Night had arrived fairly quickly. It was now the time that Arabella was quietly dreading. She lay silent and still in bed waiting till no sound was heard from throughout the house. Porthos and Aramis were asleep; D'Artagnan had gone to his room and was probably asleep, also. All, she figured, were asleep, except for one person: Athos. Athos had stayed downstairs after dinner and had intended on finishing a bottle of wine. If he had been doing that, he had remained so very quiet.

Arabella had been nervous the whole afternoon and evening. Her little moment with D'Artagnan hadn't done much to calm her nerves, either. During dinner, she hardly spoke. She was focused on the mission that lay ahead. D'Artagnan noticed her mood but felt it was just that she was tired from the day and she would be back to normal by morning. He didn't even mention anything about Buckingham to her when he met her on the staircase and shyly kissed her goodnight. By that time, Arabella felt brave enough to venture out to see Buckingham and Milady and that she would be back home without a problem. Now, she didn't seem so sure.

She quietly got out of bed, already ready to go, and slowly opened the wooden door out of her room. She breathed a sigh of relief when the door didn't make a noise. Arabella quietly tip toed through the hall way, and passed by Porthos' room. He was loudly snoring. Nothing would wake him. When she passed by D'Artagnan's room, she heard silence and peeked in, which she thought, was a bad idea.

She saw a groggy D'Artagnan standing by his window. Before she could back out of the room, he saw her.

"Arabella?" He yawned. "Why are you still awake?"

"Why are you still awake?" She asked him.

D'Artagnan shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I'm trying to stay awake because you seemed worried and I was just making sure you were alright if there was any trouble."

Arabella shook her head. "D'Artagnan, you'll make yourself sick by doing that. I'm fine and everyone is safe. You don't need to stay awake. Just go to sleep." She said and softly pushed him towards his bed.

D'Artagnan staggered to his bed. "But what about-"

"Shh. You need to get some sleep." Arabella said. She had to make sure he was asleep before she could leave or he would surely follow her. Time was quickly passing by.

D'Artagnan reluctantly got into bed. "Are you sure you'll be safe?" He asked, already half asleep.

"Goodness, D'Artagnan, yes. Will you be safe?" Arabella asked.

No answer. The only sound heard was D'Artagnan breathing lightly. He had fallen asleep.

Arabella triumphantly smiled and quietly left his room, closing the door behind her. She slowly made her way down the staircase, occasionally making a faint noise here and there but, for the most part, she was quiet.

The room downstairs was dark. She slowly walked through the room and had her hands out just incase she would run into anything. She felt the wooden table and knew she was nearer to the wooden door. Quickly, she walked straight until she felt the door with her hand. She opened it and quietly closed it behind her. She was out of the house. She turned towards the house and saw it was still dark inside and walked away. She didn't look back at the house but she could have sworn she saw the flame from something light up the room she was just in and little did she know that Athos had been in that room that whole time.

Arabella shivered when the wind blew as she stood alone in the field she was told to be at. It was dark and the moon was full. She feared that Buckingham and Milady would never show, but, according to the clock in the marketplace, it wasn't midnight yet. It soon would be, though.

Arabella sighed and examined the field to see if she could see them coming. She realized that this was the same field D'Artagnan had taken her to teach her how to sword fight. She smiled at the memory.

After a few minutes, which seemed like forever, Arabella heard a noise behind her. She turned around but saw no one. She then felt a presence behind her and slowly turned around.

"Hello, Arabella." Buckingham said smiling at her with Milady by his side. They both were wearing black cloaks.

Arabella jumped and backed away from him. "Hello…" She said.

"Well that's a pitiful greeting. Haven't you been missing us? We certainly have been, missing you." Milady smirked.

"What do you want?" Arabella asked.

"We want you back." Milady said.

Buckingham waved her away and looked at Arabella. "We need your help, Arabella."

"For what? I don't want to help you two anymore."

"Do you want to see D'Artagnan get killed, Arabella? If not, then you'll help us." Milady asked.

Arabella looked at her and said nothing. She didn't want to see him die. She didn't want to see any of her friends die. But if she helped Buckingham and Milady, they wouldn't keep their words and probably kill them anyway and that is something she did not want to happen.

"Good, she'll help us, then." Milady said.

Buckingham grinned. "Excellent. She just saved her life as well. Arabella, you're attending the Queen's masquerade ball, yes?"

