Having taken to helping others in the camp, tending injuries and illnesses where they were found, I was distracted until I heard a commotion suddenly erupt which set the camp into a hive of underlying rage and hatred, the sensation quivering around me as I heard voices rising. Lifting myself up, I saw a party with Raymond, one of Emilie's chief guards, dragging two cloaked figures towards the main tent. Quickly I set aside my task, drying my hands in my skirts before hurrying after them to see what was happening. When I heard Raymond proclaim loudly that he had a gift in the form of the Spanish Queen, my blood ran cold.
I rushed inside after them, hearing Aramis whisper fearfully as I slipped around the crowded men and moved directly to Aramis whereby I pressed a hand against his stomach to keep him at bay. I did not even look at Anne, but a fleeting glimpse informed me that Constance was there beside her. For the moment I focused upon Aramis, resuming the act of a simple, loving wife so that I could hold him back from completely giving himself away. We could not act recklessly, not now that Anne's safety was at risk.
Meanwhile, Emilie had risen from her prayer and approached to stare at Anne, looking at her then at Aramis, brow furrowed in thought. She turned back to the queen and dismissed the man restraining her with a simple flick of her hand. Situating herself directly in front of Anne, I allowed myself to look now, watching carefully to monitor the movement of every figure present. If anyone so much as dared lift a finger to hurt either Anne or Constance, I would not hesitate to throw myself upon them. "This man is a musketeer," Emilie finally spoke, "he deserted his regiment to join me. Do you know each other?" Adapting to the situation, Anne cleverly concealed the truth behind clouded words.
"He has been loyal in the past. I am sorry he has forgotten his duty." Remaining utterly still, Emilie asked why she had come. Anne raised herself up to answer. "I came here to talk to you, not only as your queen but as a woman and a mother." Allowing her voice to soften, she began to entreat with Emilie, clearly having come all this way and placed herself in such insurmountable danger simply to try and speak reason with an otherwise patriotic woman. "Do you really believe that God wants this hatred and violence? You must know that our saviour preached love and forgiveness…"
"I don't need lectures on religion. My message is from God himself."
"Look into your heart…" suddenly Emilie burst with a temper of rage I thought not to expect, the sudden surge shaking me as she bellowed upon Anne who flinched against it.
"You should not be here!" Eagerly, Raymond stepped forwards.
"We should just cut off her head and send it to her brother as a gift." The threat to Anne's life had Aramis moving before I could stop him, his powerful form cutting past me as he stormed forwards and seized Raymond roughly with a dark, ominous growl.
"Lay one finger on her…"
"Aramis!" I darted after him and gripped at his arm, attempting to pull him away as my stomach knotted itself twice over. Emilie rounded upon him.
"For a deserter, you show a high degree of devotion to the queen," she accused him sharply, her eyes now blazing with rage. "Would you defend me with such passion?"
"Forgive my husband," I begged, gasping deeply as I dragged Aramis away. "He has been a soldier most his life, duty is drummed deep into his being…it does not so swiftly diminish." My excuse served us well, for Emilie considered before nodding her head in acceptance. Anne regained her composure, addressing those who would see her harmed.
"Do you really think the King will tolerate any barbarity towards his queen?" But Emilie's mother, Josette, was calmly sinister in her devising, looking at Anne with nothing less than abhorrent disgust. Were I not forced to maintain this guise, I would have struck her mouth to remove such an expression and demanded she lowered her eyes before her queen.
"We should hang her, in the morning, in front of the whole host." My blood ran cold. "Leave the king free to marry an honest Frenchwoman." Josette smirked with satisfaction. "He'll thank us for it."
"That's madness," Aramis murmured in horror, "he'd send the red guard to slaughter us all." This did not affect Josette's tranquil demeanour, reminding us that Abraham was willing to sacrifice his own son at God's command, therefore the king should be willing to do the same as it would inspire his people.
"Only cutthroats and the damned would be inspired by bloodshed," hissing between my teeth, I maintained my pleading gaze upon Emilie, knowing that she was our only hope to see Anne and Constance to safety, for the people obeyed her word without question. "Do you truly wish to begin your holy campaign by spilling the blood of an innocent woman? A Spaniard perhaps, but Queen Anne has done her duty to France. She has borne a son and heir for King Louis, has she not?" Raising her hands to silence us all, we all descended into an apprehensive quiet, waiting for her decision.
