The only consolidation I made to my condition was that I allowed Athos to persuade me that I was better off waiting outside with Aramis. Attempting to bring a woman into the event would have only raised questions, as it was clearly an unsuitable place for a lady of distinction unless she was there for a particular purpose. I saw reason in this and consented to wait. In any case, time spent with Aramis was never an unpleasant thing. "The girl you spoke of," I began quietly as we lingered amongst the shadows, hidden from the house but with a perfect view of the front gates. "What condition did she look to be in? Was she hurt?"
"Not that I could see, but frightened witless at the mere thought of Levesque and Eleanor," Aramis murmured quietly, keeping our voices low as we continued our charade of secrecy. "She seemed young, far too young to experience something like this."
"Is anyone ever old enough?" Reasoning gently, I then exhaled. We would not know more until we had questioned the girl further, but I dreaded to hear her answers. If Levesque had killed the other girl Aramis had seen, then just how many girls had they taken captive? How were we going to tell Porthos of this? Worse still, was his father involved? I did not want to think of it, for I could not bear the thought of having to disillusion Porthos from whatever image he may have painted of his father. "What was the marquis like?" Seemingly unsurprised by my question, Aramis hummed thoughtfully.
"A crotchety old recluse with little joy left in his life. He seemed proud of Porthos, however. He welcomed him readily enough and did not protest when Porthos beat some manners into Levesque." Arching an eyebrow, I encouraged Aramis to tell me in detail all he had seen, as well as explain the slight which had prompted Porthos to act against Levesque. Upon hearing how the man had spat upon Porthos, I thoroughly approved of his retribution. Perhaps Porthos should have knocked several teeth loose, to remind Levesque the foulness of his actions.
"And did Porthos seem happy to have met him? Did he receive the answers to his questions?" At my constant pestering, Aramis chuckled richly and lay a hand over my head to calm me, eyes glinting brightly in the dark.
"You care a great deal about Porthos, my sweet." Turning my head away to hide my blush, I did not respond to this statement. "Although I cannot say for certain everything that goes on in Porthos' head, he seemed content when I left him. When he returns, you may ask him yourself." Hoping that everything would be well and that this nefarious scheme at work was only the ploy of Levesque and Eleanor, I fell into a watchful silence.
Athos and d'Artagnan had already gone inside and I loathed the silent waiting. I worried for them inside, most likely outnumbered with us locked on the other side of the gate. When glass shattered, both Aramis and I jolted upright. There were sounds of a commotion within, shouts rising until several figures came rushing towards the gates, one man ordering for them to be opened. The gates were unlocked and flung wide open, and we did not hesitate to seize upon this happy fortune.
Together Aramis and I rushed forwards, my hand diving to my sword to draw it free in preparation for whatever we might find inside. We made for the open door where three guards stood with their backs to us. Between them, I immediately saw d'Artagnan shielding a group of young girls, all of them clothed in white, their faces taut with terror as they shivered together. "Hey!" Bellowing to distract the guards, Aramis took off his cap and struck at the first as I slipped inside, moving artfully like flowing water to step under another guard's defences then grasped him by the arm, striking his face to stun him before swinging him with all my might into a wall.
"D'Artagnan!" Calling to him, I kicked the guard one final time to silence his groaning, which opened the way to the exit as I signalled for the girls. "Now!"
"Go, go! Hurry, go, go!" Urging them to run, the girls whimpered and cried as they rushed for their freedom. I held the door open, ushering them through whilst holding my sword still in hand, telling them to run to the gate then wait for me there. I looked back, intending to remain until the last girl had fled but a woman emerged from a side door, bright copper hair aflame in the candlelight, her dress as red as blood. She snatched at the last girl, grasping her arm viciously as a manic gleam transformed her handsome features into a look of grotesque unpleasantness.
"You're not going anywhere, I own you!" Suddenly Aramis was there, bellowing for her to release the girl and in a manner quite unlike the charming, gentle Aramis I knew, thrust the woman to the ground. It must be Eleanor. Only a woman of pure callous soullessness would earn such mistreatment from Aramis. Drawing the girl to safety I stretched out my hand as she sprinted for freedom, her fingers darting to mine.
"We shall not let them take you, stay together!" I called to her, pushing her through the door then looked back. Everyone was caught in their own battles, fighting against guards to hold them back. For a moment I lingered, pausing before going after the girls, and I was glad I had for I saw the woman, Eleanor, stagger to her feet and pick up a heavy silver tray from a nearby side table. Her attention was fixated upon my brother. "No!" Abandoning the door I bolted forwards, leaping like a springing doe over one of the guards with a kick to his face as he rolled moaningly upon the ground. He fell silent quickly once again.
My shouts of warning went unheeded by Athos, who was hammered upon the back by the tray which sent him to the ground, winded and stunned. D'Artagnan shouted for air, but as Athos's opponent rose back to his feet and grasped his own sword, I flung myself in front of my brother and thrust my own blade upwards. I caught the sword against the hilt of my own, the stronger part of the blade which allowed me to fling back the arm which held it. I struck quickly, my sword dancing with flicks and parries.
A line of blood opened upon his cheek. Another upon his leg. I slashed the back of his hand as I responded with fury to see my brother so dishonourably treated and threatened. "Madeleine, we must go!" Athos shouted to me, having been pulled to his feet by Aramis as I continued to fight his former opponent, holding him back. Nodding in acknowledgement, I decided to end this petty performance.
