"Where do you suppose they've gone?" Porthos asked as he walked the palace gardens with Athos.
"I'm still thinking on that." Athos replied.
Porthos nodded and looked at the palace with a sigh. It was the morning after the Masquerade Ball. The King and Queen were gone and all of France was in an uproar. Even without them, the palace was being taken care of. Soldiers were guarding the area or searching the skies for the airship and the destroyed area of the palace was being tended to. The Musketeers were greatly needed at this moment. They were the ones who were going to bring the King and Queen back to the palace. They just needed to have a plan first.
"Porthos! Athos!" Aramis called out as he walked over to his friends.
Athos looked up at him. "What is it, Aramis?"
"How does the Tower of London sound?"
"The Tower of London? Really, Aramis, where did you get an idea like that?" Porthos asked.
"Well, I've been praying on it and I keep having this thought that they're going to the Tower of London." Aramis explained.
"Well, what do you think?" Porthos asked Athos.
"I say we go on to the Tower of London."
Aramis smiled. "Thank you for trusting in my intuition. Where is D'Artagnan?"
"The boy is somewhere about."
"Is he still angry with you?" Aramis asked.
Athos rolled his eyes. "Yes. We had another little dispute last night, but, no matter, we can't let that slow us down."
Porthos nodded in agreement. "Indeed! Now, let's get to the airship." He said and walked away. Aramis followed, leaving Athos to decide whether or not he should follow, as well. His decision was to, instead, find D'Artagnan. Now, where was D'Artagnan? After a lot of walking around, Athos found him sitting at the edge of the fountain and staring into the distance. Athos had not been on good terms with the boy for a while and he knew that they couldn't work as a team if they had their problems with another. It was time, Athos thought, to solve this problem. He had taken only one step towards D'Artagnan when he stood up.
"Hello, D'Artagnan." Athos said.
D'Artagnan nodded and sat back down. Athos sighed and stood in front of him.
"Come now, we think we have our location of the King and Queen and we can't work together to find them unless we put this silly dispute behind us." Athos said.
D'Artagnan looked at him. "What's the location?"
"The Tower of London."
"Ah, of course."
"Look, boy, we can't keep going on like this." Athos said in a harsh voice.
D'Artagnan stood up. "You're right Athos. If we keep standing around, the king and queen may perish under our account." He said and began to walk away.
Athos turn around and grabbed D'Artagnan's arm. "The Musketeers work together as a team."
D'Artagnan nodded. "Why, yes, they do. Please let go of my arm."
Athos glared and let go of his arm. D'Artagnan turned and walked away with a smirk on his face. He was really trying to frustrate Athos now.
"All aboard the airship!" Porthos yelled from the deck.
Once all the Musketeers were on the ship, they left immediately.
"So, Tower of London?" D'Artagnan asked as he looked through a telescope.
"Yes, I have a very good feeling about that place." Aramis said.
"It's not exactly a feel good place-"
"Oh, D'Artagnan, you know what I mean."
"Did we bring any wine?" Porthos asked as he looked through barrels.
"No." Athos replied.
"Damn. Maybe there's some below deck." Porthos said and walked to the door that led him below the deck.
As soon as he opened the door, a familiar face stood there, guilt stricken.
"Planchet!" Porthos asked.
Planchet smiled shyly. "Top of the morning to-"
Athos was now in his face. "Planchet! What are you doing here? Were you invited?"
Planchet cringed in fear. "N-no, Sir! I was-"
"Planchet, who's taking care of the house? Did you just leave it unattended?" Aramis asked.
"Planchet, you didn't happen to bring any wine, did you?" Porthos asked.
"I-I didn't, Sir! And yes the house is unattended!" Planchet said.
"How long have you been here? You were at home when we left for the ball!" Athos said.
"I heard there was trouble so I decided to come see if-"
"If any help was needed?" Aramis asked.
"Yes, Sir!"
"We don't need your help, Planchet." Athos said.
"Actually, we need all the help we can get." It was D'Artagnan's turn to talk. The Musketeers looked at him.
"And how is he supposed to help?" Porthos asked.
"Once we have a plan, we'll know. He's helped us once, and he can surely help us again. Welcome aboard, Planchet." D'Artagnan smiled and went back to looking through the telescope.
Planchet beamed. "Oh, Sir, you're too kind! I promise I won't be an annoyance! I'll do everything I'm told! I won't ruin anything! I'll be the best help-"
"Shut up, Planchet." Athos said.