"God will show me what to do." Emilie finally spoke, returning to stand before Anne. "Until then…you will be our guest." I wanted to collapse for relief, but I maintained my composure. I feigned indifference to Anne and Constance, remaining with Emilie to take her arm and wrap it within my own, returning with her to prayer. Never had my prayers been so fervent to deliver us all safely from the madness we found ourselves surrounded in.
Thankfully, everyone obeyed Emilie's command to treat Anne and Constance as guests, even if it was reluctantly done. They remained in the tent where we did not speak, only glanced to one another periodically. It was not safe to speak freely, but when supper was prepared, I took this chance to go to them and helped them prepare a place to sleep. "You should not have come here, Anne," murmuring under my breath as I shook out a blanket, I then tossed it out over sheepskins to provide a comfortable place to rest.
"I could not sit idle any longer, I had to do something…"
"The entire point of my being here was to act upon your behalf! Now I must prioritise your safety above all else…" our snatched whispers made for a broken argument, using the cover of tossing blankets to hide our words until we were forced to put the matter aside. "Here, your majesty. You should be comfortable enough."
"Thank you, mademoiselle. You are most kind," maintaining the manner of strangers, I lingered close to them as Aramis arrived with a bowl of broth.
"Here," he spoke naturally at first so that nothing seemed amiss, before promptly hissing under his breath with agitated concern. "With the respect, your majesty, are you completely out of your mind?"
"I thought I could help. That she might listen to reason."
"Faith has little to do with reason," pulling his braces up over his shoulders, Aramis glanced nervously to where Emilie was being undressed from her armour and mail. "If Emilie foresees your death tonight, God knows how I'm going to get you out of here." Then he spoke aloud once more. "You should try the broth. It's good."
"Take mine," Emilie invited, "I'm not hungry." Accepting her generosity, Aramis brought the bowl to Constance and placed it in her hands. I heard him whisper to her that if we were needed we would be close. I had no choice but to leave with him. A wife's place was with her husband, after all. Once we were outside, I sought for Aramis's hand to hold it tightly.
"Dear God, this is a nightmare," I uttered darkly.
"All will be well, but we should be ready for whatever outcome tomorrow may bring." I dreaded the return of the sun, but since I was powerless to stop it, all I could do was sit and wait. As we had the night before, Aramis and I lay down next to one another, face to face and so close that any movement caused our noses to touch. "Goodnight, my sweet."
"Pleasant dreams, beloved husband." Smiling for a moment, Aramis shifted closer to remove all distance between us and placed a protective arm over me as his chin rested atop my head. Sleep found my swiftly, but it seemed I had only just closed my eyes before I heard screaming. This time, however, it was not Emilie's voice crying out. "Constance!" Recognising the scream, I kicked my legs to untangle myself from the cloak we shared before rushing into the tent where Constance was drenched in sweat, writhing and wailing as if some nightmarish terror had seized her.
Suddenly she bolted upright with a rapid gasp, wild eyed and seemingly on the verge of insanity. I rushed to her as Anne was already sat beside her, stroking at her arm as I took Constance's hands and shook her gently. "Constance, are you alright? Are you hurt?" Blinking excessively, she shook her head.
"It was so real. I was there and…" unable to catch her breath, Aramis hushed her gently as I moved to sit behind her, rubbing at her back and letting her drop her weight against me to recover herself.
"Shhh, you were dreaming."
"I've never felt anything like it before," gasping, Constance began to sob. "I was so scared…"
"God granted you a prophecy," having focused my entire attention upon Constance, I had not realised that Emilie had also approached us, looking with intrigue at Constance who shivered in my arms as I stroked at her hair.
"You're wrong." I heard her gasp for air. "I hope you're wrong."
"We can't reject the truth when it is revealed." Wallowing in despair, Constance released a harrowing wail which made the fine hairs of my body rise. Anne and I tried to soothe her, offering her words of reassurance as I hastened to fetch clean water and a cloth to sponge her down from her sweat, dismissing Aramis from the tent so that Constance's dignity was not compromised.
Cleansing her, Anne lay down beside Constance to embrace her, so I moved their cots together so that they might rest more comfortably, staying until Constance had returned to sleep and Anne soon joined her. I remained with them, sitting at their side and did not move for the rest of the night. I did not sleep, I think I hardly even blinked. I watched over them, ready to banish any further visions should they descend upon my friend, but thankfully Constance spent the rest of the night in quiet peace. In the small hours, I allowed myself to doze, but always I felt the press of Constance's hand in mine, and listened to their intermingling breaths. As I feared, daybreak eventually arrived.