Chapter 2: Fleeing
The next morning Athos observed the grounds from the gatehouse tower, a mug of steamy brew in hand. The wind was like rampant bouts of ice causing his breath fog to rise with each sip.
"All is peaceful?"
Athos turned finding Aramis treading toward him, a smile etched upon his lips in greeting. Aramis' friendly tone nothing unusual. Athos replied, "Yes. It will be a good day", without returning the cheerful gesture of a simple smile. Atho's stoic demeanor also nothing unusual.
"For some it will be a grand day." Aramis beamed, pouncing up to sit on a crenel.
"For who?"
"Simon Lerfore! He has bid on Noelle and triumphed."
"Noelle?" Athos knew exactly who Aramis meant. Her image had been creeping in his mind since he had laid eyes upon her.
"The defiant little vixen you had the pleasure of escorting off to a sentence behind bars until her father managed to secure her a betrothal."
A sudden pain sliced Athos' gut. Being a master at containing his emotions, he neglected to wince and said with an even voice. "It was anything but a pleasure. She is a scornful wench with a sharp tongue and no respect for men. And Simon Lerfore? He is a Bourgeoisie. Why would he disgrace his family by wedding the daughter of a lowly blacksmith? Surely she hails no dowry. She has nothing to offer him."
"A disgrace?" Aramis nudged Athos. When Athos did not catch on, he slapped him playfully on the back. "Since when it is deemed disgraceful to marry a beautiful woman? The dowry is her." Still Athos did not acknowledge the jest. "Come on, Athos, you have to admit she is fair!"
Fair wasn't the word for it. More like divine, but Athos kept his mental reply to himself. Instead he said, "Well she will not be pleasing to the eye after time by Lerfore's side."
Aramis hopped down. "Why is that?" He asked, shoulders crunching in questioning.
"He is known for hard hands when it comes to the weaker sex."
"Aw, no...Poor little thing. I hate to hear such a cruel fate awaits her."
"Maybe it is what she needs to correct her disrespectful treatment of men." Athos pronounced in a low voice as he turned to abandon Aramis to the chill of the wind.
Aramis halted his retreat by placing a hand upon his shoulder. "You do not mean that."
Athos sighed, but did not turn to face Aramis. "You are right. I did not mean it." He replied before strolling away to perform morning duties. Noelle was not his chore to protect, but the thought of her under the hand of a brute like Lerfore caused his belly to churn.
"Athos!" Captain Terville called as he entered the training yard.
Athos replaced his blade, nodded to his opponent, and answered his superior. "Yes, captain?"
"I have a mission for you. The blacksmith's daughter has fled defying the king's order to wed. I bid you to seek her out. She escaped through a window while supposedly grooming for ceremony. She stole a horse and made her way into Foret Domaniale."
Athos smirked, not at all surprised. "I shall return her to the altar before the priest even realizes she is missing."
"Do not be so cocksure of yourself. This is not her first flight and she is an expert equestrian."
"Then I shall leave at once."