The fireworks were soon going to begin. Arabella had to leave and meet with Buckingham and Milady so they can start their plan.
"Let's go see the fireworks, Arabella." D'Artagnan said as he shyly held her hand and began walking.
Arabella stopped him. "Wait."
"What? Why?" D'Artagnan said.
Arabella looked at him. "I have to…" She stopped. What was she suppose to say?
D'Artagnan knew that she was worried. She was acting the same way she had been a day earlier and had that same worried look on her face.
"Something's wrong, isn't there?" D'Artagnan asked and looked around to see if anyone had been watching.
"No, no, nothing is wrong. I-I just remembered that the Queen had… She had asked me to do her a favor and I can't break my promise to the Queen." Arabella said, trying to show no nervousness in her answer.
D'Artagnan's eyes narrowed. "What is the favor?" He asked.
"Well, it's a surprise. I can't tell you. Now, I'll be on my way." I'm sorry…"
D'Artagnan leaned in. "Maybe I can follow you in then, once you meet the Queen-"
"I'm sorry; D'Artagnan, but you can't follow me. Please. Stay here and enjoy the fireworks. I really have to go. I'll be back though!"
D'Artagnan nodded and kissed her before giving her a small smile.
"What ever you're doing; I hope you're careful."
Saying nothing, Arabella slowly backed away and turned around. She then quickly walked back to the palace doors, where couples were standing in a crowd trying to get outside to the gardens so they can get a view of the firework display.
"Excuse me… Pardon me." Arabella said as she made her way through the crowd of people.
"Pardon me, I- Arabella?" The Queen asked.
Arabella looked at her. "Your Majesty. What a surprise to see you." She smiled.
"I wouldn't think it was a surprise if you saw the Queen at her own ball." The Queen laughed.
Arabella looked down, embarrassed. "Oh, you're right."
"Now, what's wrong? Why are you in here? Shouldn't you be outside with that ever so handsome young man?" The Queen smirked.
"I had forgotten to do something." Arabella lied.
"Oh? Such as?"
Please, don't ask questions, Your Majesty…
"Such as-""Your Majesty! We should really be going outside!" The King called out.
"Coming, Darling!" The Queen said and looked back at Arabella. "Well, don't be too long."
"I won't." Arabella said and bowed. Once the Queen had gone outside, Arabella walked through the ballroom and into the hall, where the mirrors and portraits that Arabella admired were, and called out for Buckingham.
"Hello?" She whispered. "I'm here, sorry I'm late." She said quietly.
"Apology not accepted." Milady said as she walked out of the shadows of the edge of the hallway.
Buckingham joined her side. "Now, now, we'll forgive my dear little sister. It doesn't matter that she chose her own priorities over us."
Arabella glared. "But-"
"Shh! We have no time to discuss this and get into petty arguments. Now that I know you'll really go through with this, I need you to go back outside and distract those blasted musketeers." Buckingham said.
"And hurry up!" Milady added.
"You two better not hurt anyone." Arabella said and quickly walked out of the hallway and through the ballroom. Tears where stinging in her eyes and blurring her vision. She quickly wiped her eyes and hurried back outside to find the Musketeers. Luckily, they were all standing together.
D'Artagnan had been impatient as he waited for Arabella to return. He grew very worried and suspicious when he saw the King and Queen outside without Arabella. What was she doing?
"I'm running low of wine." Porthos said sadly as he looked into his almost empty goblet of wine.
"Just get more after the fireworks." Aramis said.
"I'd rather get wine than look at fireworks." Porthos said.
"Where are those fireworks anyway?" Aramis asked.
"Something probably caused them to be delayed." Athos said.
"Stop complaining…" D'Artagnan mumbled.
Aramis looked at him. "Feeling cross, boy?"
"He's learning from Athos." Porthos laughed.
Athos cleared his throat and said nothing.
"I'm just wondering where Arabella went. She said she was-"
"I'm back." Arabella said as she stood by Aramis.
"Now, girl, why do you look as though you have been weeping?" Porthos asked.
D'Artagnan looked at Arabella with concern. "Arabella?"
"I wasn't crying, Porthos. The smoke from the candles inside where irritating. I'm fine, D'Artagnan."
"Are you sure?" D'Artagnan asked.
Arabella didn't answer him because she was watching Athos. He was staring at the area where the fireworks were set up. He was watching someone. Before she knew it, Athos began walking towards the fireworks set up.
Arabella nudged Aramis out of the way and ran up to Athos. "Where are you going?" She asked.
Athos ignored her and kept walking. Arabella sighed and stood in front of him. "You're walking right into the fireworks display, not a very wise choice, wouldn't you agree?"
"And helping Buckingham and Milady with their plans is not a very wise choice wither, wouldn't you agree?" Athos asked.
Arabella stared at him. "You-"
"Oh, believe me, Miss Arabella, I know. I saw you sneak out of the house. I know that Buckingham and Milady De Winter have been pestering you about helping them and you just had to agree. I've even said something to the boy but he won't listen-"
"Why would you tell him that? I don't want him to get hurt!"
"But he will be when he finds out! He trusts you and cares for you but now he'll see-"
"Stop." Arabella said quietly. Athos looked to the left and saw D'Artagnan walking up to them.
" What's going on here?" He asked.
Athos sighed and opened his mouth to speak but a firework went off and went straight up into the sky. It exploded into sparks of blue. The crowd that was watching stared in amazement and applauded.