"Is everything under control, Milady?" Buckingham asked as Milady joined him on his walk through the halls of the Tower of London.
"Of course. The King and Queen are locked in the cell, our men are ready with their weapons and I have paid the executioner." Milady grinned.
"And the Musketeers are no where in sight?" Buckingham asked.
"No where in sight."
"Excellent. And you took care Arabella, as well?"
"Oh, she was the first task I took care of. I locked her in a cell that's on the opposite end of the tower."
"You are cruel, Darling." Buckingham smiled and kissed her hand.
"So I'm told." Milady replied.
Arabella, the King and Queen had been locked away in individual cells in the tower. Each cell had no food or water and each person had no idea how long they would be kept there. The King and Queen were in the same room but in different cells. Arabella was on the opposite end of the tower and alone. Arabella had nothing to do but to try to find a way to escape, which she knew would most likely be impossible. Milady had purposely left the keys on the wooden table at the other side of the room to tease Arabella. There was no way Arabella could reach those keys unless someone grabbed them for her. She sighed and leaned against the bars. She regretted everything that happened. She missed D'Artagnan and the Musketeers. All she could think about was how horrible D'Artagnan must feel and how she and lied to him and put him in danger and that if he came back, she would try to make things right.
"Once we arrive at the Tower of London, which should be soon, we will each have our own tasks to do." Athos said.
The Musketeers nodded.
Athos looked at D'Artagnan "D'Artagnan you will find the King and Queen and bring them-"
"Cheese and bread?" Planchet asked happily as he placed a tray of sliced cheese and bread on the table out on deck.
Athos straightened his stance and turned towards him.
Planchet's eyes widened as he realized he interrupted them.
"I'm sorry. Do continue." Planchet said.
Athos took a deep breath and looked back at the Musketeers. "D'Artagnan, you will find the King and Queen and bring them to safety."
"Fair enough." D'Artagnan said.
"Porthos and I will take care of Buckingham's guards and anyone who tries to stop us." Aramis said.
"Right." Porthos said as he stuffed his mouth with bread and cheese. "But who will find Buckingham and Milady?"
"Buckingham and Milady wouldn't dare be in the same place when we arrive. They'll most likely be separated. So, leave Milady to me." Athos said.
"Oh, how exciting!" Planchet chimed.
D'Artagnan chuckled while Athos once again glared at Planchet and resumed talking. "Buckingham likes to hide out so we need to look in the most unlikely places. Porthos, Aramis, you two may try to begin finding him after you've gotten rid of all the guards."
"Alright. And if Buckingham is found? Do we kill him?" Aramis asked.
"No." Athos answered.
"Can we severely injure him?" Porthos asked.
"Yes. Once Buckingham and Milady are found, they are to be arrested. The King's guards are arriving there at some point as well."
"Sounds good to me." D'Artagnan said.
"And what am I to do, Sir?" Planchet asked.
"Try not to get killed." Porthos said.
"No, in all seriousness, Planchet, listen to me. The King and Queen are most likely in a guarded area of the tower. Aramis and Porthos will be busy getting rid of the other guards so; you are to join D'Artagnan in finding the King and Queen. Here's what you need to do, the guards won't let just anybody into the room of cells. You need to be a person with purpose. Near the cells, they always have room where the executioner places his belongings, now, if I do remember, there's a room where an executioners outfit is hung up just waiting to be worn. Executioners are usually…burly, like yourself, so you will wear the executioners outfit, go over to the guards, and give them a reason to allow you in. D'Artagnan, you'll help him with this since he really isn't capable of thinking of reason without giving himself away."
"Will do." D'Artagnan said.
Athos continued. "Once you are inside, D'Artagnan will get rid of the guards and you will find the keys and set the King and Queen free."
"Oh, that sounds easy enough! I won't let you down, Sir."
"Then it is done. Any questions?" Athos asked.
Planchet raised his hand. "Oh! I have a question!"
"Does anyone else have a question?" Athos asked and looked at the Musketeers.
"No." D'Artagnan said.
"Fine. Yes, Planchet, what is your question?"
"What happens if we find that girl? What was her name? Arabella?"
Aramis and Porthos quickly glanced at D'Artagnan who was staring at Athos, waiting for his reply.
