Alright, here's the next chapter. Sorry it's been so long for it but… Ok I don't have any excuses so I'll be honest. I was being my typical lazy self. There's no excuse for it trying to finish this the best way possible. Anyhow, this chapter is dedicated to Lady of the Deep, FatherTime'sDaughter Sage, and Reader for their reviews and continuing support for this story.
Sorry about that everyone, but now we have the next chapter up, so enjoy!
Without further ado (and no more of my pointless ramblings!), let the story begin!
The door to the somewhat small apartment crashed open and everyone jumped. D'Artagnan bounded into the room, looking eager to be on his way back out.
"Alright. The girls have to come with me to the palace. They'll have their new clothes before day's end." Athos nodded at this approvingly.
"Very well then. I'll go with you for this. Porthos, Aramis, take the boys to your places and see if you can spare anything from your wardrobes. We'll go through our own when we return." When everyone responded in agreement to this (whether verbal or physical), the two men and two girls headed off on foot to the Louvre palace. As Athos and D'Artagnan pulled farther and farther ahead, Brenna and Shawnee conversed in hushed whispers.
"You know we have to do this! Just get over yourself already and do this. The sooner you do, the sooner you can finish!" Brenna argued heatedly. Shawnee growled in frustration.
"I don't care what you say Brenna but I will not do this without a fight! You can't make me do this! Not for all the money in this world or the next!" The two men turned around at the end of this statement but the girls were so focused on being the one to finish the argument, they didn't notice. Athos gave a dry chuckle, leaving D'Artagnan confused.
"What is that look for Athos? I'm afraid I have no clue about what is so amusing about this." Athos just gave him a half smile and turned to keep walking.
"It's because you're stuck with that little hellcat back there that refuses to act like God created her. I do pity you so my friend." D'Artagnan huffed in annoyance but didn't speak until they reached the palace gates. D'Artagnan waved to the guard one the other side that then jumped to his feet and opened the gate for them. Then he led them through the vastness of the Louvre palace until the reached the chambers of the Queen Mother, Anne of Austria.
Shawnee and Brenna looked at each and gulped, a little nervous to be meeting the Queen Mother of all people so soon. D'Artagnan raised his hand and knocked upon the heavy wooden door which was then opened by the Queen's lady-in-waiting. She directed the four of them into the chamber where she was then dismissed.
Shawnee and Brenna stared at her regal form as she stood and came closer to get a better look at them. They were still staring we she reached them. Brenna snapped out of her trance when Athos gave a little cough. She then gave Shawnee a sharp elbow to the ribs and gained an angry look from her friend.
Anne chuckled mildly before circling them, a frown on her face. She stopped in front of them again before looking over to D'Artagnan with a smile.
"I think I'll be able to help you. We might need to get my seamstress here to change the dresses a little bit but I'm sure I can give them something for their stay." D'Artagnan nodded with a smile and looked to the girls, checking to see their responses. Brenna simply gave a warm smile and a nod. Shawnee, however, kept her face as blank as possible but when one saw her clenched fists, it was obvious as to her feelings on the topic.
Anne called for her lady-in-waiting and asked to send for her seamstress. The lady slipped back out the door and returned a few minutes later with the requested seamstress. Anne nodded her head to the lady, thanked her and watched as she slipped back outside the door. She then turned to the awaiting seamstress.
"Is there anything you desire Your Majesty?" The somewhat timid young woman asked. Anne nodded.
"As a matter of fact yes Caroline. I wish for you to take a couple of my old dresses from when I was a young woman and size them to fit these two young ladies. Can you complete this before tonight?" Caroline nodded quickly.
"Oh yes of course Your Majesty! I would be honoured to tend to your guests!" She smiled warmly.
"Excellent. Treat them with the same respect as you would me." She directed them to another closed off area of her chambers.
"You will find the dresses in there, waiting for you two to choose which ones you desire." At this, Shawnee began to sputter.
"What are do you mean by 'ones'? I am not wearing a bunch of different dresses three times each! No way, no how! Not going to happen!!" Brenna clapped a hand over her mouth before she flew into a rage and began cursing.
"What she means is, do we have to wear each dress three times each or do wear any of them at all and do they count for just three times total?" Athos nodded quietly.
"Just for three times total. You said you won't be here too long but if you are here longer than expected, then we'll have to change the agreement." Brenna nodded and turned to Shawnee, who busy growling at Brenna since she had yet to remove her hand.
"Are you going to behave?" She asked in her in an almost motherly tone. Shawnee gave a curt nod and Brenna let her go and left to mumble furious threats of bodily harm under her breath. She smiled and clapped her hands in anticipation.
"So, shall we get started?" Anne nodded and led them through the doors to the other. However, she gestured for the two men to wait in the chamber they had just left. It wasn't right for a man to be there while a lady dresses after all.
Brenna was busy fingering the edging of a beautiful green dress with gold lace trimming and Shawnee passed by everything with a brief glance, still furious with the plan. Anne left Shawnee to fume and made her way to Brenna's side.
"Do you want to try that one? I think it'll look splendid." Brenna looked at her for a moment but then smiled.
"Thank you Your Majesty!" Anne pressed a finger to her lips with a frown.
"No. Just call me Anne alright?" Brenna gave her a look of awe before scooping up the dress off the bed. Anne directed her to a screen on the left side of the room.
