Aramis carried the cardinal to a private bedchamber meant for noble dignitaries visiting the monastery. The chamber itself did not matter, only that we had a place to set the cardinal down away from prying eyes. "Where is the castor oil and mustard?!" Shouting demandingly as he let the cardinal down upon the bed, Aramis began to fight to keep the cardinal restrained, Porthos rushing to help as I sprinted around to the other side. "He needs an emetic!" Seizing the cardinal who continued to scream in agony and writhe like a serpent, Aramis gripped the fabric firmly. "Let me loosen his robes…definitely poison." I grasped one of the pillows upon the bed as Aramis fought to unburden the compression around the cardinal's neck.
With a sharp tug I ripped the fabric of the pillow to reveal a plethora of feathers within which burst in a wild plume, floating dreamily as I grasped a fistful and quickly pinched them together. I had not even noticed that the king had followed us, he must have come all the way from Paris with the queen for Ninon's sake. "What if he is called to God's right hand? What will I do?" With a word of warning, I advised everyone to stand back and asked Porthos to help keep the cardinal still. Seeing the cluster of feathers in my hand, Aramis swiftly realised my intention and grasped the cardinal by the face.
As he was screaming so brazenly, there was no need for us to force his mouth open. I pushed the tips of the feathers into the cardinal's mouth and stroked at the back of his throat, brushing against the moist insides until he began to gag. Watching carefully, I yanked my arm free and grasped the cardinal by his robes to roll him towards me. I sidestepped, depending upon Aramis to raise his head so that he would not choke upon the vomit which rapidly rose from the pit of the holy man's stomach.
With a final gag, the cardinal unleashed the contents of his stomach into a vile puddle upon the ground. I heard the king also gag, disturbed by the smell, sight and sound of such unpleasantness. I ignored it splattering against the hem of my skirts and waited until the last heave had made its appearance. Then we proceeded with the mustard and castor oil, forcing it down the cardinal's throat as he continued to scream in a manner which made me believe that his very soul was aflame.
Eventually the convulsions and screaming subsided, perhaps overcome with exhaustion to sustain them any longer. The cardinal fell into unconsciousness and went utterly lax, eyes rolling into the back of his skull. We all waited with baited breath, watching until finally, the cardinal's chest rose to take in air. A collective sigh was given. "What now?" Porthos was the first to speak as I settled the cardinal upon his side, in case he should vomit again.
"You may leave him to my care," I announced flatly, taking no pleasure in the task but seeing no other way for releasing Aramis and the others for what they needed to do. "Meanwhile, you must discover the truth behind this. Someone poisoned the cardinal with the intent to frame Lady Ninon for witchcraft." The king, whom I had entirely forgotten was present, lifted his head and dared to step a little closer.
"You are certain of this?" Instinctively I dropped into a deep curtsey and lowered my head.
"Forgive me, your majesty." King Louis waved away my courtesy and persisted I answer him, looking compulsively at the cardinal with fearful eyes but could only look so long before he could look no longer. "Yes, your majesty. I am certain. There is a pungent odour upon the cardinal's breath, which signifies poison. It stands to reason that, considering the circumstances, someone is determined to condemn the comtesse as a witch. For what gain, I am uncertain, but this…" I gestured helplessly to the cardinal. "It is a bold statement." The king looked hopelessly at the cardinal before turning to Treville.
"Captain, I order you to find the culprit behind this heinous crime!"
"Certainly, your majesty. For now, allow me to escort you back to the palace with the queen. It is not safe to remain here," this seemed to appease the king who nodded in agreement, shifting uncomfortably as he turned his nose away from the foul scent of the cardinal's stomach contents.
"Servant, I command you to care for the cardinal. If you are able to save his life, then I shall reward you handsomely." I thanked the king for his generosity, choosing to ignore the unspoken warning of punishment if I were to fail. Tentatively I suggested that it would be prudent to send for some doctors to see to the cardinal's condition also, mentioning that having someone who was more learned than I would be in the cardinal's interest. "Yes, yes of course. I shall send only the best for Richelieu." The distraught king seemed all too glad to be escorted away by Treville, who returned to give his orders to my brother, Aramis and Porthos.
"Find out what you can. Report to me when you have news." Then the captain looked to me, and his gaze naturally softened. "Will you be alright, little one?" I recalled with some shame how unseemly my behaviour had been before, and recognised that Treville was asking me more than if I was alright to be left alone. "If you wish, I will leave a guard here with you. Someone I trust."
"You will need all of your remaining men to protect the king and queen," I reasoned quietly, stepping around the bed to stand slightly to the side, separating myself from the men so that I did not dirty them with my sullied skirts. "I shall be well. I will remain and care for the cardinal and protect him. Although he is a deceitful conniver, he is important to the welfare of France." Lifting my head, I made certain to draw up my shoulders and stand firm in my resolve. "I shall not allow him to die."
