Hi. This chapter is a lot of different scenes so I hope it flows ok. Please be aware as there is a fight scene that there are descriptions of dead bodies but I don't think they are too graphic. Also there is a bit of swearing.

Hope you enjoy it. :)

Chapter Twenty-Four

'They're here,' Renard announced grinning in the doorway. Anne turned away from the man and felt a tide of relief but she still knew that much could happen. Tréville too felt his worry ebb a little but he also knew how crucial the next few minutes could be.

'Soon you'll be going home, Your Majesty,' Renard turned from the room and the door was bolted again.

'It's nearly over,' Tréville said quietly. His voice was reassuring for Anne as she hoped that her ordeal would not become even worse.

'How long do you think it will take?' she asked as she moved even closer to Tréville.

'Hopefully not long. Depends on who's negotiating,' he hoped it wouldn't last much longer for both their sakes.

The musketeers and the red guards tied up the horses at the nearby treeline and the red guards kept hold of the prisoners who made no attempt to escape. Athos gathered the men together.

'They have the advantage inside the structure and on slightly higher ground. We will have to go up to the level of the shack,' he said quietly. No-one disputed this. 'We will form a single line so that we have the angles of the shack covered. It will also mean that they can't attempt to take more than one of us out with one shot.'

'What do you want us to do?' Rochefort was not happy that Athos was in charge but he knew that angering the man now would not be wise having already been punched. His eye was really starting to hurt.

'I want you and the red guards to wait half-way down the slope. I will indicate when to bring the prisoners forward. Rochefort, I want you to remain half-way down the hill so that once the Queen is released you can take her to the treeline and go back to the horses under the cover of the trees,' Athos was speaking calmly and without aggression. He didn't want any excuse from the red guards or Rochefort to defy him because of petulance. 'When we attack the red guards will be our buffer. Understood?' Everyone nodded. Rochefort was grateful that Athos had listened to him and had entrusted the Queen's safety to him. He could be alone with his Anne. Comforting her after her ordeal. She would surely warm to his touch.

'What's the formation?' Porthos asked.

'Aramis, Porthos, D'Artagnan and I will take the four places in the middle. Gabriel and Petit you will take the right. Allard and Durand you will take the left.' The musketeers nodded. 'No-one attacks without my indication and no-one else speaks. Is that clear?'

'Yes,' came the quiet reply from everyone. Athos looked at Rochefort who also nodded.

'Let's get in position,' Athos ordered.

'Renard,' Simon moved towards the scarred man. 'You need to see this.' Simon led Renard upstairs to the boarded up window where a musket was set ready to cause confusion for the escape.

'What?' Renard snapped.

'They're here,' Simon remarked.

'Obviously,' Renard retorted clearly thinking Simon had lost his mind.

'No. THEY are here,' Simon pointed through on of the slits and to his horror Renard recognised the men that they had attacked days earlier. The majority of the rescue party were musketeers and those musketeers were there. Renard stood transfixed as he saw Aramis among them. He felt a surge of anger towards the man and wished to charge out there and strike the man down now.

'You have to leave him,' Simon pulled Renard back reading his mind.

'But he is right there!' Renard was truly flustered.

'Remember the plan,' Simon held Renard by his shoulders. 'You will get you revenge. We will be torn apart if we try to take him now.' Renard wilted as he tried to control his anger. He hadn't expected any musketeers let alone those musketeers.

'Right. Everyone know their position? We do not attack or make any threatening moves,' Athos ordered. 'The Queen's safety is paramount so don't let emotions influence your actions,' Athos gave a quick glance to Aramis who nodded back, indicating that he understood.

The musketeers moved up the hill into position while the red guards held the prisoners half-way down the slope. Rochefort stayed with them.

The shack was on a plateau so the musketeers stayed as close to the edge as possible, trying to remain unthreatening.

Athos could feel his stomach churning as he realised that should anything go wrong, he would be to blame and his brothers would not be able to shield him from the wrath of King Louis.

Renard tried to calm himself. He hadn't expected to be face to face with Aramis and Rochefort had clearly been wrong when he assumed that the four musketeers wouldn't be there. Renard knew this could become complicated now as it was originally arranged for Rochefort just to hand the prisoners over quietly but Athos may have other ideas. He took a deep breath and looked outside the window. The musketeers were lining up with those four in the centre. All weapons for now remained in their belts making it clear that they weren't about to attack. Yet.

Renard closed his eyes and brought himself under control when a thought occurred to him.

'Simon, Boucher,' called quietly. 'You mustn't let them see you.'

'Why?' Boucher asked looking confused.

'Shit,' Simon cursed. 'They saw us when we attacked. We can't allow any link between the two attacks.'

