Love is the Most Selfish of All the Passions

Chapter Three

Queen Anne walked hastily through the corridors of the palace in search of Captain Treville, whom she had heard had just sent his best musketeers out on another mission for her husband, Louis. Thankfully, she found him just as he was leaving and as soon as she knew that they were alone and could talk freely, she spoke up first asking, "I understand that you have sent Aramis, Athos, Porthos, and d'Artagnan out on a task for the King?"

Treville looked at her in confusion as he answered, "Yes, Your Majesty. They left not an hour ago. Is there something the matter?"

"No, I… I suppose not," she replied nervously. "Is this mission dangerous?"

"Not any more dangerous than the rest," the captain responded as he tried to sense what was really bothering her, not knowing that she was really only worried about one man. "What is really bothering you, Your Highness?"

Anne looked him in the eyes as she asked again, "Do you suspect that Cardinal Richelieu has started whatever trouble your musketeers are riding off to find? After we've caught him in his treason, he will no doubt try to do something to harm them out of revenge and now that despicable Count de Rochefort has come back to Paris. He is just as evil. I fear the musketeers are riding into danger."

Captain Treville gently took her hand in his own and then answered, "Even if that is true, Your Majesty, my men can take care of themselves, I assure you. That is why they are the best. No matter what trouble they fall into, they always seem to be able to get out of it just fine."

"I do hope you're right," she replied with less confidence than Treville showed. "Thank you, Captain."

"I am glad to be of assistance to you, as always," he responded sincerely. "Good day, Your Highness."

She curtsied before him and then turned and walked away, while Treville kept his eyes on her until she disappeared from sight. Queen Anne continued walking through the halls more slowly than before, but it wasn't long before she ran into Rochefort, who smiled at her and then bowed.

He was the first to speak as he said, "Good evening, Your Highness. It is wonderful to see you again, looking radiant as always and in such good health."

"Welcome home, Count Rochefort," she answered, not bothering to hide the contempt she felt for him. "I suspect your time away from Paris has been eventful."

"Indeed," he replied smugly. "I saw many things and fought many battles while I was out there. However, I was continuously longing for home."

Anne moved back as the Count started to move closer toward her, then she responded coldly, "Perhaps you should have thought about that before betraying the musketeers by murdering two of their own and nearly killing another. You are lucky that my husband has granted you a pardon. However, I suppose I ought to thank you for stopping an assassin's plot to kill Louis and myself. Thank you, Count Rochefort. Now, I am afraid that I must be going. I have somewhere I must be very soon. Good day."

Before she turned and began to walk away, he bowed before her once again and then watched her leave. He then turned and walked to the stable where he had put up his horse and began to prepare the animal to ride. The sun had begun to go down by the time Rochefort arrived in town where he was told he could find most of the Red Guards now under his command.

As he walked inside the tavern, he found a group of them as they were busy gambling, drinking, and wenching with the women working there. The Count stood there observing the scene before him for less than a minute when he pulled out his pistol from his holster he wore on his hip, then fired it in the air, causing everyone to suddenly stop what they doing and stare at the man standing before them. Those that had drinks in front of them quickly raised their glasses in the air and shouted hurrahs and other welcome greetings, as they were all happy to see the man again.

One of the men stood and moved to stand in front of him to shake his hand as he stated gleefully, "Captain! How good it is to have you back home."

"Indeed," the man answered curtly. "I am glad to see that Cardinal Richelieu has explained to all of you that I am your captain."

"Yes," the guard replied as he lifted a glass from the table behind him and then handed it to Rochefort so that he could join them. "It is why we're celebrating. Do you wish to join us?"

Count de Rochefort knocked the full glass from the soldier's hand, startling everyone in the room, and then said angrily, "No, I don't want to join you! I want all of you to sober up and prepare yourselves for a long and vigorous training session, except for the five best men among you. I have a special mission for you."

They all quickly stood up and shouted in unison, "Yes Sir!"

Another of the men walked toward him as he motioned for four others to follow and soon five men were standing in front of him, while the rest quickly shuffled out of the tavern and headed toward the arena where they practiced on the Count's orders. Slowly Rochefort walked down the line as he looked at them closely, then stopped and waited for one of them to speak again.

"We are the best of our Cardinal's regiment," the man who was captain before the Count arrived in Paris spoke arrogantly. "If you have something you need done, then give the orders."

"The Cardinal and I want you to go after the musketeers Captain Treville sent on the King's latest mission, though you must dress yourselves as bandits, who look as though they have come from the Court of Miracles," Rochefort responded smugly, as he looked forward to their task being completed. "Do whatever you must do to take the one they call Aramis alive and make him suffer before you kill him before the other musketeers' eyes; only Aramis. Gather other men and women from the neighboring cities to help you in your attack against them, for these musketeers will not allow their friend to be taken without putting up a hell of a fight. Are these orders understood?"

The same guard smiled and stated coldly, "If you wish for us to torture and then kill one of the four men who have been nothing but thorns in our sides since these musketeers have come to be, then we hear you loud and clear."

Count de Rochefort smiled as he said haughtily, "Good. Now go and do not fail me or you will pay with your lives. I am not as forgiving as your captains in the past as I believe some of you may recall. I have killed many men under my command and I do not grant second chances."