From the rumours about court and owing to Anne's quiet whisper, I heard news of the return of a certain Comte de Rochefort to the French Court. I also understood that my brother and the others were due to undertake a daring mission, one riddled with dangers and risks. I would not allow them to leave without my seeing them off, and so I had hastened to the barracks in a flurry of black silk skirts. Once I was out of sight of the palace, I abandoned all decorum and sprinted for the familiar place which felt like home.
I found them just as they were saddling their horses, my desperate cry for them to halt before leaving rising from my lips and filling the air of the courtyard, drawing their gazes upon me. Upon recognising me as my hood fell back from my face to reveal my flushed cheeks, their expressions all brightened in turn. "Ah! Our favourite lady in all the land has come," Aramis declared loudly as he practically jumped into my path to sweep me into his arms so that I was twirled off my feet. "For a moment I feared we would not see you before we left."
"Aramis! I cannot breathe! At least let me catch my breath!" Gasping through my giggles as he continued to twirl me, Aramis eventually placed me back upon my feet as I wavered, blinking rapidly to recover my senses. His hands stayed upon my waist to keep me balanced, my fingers splayed against him as I took a moment to fill my lungs with air and ease the burning sensation within them from my impromptu sprint. I recognised that they were not in uniform. "What is this?" Tugging at his clothing, I fussed at his collar and cloak as Aramis continued to beam warmly upon me. "You look not yourself, my dear Aramis." I looked to the others as they gathered and realised that all of them were out of uniform and wearing plainclothes, clearly intended as disguises. "None of you do. What daring missions are you undertaking this time?"
"Unfortunately, such details are to remain an absolute secret for now," stepping forwards, Athos all but thrust Aramis away from me to wrap his arm around my middle, taking over as my anchor to keep me grounded whilst I continued to recover my balance, still dizzied by Aramis's overly enthusiastic greeting. "But we shall return soon, Madeleine, so do not worry for us."
"Tell me not to worry, and I shall do nothing but," giving him a wry look, I then softened and rose up onto my toes so that I could reach his cheek, kissing it lightly. "Just watch after yourself, brother. All of you," turning to the others imploringly, I reached to d'Artagnan who caught my hand to kiss it fondly, so I brushed at his hair and fussed over them however I could. Porthos was beaming broadly, pleased to see me and made such sentiments known when he dropped down to sweep me up into one arm, nestling me effortlessly into the crook as I yelped from the sudden rush of air and elevation. "Porthos! Put me down, I have told you time and time again, this is not proper!"
"Ah, you'll never be too proper for this Madeleine. Until you become too heavy for me to lift, then this isn't going to stop," he vowed to me so I puffed out my cheeks whilst secretly aglow within. I allowed my hands to settle upon his shoulders and looked upon his comely face, admiring the heartfelt smile and sincerity he bore. There was nothing I wanted more than to run my fingers through his curling hair, but I restrained myself and instead settled for pinching at his chin until he set me down once more. "You come to wish us luck?"
"If you ever needed luck, then I would be certain to wish for it on your behalf, but I know you all too well." Now once more upon my feet, I stretched out my arms, imagining that they were long enough to engulf all four of them within, but alas, they were not. All I could manage was to place them around Athos and Porthos as they were directly beside me, but I hoped they would all sense my deep and unwavering love enveloping them all regardless of how far my arms could reach. "Therefore, I shall only wish you all a fond farewell, and pray for your swift and triumphant return. I shall be waiting here for you, the queen has given her leave."
"Then we shall hurry back, if only to gaze upon your sweet visage all the sooner," Aramis declared with a sweeping bow of his hat. When he rose again, his eye caught mine. There was a softness to his expression, one that seemed all the sweeter compared to all the looks and glances he had ever given before. If ever Aramis were to have loved me, then I think this was the time he had felt closest to such an emotion. I had given him the one thing that he perhaps might never have had. A moment to hold his son. If that was not a deed worthy of love, then I did not know what else was.
His gloved hand brushed against my face, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear before touching his fingers to his lips in an endearing kiss towards me. Whereas before such gestures and expressions might have set my heart aflutter, I only welcomed the sensation of endearment with tranquillity. "Who is this, then?" A new voice sounded which drew my attention away from d'Artagnan who had begun to speak to me earnestly, to ask after Constance and perhaps convey a message to her, but we were cut short. I turned and looked to see a man I did not know step into the fold of our circle, embedding himself like a thorn where he was not wanted.
This man bore pale, sunless yellow hair seemingly drained of any true hue. His eyes were sharp and harrowing, his mouth unpleasantly pursed, and I did not like the way he looked upon me. The moment his hand stretched outwards, fingers curled to grasp at me in a threatening appearance even though he only sought to take hold of my face. Instinctively I drew back towards Athos, seeking his shelter as all four men snatched at the stranger's arm, closing their fists tightly upon him to still his reach and stay his grasp. He eyed them curiously. "Oh, my apologies. Does she belong to one of you?" He paused. "Or all?"
