Lost in the pages

Rage and fire

I walked over to a window that looked out into a courtyard that was white over with deep snow.

"WHAT HAPPENED?" Athos was behind me

"I got into trouble, I was out of my depth" I kept my back to him "But you don't need to worry about it, I can deal with it"

"Please face me" he softened his tone "Estelle" he touched my shoulder, I turned around to face him "Oh God" he lifted my chin and there was noting but fire and anger in his eyes "Who did this?"

"Constance told you, The red guard and the Cardinal" I touched my cheek and looked away from him

"I will kill them"

"Why?" I sighed "I'm just a girl; they do it to others and it doesn't bother you" I looked back out of the window "You should go back to the King and the Musketeers"

"You're Cold to me" Athos took a step back

"Well what do you expect" I rounded on him "Two nights ago I was in your bed and I thought that maybe there was something between us; but I'm not going to carry on giving my heart to a man that can't love me back" He looked at me like I had slapped him "Maybe I thought this could work, maybe I should leave and go back home"

"You can't... I don't want you to leave" he move forward again

"That's selfish, you don't want me to go but you can't love me" I shook my head and I fought back tears

"It's not that easy" he pushed his hand through his hair

"It is if you want it to be" folded my arms over my chest

"Wait here" he took a few steps back "Please" he didn't wait for an answer he returned to the other room. I turned back to the window

"Getting the Queen to talk to the King in your favor is a huge mistake" I jumped and spun around to see the Cardinal move out of the shadows "Making an enemy of me is an even bigger mistake"

"I don't care, and I didn't ask the Queen to speak to the King" I gripped on to the sill behind me

"You believe that being a whore for the Musketeers will serve you well, but you are mistaken" he peered closer at me making me hold my breath "I can...

"Cardinal Richelieu" There was a sharp bite to Athos's tone "I think you should stay away from Estelle she is under the protection of the Queen and of the King's Musketeers"

"She is fair Game Athos" the Cardinal said with a sickly smile "She cannot be under your protection if you cannot keep her under control"

"I do not need to keep her under control; she is a women with her own mind" Athos reached for my hand and tucked me in behind him "Now you have been told, next time the Sword may spell it out to you" he turned and put his hand in the small of my back an steered me toward the staircase. "Keep walking and do not look back" Athos instructed

"Where are we going?"

"Away" he turned his head slightly to look at me. We walked down the stone stairs I stopped at the bottom as a servant came forward and held out a thick fur lined cloak to Athos who took it and put it around my shoulders

"I'm not going out" I said shaking my head

"Yes you are" He bent and scooped me up throwing me over his shoulder and striding outside, the cold stinging my cheeks

"Athos, put me down" I thumped him in the back "ATHOS" I was stood up right in the snow "What the hell are you doing?" Athos lifted me and put me on to the back of Hades and then swung himself up behind me.

Without giving me time to gather my thoughts he kicked on Hades sending him at full speed through the snow. I closed my eyes as the wind burned my cheeks and I couldn't help but turn my face into Athos's chest He somehow managed to let go of the reins with one hand and he pulled the hood up on my cloak the fur instantly warming me.

The wind whistled around us as Hades galloped on at a relentless pace for what seemed like hours. I felt Athos pull back on the reins and Hades eased to a walk. I turned my head away from Athos and saw a large manor hour with its windows all shuttered we passed by small hut like homes curls of smoke coming from their chimneys I saw doors open and people putting their heads around them.

Athos stopped Hades at the front door of the house and dismounted leaving me sitting on his horse He pushed on the door and it slowly creaked open. Athos paused for a moment his eyes closed He took a deep breath and turned and walked back toward me and looked at me and put his hands on my hips.

 There was now a sadness to him he sat my feet on the ground and took my hand and walked with me inside, Furniture was covered by sheets, there was a layer of dust on the floors. A wooden staircase rose to a gallery landing in front of us.

Athos let go of my hand and went to a door on the right of the entrance and opened it with a deep creak of the hinges that hadn't been opened for a long time. I shivered against the chill of the house, I pulled the cloak tighter around me. I slowly followed Athos in to the other room as he pulled open the shutters and allowed some of the dull snow storm skylight in.

"I shall find fire wood" He said coming over to me "We need to stave off some of the cold"

"Athos"

"Let me light the fire" he offered me a half smile and squeezed my hand before striding out.

I was more than a little confused I trailed my fingers over one of the sheeted pieces of furniture. There was a candle on the mantle with a box of matches next to it. I lit the candle and it cast dancing shadows around the walls. It was a grand house all be it old and tired from neglect. There was the sounds of talking coming from the outer hall and a man walked in with Athos. He tipped his head to me and smiled before placing logs into the fireplace and making a fire.

"It is so good to see you back here, My Lord" the man looked at Athos who looked a little uncomfortable with his words ""It was a good harvest this year, did you receive the letter"

"I did thank you" Athos took a deep breath "As long as there is plenty of food for all of you that is all that matters" he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. The fire crackled into life and the man got to his feet

"Shall I light the fire in yur room?" He asked

"Yes" Athos nodded

"Very good" The man was obviously happy to see Athos "It is so good to have you back with us" He looked at me and smiled before walking out. I heard the stairs creak as he made his way up them; Athos shifted from one foot to another

"I will go get a bottle of wine for us" He walked to a cupboard and brought out more candles and lit one and put it in to a holder and walked out once again leaving me alone.

I pulled off a few of the dust covers sneezing as I sent up clouds of dust I dropped the covers in the corner of the room and sat on one of the chairs close to the fire. I unclipped my cloak and pushed it off of my shoulders.

"Excuse me Madame" I looked around at the man that had made the fire "I have lit the fire in his Lordships bedroom and in a few of the other rooms"

"Thank you..." He turned to walk out "Sorry I didn't get your name?"

"It's Gaston Madame" He smiled "Gaston Le Marc"

"Then thank you again Gaston" his smile got even wider

"My wife is making food; we will bring some for the two of you"

"I'm looking forward to it" I nodded as there was the clink of glasses

"Thank you Gaston" Athos stood next to him "Will you see to Hades for me"

"The Blacksmith already has done My Lord" He bowed his head to Athos and turned and walked out closing the heavy wooden front door behind him.