Ducking under a wild blow I turned, pivoting upon one foot with a light slash which created another wound against the man's side. All of them were superficial, quite minor cuts in truth, but he howled and roared as if I had skewered him with a pike. Balling my fist, I punched him in the face and he dropped like a stone. "Madeleine!" Calling more urgently, I finally listened to my brother and dashed after him, d'Artagnan holding to cover our retreat. Sheathing my blade I ran to the girls and gathered them with my arms spread, seeking to corral them forwards as Athos spoke. "Is anyone missing?" He waited for barely a breath before pressing on, eager to leave that place and get them to safety. "Come on!" We hurried them out of the gate, waiting beyond only for d'Artagnan to join us before fleeing back to the safety and comfort of the garrison.
The girls ran with us trustingly all the way, but the moment we entered the courtyard, many of them burst into tears. I had not arms enough to hold them all, but I hushed and soothed them as best I could, promising them that they were all safe now and that the worst was over. They shivered in the cool evening air, so I hurried them inside so that I could bring them blankets and warmed wine to drink. I gave them bread, cheese and whatever else I could find to fill their stomachs, watching over them until they were quiet and content.
They looked half starved, the poor things. All of them devoured whatever I put in front of them, interrupted only when Aramis gently asked one of the girls to come with him so that they might speak. Thinking that this must have been the girl he had seen on the marquis's estate, I told the girls that I was going to be back soon before following after them. Treville was sat before the fire and the girl was offered a seat before it also, the men removing themselves of their weapons and uniform to appear less intimidating. "What is your name, child?" Treville asked kindly as the girl sat, and she managed a timid smile.
"Camille, sir."
"A lovely name," I complimented, unfolding a blanket I had brought with me and placed it around her shoulders. "Say if you would like anything. You are amongst friends here, sweeting." She thanked me quietly, allowing herself to settle into the warmth of the fire as we too all settled ourselves, waiting until Treville finally asked her to tell us what she knew, everything that had happened which had brought her to such a place. An auction. Athos had told me. They were auctioning young girls' virginity. I wanted to be sick. Gathering her courage, Camille began to speak.
"Our village priest said a respectable Parisian family was looking for a governess and he wrote, recommending me for the position. A few weeks later, she came to the village." Immediately I thought of that woman, the one with copper hair and blood red dress. I loathed her instantly, wondering how such a creature could be blood related to my sweet, gentle Porthos.
"Eleanor Levesque?" Speaking softly, Treville clarified the woman Camille spoke of. She nodded morosely.
"She paid my father a year's wages in advance, then she took me off in her fine carriage. She gave me something to drink," her voice trembled a little, the fright of her own memories unbalancing the calm and serenity she now experienced. "I woke up in an outhouse. There was another girl already there." As Aramis approached I glanced to him, watching as he gave Camille something to drink. I hoped it was diluted; the girl was such a slip of a thing that a sip from anything stronger than watered wine would topple her senses.
"Martine?" Nodding once more, Camille continued with her harrowing tale, and I felt my anger rising with every spoken word.
"Levesque came in. He said that we were whores and that we could never go home again. I told Martine that we couldn't give in, that we…we had to try to escape." Again her voice trembled, so I moved from where I had settled myself to come around before the fire in front of Camille to place my hand upon hers, offering her comfort should she need it. A weak smile flickered, but it was overshadowed by sadness and guilt. "He…he killed her." For a moment, all of us were silent. Such disgusting practices were almost unimaginable, yet they were happening even under our very noses.
It made me want to rip Paris apart brick by brick just to clean and purge every part of it, expelling all such corruption and degradation from the city until it was gleaming, shining and pure. Leaning closer and speaking softly, d'Artagnan asked Camille the question which lingered upon all our minds. "Was it just Eleanor and Levesque or was Belgard involved also?" But Camille frowned, face flickering without recognition.
"Belgard?" She repeated uncertainly. "Who…who is he?" An unwitting exhale escaped me. Perhaps Porthos' father was not involved in this sordid affair. Perhaps he was just as blind to it as we had been. I prayed it was so, for I wanted nothing more than for Porthos to have the father he deserved. A good, honest man, who loved him and his mother dearly. Rising to my feet, the motion drew all eyes upon me, including Camille's.
"Come along now, sweeting. You must be exhausted and need to rest. You and the other girls will be staying here tonight, but do not worry. You are guarded by the finest and most honourable men ever to exist, you have nothing to fear and I shall be with you also." I promised her, offering her my hand so that I could help her rise from her seat, then tucked it into the crook of my arm. "You have been very brave, but now you may leave the rest to us. We will ensure that Levesque and his wife are brought to justice, and nothing like this will happen to any other girls like yourself. Is that not so, captain?" Turning to the captain, he smiled and promised he would do just that, and I felt Camille relax beside me.
"I owe you all my life, and my dignity. I can never thank you enough."
"Just doing our duty, and it was a pleasure to do so." Aramis assured her, sweeping a charming bow which prompted her to giggle. Urging her quietly to come with me, I brought her back to the other girls and had them all climb into the beds I had quickly prepared. The barracks had an abundance of bed, and some rooms slept a dozen men together, so it was a simple task of placing them all into one room where their presence would comfort one another, and I remained with them until they were all sound asleep.
I lingered near all through the night, quietening their cries when the nightmares preyed upon them, hushing them and holding them, rocking them for the children they were, for the eldest was not yet seven and ten years of age. I was eager to return them home to their families, that they might press on with their lives and one day forget the horrors they had endured, but to reach the end of that road, these girls would take a long while to recover, and even then they might carry the scars of their mistreatment for the rest of their lives.