"Shut your mouth!" Swelling with rage and fury, Porthos drew back a fist to fling it against the stranger for his slander, but I jumped to catch hold of him. In order for Porthos to feel my interference, I had to hold onto his arm with both hands whilst dragging back my weight to stay his blow, but it was enough to calm him. He glanced to me, saw me hanging desperately from him and so lowered his arm carefully so that I would not stumble and fall.
"It is alright," I soothed, flattered that Porthos had been so readily to defend my honour even as the others hissed and started in outrage. "His words do not offend me, for they are of no consequence." Allowing my hands to slide down his arm, I curled them around Porthos' fist and rubbed at his fingers until they loosened, allowing me to hold his hand gently until he allowed himself a deep breath and nodded in acknowledgement of my request. Still, he stood between me and the stranger, and his own hand curled around my own as I allowed myself to glower at the uncouth man. "And who are you, sir, to speak so discourteously to a lady?"
"Forgive me, madam. I am the Comte de Rochefort, at your service," he bowed then, and I recognised the courtly grace in his manner as his eyes never once left my face. "I see now, you must be Madeleine de la Fère. I recognise your brother's features in your face." When he straightened, a callous smirk darkened his features. "A pity. Were you anyone else's sister, you might be halfway decent looking." This time, the blow came from Athos, and I was not swift enough to stop him.
"Athos!" Shouting his name, I dove to catch his collar and haul him back from Rochefort who was felled to the ground, levelled by my brother's powerful strike which drew blood from his mouth.
"Apologise!" The roaring bellow was met by a shallow cackle, sending a shiver down my spine as my skin crawled to look upon Rochefort who laughed at pain as if it were nothing more than an amusement.
"By all means, forgive me. My time incarcerated in a Spanish prison has somewhat dulled my manners, I speak too plainly." Thankfully the others held Athos back, allowing me to stay Porthos once more with a hand to his chest as for a moment, we all scuffled with one another, a chaotic confusion ensuing until finally, I shouted above them all.
"Will you all DESIST?!" Thrusting out my hands against Athos, I forced him to take a large step backwards and pointedly planted myself between him and Rochefort, snatching his hand where he had been about to rip off his glove and throw it at the man. "Enough, Athos. This is not worth fighting over."
"He insulted you!"
"I have heard worse, and I do not care for his opinion at all. Look at me. Look at me!" Snatching his glove to keep it from him, I seized my brother's face in my hands to force his eyes upon me, looking at him fiercely to hold his attention. "Look at my face and tell me, what do you think of it?" For a moment Athos blinked, startled by the question, but gradually he settled as he focused upon me rather than the dolt who seemed adamant to rile everyone up if only for his own twisted games. Eventually, Athos smiled to me.
"I think you beautiful, Madeliene. Always." My stomach fluttered with warmth, and I allowed myself a soft exhale. Relaxing my grasp upon him, I brushed my fingers against his face, moving aside his hair and straightening the lapels of his cloak.
"Then that is more than enough for me, for yours is the only opinion that matters in my mind." Satiated, Athos touched his hand to my back to draw me closer towards him, murmuring softly before leaning his brow to mine.
"What are we, invisible?" D'Artagnan questioned playfully after a moment of sombre silence, so I allowed myself a giggle.
"Of course not, I care for your opinions too, but I already know what you all think of me, so I need not ask." Shaking my head, I detached myself from my brother with a final kiss to his cheek. "I have kept you all too long, I meant not to waylay you or cause strife. You will put this behind you all and focus upon your task. As I said, I will be waiting for your return, and I expect you to do so swiftly and unharmed. Do I make myself clear?" Looking upon them as sternly as I could with my hands upon my hips, I am certain I looked as frightening as a rabbit, for they all laughed.
Thankfully the laughter dispelled the tension and animosity, and I refused to acknowledge Rochefort thereafter, even as I felt his gaze boring into my back. I bade my dear ones farewell, praying for them each in my heart, then stepped aside as they mounted their horses to leave. They saluted in turn as they left, Rochefort leaving last of all. I glanced upon him naturally as I turned aside, making for the captain's office and in doing so, caught the upturned tilt of his lips which were as pink as worms. I shuddered in disgust, and did not reciprocate any expression.
I climbed the familiar stairs and ran my hand over the wooden beams, recognising each twist and knot in the wood until I was at the captain's door, which Treville opened when he heard my footsteps upon his balcony. "Did I hear a disturbance just now?" He questioned, looking rather pale and drained, so I took his arm within my grasp and smiled to him.
"Not at all, captain. Come, you look as though you require a strong drink."