'Exactly,' Renard agreed. 'Get the escape route open. The musketeers will surely give chase.' Simon and Boucher left to make sure they could all escape.

'Take your positions,' he declared to his other men. Two men went up to the top floor while the other three remained around him.

Renard took a deep breath and opened the door. He could see the inseparables staring directly at him He was under no illusion that they were ready to kill. Renard knew he had to play this carefully. He couldn't see Rochefort and was quietly cursing the man as he had been led to believe that this exchange would not be dangerous.

'Hand over the prisoners,' Renard declared in his most authoritative voice, although he knew that it was unlikely to sway the musketeers.

'Where are the Queen and Captain Tréville?' Athos replied calmly, his eyes set on Renard. Renard could feel their glare and a nervous shiver ran through him.

'The prisoners,' Renard demanded.

'The Queen and Captain Tréville,' Athos replied.

'How do I know you have the prisoners?' Renard spat.

'How do we know you have the Queen and the Captain?' Athos' tone and face were impassive as if he were merely making light conversation. Renard could feel his anger growing and the musketeers could see it.

Renard turned and shut the door. This was not going to plan. He had already lost enough men and clearly he was likely to lose more.

He moved over to the cell and unbolted the door.

Anne jumped as she heard the door open and Renard walked in.

'Time to go, Your Majesty,' he offered her a hand to pull her to her feet. Reluctantly she accepted.

'Captain Tréville comes with us,' she said coldly as Renard turned to leave.

'I'm afraid not,' he snapped. Anne was going to protest but Tréville got there first.

'Go Majesty. I will be fine,' he smiled to her. Anne didn't want to leave her friend behind but she knew that she must. She gave him one last look before she was led out of the room.

'Wait here,' he said with quite frustration as she was stopped with one man guarding her. Renard had always been so confident but his frustration was clear and Anne couldn't help but think that things weren't going according to plan for him.

Renard opened the door again. Athos' face was the first he saw. Impassive as ever.

'I warn you musketeers I have many men ready to kill you all,' he warned.

Anne manged to hide her scoff. He only had eight men, including himself. Suddenly she wondered whether he had reinforcements but the shack was small so she thought that unlikely.

'Show me the prisoners,' he demanded.

'Show us the Queen and Captain Tréville,' Athos countered.

Anne felt herself freeze. She knew that voice but it was impossible. They couldn't be here. Tréville had been certain that they wouldn't be back. Her mind was playing tricks on her. She was hearing what she wanted to hear.

Athos considered for moment as he took in the sight of Renard. The man was clearly angry and frustrated which made him unpredictable and dangerous. Athos knew he had to play this carefully.

'Bring up the prisoners,' he called to the red guards behind them.

There was Athos' voice again. She hadn't misheard this time. That was clearly Athos voice. Hope flooded Anne. If her musketeers were here she would surely be safe soon.

Renard watched as the bound prisoners were brought in front to the musketeers. The three men were men he had known since he was a child. Friends of his brother. Renard looked to Aramis, the man who had cost him his brother. Soon he would have his revenge but now he felt calmer. He had held up his end of the bargain that he struck with Rochefort and he hoped the Comte would keep up his end. He may soon have justice for his brother.

'The Queen,' Athos demanded.

Renard moved back and grabbed Anne by the arm and pulled her outside. She blinked as the bright sun hurt her eyes. Once her eyes had adjusted she saw them stood in a line with expressions of anger on their faces. They were flanked by musketeers that Anne didn't know by name but to be honest she didn't care about them. She only had eyes for her four and Aramis is particular.

Athos and Aramis were stood in the centre and covering the path. D'Artagnan was stood next to Athos with Porthos next to Aramis.

'Where is Captain Tréville?' Athos asked.

'He's inside,' Renard snarled. Athos caught Anne's eye and she nodded slightly. 'You can have him once we have our friends.'

Athos wanted to push for Tréville's release but he knew that getting the Queen to safety was imperative. Regretfully he nodded.

'Move,' Renard pushed her forward slightly and the prisoners started to move. Athos felt Aramis stir next to him but the marksman didn't move again.

Anne walked slowly towards her musketeers with her head held high, heading straight for the small gap between Athos and Aramis. The prisoners walked equally as slowly as they approached the shack, still with their hands bound. Athos and Aramis noticed Anne's direction and both moved slightly to the side so she could pass through.

She walked between the musketeers and found herself touching Aramis' waist to steady herself as stood behind him. She was trembling slightly and Aramis could feel it. He said nothing but knowing she was ok allowed him to finally focus on the task at hand.

BANG! BANG! Two shots were fired from the upstairs windows and everyone ducked although it quickly became clear that no-one was injured. Aramis reacted first and fired shots towards the two boarded up windows and a groan indicated he had hit at least one of the targets.

