Sometimes Salvation is Found in Agony
Chapter Twenty
When the sun rose, Constance quickly prepared breakfast for her husband, who had yet to awaken, and then began to walk to the palace, as she was now one of Queen Anne's ladies in waiting after she had spoken with her again after the Queen had called on her a few nights ago. Anne readily accepted Madam Bonacieux's proposal, grateful to now have someone she could really confide in, and Monsieur Bonacieux didn't disagree that it was good for his wife to be under the Queen's employ, mostly because it made him look good in the eyes of the people.
Once she arrived, Constance was greeted by two women who also helped the Queen daily and together they made their way around the palace as the two ladies showed Madam Bonacieux around to help her to know where she was and wasn't allowed to go, then showed her how the Queen liked to have her tea prepared.
Once the tea was ready and a meal was prepared, Constance picked up the tray and walked through the halls as she made her way toward the Queen's bedroom. When she arrived at the door, she knocked gently and waited for Anne to call out for her to enter. However, not a sound could be heard from inside and when the silence continued after knocking again, Constance felt something was off and so she carefully set the tray down on the floor, quietly opened the door and then slowly walked inside. Upon doing so, she found Queen Anne lying on the floor unconscious, a fever having taken hold of her that was clearly rising rapidly as she rushed over to the woman's side and gently rolled her over onto her back.
Constance quickly cried out, "Help! Somebody help me, please!"
One of the guards who was patrolling the palace halls nearby suddenly ran inside and when he found Madam Bonacieux kneeling over the Queen, his first instinct was to ask, "What happened? What have you done?"
"Go find help!" Constance shouted. "The Queen is very ill. She needs the physician."
"I'll go find Doctor Maloraux," the man answered, then ran out again as more servants rushed in and helped Madam Bonacieux work to stabilize their Queen until help arrived.
One of Anne's other ladies in waiting spoke up fearfully saying, "Her Majesty was not so ill an hour ago when I first woke her. She appeared to be troubled, but she assured me she was all right and that I was to go on with my duties."
Constance quickly looked to the woman, then back down at the Queen as she responded, "I do not know much about illnesses, but something tells me that in order for this sickness to take a hold of Her Majesty this quickly…"
"What?" another young woman asked when Madam Bonacieux paused. "What are you saying?"
"I believe that it's possible our Queen has been poisoned," Constance replied fearfully. "I certainly hope that I am wrong. It will be all right, Your Highness. You're going to be all right."
Meanwhile…
Anjou and several of his men gathered together within the residence in which they lived as they prepared themselves for a fight against a group of unwelcomed newcomers within the city that they had been made aware of due to one of the city's largest contributors and busybodies. However, before they finished, the same man knocked on the door and entered the hovel to inform them that the trouble makers were no longer a threat as they had passed out from drunkenness through the night.
When the man finished explaining this to Anjou, the dangerous enforcer spoke up saying, "Even if a fight is unnecessary, I will not tolerate men coming into our city to cause trouble for those I fight to protect. I am sending some of my men to escort them to our prison. They will be held accountable."
One of his men spoke up as he said, "Sir, there are two here who wish to speak with you. They are armed, but they have assured me that they of no threat to us. Shall I let them inside?"
"Go ahead," the leader answered.
"Two of the King's musketeers," he stated again as he and his own men stared at the two heavily armed soldiers who walked inside, all of them immediately noticing the fleur de lis on both of their arms. "I was not aware that you have any business here in Marseille. What could either of you possibly have to say to me? How is it that you even know who I am or where to find me?"
Athos looked at the man coldly as he replied, "How we found you is of no importance, only what we have to say is. I am Athos and the man standing with me is Porthos. We are indeed musketeers, though we have not come here to arrest you, or harm you in any way, I assure you. In fact, we wish to help save your life if you will listen."
Anjou chuckled and then responded, "You and your friend are the only two who are in danger for coming in here and threatening me."
"You aren't listening very good," Porthos answered as he seethed in anger, but remained in constraint. "I suggest you listen as my friend speaks."
"We have a common enemy, Anjou," Athos continued. "Someone I believe you have been trying to find and bring down for some time; Valentin and the rest of his followers. We can help you bring him to justice."
The leader grinned as he responded, "It isn't justice I want, Athos, but then again, you must already know that. I can see in both of your eyes that you know the kind of man that I am, the kind of men that my friends here with me are."
Athos simply replied, "Yes, but you have so far been unsuccessful in taking Valentin down because he's careful and smart. However, one of our own has risked his life greatly in order to infiltrate Valentin's men and has been tasked to kill you, as a way of proving himself a man with strength enough to kill someone else of greater power. He is the best shooter amongst our regiment, the best shooter I've ever seen, and he can strike you down from a distance that will astound you, but if you do as we say, we can make sure that the both you will survive and that your enemies will be brought down for good. What do you say? Do we have your attention now?"