Hi. Shorter chapter today but we are moving between different scenes so I hope it runs ok.

If you've been wondering where Treville is, we will see him briefly today but he will have a bigger role later on. :)

Hope you enjoy it. :)

Chapter Ten

The musketeers finally emerged from the stream onto the bank after thoroughly tiring themselves out but all were more relaxed than they had been for a very long time and enjoying the warm sunshine.

'Right. Shall we go back to the house,' D'Artagnan asked having scooped up his clothes and weapons, but only received mocking smiles in return as the others lay down on the bank. 'What?'

'Well if you want to go back to the house….then go,' smiled Aramis. 'But even I'm not so bold to been seen in my see-through braies,' he finished chuckling as Porthos laughed and Athos smirked.

'Ah. Hadn't thought of that,' replied the Gascon, finally noticing the state of his attire.

'Clearly,' said Athos dryly.

D'Artagnan lay down in between Athos and Aramis looking slightly embarrassed that he hadn't noticed how much of him was on show, in fact how much of all of them was on show. With the warmth of the day the musketeers were sure they would dry off relatively quickly and all secretly hoped that no-one spotted them. They watched the white clouds dance across the blue sky as the sun started getting lower.

'I wonder how the captain's doing?' D'Artagnan wondered.

'Clearly, he is upset at his unjust demotion,' Athos remarked.

'Rochefort was surely behind it, of that we can be certain,' added Aramis.

'He's got a lot on his mind and some well stashed secrets,' said Porthos with an air of mystery, but he didn't elaborate.

'I don't envy him. He is still expected to run the garrison until a new captain is named, yet he is no longer afforded the title he wore so proudly in service of the king,' Athos stated simply.

'He didn't do anything wrong and has always been loyal to Louis, but he gets demoted by a king who couldn't see the truth if it smacked in the face sometimes,' Aramis shook his head in frustration.

'Careful Aramis, that could be called treason,' warned Porthos with a glint in his eyes.

'Only if you tell,' Aramis replied with a grin.

'No matter what, he will always be our captain though,' said D'Artagnan purposefully, as the others nodded in agreement.

Treville sat in his office finalising the musketeers who would accompany the king to Dreux. Although he was no longer captain, someone still had to see that the garrison was run properly and he had the distinct impression that none of the men thought any less of him without his title and most still thought of him as their captain. As much as it was comforting, it was also making it difficult to adjust to his new position which would become even harder when a new captain was assigned. Maybe that would be the time for change and Treville mused that he may leave Paris and perhaps France altogether.

Treville sighed as looked over the list again. Joubert, Michel, Boudain, Duval, Fabian and a new recruit Leclerc. At times like this he missed the inseparables and would have felt much happier with them guarding the king, but they had earned their reward as Treville was sure Fortier would have convinced them to stay an extra day at his estate. He hoped they were indeed enjoying their 'day off' and smiled at the thought of his best men relaxing where no-one could hurt them.

Rochefort watched as the duke's carriage disappeared into the distance with the promise that 20 of his finest men would travel to the wood that surrounded the road from Paris to Dreux in La Queue-les-Yvelines, ready to ambush the royal party. Renard was at his side and assured Rochefort that they would arrive by Thursday evening, ready for the attack on Friday, as long as Renard believed that Rochefort's plan would work.

'We will travel out to the site tomorrow morning ahead of the queen,' Rochefort informed Renard. 'I must be back at the Louvre by the evening and everything will be in place.'

'How are you goin' to convince the king that the queen should go instead?' asked Renard.

'That won't be a problem. Trust me.'

Anne quietly waited for Constance to answer her but soon realised that she wasn't going to get an answer from the woman seated beside her.

'Constance?' she tried again. 'Are you alright?'

Finally Constance turned to look at Anne, 'I'm sorry Your Majesty, what did you say?' asked Constance with a muffled voice.

'I asked if you were alright but clearly you're not,' Anne said raising her voice and smiling sweetly.

'I'm fine,' came the muffled reply.

