Evening My Lovelies
Well, this chapter ended up turning out completely different to what I had originally planned but I kinda love it :)
I'm hoping you wont hate the little moment Corinne has near the end of this chapter but I felt it needed to happen.
Notes On Reviews:
GoGirl212: Thanks for the review - I originally had no plans to have Corbett/Corinne together but I'm quite liking the paring at the moment. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh D'Art would definitely be out for blood if he was able to go for it. I'm all for a romance blossoming between the two but I'm kinda just letting my muse run with whatever it wants. Enjoy the new chapter! x
pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Ah I couldn't kill Maria, too much has happened to poor D'Art to have that happen to him too. We're moving onto addressing the arm thing in the next chapter or two. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh I picture him with a six-pack too :D (its a very nice mental image lol) Oh that kiss definitely woke him up and we'll be seeing a bit of the aftermath of the kiss today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Issai: Thanks for the review - Couldn't resist the kiss so I'm glad you liked it, I'm really enjoying writing Corbett at the moment hence his bigger part. Corinne can always sob in D'Artagnan's arms :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad your liking Corbett/Corinne. I have a vague plan as to where they are going but at the moment I'm just letting my muse run with it. We'll be moving onto the whole D'Art thing very soon. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Stargirl11 (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you're liking the story so far. Enjoy the new chapter! x
f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Well he didn't really deserve much else :) Neither Corinne nor D'Art can really handle much more hence why Maria lives :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Yeah no more bad news for our D'Art... at least not for a chapter or two... well unless you count what happens today. Enjoy the new chapter! x
MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Great minds think alike it seems :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yeah, couldn't kill her off :) Antoine couldn't be trusted to stay in the garrison after what he did. I felt bad making Porthos have to break the news to D'Art but the pup needed to know. I have a vague plan for Corinne & Corbett but for the time being I'm just letting my muse run with it :) Enjoy the new chapter! x
KarenF (Guest): Thanks for the review - I have a cute, if somewhat vague plan for what's going to happen to Corrine/Corbett but at the moment I'm letting my muse run with it. Athos and Aramis will be in today's chapter briefly but we'll be seeing more of them tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x
Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - I love sleepy D'Art, he's just plain adorable XD Yeah D'Art would never agree to be carried but figured Porthos had to ask. D'Art just had several cute moments in that chapter but I loved writing the big-brotherly side of him. Corbett was fantastic to write in that chapter and I couldn't resist the kiss so I'm glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x
As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading
Love you all!
Enjoy!
xxx
Chapter Sixty-Eight: Corinne
Corinne was the first of the pair to react, stumbling backwards with an audible squeak as her hand instinctively rose so her fingers ghosted across her lip, a bright pink tinge growing ever deeper and present on her cheeks.
"I…I…I'm sorry," squeaked the young woman in obvious embarrassment and before Corbett could break free of his surprise to actually offer some sort of response she was rushing out of the room, the action causing the musketeer to chuckle brightly as his own fingers rose to ghost across his lips, the memory of how it felt to have hers pressed against his still at the forefront of his mind.
"Are you okay Rinny?" asked D'Artagnan worriedly when the woman finally made her way to Maria's infirmary room some time later.
"…I'm fine, just needed a minute," smiled Corinne, hoping her cousin wouldn't press the issue as she really didn't want to explain that she had waited almost ten minutes to come, not because of the situation with Maria but because she needed to calm her beating heart and cool the furious blush on her cheeks.
Thankfully D'Artagnan accepted the explanation of what it was and did not press further, his attention slipping back over to the sleeping woman.
"Captain Treville's gone to see the King," he explained, his voice thick with emotion as he found himself unable to look Corinne in the eye. "He wants to bring Antoine's trial up to tomorrow."
"Oh."
