Duty Calls

Chapter 13

D’Artagnan’s POV

We have no choice but try to swim along the cliffs at the coast in order to find some way to get out. But as I am the luckiest person ever, my so-called luck is proven once again. As I am swimming at the coast, a great wave falls upon me and draws me under water. I am twirled around and soon I don’t know any more where’s up and where’s down. Then my head connects with something hard and I fall into darkness immediately.

Athos’ POV

We have been swimming for what feels like ages. I know that D’Artagnan is struggling to stay at the surface and even I am having a hard time. Suddenly I can make out land. Thank God! I don’t think we could hold on much longer. My joy quickly fades though, when I realize that we have indeed reached land, but there are only cliffs. No way we’re gonna get out here! Why can’t we be lucky for once? Why do things always have to get complicated? So we don’t have a choice. We gotta keep going and try to hold on.
Suddenly I notice how close to the cliffs D’Artagnan is swimming. I am about to warn him and tell him to get away from the rocks when it happens. A huge wave falls down on him and he disappears under the water surface. ‘Come on, buddy, reappear!’ I think. But he doesn’t break through the surface again. Damn! I swim towards the spot where I think I’ve seen him last. Too late I realize that sow I’ve made the same mistake as my friend. I got too close to the rocks and I am drawn under water by the next wave. I try to dive up again, but right as I break through the surface, the next wave is upon me. I have never felt this helpless while being in water. Normally I am the one who always volunteers to take the entry through the water when we’re on a mission. I am a great swimmer and a nearly perfect diver. I keep struggling, but I have to realize that I’m fighting a lost fight. You can’t win against the power of the ocean. I can’t believe we’ve actually escaped that ship only to drown here. My vision is getting blurry from the lack of oxygen. Finally I drift into darkness. This is the end. I failed. I failed my King. I failed D’Artagnan. I failed Porthos and Aramis. I failed the citizens of Calais. I failed France. I FAILED.

I feel peaceful. I feel numb and warm. Is this death? I have always thought that it’s something bad, painful and terrible. But actually it’s not that bad. Of course, Aramis has always believed in heaven. Is this heaven? Maybe my friend was right and this really is heaven… But why would I be in heaven, I mean, I’m not a good man. I have killed people and I probably drink too much…

Constance’s POV

Finally we land in Calais, well actually not in Calais, but somewhere a bit outside the town. It’s some sort of a camp, where the citizens have fled. This means that my friends gotta be there, too. And finally I’ll be able to reunite with D’Artagnan! Then Julien’s voice reaches my ears.

“Constance, we’ve landed, come on, let’s get off this ship!”

I smile at him and nod. Then we walk outside together. I search for one person immediately. Julien is still accompanying me. Suddenly, I hear someone shout my name.

“Constance, over here”

That’s Porthos’ voice. I turn around and soon I can spot him near a tent. He waves me over and I hurry to get there. Hopefully my beloved one isn’t far now. As I reach him, I can see that Aramis is with him, but there’s no sign of Athos and D’Artagnan… Julien hurries to introduce himself, but at the moment I don’t care about telling them what has happened since I left here.

“Where’s D’Artagnan?” I question.

All of them fall silent at once. Porthos shifts uncomfortably. My heart sinks. Something has happened… Finally Aramis raises his voice.

“Constance… After you left, we had to run from Buckingham’s men. We were trapped and you know how foolish D’Artagnan can be… He stepped out to distract the soldiers, we couldn’t hold him back. It’s not like he told us what he was about to do… However, he’s been captured, but Athos went after him, to get him off that ship.”

I look at him in horror. No! NO, that can’t be! PLEASE not!

“What ship? Where are they now?”

“It’s close to the harbor of the town. Well more or less close, but the only one in that area. We don’t know where they are now, but they might show up any second.”

I can’t stand it. It’s the ship we shot down. We killed him! I collapse to the ground and break into tears. I barely feel the soothing hand on my shoulder.

“Constance, what is it?” Aramis asks.

I can’t answer. I can’t force my voice to work. But Julien answers for me.

“The ship has been destroyed. We came here with the Cardinal’s airship after Constance has told us about Calais being attacked. We shot the ship down, we had no idea that our men were on it…”

I lift my head a little to see Aramis and Porthos. They are frozen in shock and stare at Julien, not believing that their friends are dead…