It was from the soldiers at the barracks that I heard my brother had gone to Lady Ninon's residence himself to search for Fleur alongside Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan. Part of me dreaded to think how an interaction between Athos and Lady Ninon might have unfolded, however the majority of me was amused to wonder whether or not my brother become tongue tied in the presence of the confident and imposing Comtesse. I had to know for myself. Therefore after all the work was done, I promptly returned to her residence, where I sought her out for myself.
There were many ladies still in her parlour, but upon seeing me enter, Lady Ninon promptly acknowledged my presence. "Twice in a single day? I am honoured, Madeleine. Have you finished your previous volume already?" She teased, taking up my hands in a familiar greeting as she looked to the book tucked under my arm, one of the latest I had borrowed from her library.
"Once I began I simply could not set it aside, I hope you do not mind that I have come to select another."
"Not at all, help yourself by all means." Spreading her hand to offer me the full choice of her library, I drew in the wonderful scent of leather and pages. "But I think it is not only for my books you have come back," the teasing tone remained in her voice, light and airy as she took the book from under my arm and walked with me to return it to its proper place. "I have finally met the flawlessly gallant and mysterious brother you so often speak of," there was a glimmer in her eyes like a reflection of the stars. "Now I recognise the resemblance between siblings."
"It has been noted before," I responded distractedly, already searching the shelves for my next book. "I hope he did not offend, as much as I am biased in his favour, I acknowledge that his manner is oftentimes rather blunt."
"He did rather insist upon searching my home for Fleur Baudin, but of course he found nothing." A sly smile caught my eye and I returned it in kind. "I have invited him to return this evening to dine with me. Perhaps you should join us." The casual remark came so unexpectedly that I stumbled when I moved towards another shelf, my hand flying to catch it to keep from tripping over and unceremoniously hitting the floor. I squeaked in shock.
"You asked my brother to dine?" Amusement continued to dance in her expression. "And he agreed?"
"Does this truly surprise you so? I have noticed your brother before at court but only now can put a name to a face. He is a handsome man, and I let my attraction be known. I see no reason why I cannot be forward with my interests," at this Lady Ninon began to glide away, tidying up books and stray pieces of paper as I dreamily followed, still trapped in amazement.
"I am only surprised that my brother agreed, he is usually…disinclined towards social functions."
"Then perhaps your presence will make him more comfortable," as much as the idea of sitting for an entire evening watching Lady Ninon tease my brother with her quick wits and eloquent manner, I deemed it more appropriate to decline. If my brother had accepted the invitation, then it could only mean that he too shared an interest in the comtesse. It was so beyond his usual character that I had no intention of interrupting their evening.
"I am grateful for the invitation, but I think my brother would rather enjoy your company to himself." Moving closer to Lady Ninon so that I could whisper, I nudged at her suggestively. "And you have my full permission to use any method you think necessary, but for the love of God, make that man smile." We giggled with one another, reverting back to girlhood to be so readily amused by the discussion of impending courtship. It was quiet and brief, but refreshing nonetheless.
"Then with your blessing, I shall continue my pursuit?"
"Indeed. In any case I shall be here, reading. If trouble arises or you require assistance, do not hesitate to send for me." Promising that she would keep this in mind, Lady Ninon and I attended to our own tasks. Mine was to find a new book. The challenge was to decide amongst the many hundreds in Lady Ninon's possession. Eventually I narrowed the selection down to three and simply brought them all to a comfortable seat and placed them upon the table, intending to begin with one and see how far I managed to go.
I did not notice the time fly away. The only time I looked up was when a maid came to fetch Lady Ninon to prepare for her dinner guest, the mention of it drawing my attention as it pertained to Athos. A quick glance saw Lady Ninon nodding her head to a woman who bore a head of intense black curls, something I was instantly envious of. The woman's back was turned to me so I could not see her face, but Lady Ninon had spoken of her personal chambermaid in passing, though she was a recent addition to her household.
Taking no further notice, I returned once more to my book and lost myself to the pages. Again, all sense of time vanished from my comprehension, occupying my mind in its fullest entirety. That is, until I was so rudely interrupted by intruders. The doors to Lady Ninon's parlour were flung open with a clash and battering, screams erupting in their wake as soldiers under the command of the cardinal marched inside. Red Guards. "Search the place! Tear it apart! Find the girl!" The order was delivered and suddenly, the invaders descended upon us.
Soon there were screams from every direction as women began tried to run, terrified as the soldiers swept inside and began to rip books down from their shelves, scattering pages and volumes in every direction. "Capture them! Drag them out!" The soldiers began to chase after the women, seizing hold of them and forcing them to cooperate, even dragging them by their hair, both nobles and servants alike. I stood in utter astonishment, rising from my seat until one soldier grasped a fistful of hair of a young girl in front of me. My anger flared.
"Release her you dastardly rogue! How dare you place your hands upon a woman?!" With powerful strides I marched directly to the soldier who heard my furious outburst and turned his face only to be greeted by my fist. The satisfying crunch of a nose breaking rippled up my arm as the soldier's head snapped backwards and he fell to the ground. I caught the woman before she could fall with him, holding her in my arms as I began to pull her aside. "Quickly, under the table. Stay hidden until this is over," pushing her under the table where she might take refuge, I launched myself back into the fray as the soldiers continued to pillage and destroy everything in their wake. "Not the books! Leave the books alone! How can you be so heartless you illiterate swine?!" Several other colourful expletives escaped me which were not fitting for the mouth of a lady, but seeing the books be so unjustly treated set my temper ablaze. Thankfully at that moment, Aramis rushed inside and quickly surveyed the chaotic situation.
"Madeleine!"