Arabella nodded.

"Good. That is where the start of our plan will begin and we need your assistance."

"I won't do anything that will hurt D'Artagnan." Arabella quickly said.

"Oh, you won't hurt him physically but, maybe emotionally." Milady giggled.

"What do you mean?"

"Once D'Artagnan see's you working for us, he'll be heartbroken and feel betrayed." Buckingham said.

"So you want me to do what Milady did to Athos?" Arabella asked.

Milady's eyes widened and she looked at Arabella angrily. "How dare you! You insolent little-"

"Now, now, darling." Buckingham said.

Milady glared at Arabella and re-composed herself as Arabella returned the glare.

"At the ball, you will obviously be with the Musketeers but once the display of fireworks begins, that is when you shall slip away and meet us in the hall that leads out of the ballroom. If anyone questions you, do not reveal where you are going."

"And don't let anyone see you. You need to remain as nonchalant and out of people's way as you possibly can." Milady added.

Buckingham nodded. "Yes and once you meet us, Milady and I will do what we must do and you must do what you must do."

Arabella cringed. "And what is it I must do?"

"You wait for us and stop anyone from stopping us." Milady said.

"This will most likely be the Musketeers. You must distract them from trying to reach us and stop us from carrying out the plans. Once we're finished, we shall find you and bring you aboard the airship. The Musketeers will be angry, of course that you were helping us in our little scheme, but, that honestly won't matter since you'll be back with us. It's just a tiny little betrayal." Bucking explained.

"I won't do it." Arabella said and turned away from them so they wouldn't see the tears coming to her eyes.

"You must do this, Arabella. You have no other choice." Buckingham told her sinisterly.

Arabella sighed and looked at him. "And what are you and Milady doing during all this?"

"That will be for you to find out. It will be a fantastic show." Milady smiled.

Arabella groaned. "I hate this."

Buckingham placed a hand on her shoulder. "You'll do it then?" He asked.

Arabella had no other choice. "Only if you promise not to hurt D'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos or Aramis."

Buckingham smiled. "I promise. Now you may leave."

Arabella shivered and slowly left them.

"Oh, and Arabella?" Buckingham called out.

Arabella looked at him.

"Don't even think about telling the Musketeers this. If you tell them our scheme, we will find out and you will be very sorry."

"We'll see you tomorrow night." Milady said and then began whispering to Buckingham.

Arabella quickly walked out of the field and was back in the market place. Once, she was in the marketplace, she quietly sat down on a barrel and stayed silent for a while. She knew she was making a very big mistake but if it saved D'Artagnan and the other Musketeers, and then it was a mistake she was unfortunately willing to make.

"Good morning." D'Artagnan said as he walked down the staircase.

"You mean, good afternoon?" Athos asked.

"It's the afternoon? Oh." D'Artagnan laughed and sat down at the table.

Athos gave him a quick smile and went back looking troubled.

"Is something wrong? Where is everyone?" D'Artagnan asked as he grabbed a loaf of bread.

"Well, Aramis and Porthos are out with Planchet."

"And Arabella?"

"She's at the Palace. The Queen wanted her to arrive early so she may have enough time to get ready before the ball."

"Oh, that's right. Tonight's the Masquerade." D'Artagnan said and smiled happily at the thought of him dancing the night away with Arabella.

"You like her don't you, D'Artagnan?" Athos asked.

D'Artagnan looked at him. "Like is an understatement. I truly care for her. She's smart and beautiful. Everything she says robs me of something. I lose that habit of just thinking about myself and instead, thinking about her and how I can protect her. Honestly… I don't want to lose her."

"Young love is a very dangerous thing, boy." Athos said.

"How so?"

Athos didn't answer him and instead tossed a coin in the air repeatedly until it fell to the floor.

"Are you alright, Athos?" D'Artagnan asked as he picked up the coin and gave it back to him.

"No, D'Artagnan." Athos admitted as he took the coin.

D'Artagnan leaned forward in his seat, ready to listen. "Tell me."

"Did you hear Arabella get out of her room last night?"

D'Artagnan nodded. "I faintly remember her talking to me before I fell asleep."

"Yes, I heard her. She was telling you to go to sleep."

"Oh, well that's very thoughtful of her." D'Artagnan smiled as he ate a piece of bread.

"No, boy. She wanted you asleep so she can get out of the house."