"Good girl." Awash with pride, Treville nodded to us all before striding away, leaving me with my brother and the others.
"Are you certain you will be alright?" Athos strode to my side and ignored my protest as I moved my skirts away from him, not caring for a little ichor where I was concerned. "Is she is still here…" never had I heard Athos speak so darkly, bearing unprecedented fury contained within so quiet a tone. "If she hurts you…"
"I shall not let her," I vowed in a whisper as Porthos and Aramis politely occupied themselves as not to overhear us. "This time I shall be ready for her. If she comes within reach of me…I shall break her neck as the noose should have done five years ago." The singular conviction was enough to convince my brother that I could look after myself. He knew I was not a defenceless person. If Anne showed herself to me, then it would mark the day of her death once and for all.
"Be safe," kissing my forehead fiercely, Athos then strode away to commit to his task. His mission was most likely the only thing keeping him from unravelling this very moment. Porthos ruffled my hair before leaving, but Aramis remained to assist me with the cardinal, cleaning him and the mess he had made.
"The woman you saw today, she…"
"Please do not ask me, Aramis," I begged him, as I could not bear to think of her for one moment more. "It is not my place to tell you. Only if Athos speaks first will I say anything." Tilting his head in acceptance, Aramis did not coerce me into revealing why we had both lost our control at the sight of that woman.
"In that case, allow me to ask you another question," pausing, I arched an eyebrow at him, awaiting his question. A handsome smile warmed his features. "Where did you learn such fine swordplay?" Ah, he was referring to what he had seen in the comtesse's library. We had not had the opportunity to speak alone since the incident. I should have expected him to eventually ask.
"Who else? It was Athos who taught me. I learned from a very young age."
"I am surprised, your skills are impressive and did not seem at all unconfident. You must practice, when? Where?" Now I smiled, soothed by the effortless conversation as we finished tending to the cardinal and allowing him to rest peacefully.
"You are aware that I am always present at the barracks at least two hours before anyone else rises in the morning, correct?" Frowning, Aramis nodded his head to say that yes, he was aware I was the first person to be working away at my chores. My smile deepened. "What do you think I do for those two entire hours?" The realisation sank upon him, his expression dropping in wonder.
"Does Athos know?"
"He does not ask, but I suspect he is aware of my activities. Sometimes in the past if he has not drunk too much the night before, he would rise early enough to spar with me." This seemed to delight Aramis, as if he had become privy to a dark and terrible secret of some kind, but it was nothing like that. No one ever expected that I could fight with a sword or shoot a pistol, so I simply allowed them to think what they liked. It made no difference to me, and I very rarely needed to defend myself as I was often in the company of one of the men or Athos. They always leaped to my defence to protect me, so my involvement was always unnecessary. I would have likely only become a hindrance if I attempted to fight off thieves and ruffians alongside them.
"Then perhaps, once this is over, you might grace me with another taste of your swordplay, mademoiselle?" Spreading his arms, Aramis gifted me a flamboyant bow of invitation, so I chuckled.
"If you insist, good sir."
"Oh, I most certainly do." I would have liked for Aramis to stay a little longer, but he had his own duties to attend to, and I had my own tasks in mind. He made to take my hand, but I hastily hid them behind my back.
"I would not, I have touched the cardinal's face and mouth. If there is poison, I do not wish to pass it to you. Go, and do not delay. I wish you luck." Acknowledging that I was right, Aramis bowed once more.
"Between us, I believe you require more luck than I," he glanced to the cardinal, and I regretfully agreed. Aramis swept himself away, leaving me to take charge of the cardinal. I called for assistance, having the cardinal's things brough to the room and removed his outer clothing to make him comfortable after thoroughly washing and scrubbing my hands. I tended to his fever, helped him to sip at warm, spiced wine to settle his stomach, and made him as comfortable as possible. If he was not in danger of dying, I would not have been so generous. However, my duty was still my duty, and I did not undertake anything without determination to see it through to the end. Also, the sooner I had tended to his needs, the sooner I could go to Ninon. They had moved her from the small room to a prison cell with long bars caging her within. To see her so trapped was a difficult sight, but I went to her with as much reassurance as I could offer.
My footsteps echoed, signifying my approach, and when Ninon saw me coming, she rushed to the bars and reached through them. "Madeleine! I am so glad you have come!" The moment my hands folded within hers she gripped me tightly, drawing me close as we stood separated by iron. "I am relieved I am able to see you again, I worried that they would take me away before I could say my proper goodbyes."
"If I could have my way, Ninon, then we would not be saying goodbye at all," at this she smiled affectionately, brushing at my hair and tilting my face to observe my pallid, haunted look. A quiet settled over us, sombre and morose as we both though of Anne, or in Ninon's mind, Madame de Chapelle.