"Aramis! Thank God…look at what they are doing!" Gesturing in outrage, Aramis made to come towards me but a red guard soldier stepped in his way and attempted to throw him back outside. It was an unwise thing to do, and the guard instead was flung out the doors. Another guard attempted to seize my arm and drag me away but I gave him a thorough kick to his shin, whirling my captured arm to lock the offender's at the should before then ramming my knee into his nether regions. The guttural cry of pain assured me that my aim had been true. I looked to the frighten women. "Hurry! Get back! Stay back, get behind the pillars! The drapes!" Herding them quickly to get as far away as possible, I pushed several to hide behind the long curtains which framed the bookshelves.
"My books! No!" Upon hearing Lady Ninon's alarmed cry, I saw her staring in horror at the devastation of her library. Athos was with her, looking equally in shock. Aramis had already dived back into the fray, fighting off the guards as they tore through the books and tried to capture the women, spreading fear and terror throughout as they cowered for their lives. When one guard finally saw sense to draw his sword against Aramis, my brother called out and tossed a thick, heavyset book for Aramis to catch.
"Do not harm that book!" Shrieking in alarm, I rushed across the room, leaping over a fallen guard and kicking them in the face for good measure as Aramis used the book as a shield, batting away the guard's sword before I could reach him. He deflected the first strike, the blade tearing through the leather before Aramis turned and opened the book to catch the sword between the pages and tear it from the guard's grasp before knocking him to the ground. I materialised beside him, looking down at the guard, then the ruined book. Scowling, I smacked Aramis over the head.
"Ow! What was that for?"
"Books are not meant for swordplay!" I scolded in frustration but before I could fully explode into a tirade of anger, more guards rushed at us. Aramis made to push me aside but I reacted first. I thrust my hand against him and he staggered backwards, not expecting me to place myself between him and our attackers. Before he had even recovered his balance the fallen sword of the guard was in my hand, poised as my other arm naturally curled to sit comfortably behind my back.
"Madeleine! What do you think you're…" when sword clashed against swords, Aramis became at a loss for words. I danced between the soldiers, gliding practically upon my toes to counter their strikes and swiftly deliver my response. The blade slashed with delicate but powerful flicks, my movements precise and clean as I fought off the guards, keeping them occupied until one stumbled and left himself open to attack. Without hesitation I rammed my knee into his gut to double him over then used him to roll away from the second, turning myself to lash out with my foot a second time to kick the guard's backside so that he flew into his comrade and both were deposited on the ground. I would have been happy to continue, sword ready to react, but the battle was swiftly concluded.
"We found them!" The rough shout called everyone to attention, ceasing all conflict as our eyes were drawn to where the secret door had been found and opened, the girls inside now being led outside. "Sleeping in a hidden chamber." Amongst them was Fleur who immediately rushed to Lady Ninon, startled and confused as to what was happening as the guards began to gather together and surround them.
"Comtesse de Larroque, you are under arrest for the abduction of Fleur Boudin and others," before I knew it, Lady Ninon was being taken into custody. With a gasp I dropped the sword and made to rush to her aid, to try and explain everything so they would understand, but Aramis jumped to stop me before I could incriminate myself.
"Don't," he held me firm even as I pushed against him, making to break free of his grasp. "You will only be arrested with her, Madeleine."
"But it is not right! She has done nothing wrong, they are the ones who have committed crimes, they entered here without provocation and vandalised private property," raising my voice in anger, Aramis had to clamp his hand over my mouth to stifle me as he flung me around to lock his arms around my struggling body, pinning me to his chest. "Let me go! Release me Aramis! It is unjust! It is folly!" Of course these words were muffled because of his glove, but that did not stop me from attempting to interfere. "Lady Ninon!"
"Madeleine…" she murmured my name and I stopped struggling, twisting myself to throw my weight enough so that I turned Aramis's body, allowing me to see her. She nodded to me calmly. "It is alright. Do not worry for me." This was difficult to accept, because in my experience, justice was never served as it should be. I had a terrible sense of foreboding regarding Lady Ninon's arrest, sensing that there was something more sinister at work here. Why had the guards come at all? Why would anyone in the palace take an interest in a single lost girl in Paris? Fleur was not of nobility or royalty, her disappearance should not have even been of the vaguest interest to anyone. Yet the guards had arrived in force to discover her. How did they know where to look for the hidden door?
Suddenly a shadow cut across my vision and Athos was standing before me. Only then did Aramis release his grip upon me so I hastily thrust him away. "Why are you not stopping them from taking her?" I rounded upon my brother, fury bright and flaming within my entire body. "Why are you standing here? Go! You must free her!"
"I cannot."
"You can! You simply do not wish to. Surely you must realise this entire farce has been completely overturned into a backhanded conspiracy!" Still Athos did not move, and my rage pushed me to slam my hands against his chest. "Why are you still just standing here! Do something! Do anything! Please!" My voice cracked as I choked upon a sob, the burning inferno of rage which had overcome my body suddenly dissipating as I could no longer sustain its wrathful intensity. I sank against Athos who naturally held me to him, letting me paw weakly at his doublet as I cried. "Please…do something…I beg of you…" but he could do nothing, as I rightly knew.
All of our hands were tied in this, so there was little else I could do but push my brother aside and stride away from the comtesse's residence, striding into the night as the cold air cooled my tears and my temper. Both Athos and Aramis called after me but I did not heed them. I walked alone into the night as they chased after me, following at a safe distance to watch over me as I attempted to control the sickening sense in my stomach. Once more a dear friend would stand trial for a crime they did not commit. The ridiculousness of it all made me laugh crudely. Thus far we had been lucky.
All I could do was pray that our luck would continue.