"What is this?" one soldier in Red asked as him and his group stormed into the tavern standing at the end of the table facing two men sat at the other end.
"We are having a private party celebrating the demise of the Musketeers. Go away."
"Athos," Aramis warned, as he continued to wipe his sword, "is that any way to treat our guests? Gentlemen don't be shy. Your friends have been expecting you." He gestured to the two dead bodies on the table in front of him.
"You're under arrest." The soldier spoke again.
Athos smirked breathing through his nose, "under whose authority?"
"Mine." Answered a gruff and familiar voice. As the group of men parted a man in black walked towards the table. Rochefort.
"Ah, hello again, Cyclops." Aramis mocked with a wink, "let's see. When was the last time we had the pleasure of his company?" he asked crossing his arms across his chest and he and his friend sat back in their seats.
"I believe it was the day he was cast out of the Musketeers. Conduct unbecoming a Musketeer. That was the charge was it not?"
"You should know. The three of you stood against me."
"It was the least we could do."
"You are hereby ordered to surrender your tunics and your commissions at once. You can, of course, refuse, become outlaws, hunted men," Aramis and Athos glanced at each other before looking back at Rochefort as he continued, "but why not come along quietly… for old times' sake?"
Everyone looked up at the sound of someone jumping on to a wheel like chandelier, the soldiers yelling as it came hurtling down knocking them all to the ground.
"Did I miss anyone?" the man stood on it asked as he waved the sword in his hand as he looked around.
Aramis stood up from his seat, sword in hand and made his way behind Rochefort. "Congratulations Porthos. You've brought down the house."
"Oh, drat. I was trying to hit Rochefort.' Porthos grumbled pointing his sword at the feathered hat wearing man in front of him.
Athos came and stood in front, all three of them pointing their swords at the man. "You go back, and you tell the Cardinal… we will continue to perform our sworn duty to protect the King. And we will use every means within out power to fight him."
"Bold words. I look forward to ramming them down your throat." Rochefort's words didn't affect the man in front of him who just smirked, chuckling to himself as he quickly pulled away his sword and began to leave.
"Rochefort. Isn't that a smelly kind of a cheese." Porthos asked curiously before he and Aramis pulled their swords away and began to leave also. However before the three could leave, Rochefort's next words cause all three of them to stop in their tracks.
"How is the lovely Rosalie doing these days? Is she still as beautiful as ever?"
The smirk on his face was soon wiped off when all three men pointed their swords at him again.
"You will not speak her name in mine, or our presence again." Aramis sneered becoming protective over the young lady. All three of them, as her father was once one of them that made her like family.
Rochefort smirked again at the look in Aramis's eyes. The two men held each other's gaze, before Aramis removed his sword and left, the other two doing the same. Rochefort made a note to mention this to the Cardinal.