Anne cowered behind Aramis for protection as he fired towards the windows. Suddenly she felt hands on her arms pulling her down the hill. But she didn't want to go down the hill. She wanted to stay with her musketeers. She wanted to stay with Aramis. The hands were too strong as she tried to fight. He was saying something to her but she didn't care. She wanted those she could trust around her and the hands were pulling her away them.

Renard ran as fast as he could but his foot was slowing him down. The pain was excruciating but if he wanted to live he would have to bear it. The prisoners ran with him slowed by their bound hands.

'RUN!' he shouted to Simon and Boucher who had the door open ready for the escape. They started to run down the tunnel with Simon holding the lamp which was swinging violently from his arm. None of them could look back as they heard fighting behind them.

The musketeers charged towards the shack with their rapiers drawn as well as the loaded pistols they still carried. Only Aramis' pistols were spent.

'Gabriel, Petit. Go round to the right and cut them off at the back. Durand, Allard you do the same on the left,' Athos ordered and the men departed.

Athos entered the shack first and immediately struck a man with a bleeding shoulder. Aramis had hit one after all. The man collapsed quickly as D'Artagnan moved up the stairs. He first checked the left room but it was empty. As he made to enter the right room he could smell blood and a lot of it. He cautiously checked the room to find a man dead on the floor. Aramis had hit the second man as well but this time the bullet had hit the man's throat and blood had spilled everywhere.

D'Artagnan shook his head in amusement. 'How does he do it?' he muttered under his breath before turning and racing back down the stairs.

The musketeers could hear running footsteps below them.

'The cellar,' Athos shouted and made towards the wooden door at the end of the hall.

'Captain?' Porthos called.

'In here!' Tréville's voice was muffled but they realised it came from behind a bolted door.

'Go. I'll see to the Captain,' Aramis said as he pulled the bolt across and watched the other three disappear. He opened the door to find Tréville smiling in relief.

'Captain.'

'Aramis,' Tréville couldn't believe his eyes.

Anne was still pulling against the strong hands that held her. It was only when she reached the treeline that she realised that she had been taken to safety.

She turned and to her surprise she saw Rochefort holding her. His eyes alive with concern.

'It's ok, Your Majesty,' he was trying to comfort her as best he could. He was rather surprised how hard she had fought to get away from him. 'You're safe. I've got you.'

He was practically repeating the words Aramis had used that day at the Bastille but Aramis' words had calmed her and made her feel safe whereas Rochefort's had little effect. She couldn't calm herself but she did stop fighting.

Rochefort couldn't understand Anne's reaction. Why was she not comforted by him? Maybe she was still in shock. He wanted to hold her close to him as he had imagined the situation would turn out but he was afraid that in her emotional state she may reject him.

Anne took some deep breaths and finally stepped back from Rochefort, much to his disappointment.

'Forgive me Rochefort. I was in a state of panic,' she had regained her queenly mask and composure but inside she was practically screaming.

'Forgive me for being forceful Majesty. I merely wished to remove you from danger as quickly as possible,' he bowed to her but did not stop looking at her.

'You were very brave to come here,' she smiled weakly but Rochefort's heart was joyful. She thought he was brave.

Anne turned to see the carriage and beyond it the horses. She had always loved horses when she was a girl but rarely got to spend time with the animals now. She moved towards them to see if they could bring her the comfort she desperately needed.

Athos, Porthos and D'Artagnan moved into the cellar where it was dark and damp. As their eyes started to adjust to the lamp-light Porthos felt a blow to his shoulder and he yelled out in pain. Athos and D'Artagnan turned to help but Porthos now had the man by the throat. The man was already sputtering in Porthos' grasp.

Athos turned and tapped D'Artagnan on the shoulder as he registered the tunnel that was obviously the escape route. Porthos had seen it too.

'Go. I can handle this,' he declared as Athos and D'Artagnan could see a light retreating away from them and they started to chase after it.

While Porthos was momentarily distracted the man kicked hard and connected with Porthos' shin making the big man buckle. The man managed to scramble away and retrieve his sword but Porthos had his rapier ready. In the dim light the swords clashed and clanged with each man unable to see the other clearly. Porthos had a greater reach and soon it told as Porthos nicked the man's thigh causing the man to groan. With movement now greatly reduced Porthos pounced and struck the man's stomach. Porthos pulled the man closer impaling him further as he watched the life drain out of his opponent's eyes. Porthos could still see a little light in the tunnel, grabbed the lamp and chased after his friends.

Aramis could see Tréville holding his side and Tréville could see the marksman looking.