"And why would she do that?"

Athos sighed. "She left the house late last night. I'm afraid to think she left to meet Buckingham."

D'Artagnan put down the loaf of bread and stared at him. "How do you know that and why would you think that?"

"I was in here when she walked out. I had a candle lit but it blew out so I was searching for something to relight it and I heard someone in the room, so I remained silent. When she opened the door, I saw that it was her. Why else would she leave at that late hour of night?" Athos explained.

"Maybe she just needed some fresh air."

"She can open a window for that. D'Artagnan, I know you don't want to believe me but, I'm sure she was meeting Buckingham. It was late, she looked paranoid…"

D'Artagnan was becoming angry inside but tried to hide it. "Athos, she was speaking to me about him yesterday and she promised me that she wouldn't let Buckingham hurt her so, why would she go to meet him?"

"Promises can be easily broken. For all you know, her seeming like she cares for you can all be a lie. A scheme that her, Buckingham and Milady are plotting to make you seem weak and they will destroy you and then destroy us."

D'Artagnan stood up. "Her feelings for me are not a lie, Athos." He said still trying to contain his anger.

"It is the truth, D'Artagnan. You don't even know her past. You don't know where she came from or even who she really is. Her meeting you could be part of the plan as well! Maybe they meant for her to come here with us." Athos said.

"It didn't seem like it."

"Boy, you're letting her toy with your feelings. She'll make you believe she loves you but in the end, it's all a lie and she'll ruin you. I won't argue about it anymore if you're not willing to face the truth." Athos said as he stood up and began walking upstairs.

"She's not Milady!" D'Artagnan yelled and very much regretted it afterwards.

Athos stopped walking and turned around to face him.

D'Artagnan wasn't prepared to receive Athos's attention but mustered up the courage to tell him exactly what he thought.

"You think Arabella is exactly like Milady just because she hasn't had the best life or her brother is the most notorious man in the country right now. You're the one who doesn't know her, Athos. That's why you're like this. You're like this because you were so wound up in Milady's lie, that you won't even give anyone else a chance. Why don't you give Arabella a chance? I've seen the way she is. She's a beautiful person. But you'd never know because to you and everyone else, she's terrible."

Athos opened his mouth but could say nothing

"Now, I'm not going to stay here and argue with you anymore if you're not willing to face the truth." D'Artagnan said, echoing Athos' words he had just said.

D'Artagnan grabbed his hat and headed straight toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Athos asked.

"Out. I'll be back when it's almost time for the ball." D'Artagnan said as he left the house.

Athos sighed and began walking up the stairs again. "If only he knew." He said quietly to himself.

Arabella paced anxiously in the hall of the palace as she waited for the Queen to summon her. Tonight, she would be betraying her, as well. Queen Anne had been nothing but kind to her and now she was being punished for it. So much for being a Lady-In-Waiting. Now, that would never happen.

"The Queen will see you now." One of the guards said as he walked through the door and held it open for her.

"Thank you." Arabella said and quickly walked through the door and into the Queen's chambers.

"Ah, Arabella." The Queen smiled as she walked towards her.

Arabella bowed. "I'm sorry I was late, I was a bit sidetracked."

"That's perfectly fine, Arabella. You look exhausted, though."

"I didn't really have a good night's sleep." Arabella said.

It was true; she didn't have a good night's sleep, at all. She had returned home late from her meeting with her brother and Milady and had spent hours lying in bed worrying and trying to fall asleep. Then, she had to wake up early in the morning so she would arrive to the palace on time. She was driving herself mad.

"Aw, that's a shame. I'm sure some powder will help cover those dark circles under your beautiful eyes." The Queen said as a maid fixed the laces of her dress.

"Thank you." Arabella said as she twirled a strand of hair.

"Hopefully tonight after the ball you can return home and have a good night's rest." The Queen smiled.

That certainly won't happen.

"Yes, I hope so." Arabella sighed.

"After all, after spending the night dancing with D'Artagnan, why wouldn't you be exhausted?" The Queen said giggling.

Arabella forced a laugh and looked at herself in the distant mirror, across the room.

"Are you looking forward to tonight? My husband and I have been looking forward to this celebration. I'm sure it'll be a night to remember for everyone."

Arabella turned towards the window and saw some men setting up the area where the fireworks were to be launched.

"Yes, I'm sure it will most definitely be a night… to…remember."