Anne took Constance's hands in hers and said, 'Go and get some rest. You need it. You'll only make yourself worse if you don't.'

'I will be ok. I can rest later.'

'Constance don't make me order you to rest,' Anne said with a stern yet warming smile.

Constance finally gave in, 'Thank you, Your Majesty,' and rose from her seat, curtsied and left the room with Anne watching after her.

Rochefort instructed Renard to find a place to sleep for the night and then join him in his study after dawn as they would need to get to the La Queue-les-Yvelines wood as soon as possible. Rochefort now needed to find a way to bring up the meeting in Dreux and convince the king that the queen should go instead.

He didn't have to think for very long as a messenger announced that the king wished to meet him immediately. When Rochefort arrived Louis was pacing in his chambers looking thoroughly distracted.

'Ah Rochefort,' exclaimed Louis, having noticed the man's arrival before it could be announced. 'I need your advice about something.' Rochefort waited silently, anticipating that Louis' dilemma would indeed be about the trip to Dreux.

'This trip to meet the Duke of Mayenne in Dreux. How important do you think it is that I go?' asked the king.

Rochefort smiled internally. This was going to be easier than he'd thought.

'Sire, the Duke of Mayenne is an important ally and we need his support to allow trade to move through his lands freely. He will certainly see it as a slight if he is not greeted by royalty,' Rochefort said, hoping that the king may come to the conclusion he wanted without too much prodding.

'I know. I know. But the man is so arrogant and thinks he is my equal. I am the KING!' Louis huffed and sat down on the bed looking dejected.

'As much as you dislike the man sire, he is still powerful and offending him could cause many problems,' Rochefort said with slight annoyance in his voice at the childish behaviour of the king. Clearly Louis was not going to come up with the needed answer by himself as the king now lounged on his bed sulking like a child.

'But I don't want to go!' Louis answered with a childlike whine. Rochefort fought hard to stop himself rolling his eyes. He was going to have to make the suggestion himself.

'Then a compromise perhaps. What if the queen were to go in your place? Surely the duke could not be offended by the presence of the queen?' Rochefort watched Louis closely and could see the man starting to smile broadly and knew he had what he came for.

'Excellent idea Rochefort. The duke cannot be unhappy with the queen being there,' said Louis, now with a large grin on his face. 'All the relevant documents are signed and all he need do it sign them.'

'We could say that Your Majesty regrets his inability to meet but he had to deal with pressing state matters,' Rochefort suggested.

'You are amazing Rochefort,' Louis beamed. 'I suppose you better go and tell Anne of my decision,' Louis waved his hand to dismiss Rochefort who bowed before leaving.

Queen Anne was in her chambers reading when she heard a knock at the door. 'Come in,' she answered. 'Rochefort. What you brings you here?'

'Your Majesty,' Rochefort started formally with a bow, 'the king has decided that he cannot travel to Dreux due to state business.'

'You're not serious?'

'He has decided that Your Majesty should travel instead.' Rochefort looked up to see the look of shock on Queen Anne's face which quickly turned to anger.

'He cannot do this,' and Anne quickly headed towards her husband's chambers with Rochefort in tow.

She opened the doors with force and glared directly at her husband. 'Ah, Anne. You seem unhappy?' he questioned

'Louis, the Duke of Mayenne may see this as a slight if you are not there. This could cause many problems including the supply food to Paris.'

'How can he slighted by the presence of my queen? Besides I have things to do here….state business.'

'And what business would that be? Anne's tone was cold and full of anger at her husband neglecting his duty.

'Things that only concern kings! You have no right to question me. I am the king and I have made my decision. You will travel to Dreux in my place.' Anne turned on her heel and stalked out of the room breathing heavily and shaking with anger at her husband.

'Are you alright, Your Majesty,' said Rochefort who startled Anne and she regained her composure.

'If my husband won't do his duty then I must,' she responded defiantly. 'Have a message sent to Captain Treville. I must see him immediately.' Anne walked purposefully towards her chambers while Rochefort congratulated himself on securing the first part of his plan.