.

"You realize we're going back and forth, do you?" asked Andre as they rode on horseback to Versailles. "We just came from Paris to Versailles to go back to Paris again."

Oscar gave him annoyed look. "Your head must've hurt pretty bad, Andre. You're complaining more in 48 hours than the 25 years I knew you."

Andre mumbled something she could not catch.

"I need to make sure they're doing their duty," Oscar explained. "The bodyguards had gained unfavorable reputation as beautiful dolls who only look good in military ceremonials and lack in other aspects of their duties. I do not want to make the same mistake."

Andre look startled. Before he smiled and said, "You're a good officer, Oscar. You always were."

Oscar did not respond. "Besides," she said as if not hearing what he just said, "when we go back to Paris, it'll be late enough to hit the bar. Just about the same hours you some nights ago, then maybe we could catch her off guards."

They continue to ride in silence. When they arrived at the Versailles' stable, Oscar dismounted and Andre took their horse inside. Then both were off to check on her men.

She saw the Swiss guards were playing cards on their post. The Royal Guards were supposed to have eight men in their post, but she only saw two men, and they were sleeping. Oscar shook her head in disbelief. How could she missed this improper behaviour of the guards when she was still in the Royal Guards?

They walked toward the gate near Petit Trianon and from distance she could see Alain and his comrades, probably Lasalle and Francois. Oscar was pleased. As they walked closer, Oscar noticed that someone else was with her man, a man in a grey coat. A courtier? What was he doing in the dark?

"What's going on?" Oscar asked her men. And that's only when she realized the man who was with them was Axel von Fersen.

"We found him sneaking around the bush, Commander. He must be an intruder," said Alain, he was holding Fersen on the arm with one hand holding his sword pressed on the Count's back.

"He's not an intruder," Oscar said. "Leave him and off to your post."

"But commander, we saw him coming from-"

"I said, leave him to me. You go on with your patrol," said Oscar with authoritative tone.

Alain looked at her questioningly. But he obeyed and pushed Fersen to her, causing him to fell on his knees. He, Lasalle and Francois then walked away, grunting about some noble's excuses.

"Are you alright, Count?" asked Oscar.

Fersen smiled in gratitude. "I'm alright, Oscar, thank you. Your men are doing great job guarding the barricade."

Oscar shook her head and offered her hand to help him sit up. "Go through the west side, that's where the lousiest guards are on patrol. Andre will escort you."

As she saw Fersen and Andre's retreating figures she could not help to feel pity. Fersen must have been sneaking around to meet the queen. How degradating, how humiliating that they had to hide in the dark to steal a few moments to be together.

Ah the queen. She had come to a country unknown to be the wife of a stranger and bear the heirs for France. If it were herself, Oscar did not think she could do it.

Suddenly, she felt a hand on her mouth and a body pressed against her back. She tried to free herself but other hands are holding her hands. Panic, she only had one thing in her mind: Andre!

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oOo

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"Now Count, I believe you're off trouble now," said Andre as both of them successfully avoiding two guards who was watching the west gate. It wasn't exactly hard thing to do since both of them were sleeping. Andre made a mental note to watch over his men when they're on patrol. If somehow I could go back to the world I knew, he added in his mind.

"Are you in a hurry Andre? You seem agitated," said the Count, adjusting his cloak.

"Yes, I don't feel comfortable to leave Oscar... hm... the commander alone in the dark."

Fersen smiled. "I'm sure she's alright. She's with her men."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Andre mumbled.

But Fersen heard him and with concern he asked, "It has come to that, Andre? Are the French Guards also beginning to rebel?"

Andre bit his lower lip. "With this political unrest, Sir, we need to always be cautious."

Fersen nodded. "Yes, I believe we do. You can leave Andre. And send my thank you to Oscar."

"Will do, Sir."

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oOo

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Oscar walked with he mouth gagged by red scarf, preventing her to scream, behind her was Lasalle and Francois, both of them holding sword and forced her to march ahead. Oscar was calculating her move, judging by the road they took her. It seemed like they were taking her to the barrack. But why? What did they want from her? If they want to kill her it would be best to take her to the forest and finish her there. Did they want to humiliate her by dragging her, helpless upon the mercy of her own men, to her own barrack?

She had to find away to escape. Andre would come looking for her, she was sure. Damn these three morons dare to kidnap their own officer!

Suddenly, when they almost reached Paris, Oscar saw a woman on the street, looking like she was lost. Her 'kidnappers' saw her too. Alain, suddenly turned into a gentleman, was the one who approached the woman.

"Are you alright, Mademoiselle? What are you doing in place like this?"

Oscar observed as the woman sobbed. "Help, kind Sir, I was running away from a man. He was going to buy me for a night and when I refused he tried to force me." The woman burst into wails and Alain had to support the woman's arms to keep her from falling. "I have a house in Paris but I do not dare to go back alone..."

Oscar watched as Alain scratch his head. Obviously he was torn. He was a good guy, Oscar decided. Finally she heard Alain said that they would escort the girl to her house and take the 'female commander' to the barrack after.

The woman thanked him and just when she was close enough to Oscar to see her grey eyes, the woman stabbed Alain's arm and grabbed Oscar's.

It was all blur to Oscar. She only saw blood gushing from Alain's forearm, Lasalle and Francois rushed to help him. The strange woman pulled Oscar and they ran into the forest. They ran and only stopped when they arrived at a village. The woman helped Oscar untie the rope that bond her hands and Oscar untied the scarf around her face.

"Thank you, Mademoiselle," Oscar said breathlessly.

The woman smiled and wiped sweat from her face with both hands. "My house is nearby, Monsieur. If you don't mind, you could rest for a while."

Oscar nodded, feeling sore all over and thirsty, very very thirsty. Thanks to Alain, Francois and Lasalle. Damn them desperate enough to violate her.

The woman opened the door to her tiny cottage. It was only a small house with two rooms without fire place. The woman handed Oscar a thick blanket and hurried to boil some soup.

"I'm sorry my place is ugly, Monsieur," the woman said shyly. "I have water, you must be really exhausted."

The stranger put a glass of water in front of Oscar, then go to fetch one for herself. Oscar drank her water immediately. "Don't be sorry, Mademoiselle. I'm eternally grateful to you. You have saved me and offered me shelter."

"'Help thy neighbour', Monsieur. I'm only a humble servant," the woman smiled warmly.

"If you don't mind me asking, Mademoiselle. Why did you help me? The men who were taking me prisoner, they're also wearing the guards' uniform," Oscar asked. "I mean, I could be an outlaw disguised as an officer," she added with forced laughter.

The woman had her back facing Oscar while pouring the boiling soup into a modest bowl. She served Oscar the soup, which only contain a scrap of meat and little vegetable. "I'm sorry this is all I have, Monsieur," the woman said apologetically.

"Thank you," said Oscar. The first time she saw what the working class ate was in Rosalie's and she'd almost thrown up when she tasted it. But now she'd trained her stomach to swallow.

"I recognized you, Monsieur," the woman began to answer her question. "I think I saw you quite often visiting the bar nearby with your dark-haired companion..."

Then suddenly Oscar realized. This was the woman she was searching for. She was about to question the woman, asking her what was her name and what did she do to Andre when she found herself unable to speak. Everything around her was spinning and she realized a little too late that the woman must have put something in her drink too.

And just like Andre, the last thing she remembered before she passed out was a pair of grey eyes.