Silence followed D'Artagnan's words as both Gascon's struggled with the idea of seeing a man they had both counted as family die. D'Artagnan knew he should be glad Antoine was going to be punished, he had, after all, caused a lot of pain for a lot of people and could even be held to blame for the situation he was currently in with the state of his arm… But even through all that there was a small part of him that was unsure if he could stomach seeing the man die, he had, after all, been family once.
Corinne, he imagined, was in a similar mindset to him, only much worse as instead of Antoine being a cold and almost intimidating uncle that never showed any affection, he was her father. He was the man who had raised her, tended to her when she was ill and soothed her when she was scared or hurt. While she did spend a lot of time with Alexandre, D'Artagnan's father, the man would never be able to replace Antoine in her heart.
"…You going to be okay?" he asked quietly, his hand moving to take hers, offering it a small squeeze of reassurance that made her smile slightly.
"Have no choice," she responded a few moments later. "He's hurt too many people to be allowed to live. I know how this will end for him, it's just…"
D'Artagnan squeezed her hand again before pulling her tight to his chest, "I know," he whispered as he rested his head on hers, both content in taking comfort from each other while they waited for news.
"You had better have a damn good reason for the hour of this visit Treville," snarled King Louis as he stormed into his office, followed quickly by both Treville and Queen Anne, the latter looking significantly more awake than her husband.
"What is the nature of this visit Captain?" asked Anne when it became very clear Louis was about to go on a rant about being woken up early to deal with whatever was going on.
"Antoine D'Artagnan Your Grace," answered Treville as he fought to reign in his anger at the situation.
"Your musketeer's uncle? The one you have in your cells?"
"Had, Your Grace," corrected Treville with a grimace. "He managed to escape our cells but was apprehended when he tried to escape the garrison with his daughter, who was an unwilling participant in the whole thing. He seriously injured Maria, a survivor from Lupiac who had been staying with the younger woman since the attack."
Queen Anne gasped, her hand flying to her mouth, though to everyone's surprise it was Louis who responded first.
"The woman? Maria?"
"Lives only because of the quick actions of both mademoiselle Corinne and one of my musketeers who was first on the scene when he heard their screams."
"That is good news," sighed Anne, relief obvious in her voice.
Treville nodded at her, a soft smile on his lips that became harder and more serious as he turned back to Louis. "I had Porthos bring him to the bastille and I'm here to request a trial as soon as possible. My men, in particularly D'Artagnan, have suffered greatly because of Antoine's actions and I would have this settled so they can finally move on."
"We'll hold it at noon," stated Louis with a surprising amount of seriousness before he dismissed the Captain and returned to his chambers.
Breaking the news to D'Artagnan and Corinne was easier than he had expected it to be, especially considering the family connection, but both had simply nodded and promised to be there before returning to Maria, who had woken up minutes before Treville returned.
"Captain," called a voice and as he turned to face it Treville could see an exhausted Porthos walking quickly to catch up with him.
"Porthos," nodded the Captain, "I trust your tasks were successful?"
Porthos grinned, a slight dark look entering his eyes as he nodded, "Bastard's sitting pretty in the Bastille, waiting for the King to call his trial."
"Good. And how he got out? What did you learn of that?"
"One of the newer recruits was on guard. Antoine faked illness to get him to enter the cell and then he overpowered him and knocked him out. Given the absence of weapons on him when I found him, it's safe to say the ones Antoine used were his."
Treville sighed; relieved the guard wasn't another lost life in Antoine's wake. "The guard?"
"Embarrassed and suffering from a very minor concussion but other than that he's fine."
"Good… I spoke to the King; he's going to hold Antoine's trial this afternoon. No doubt D'Artagnan will need his brothers there so fill in Athos and Aramis and then get some rest. I will speak to Reynard and Pascal about letting the two of them out of their beds for the trial and its outcome."
"You ready for this?" asked Athos quietly as he moved to stand next to D'Artagnan. The younger man was so tense the answer was obvious but Athos watched with pride as the Gascon took a deep, steadying breath before nodding.
"Let's do this."
