4 - Carnivale

I slowly stepped out of my uncle's carriage, my slippers clicking on the ground as I took in the courtyard before me. Many couples were dancing, while the numerous, garish costumes they wore shimmered in the gentle moonlight. There was food, and drink, and general merriment in every corner of the yard. Although there were many colors adorning the patrons as well as the courtyard itself, they all had a silvery glow as the night sky gave it an ethereal radiance. And while I felt resplendent in the dress Porthos had given me, I still wasn't sure I could slip into the magnificent fairy world before me unobserved.

'Go. Enjoy yourself.' Athos said, making me come out of my thoughts to realize he was standing beside me. He pressed on my back softly, as if to send me shooting forward happily with the momentum. I shot him a small smile and watched as Porthos' carriage pulled up behind ours and a few shapes emerged from the darkness of the compartment.

D'Artagnan had been riding with Athos and myself, so the shapes I was watching now were Aramis, Porthos, Raoul, and of course Christine, Raoul's guest. As per Porthos' request, she was very pretty, indeed, with long, golden hair and dark eyes that widened as she took in the extravagance around her. Her manner, as well as the way she dressed, showed that she was not used to the affluence that was being displayed. It turned out that she -and her family- lived near Luc, Raoul's friend.

At least it explained Raoul's eagerness to help with that barn...

I smiled wistfully as I watched the shadowy figure of Raoul offer Christine his arm.

'She seems like a very nice girl, Athos.' D'Artagnan remarked, also climbing out of the carriage and standing behind me as it drove away slowly.

'Yes, she does.' Athos agreed, smiling distantly at his son. I could tell he was preparing to let go. Any fool could see Raoul was over the moon for the girl, and Athos was no fool.

'But, presently, we have a carnivale to attend. Shall we?' D'Artagnan stated, offering me his arm in his most gentlemanly manner. I shot him my most appreciative smile before responding.

'Yes, thank you, good sir.' I replied, making D'Artagnan laugh softly before escorting me into the crowd.

Most of it was a whir at first as I was offered a few glasses of wine and asked to dance by a few young men that Porthos always said he would be glad to stand up and be counted with. I couldn't help but wonder how much wine was influencing those profound expressions of confidence.

I looked away from the dance floor to watch the four men I came with. They were huddled together to the side while Raoul danced with Christine for the sixth time that night. Athos was watching them with the same pleased, yet distant look in his eyes. D'Artagnan was shaking his head amusedly as Porthos pointed at him and laughed heartily, making Aramis soon join in slightly.

I smiled as I watched them, thinking about their lives for a moment. They had spent most of it in service, and now their service was slowly -but surely- coming to it's end. They were only called on missions that called for extreme discretion, or that needed their particular attention. They knew, as I did, that it was only a matter of time before they came to their definite retirement.

Taking another small sip of wine, I moved away from my position slowly and approached my uncle.

'They look marvelous together, don't they?' I asked knowingly, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

'They do. He loves her very much, you can tell by just glancing at them,' He began, his smile widening a bit, 'People told me I had that exact look on my face when I was with his mother.'

'I wish I could have known you all then.' I said softly, more to myself than to my uncle.

'I do too, Marie.' Athos said, snapping out of his slight reverie and smiling down at me. I smiled back and turned to the rest of my companions.

'I'd like to dance with someone I actually know tonight. Who would oblige me?' I asked boldly, ignoring the amused looks on the faces before me.

'That's terribly brazen of you, Marie.' Athos chided.

'When one is in the presence of good friends, there is no such word.' I said, giving my uncle an innocent look. I saw Porthos open his mouth to reply to my request, but Aramis cut him off.

'I would be happy to oblige the lady.' He said, offering his arm and leading me to the crowd of dancers. I smiled at him thankfully before speaking softly a moment later.

'It amuses me how... flirtatious Porthos can be. With anything wearing a skirt, really...' I said lightly as I glanced over at Aramis.

'It's in his nature, I'm afraid. Especially if wine is involved.' He replied, almost apologetically as he spun me slowly.

'Yes, I know. That's why I don't take him seriously.' I said, letting a small smile come over my face. Aramis laughed slightly before speaking, a somewhat astonished look on his face.

'You are rather bold tonight, aren't you?' He asked, looking me in the eye as the music went on.

'Oh, but I can quite easily blame the wine, as well.' I joked, still smiling.

'There's a thought.' Aramis replied, a bright look on his face as we finished the dance as gracefully as we could.

'You dance marvelously.' I said, obviously at least a bit impressed.

'You didn't think all I could do was fight, did you?' He asked, starting to walk me back to the others.

'Of course I didn't, what a presumption... I just didn't know you could dance.' I told him, making him smile with the last bit of my statement. Once again Aramis offered me his arm and led me back to the small circle our dear friends formed.

'You dance marvelously as well, Marie.' Aramis said as we passed by a few couples moving toward the dance floor.

'Thank you.' I replied, smiling up at him with my statement. We had taken a few steps more before he spoke once more.

'You are quite welcome.' He said finally as we reached our destination, releasing me beside my uncle. Aramis retook his place beside Porthos before I overheard him whisper something to Aramis, obviously not wanting to be heard.

'My, Aramis, don't you two dance well together.' Was his message, and it was accompanied by a mischievous smirk that made Aramis reply with a scolding glare, and made me turn away quickly with an embarrassed smile.