"Go behind there and I will send someone to help you put it on. And don't worry about your friend. I'm sure I'll get her to take something." Brenna looked to her friend with a slightly worried expression before slowly nodding.
"If she tries anything, shout and I'll come stop her." She turned and slipped behind the screen. Anne gestured with a hand for one of her servants to tend to the Brenna and she made her way to the other girl. Shawnee had stopped at the end of the line of laid out dresses and kept glancing at one the was a deep blue with silver trimming that looked like it had been twisted before it had been sewn on.
Anne picked it up and shoved it into the girl's hands, spun her around and pointed towards the screen on the room's right side.
"Go behind there and try it on." Shawnee choked and sputtered in shock.
"But, Anne... It won't fit! I know it won't" Anne gave a small push from behind.
"No more arguments. Go get changed!" Shawnee crept around the corner and Anne summoned another servant. As that one went in, Brenna came out. Anne gasped as she saw her. She had let her hair down and looked very much like D'Artagnan if he'd been female. Brenna gave her a worried look.
"It doesn't look that bad does it? I can take it off if you want..."
"Don't. It's perfect." Anne smiled as Brenna's face lit up. The servant from the right screen skidded across the smooth floor and Shawnee stormed out from behind the screen, holding up the front of the dress. Brenna gave her a strange look.
"Is there a reason you didn't let the person tie that thing for you?" Shawnee gave her an angry look.
"The strings make it impossible to breathe." She said through gritted teeth. Anne nodded and called for Caroline. Caroline appeared at her side moments later.
"Caroline, take this dress and widen the bodice a bit. It's a bit too tight." Shawnee snarled.
"Too tight?! It's a wonder I'm not blue in the damn face woman?! How the hell do you wear these idiotic things?" Anne gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Brenna smacked Shawnee upside the head.
"Watch your language Shawnee! This is the Queen Mother you're talking to!" Shawnee muttered threats of harm under her breath but returned behind the curtain so Caroline could do her job. As she went out of sight, someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Anne called.
"It's me Mother. I have something for your guests." Anne smiled happily.
"Certainly Philippe. Come right in!" The young king cracked open the door and slipped in silently. He dipped his head in greeting to Brenna then kissed his mother on both cheeks in greeting. He then showed her the bundle in his arms.
"D'Artagnan told me that your guests would be requiring some male clothes and asked if I could spare anything. Since I have too much as it is, I brought everything they would need. These are the simplest items I have."
It was a couple pairs of breeches, a few white shirts and a couple of hats. Brenna immediately snatched one of the hats and placed it on her head happily then gave a little twirl. Shawnee peeked out from behind the screen.
"Can I have a set of those clothes please? I might as well start wearing them now." Brenna grabbed a set and brought it over. She snatched them from her hands and dressed. When she came closer, Brenna handed her the hair tie she'd been using.
"You might want to put you hair up so you can see." She nodded and tied her hair back in a simple ponytail. Brenna took the hat off of her head and dropped it on Shawnee's and Philippe began to laugh.
"You look almost like Athos!" Brenna raised an eyebrow and gave an almost evil looking smirk.
"I have a way we can use this. Anne, think you can help us?" She nodded. Brenna's smirk grew wider.
"Ok, here's what we're going to do..."
Whilst all of this was going on, Athos and D'Artagnan were in the other room having a drink of wine, simply discussing the plans.
"So each one will stay here in the palace? Is that safe?" Athos asked doubtfully. D'Artagnan waved it off unconcerned.
"There's no safer place for them. Besides, no one but us, Anne, and Philippe know that they're here." Athos nodded but still looked a little wary. They suddenly turned when the door opened and Anne came out with a small smile.
"The girls would like to show you what they've chosen. Shall I let them come out?" The men looked at each other and nodded. Anne smiled and waved to someone just inside the door and Brenna stepped out in her green dress. D'Artagnan's eyes went wide with shock and the contents of his cup spilt down his arm as his hand slipped. Brenna gave a strained smile and gave an internal shudder to suppress the laughter. Anne waved again and Shawnee poked her head around the corner before ducking her head and made her way out, staring at the ground.
She stopped beside Brenna and looked up to see Athos watching her before a sound of shattering glass reached their ears. Athos looked down at his feet to see his dropped glass. Shawnee inhaled but then began to choke on her own laughter, leaving Brenna to lean on her as she began to laugh as well. The two men each raised a hand to point at the two girls then pointed and looked at each other.
The girls just laughed harder, tears sprouting from Brenna's eyes. As they calmed down, Shawnee reached behind her head and yanked out the hair tie and gave it to Brenna who put her hair back up once more. Shawnee gave a happy smile.
"I think that worked quite well. Although, we're sorry about the mess..." Anne waved it off.
"I'll have someone take care of that. But I think you two better be off." Athos and D'Artagnan nodded and just led the way out of the room, silent as mice, leaving Brenna and Shawnee to follow somewhat concerned.
Well... Not much else to say about this chapter. Pretty boring actually... I think I'm losing my touch!
No your not and this chapter is funny, it's pretty interesting to show Athos and D'Artagnan what it looks like with my hair down and yours up.
Anyhow, now that you've read it, review and vote on the poll in my profile! We've only had ONE person vote and that's just sad!
See you again soon (if I can be pulled away from a new video game I'm getting long enough to write the next chapter!)