Lost in the pages

Pain and fear

The door to the cell opened and two red guard walked in.

"Get up" One of the barked at me

"What's happening?" I asked staying where I was 

"I said get up" his hand connected with the side of my face sending me sprawling across the floor. I was hauled to my feet and my hands were tied together and I was dragged from the cell 

"What's happening" I asked again fear gripping me hard another door was opened, and bright sunlight made me blink and squint against it as I was pulled out into the icy cold of a courtyard.

Fresh white snow covered the ground; A platform was in the center with a pole on the far edge of it. Red Guards numbering at least eight to include the two men that had fetched me from my cell stood around. They forced me up the wooden steps; the metallic stench of blood and the sight of the blood stains on the wood of the platform had me struggling and trying to stop them 

"Please what's happening?" I begged

The rope that bound my hands was put over a hook that was in the pole. I was stretched to the point of being on Tip toe, my face almost touching to pole

"Cardinal Richelieu; has sentenced you to ten lashes" One of the Red Guard announced. I was in a state of shock at hearing those words. Someone walked up behind me and ripped the back of my dress open to my waist, the cold was like a wakeup call, and I began to struggle.

There was whoosh in the air and then utter searing pain across my back making me scream like a wounded animal and my knees buckled; pain radiated into my shoulders as the Whooshing sound cut the air again and for a second time the nine leather lashes cut into my back.

"STOP THIS NOW BY ORDER OF QUEEN ANN" Porthos's voice echoed from the walls I heard the running of feet, and my weight was supported "We've got you" Porthos said gently as Aramis appeared in front of my eyes; he took his knife and sliced the rope free of my wrists and I collapsed into Porthos.

"You all need to get out of our way" Aramis was angrier than I'd ever known him Porthos picked me up and I cried out with the pain

"I'm sorry Estelle " He said looking down at me "let's get you to safety".

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Athos walked into the palace he hoped the captain Treville had managed to get the king to be in the throne room if he had any chance of this working. I paced the floor looking from the window onto the falling fresh snow. He rubbed the back of his neck.

"Allow me" Milady purred she moved his hands and rubbed his shoulders "I always could get the muscles to relax, under my expert touch" Athos closed his eyes

"I am fine" he said without moving

"It really doesn't feel like it, I have my own rooms here in the Palace" She moved around him "You know that I could make you feel so much better" she nuzzled the side of his neck "I never stopped loving you even after you had me sentenced to hang"

"You had murdered you first husband and attempted to murder your second; but then you married me whilst still married to the second" He sighed "What else was I supposed to do, and now you do not seem to be suffering too much, as Mistress to the King"

"Oh, I'm not I have a very good life here, and I get to see you each day" she took a deep breath and as soon as I can, I will make sure that the Queen falls foul of some poison, and I will make it seem as if D'artagnan's whore was the traitor that put it into her food" Athos looked at her "Another nail in the coffin of the Musketeers" she couldn't contain herself "And then the King in his grief will turn to me and the Cardinal"

"Does the Cardinal know of this?" Athos asked

"No; he doesn't like the Queen, but he knows what her being pregnant means" she rolled her eyes "Any woman that marries the King will be able to give him a child"

"By that you are meaning you I take it?" Athos moved away from her

"Would it be so bad, Me the mother to the heir to the French throne; at least I'm a French woman" She turned on the spot "I liked living in a Manor house with you, but I think I love living in a Palace" her high tinkling laugh echoed from the walls

"Madame" her face dropped at the sound of the King's voice "GUARDS"

Milady turned around quickly to see the King standing with Treville and D'artagnan; The Cardinal was stood behind them with wide eyes and his mouth slightly open in utter shock, Athos walked over to D'artagnan and took off the red cloak he was wearing and tossed it on to a chair, as D'artagnan handed him his Musketeers Shoulder epaulet.

"Sire" she stammered "I didn't... I mean he tricked me" she pointed to Athos "He hates me and he tried to kill me" she was gabbling "I would never do anything to hurt you"

"NO, but you would hurt the Queen" Treville barked at her 

"Arrest this woman for Treason" the King shouted "take her to the Bastille"

"NO, Please Louis" she called out as two Red Guards grabbed her 

"I am your King" the King stamped his foot "You are a whore and a traitor"

"ATHOS Please help me" she begged looking at Athos "I love you"

"And I love Estelle" he bit at her, Milady's face distorted as she cried as the dragged her from the room

"Athos" the Cardinal stepped forward "You were part of..."

"No Cardinal" Treville smiled "Athos was working for The King because he knew that Milady de Winter was dangerous"

"Yes, and Athos and the rest of the Musketeers shall be rewarded for this" The king faced them "I owe you a great deal"

"It was just our duty your Majesty" Athos said bowing his head. 

"Cardinal, Treville we must meet, this cannot be allowed to happen again, and I do not want the Queen to hear that her life was in danger whilst she carries my son" The King walked from the room.

"Did Aramis and Porthos get Estelle yet?" Athos asked D'artagnan as the walked out into the long hallway

"I don't know, not as when I left Constance before we" he gestured to the room where they had just been.

"ATHOS, D'ARTAGNAN" Constance was running down the hallway toward them "You need to come quickly, It's Estelle" Both men looked at each other and broke in to a run.