Much later that night, as the crowd was dwindling and early morning's light was threatening to creep over the horizon, I sat at an otherwise empty table with Aramis and D'Artagnan, while Porthos was standing a few feet away whispering to two women -one on each arm- who I was sure had to be inebriated. Athos left us briefly to fetch the carriages as Raoul and Christine sat at another table, talking to each other softly, with moony smiles on their faces. We had all agreed that it was time to leave for our respective homes, as we each had a reasonably long ride ahead of us. We had all agreed, that is, with the exception of Porthos, of course.

Fortunately, his fellow musketeers overthrew his say in the matter, in addition to myself and the loving couple sitting so close by. If Porthos could still stand after all the wine he had consumed, it was his blessing, but certainly not ours. We needed rest, to say the least.

'Well, how was your evening, Marie? Up to your expectations?' D'Artagnan asked as we waited for my uncle.

'Better.' I replied softly, stifling a yawn and covering it with the smile I wanted to express, 'I will even say that I found it even more mesmerizing than those we go to back home.'

'I'm very glad you think so. You absolutely must have a fabulous time here, so you can tell all your sisters about your glamorous trip when you go back to Spain.' D'Artagnan said slyly, a touch of fatigue in his voice as well.

'Oh, you are a devil! They'll all be green with envy.' I replied, grinning wickedly, despite my innocent declaration.

'If they aren't, I'd be be insulted.' D'Artagnan joked in reply, his tired face turning upward into a smile.

D'Artagnan had come to Spain with my uncle occasionally, to visit with the family. He had known my mother well when she lived in France, and was also quite acquainted with my father, so it was no surprise that he wanted to see them, and the children they bore. It was because of his visits that I came to know him better -and care for him more- than his and my uncles companions. Until this trip, of course. Not that I grew to like D'Artagnan any less on this vacation. Quite the opposite... I grew closer to his comrades, and upon settling that they were the most agreeable type of people, decided that it did D'Artagnan credit to be associated with them.

Meanwhile, Aramis was sitting across the table, looking up at the sky quietly. He hadn't said a word for a while, he just gazed upwards with a faraway look in his eyes.

'Aramis, have you gone mute?' D'Artagnan asked, a small, devilish smile on his face. I smiled, knowing he must have been tired if he was teasing Aramis almost as much as Porthos would.

'Dear Lord, if he has, we've just lost his best feature.' I said playfully, looking over at Aramis as D'Artagnan laughed softly. Aramis glanced over at me with a bit of surprise in his features and then smirked gently, pointing at the spot that had held his interest so firmly only moments before. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned, hearing Aramis' voice a moment later.

'Cassiopeia.' He said as I gazed at the night sky. The stars were quickly fading, but I had plenty of time to get a good look at the W-shaped group before their deep blue backdrop quickly faded to a lighter shade of violet.

I continued to look heavenward for a few moments, a small smile coming over my face, until I saw my uncle approach us from the corner of my eye. Turning yet again I saw the carriages had been fetched and were stopped a bit behind him.

'I think we had better leave now, before the morning catches up with us.' Athos said as he finally reached us, struggling not to take a seat beside us for just a moment as he might not have gotten back up again.

'I fear that by the time we get home, we may be too late. The morning may be waiting for us there.' I stated, rising from my position with a small smile.

'It's a race, then.' D'Artagnan said, standing up as well and walking over to Athos. Aramis waved Porthos over, gesturing for him to bring his repartee to a close. After a groan of obvious disapprobation on Porthos' and a swift kiss to each lady, he came to join us quickly. Raoul saw Porthos' actions and came as well, Christine's arm happily entwined in his.

Athos and D'Artagnan moved toward the coaches with Christine and Raoul as Porthos approached me.

'Well, I hope you had a marvelous time.' He said, looking down at me cheerfully.

'I did. It was a wonderful night. One I won't soon forget.' I replied with a smile, placing a hand on his arm before continuing, 'Thank you so much, Porthos, for inviting me. And, of course, for the gorgeous dress.'

'Of course, say nothing about it.' Porthos replied, unable to hide his pleasure in my thanks, despite what he had said only a moment before. He finally bid me goodnight and headed off to his carriage with a satisfied look on his face. The night had been quite enjoyable for us all, and I could tell he took knavish delight in the fact that we could all thank him for it.

I turned quickly as I heard Aramis come up behind me slowly, expecting him to say his farewells likewise, but he did not. He offered me his arm instead, leading me to the carriages silently.

'I'm glad you had such a pleasant evening.' Aramis said finally when we had almost reached the coach before us.

'I can thank you for part of it.' I replied warmly, looking up at him with a friendly smile.

'As I can thank you.' He replied with the same tone in his voice, taking the few more steps that were between us and the looming coach. I waited until he had helped me inside to respond.

'Well then, you are quite welcome.'

A/N: Long update! I really didn't like it at first, so I edited it. Then I was happier, but still not euphoric or anything, so I edited it again, and then it was the way I wanted it to be. I really like it now, it's pretty much exactly how I had pictured it, so that's awesome. But that's a large part of why it took so long to get out. All the editing and mulling over. Anywho! I know at least one or two people who wanted foreshadowing (you know who you are), so there you go. They danced. And kinda flirted a little. Pretty good, considering we have quite a few chapters ahead of us... (Oh, the tension!)

Gah, I think I'll go to bed now, I'm exhausted... It is late, after all, and life's gonna hit me in the head tomorrow. Hard. Thanks muchly to Nerds for the Carnivale idea! Hope everyone liked it! Please R&R and have a beautifully silvery day.