"Who is she, Madeleine?" Ninon questioned quietly, searching my face for answers. "How do you know that traitorous woman?" A thick lump formed in my throat, threatening to choke me if I dared speak, but I did not wish to hide the truth from Ninon. She deserved to know how she had been deceived.
"I know her by the name of Anne," I revealed after swallowing several times to dislodge the rock in my throat, though each word tasted bitter and acrid. "She…is my brother's wife." Ninon looked at me aghast, mouth dropping into a wide gape before she covered it with a hand. "We thought her to be dead until not long ago. Because of her, my other brother, my Thomas…she killed him. When Athos discovered her crime, he sentenced her to death and had her hung, but she somehow survived." Continuing to look at me with a horrified expression, I shook my head desperately. "Please believe me, I did not know she was here! I did not know she had entered your household, or I would have warned you of the danger!"
"Yes, yes I know Madeleine, I know that you would have…oh you poor, sweet thing, how wretched you must feel." It was true, I was utterly miserable and felt as if Thomas had died before me for a second time, the pain was so vibrant. Ninon held my face and rubbed at my cheek, smoothing away each tear as it arose. "She has deceived us both, but this only brings us closer together. You are my friend, Madeleine. You were so wonderful today during your testimony, I could not have wished for a more valiant ally." This at least was a comfort.
"I will not allow anything to happen to you," I promised her, lowering my voice once more so that we would not be overheard. "The cardinal is in a dire state, but I will do all I can for him. If he survives, the king has promised to reward me. I shall ask him to alleviate your sentence, so that you may live your life peacefully elsewhere. You must have property outside of Paris, yes?" Nodding her head, Ninon told me of a few she possessed. "Then, I shall ask that you are simply exiled from the city. You will be able to continue your work in the countryside, and I shall be able to come and visit you. In a few years, when everyone has forgotten this mess, perhaps we can petition the king to exonerate you, should you wish to return."
"You are a wonder and a marvel, dear Madeleine. Would you really use a favour from the king to protect me?"
"Would you not do the same for me?" Chuckling, Ninon assured me that she would in a heartbeat. If I could, I would have spent the entire night with Ninon to keep her company, but I could not leave the cardinal alone for too long. Promising Ninon that I would return periodically throughout the night to see to her comforts and ensure that she was alright, I left her with a peaceful expression now alighting her beautiful features. I would have much rather stayed, for the cardinal was a poor comparison of a companion.
Upon my return, I noticed that the box which had been brought with his belongings now rested in his arms from where it had been placed upon his bedside table. I thought this odd but did not dwell upon it, reasoning he must have reached for it after waking briefly. Carefully lifting it free, I placed it back upon the table then tended to the fever which was burning upon his skin. He slept fitfully, murmuring and moaning as he continued to fight the poison in his body. The doctors had arrived from the palace whilst I had been with Ninon, attending to the cardinal one at a time, each with their own prognosis.
One suggested it was a perforation of the bowels. Another suggested the symptoms were caused by foul air. One suggested leeches, whilst someone else wanted to wrap the cardinal in boiled linens and draw out the disease which was clearly ravaging his body. They came back intermittently throughout the night until I was sick to the stomach of them, all of them arguing over how best to treat the symptoms until I finally slammed the door against their faces. How satisfying.
The sharp noise disturbed the cardinal, who moaned as he stirred from sleep and began to call for someone, so I went to his side. "It is alright, your eminence, you are not alone." Reassuring him of my presence, I sat down beside him and took another cloth to soak it in water, squeezing away the excess before placing it upon his brow. I then took bundles of dried flowers, mostly lavender and placed a sprig inside his shirt so that he could enjoy the scent, placing the rest against his pillow.
His bleary eyes opened, heavy lidded and unfocused, but he seemed to realise that there was someone beside him. "Water…" croaking, I promptly poured a cup of water and helped him to drink it, tilting the rim so that he could take little sips at a time whilst I held up his head. He drained the cup then sighed in satisfaction. His eyes opened a little further and seemed clearer than before. "You…why are you here?"
"Hush now, cardinal. You need to rest," using my best soothing tone which I used with all of my patients, I felt his cheek for his temperature then picked up the sponge in the water dish, using it to dab away the sweat from his neck. "It is alright, I shall stay with you. Sleep deeply and let your body heal. You are not alone…" to aid the cardinal back into sleep, I began to sing to him. I sang hymns as I expected he would prefer them to common folk songs or bawdy tavern jigs, and they seemed to work well.
Listening to my voice, his eyes sank naturally and his entire body relaxed into the familiar notes and words which praised God in all his glory. I sang in Latin, and every time the cardinal began to convulse or whimper, I would begin to sing once more and he would settle. It helped him, and eventually he was so deeply asleep I had to ensure he was still breathing just to confirm that he was still alive. I saw this as my opportunity to step outside once again. The monastery was eerily silent, empty of all other lifeforms. I stole away back to the prison cells, wanting to check on Ninon one more time before the morning.