Athos thought for a moment and saw the expression on D'Artagnan's face. "We let her go and make sure the guards don't arrest her. She can find her way out of this mess if she got herself into it."
Aramis nodded. "That sounds like the best way to go."
D'Artagnan said nothing and looked into the telescope. "We have arrived."
Arabella sat quietly on the cold, stone floor of the cell. She was exhausted, hungry and in need of fresh air and sunlight. Her masquerade dress the Queen had given her was now in tatters and her hair was a mess. If she felt this way, she couldn't imagine how the King and Queen feel. She wanted to escape and help them and return to the Palace of Versailles. All she could do now was hope that they were alright. She slowly closed her eyes in hope that she would drift off into a short sleep to pass the time but as soon as her eyes were closed, the tower shook. She quickly stood up and looked around her. She heard muffled voices from a distance.
"Damn, Aramis, don't you know how to land a ship!" A deep familiar voice yelled.
"It's my first time!"
"Aramis? Athos?" Arabella asked out loud. The Musketeers were here. There was a glimmer of hope. But she knew they weren't in search for her. They were in search for the King and Queen and trying to stop Buckingham and Milady.
The plan was in action as soon as the Musketeers crash landed into the tower. Athos was off to find Milady and possibly Buckingham, Aramis and Porthos were getting rid of all the guards in the courtyard and would slowly make there way up to getting rid of all the guards in the towers and D'Artagnan and Planchet were searching for the King and Queen.
D'Artagnan and Planchet had made there way to the opposite end of the tower and discovered that this area of the tower wasn't guarded at all.
"Do you see anything that could be of use?" D'Artagnan asked as he looked through rooms they passed by.
"No, no, I don't see anything." Planchet answered. "Oh, look! There's a closed door. Shall we go in?"
"Might as well. It looks like a door that leads to a room of jail cells. Come on." D'Artagnan said and took precautions by taking his sword out.
Planchet and D'Artagnan slowly entered the room and looked around them.
"I don't think anyone's in here." Planchet whispered.
"But the keys are." D'Artagnan said as he walked over to the wooden table where the keys were placed.
Arabella stared at D'Artagnan and Planchet, thinking of what to say. She was excited to see them but also frightened.
"We have the keys!" Planchet exclaimed.
"Shh, Planchet. Now, let's go find the King and Queen."
"Wait!" Arabella yelled.
D'Artagnan and Planchet turned to the cells. "Who's there?" D'Artagnan asked.
Arabella waved her arm out through the bars of the cell. "Over here."
"That's Miss Arabella!" Planchet said.
D'Artagnan quickly walked over to her cell and saw Arabella standing there. He wanted to let her free and tell her everything that he had wanted to tell her and that he forgave her but, this was a mission and he couldn't be distracted.
"Who locked you in here?" He asked.
"Hello to you too. Milady locked me in here." Arabella said. "I kept trying to help the King and Queen and I was being a distraction."
"Well it's good to see you again, Arabella." Planchet said.
"You too, Planchet." Arabella smiled.
"Maybe I should leave you in here, you know, since you're a…distraction." D'Artagnan teased.
"No, D'Artagnan, don't. You need my help. I know where the King and Queen are and you and Planchet would be lost without my direction."
"Try me." D'Artagnan said.
"Please, let me out. You have the keys." Arabella said.
"I'm sure Planchet and I can find it on our own. Thanks, though."
"D'Artagnan, this isn't fair!"
D'Artagnan looked straight in her eyes. "A lot of things in life aren't fair. But we have to just accept that, don't we?"
"D'Artagnan, I'm so sorry. I-"
Planchet knew that this was going no where so he interrupted. "I accept your apology on his behalf. Sort of. I like you, Arabella. Therefore, I feel the right thing to do is to allow you to help us."
D'Artagnan looked at him. "That's fine, right D'Artagnan?" Planchet asked.
D'Artagnan said nothing and began searching through the keys to unlock Arabella's cell.
"That's the spirit! Let the poor girl out!" Planchet said.
The cell was then opened and Arabella walked out. D'Artagnan closed the cell behind him and told her "If you try anything funny or lie to us, I swear, I-" "Oh, come on, D'Artagnan. The only thing I care about right now is helping the King and Queen return back to their home." Arabella said.
"So we're a team now right? We're going to all work together cooperatively?" Planchet asked.
"D'Artagnan?" Arabella asked.
D'Artagnan nodded. "Yes. Yes, we're a team."