Athos looked at Arabella.
"We should get back, Arabella, the fireworks have started." D'Artagnan said and looked suspiciously at Athos and Arabella.
"Right. Let's go back to Aramis and Porthos." Arabella said and she slowly walked back with D'Artagnan following behind her. The two were startled when they heard a firework right above them zoom past. Arabella looked up at the sky and saw that the firework had hit the side palace, and soon, flames were igniting.
D'Artagnan stared at the side of the palace. "What was that?" He asked and looked at the area where the fireworks were being shot from.
Another firework shot and hit the palace again. The crowd outside was now in turmoil. People were screaming, or running. The King and Queen were looking around in utter shock.
Arabella quickly lifted her skirts and ran as fast as she could to the fireworks set up.
She heard D'Artagnan calling her name and running after her. She heard Porthos and Aramis yelling as well.
"Arabella?" D'Artagnan called out as he ran after her.
"Boy? What are you doing? What's going on?" Porthos asked as he joined Aramis and Athos, who were trying to calm the guests.
"Not now, please!" D'Artagnan said and continued chasing Arabella.
Arabella ran up to the area where the fireworks were loaded but Milady and Buckingham weren't there.
"Where are the King and Queen?" She heard somebody ask.
That's when she heard the airship from above her. It was slowly lowering to get closer to the ground. Buckingham stood on the deck with a grin on his face.
D'Artagnan stopped running and looked at the airship.
"Damn, Buckingham!" He yelled.
Arabella looked back at the palace and saw that part of it was engulfed in flames; men were struggling to put the fire out.
The frightened crowd was now focused on the airship.
"Thank you Arabella for doing…well, whatever you did. You're such a good liar, though. I suppose you get that from me." Buckingham said.
"She learned from the best!" Milady said and winked in Athos' direction.
"Buckingham! What is the meaning of this!" Athos asked.
"The meaning? Well… when one is driven mad with power, one will do everything to gain it, right?" Buckingham answered.
D'Artagnan stood by Arabella. "Stop this and leave everyone and Arabella alone! She doesn't want anything to do with you."
Milady laughed. "You think that is going to stop us? And for your information, Arabella has been helping us."
D'Artagnan looked at Arabella. "You said you would tell me if he was trying to hurt you or forcing you to-"
"They were going to kill you if I did!" Arabella said, tears, once again, returning to her eyes.
"But Arabella, I trusted you! I thought I could protect you from anything and that you were being honest to me."
"You still can-"
"No, I can't. Arabella… I…I thought I kind of loved you." D'Artagnan said.
"Aw." Milady giggled.
Arabella sighed. "You thought you loved me? Well, I thought I loved you, as well. I suppose that everything was just a waste of our time then." She said.
D'Artagnan said nothing and stared at her.
"Where are the King and Queen?" Aramis asked.
"Oh, safe with us! I know we've only been here a short time, but we really have to leave." Buckingham said and lowered the walkway for Arabella. Milady ran down and grabbed Arabella and brought her on the airship. "Hurry before they try to get the King and Queen!"
"Arabella? Wait!" She heard D'Artagnan say.
"Give up, D'Artagnan, she's gone." Athos said.
"No! Arabella!"
"Sorry!" Milady smirked.
One by one the Guards began shooting at the airship but unfortunately, missing or not causing much damage. The ship was soon in the air away from the palace.
"I can't believe I did that… I can't believe I actually helped you!" Arabella screamed as soon as the ship was floating through the night sky.
"Wonderful wasn't it? The part of the castle we destroyed was where the Queens chambers were so, all her jewels were destroyed as well as any of the King's plans for the country. Soon, the people will realize how horrible the King reacts under situations such as these and he'll be forced off the throne and I shall steal it for myself and France will be under my rule." Buckingham said and sighed happily.
"Where are they?" Arabella asked angrily.
"They are below deck. Do not try anything." Milady glared.
Arabella went below deck and saw the King and Queen tied up and sitting in the corner. The Queen's eyes were red from crying.
"Lady Arabella!" The King said.
Arabella stood in front of them. "I am so sorry, this is my entire fault. The palace is destroyed and now you two are in grave danger-"
"That is exactly right!" The King interrupted.
"Arabella, I am not angry with you. I understand that you probably and no other choice." The Queen said.
The King looked at her. "Well I'm angry! Part of my palace was set ablaze, my plans were destroyed, our treasured items were destroyed and-and my clothes-"
"We can always get those back, Darling." The Queen said soothingly.
Arabella sighed. "Oh, I'm so sorry." She cried.
"Please, Arabella, perhaps you can help us." The Queen said.
"But how can I help you?"
"I overheard Buckingham speaking about taking us to the Tower of London. He means to execute us or imprison us, I believe." The King whispered.
Arabella nodded and looked around to make sure they weren't being listened to.
"Well, we can't let that happen. The Musketeers will surely find out our whereabouts and once they arrive at the Tower of London, I will meet with them and hopefully they'll forgive me-" She whispered.
"Not likely." The King interrupted.
"Louis!" The Queen scolded.
"No, he's right, Your Majesty. They probably will not accept my help but if they do then you two will go with them and then you'll be safe. Meanwhile the Musketeers will probably have a plan of their own to stop my brother and Milady and let's hope it's successful."
"So we just go along with everything and hope that the Musketeers make an appearance?" The King asked.
"Yes."
"And if they don't show up?"
"Your Majesty, I have faith that they will."