Duty Calls

Chapter 11

Constance’s POV

*set some time after the wedding has been crashed, PARIS*

Finally I’ve arrived in Paris, I am literally running into the palace. I run into the huge hall, where I find King Louis and the Cardinal.

“My King! Something terrible has happened!” I burst out before even thinking of my words.

The Cardinal gives me a glare full of disapproval, King Louis on the other hand looks at me with sympathy.

“Calm down, what happened? Tell us everything.”

And of course I do as I am told.
I tell them about the wedding, about the church crashing down upon us. Silent tears are running down my face and my voice is trembling. Why can’t I be strong just for once? Finally, I tell them that D’Artagnan has sent me here. The thought of leaving him tears my heart apart. I just can’t believe that I had to let him go AGAIN. I don’t know what I would do without him… I have to see him again.

“Buckingham interrupted your wedding? What a shame! This must have consequences!”

“I absolutely agree with you, your majesty. We should send at least one of the airships there. I will accompany it.”

“Well, send one airship, another one might follow.”

*one hour later*

I can see the airship right in front of me. It is ready to take off. Suddenly I see my chance, my only chance to get to the one I love. Everybody is busy with just anything, preparing the ship and whatever. Nobody notices me standing there and watching. So I decide to take this chance: I hurry to sneak into the airship. I will find you, D’Artagnan. This is the promise that I intend to keep on any cost.
I make it on the ship just in time, I quickly hide somewhere and already feel the airship starting to move.
Suddenly there’s a hand on my shoulder and I jump as I hear a voice.

“Hey, what are you doing here? I doubt that you’re supposed to be down here.”

I turn around with a shocked and frightened expression on my face. In front of me there’s a young soldier. He is kneeling and is wearing the uniform of one of the Cardinal’s men.

“I… I’m…”

I stutter. Damn, why am I not even capable of talking in complete sentences? I am simply too scared… But then I am surprised by him giving me a warm smile. I guess I didn’t know or think that the Cardinal’s men could actually act nicely.

“Hey, calm down, I am not going to hurt you. I am Julien, I am one of Cardinal Richelieu’s men. So tell me, what a beautiful young lady like you is doing on an airship that is on its way to solve a conflict.”

“I… I can’t tell you the reason why I am here. And you can’t tell anyone that I am here. As you said, most people would think that I am not supposed to be here. But I am not a spy or anything. I just really have to get there. Please, just help me!”

He looks at me and I can see that he is trying to figure out whether to trust me or not. I look back into his hazel eyes with fear.

“Alright, I’ll help you. As long as you stay down here, you won’t be found. But sooner or later, you’re gonna have to tell me what’s the deal with all of this. You know, I am risking my job.”

I am relieved: maybe I will really see him again. I watch as Julien leaves. I just hope that I can really trust him. After all he is one of the Cardinal’s men and I definitely don’t trust that man. I sit down on a box and wait. I am feeling so useless right now… D’Artagnan might be risking his life in a fight and all that I am doing is sitting around.

After some time, I hear someone coming again. It’s Julien.

“We are near Calais now. You haven’t even told me your name… I think it’s time to share your story with me.”

I sigh. He is right. He has helped me and I think he really might be trustworthy. And he seems to be nice, I have the feeling, that D’Artagnan would like him.

“Alright… I am Constance. I sneaked on this ship because I have to get to Calais. I was there in the first place to marry D’Artagnan, my fiancé. But our wedding has been interrupted by Buckingham and the events why this ship is flying to Calais. D’Artagnan sent me to Paris to inform the King, while he stayed in Calais, trying to save the world or whatever. I have to see him again.”

“I understand. I would have done the same thing. I will help you search for him.”

Before I can respond something in order to thank him, there’s a loud crashing sound. Without even thinking twice, we both run up, onto the deck. I look for the source of the sound that has startled me. Then I see it: Buckingham’s ship that was quite near Calais has been shot and it is destroyed now.

Everyone around us is cheering.