'Outside,' was all Tréville said as he exited the room. 'Is the Queen safe?'

'Rochefort has taken her to safety,' Aramis responded but he was eager to see Anne for himself.

'Rochefort?'

'Louis insisted that the Musketeers and the Red Guard should work together,' Aramis sighed as Tréville made a derisive noise. 'Better together than not at all. If Rochefort had his way it would only be the Red Guard. We have Athos to thank for that,' he explained.

Aramis was wary at exiting but only saw the red guards outside. Tréville followed as Aramis told the red guards to wait for Athos. They made their way down the hill and towards the carriage.

Athos and D'Artagnan found themselves running down the tunnel chasing a small light in the distance. They could hear footsteps as well as their own. They were catching their prey. The tunnel was damp and humid and both men were soon struggling to breathe but both pushed on regardless.

They rounded a corner and Athos was hit in the stomach and he doubled over in a groan of pain. The man went to strike again but D'Artagnan got there first with an uppercut to the jaw. The man's head snapped back and hit the wall of the tunnel.

Footsteps started to retreat as D'Artagnan saw another man run from the scene.

'Go after him!' Athos roared and D'Artagnan obeyed.

D'Artagnan sprinted as fast as he could as the tunnel started to rise. He knew he had little time as the man would soon reach the surface.

Renard, Simon, Boucher and the prisoners arrived at the horses tethered outside the exit of the tunnel. Renard's foot was throbbing painfully and he let out a string of curses. He didn't really know how he had managed to run at all. Before he knew it Simon had thrown him onto his horse and he gripped the reins. Simon and Boucher were also mounted as they heard noises from the tunnel. The prisoners' hands now were free and they chose horses for themselves.

'We have to go,' Renard stated urgently.

'We can't leave them,' Boucher retorted in despair.

'Most of them are probably dead. We will be dead or captured if we stay,' Renard said with anger clear in his voice as he pulled on his horse's reins and started to ride away and the prisoners followed.

'He's right,' Simon said ruefully. 'They'll catch us up if they escape,' he too started to ride and with a last forlorn look Boucher followed them.

D'Artagnan kept running. He had to keep running. He was getting closer. He was sure of it.

The tunnel was getting lighter and D'Artagnan could see the exit and saw a pair of feet disappear above. He started to climb out of the tunnel and his eyes were blinded by the light. He blinked rapidly trying to clear his vision and take in his surroundings. He was surrounded by trees and could hear horses.

He quickly saw the man as he mounted his horse. D'Artagnan kept calm remembering the countless lessons he'd had with Aramis. He aimed and fired, hitting his target as the man fell from his horse with a loud thud. As D'Artagnan moved over to the man he could clearly see other tracks suggesting that other horses had been tied up here and D'Artagnan cursed quietly as he realised that they were long gone.

'Who do you work for?' D'Artagnan asked the man on the ground who was already bleeding from his mouth.

'Your mother?' he grinned back before coughing violently and spewing blood. D'Artagnan realised he had hit the man's lung.

'Who do you work for?' D'Artagnan grabbed the man's doublet as he knew time was short and they needed to know who was behind this.

'Never. Pretty boy,' the man started to cough and wheeze before falling still after a few minutes.

Athos was sat on the tunnel floor in darkness trying to control his breathing. He was only winded but the shock of the blow was still registering. He could hear running footsteps coming from the shack. His tried to get up and stumbled slightly as he found his feet. The footsteps got louder and Athos relaxed. Porthos' footsteps were recognisable anywhere.

'Porthos,' he called so he wouldn't startle the man as he rounded the corner.

'Athos,' Porthos looked concerned towards his friend. 'Are you ok?'

'Just winded.'

'Him?' Porthos nodded towards the man lying on the ground.

'Dead. D'Artagnan,' he quirked a smile at Porthos who chuckled back.

'Shall we?' Porthos started to walk further down the tunnel as Athos followed.

They reached the exit and climbed out to bright sunshine blurring their vision after being in the dark tunnel for so long. They found D'Artagnan knelt by a body and walked over.

D'Artagnan rose to greet them. 'At least four got away from the tracks. Maybe more,' he said despondently.

'Shit,' Athos muttered while Porthos muttered something inaudible but likely along the same lines. 'Are you ok?'

'I'm fine. How about you?' D'Artagnan asked with concern clear in his voice.

'Just winded. The other man is dead,' Athos replied.

'Did he say anything?' Porthos asked pointing at the man in the ground.

'Nothing that helps us,' D'Artagnan sighed.

'Great,' Athos sighed with his hands on his hips. 'I get to tell the King that we failed to capture the men responsible for kidnapping his wife.'

A/N: I know that was a little bit choppy but I hope it made sense. :)