The Homecoming

I remember handing Porthos his birthday present the day before his birthday. I was going along with Bonacieux and Constance to Calais, where we would go in search of cloth. Treville had pressured me into going, stating that this was business of the King, and that his Majesty had decreed that someone should go along to assure his assets. So, amidst much grumbling, I left for Calais.

The whole trip there, I tuned out Bonacieux, so that our conversations sounded something like me asking, whether or not they enjoy the ride, to hearing blah, blah, blahty, blah. Bonacieux sounded so much more intelligent this way, and I was reduced from wanting to rip out my own ears. My brother had warned me to be nice, well nicer, whilst I was on this trip, to which I raised my eyebrows. Just because he had a thing for Constance didn't mean I had to be nice to her husband. Of course D'Artagnan didn't see my logic and thus I left home without speaking to him.

We made good time to Calais, where Bonacieux spent forever picking his fabric. Especially that which would eventually be used on capes for the Musketeers. This is how it became the King's business and his interest in his assets. Which I severely doubted, as before now there had never been such an escort. I knew it was just Treville's way to get me out of Paris and away from the influence of the Inseparables for a while.

Finally, Bonacieux had made his purchases of fine blue linen/cotton, three bolts of gold silk, two bolts of the finest white linen, and a bolt of sapphire blue velvet. I was envious and wanted a dress made immediately out of the velvet, but I held myself in check. No matter what would occur, I had to keep my identity under wraps. Which was becoming more difficult for me as I found myself window shopping for a new dress. Once Constance caught me and questioned me, I told her it was for my Mistress, though the dress itself would look hideous on her. She looked at me suspiciously, but said no word after that.

On our way back to Paris, we had to hire a wagon. I sighed when I heard this, although this was to be expected, I mean we couldn't be expected to carry all of this fabric directly on our mounts? My Friesian might be able to handle it, but the fabric would end up ruined and then another trip would need to be made. So I had to endure the added few days with grace and bear it.

When we got back to Paris, I immediately broke from their company, after seeing them both into their home, and made my way to the Garrison. I saw the four outside in the courtyard, playing cards on the table there. I tossed the reins to the stable hand, Jacque and made my way over to them.

"D'Artagnan!" Aramis said with a smile, being the first to caught sight of me. "Look whose back. Leo!" I just sneered at this Musketeer before throwing myself onto the bench beside D'Artagnan.

"You ever make me accompany them again, I will cut your throat," I promised, darkly, holding a dagger in my hand. D'Artagnan gulped, having no doubt that I would make good on my threat.

"Fine." D'Artagnan agreed. "They were that bad of company?" He was curious, and asked tentatively.

"Yes!" I exclaimed, after shooting him a glare. "All they did the whole time was talk about their fabric, and what they would eventually do with it. I wanted to shoot myself in the head. Or at the very least offer the musket to them, so that they might have the honor!"

Aramis and Porthos began to snicker. I shot them both my famous withering glare. They quieted down and looked at the table. Looking at Porthos I noticed he wore the scarf I had secured for his birthday.

"Isn't that what a tailor and his wife might converse about?" Athos asked, no paying attention to my plant wilting glare.

"I really don't care what they talk about, as long as they don't drag me into it!" I snapped at Athos, finding it difficult to remain angry at him for long. He just gave me a slight smile.

"Asking your opinion again?" Athos was being more indulgent with me than normal. I wondered if he felt alright. So I did what anyone would do if they were in my shoes, I felt his forehead. "Uh, what are you doing?"

"Checking you for a fever," I snapped at his obviously confused question.

"Why?" My brother started to laugh. Athos glared at him, which also made my brother shut up.

"Geexe the both of you have like deadly glares." My brother looked down at his feet. I just giggled and quit my glaring; for the moment at least.

"Because you are being caring today." The whole group turned silent. I turned my gaze onto the three, and found that Porthos couldn't quite meet my eyes.

"Alright, what happened?" I asked. Athos and Aramis both motioned to my chair.

"You aren't going to be too happy," Athos said, rolling his eyeballs.

"The two people whom you met on the way to the King's fabric!" D'Artagnan said. "They mean to do you harm. Take you back to LeBarge so that he can take you back to his place and punish you as he sees fit."

"Are you sure?" I asked, sitting upright and looking at my brother and his friends interested.

"Porthos found out when he was in the Court of Miracles." D'Artagnan assured me. I nodded before the sentence soaked in.

"The Court of Miracles?" I questioned, the Musketeeers all nodded. "What were you doing there Porthos? Don't you know where not to go in this huge city?"

"They kidnapped me back from the cardinal, whom apparently held onto a grudge against me." Porthos said with a sigh. I couldn't believe that I had missed it.

"Yeah we had to go into the Court undercover and get him back out of there." My brother took a bite of an apple that was lying on the table.

"There was a plot to blow up the court, made by the leader of this Court," Athos added. "We got there in time." I was jealous of the action that all four of the, got to participate in while I was stuck with the Bonacieux's. I pouted as I sat there and listened to the four of them bicker about what exactly they did throughout this mission. Finally, my eyelids were drooping quite dramatically and I fell asleep right there, on the table. Right in the middle of where I belonged, in between my three friends, and my fixation.