Lost in the pages

Pass the message

 I asked one of the grooms for my horse and saw Milady was walking toward me. She tipped her head and smiled. She was stunningly pretty her eyes were almost the same color as the summer sky, her blond hair pinned up and her lips were ruby red.

"Estelle" I was taken a back that she knew my name

"I'm sorry do I know you?" I frowned at her

"Cardinal Richelieu told me your name..." she nodded

"and?"

"I hear that you are close to the Musketeers" she walked around me "Especially one in particular"

"I think that the Cardinal should stop gossiping like an old fish wife; As I do not know who you are I can't see that it is any of your business" I turned away from her and let the groom help me on to my horse and looked back at her "Good bye Milady" she seemed a little taken aback. I pulled the reins of the horse and headed away from the Palace; something in her tone had un nerved me.

I rode to Bonacieux's cloth store and got off the horse. I was becoming better and better on the back of a horse. I opened the door and stepped inside there were a couple of people in there looking over two reams of silk. Charles looked up and looked at me and made his excuses to the people he was with and came across to me

"What are you doing here?" he looked down his nose at me

"I have just been to the palace to see Constance; she has asked me to tell you to go see her there, the Queen is unwell after what happened, and Constance doesn't want to leave her "

"A wife does not give orders to her husband" he was red in the face and the vein in his temple pulsed

"She does if the Queen is the one keeping her at the palace; if you wish to keep the Queens patronage then I would go to the palace and do not upset the Queen by making her confidante uncomfortable" I moved back to the door "Constance is important to the Queen; very important" I opened the door and managed to get back into the saddle of my horse and travelled the short distance to the Garrison,

Athos was waiting while the Groom saddled Hades.

"I thought you would still be sleeping" Athos spun around on the spot his eyes wide, he strode over to me and lifted me down

"Are you alright?" I looked me over "I was worried' he pulled me into his arms, I could hear his heart thumping in his chest

"Athos, Athos... you're hurting me" I gasped with the tightness of his hug.

"I'm sorry" he let go of me and held my arms and took a deep rattling breath, he raked his hand through his hair with a slight tremble

"I went to the palace with the Captain Treville" I frowned at him "What's wrong?"

"I had a nightmare" his gloved hands touched the side of my face and he rested his forehead against mine before he kissed me deeply.

"Lets go inside" I said wrapping my arm around his waist, a rider came in to the courtyard

"Athos" we both looked around "Captain Treville wants you to join him at the palace" Athos closed his eyes and pinched his nose

"Tell Captain Treville I shall be there shortly" he said with a snap to his tone the rider turned his horse and galloped from the Garrison "I am sorry Estelle" he sighed

"I understand" he moved away from me down the steps "Athos, I'll be waiting right here when you come back; because I still love you" He took my hand and kissed it

"I will come back to you" he smiled. I watched him leave and took a deep breath and climbed the steps to Aramis's room and knocked on the door.

"Yes" the tired sound of his voice called out. I opened the door and stepped inside. Aramis was sitting in front of the fireplace with the fire non existent in it's hearth; he nursed a cup of brandy.

"It's freezing in here" I walked over to the fireplace and remade it from the embers and fanned the flames sending them leaping against the new logs.

"I thought you were with Athos" he said with a slight slur

"I left him sleeping and went to the Palace, and to see the Queen" he dropped the cup and sat up

"Is she well, Is she wanting..." I crouched down by him

"I have a letter from her for you and she also sent you this" I took the Rosary from around my neck and handed it to him. He clasped it in his hand and closed his eyes as he held it his lips moving in a silent prayer. I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Aramis opened his eyes and looked at me

"Thank you" I smiled and nodded at him "You are risking everything"

"I suppose I am" I moved and sat on the other seat across from him "But someone has to stop you from wallowing in self pity, Athos is the Brooder of the group, I don't think we can handle another one" His eye brows rose "Can I ask you something?"

"As long as it is not why?" he sighed and picked up his wine cup

"No, it has nothing to do with what happened" I frowned "There is a woman that is around the Cardinal, she's beautiful with blond hair" he looked at me and shook his head

"I have not seen her" his fingers toyed with the beads on the rosary "But then the Cardinal is one man that has an abundance of secrets. Why did you ask?"

"She came up to me at the palace and was asking about the fact I knew you all especially one of you" I chewed my lip "She made me nervous"

"Tell Athos when he comes back"

"I will" I got to my feet "Aramis" he looked at me "You have friends that will support you if you feel like breaking"

"I know" he smiled "I am a lucky man to have you all" I walked by him and out of the room