"Antoine D'Artagnan of Lupiac Gascony, you have been charged with the attempted murders of both Maria Dubois and Charles D'Artagnan as well as orchestrating the attack on the village of Lupiac by striking a deal with the slave trader Quentin. How do you plead?"
Knowing there was no way he was walking away from this alive Antoine allowed himself one final glance at his daughter, who was wrapped up in the protective embrace of her cousin while several musketeers stood protectively around them.
"Guilty Your Majesty," he admitted, ignoring the uproar his admission caused as he fought against the urge to look back at Corinne.
Louis nodded, his gaze hard as he stared down at the man before him. "The sentence for your crimes is to hang until dead. I will allow you some time to make your peace with God and your family, providing they wish to see you. The sentence will be carried out at dusk today… Dismissed."
D'Artagnan had flat out refused to visit his uncle, declaring that he had said all that needed to be said when he had confronted him and learned the truth of the attack.
The Gascon had then proceeded to storm out after being asked about it for the fifth time. Corinne moved to follow but was stopped when Athos placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We've got this."
"My Lady?" called a voice, startling Corinne out of her thoughts and causing a furious blush to rush to her cheeks.
"Monsieur Corbett," she stammered, nodding in greeting to the man, who she was pleased to see, was sporting a light blush of his own.
"Captain Treville mentioned you wanted to see your father? I can escort you if you'd like."
A soft smile tugged at her lips then, even despite the situation and she nodded once. "I would greatly appreciate it, many thanks."
Gently taking her hand and placing it in the crook of his arm he offered her a small smile before leading her to where her father was being held in preparation for the execution.
Seeing her nerves when they arrived at the door he gently squeezed her hand. "Would you like me to wait outside or…"
Corinne shook her head; slightly surprised he would offer to come in with her. "I need to do this alone."
Corbett nodded understandingly. "As you wish my lady, I'll be here when you're done."
"…Hello Father."
Antoine's head shot up at the sound of his daughter's voice. He had hoped she would come and see him, he had actually prayed for the first time since his wife had passed that she would and it seemed that God was in a merciful enough mood as she stood, albeit nervously, in front of him.
"Corinne," he whispered, his love for her clear in the way he said her name and it made tears spring from her eyes.
"I hate you for this," she said quietly, her words muffled as she tried to wipe away her tears but he heard her clear as day.
"I know," he responded, his voice just as quiet.
"…I… I don't want to see you die," she admitted several minutes later, knowing that it was coming to the end of the time she was allotted to see him and so she had to get it out now.
Despite how understanding D'Artagnan tried to be, he had never held any warm feelings for Antoine and his own father had died through no fault of his own.
She desperately wanted to shut everything off, to ignore the part of her that was his daughter and only view him with the ice cold hardness he deserved, but she couldn't and she didn't like how that made her feel.
"You'll be okay Corinne," stated Antoine after a moment, his own eyes looking suspiciously watery as he took in his daughter's face for possibly the last time.
"I may not like him but Charles will not let you come to harm, you'll be safe with him. Find love and live a happy life, forget all about me and move on."
Corinne's tears were falling faster now and just as she heard Corbett knock on the door telling her it was time to go she allowed herself to give in to the traitorous part of her and launched herself into her father's arms, not commenting as he gripped her excessively tight and buried his face in her hair.
"Go," he said softly a moment or two later as he pulled away, his eyes never leaving her face as she tearfully nodded and moved to leave.
Hours later as he waited for the noose to be slipped over his neck, Antoine's eyes frantically searched the crowd before settling firmly on his daughter's face. He was unsurprised to see her nestled into her cousin's side, though he was slightly surprised to see the musketeer from earlier standing protectively by her side, his eyes flickering to her every few moments with clear concern.
He brushed away his surprise as he felt the heavy rope sliding over his head. Wanting the last thing he saw to be the one thing he most dearly cherished Antoine's eyes returned to Corinne's face and there they remained until the lever was pulled and the ground gave way beneath him.