Lost in the pages

Together

The Queen walked out leaving all of us in a stunned silence

"Did she say you are to be free of Bonacieux?" D'artagnan said finally finding his voice; Constance smiled and nodded "That means"

"We can be together" she giggled D'artagnan picked her up and spun her around making her laugh "With the blessing of the Queen" he put her down and bent his head and kissed her.

"Finally" Porthos laughed as he banged D'artagnan on the shoulder and kissed Constance's cheek,

"Seems as if not only do the Musketeers seem to have two new honorary members between Constance and Estelle, it seems as if we will have two weddings" Aramis beamed  "Estelle" I looked at him "you need to rest, no more getting up to annoy the Cardinal"

"I will make sure she stays in bed" Athos said sitting on the edge of it

"He said she needs rest" Constance laughed "I will go fetch food" she turned and kissed D'artagnan before she walked out. 

"We also need to get back to the King" Porthos walked toward the door 

"You need to go?" I asked Athos he shook his head

"If I am needed they know where I am" He got off the bed and walked the others out and closed the door after them. "You look exhausted" he came back over to me and stroked the side of my face.

"Well it's been quite the morning" I eased back against the pillow "Thank you" he frowned at me as he took off his jacket and belts

"For what?" he propped himself up on the pillows next to me

"For this" I lifted my left hand showing the ring "for putting it back on my hand" he held my hand and ran his finger over the cabochon sapphires in the shape of the Fleur d'lis

"It is where it is supposed to be" he looked at me "I thought it felt bad when you left all that time ago and we didn't know where you were, but this time" he closed his eyes I moved closer to him and kissed him stopping him from finishing the sentence. 

"I love you and I am not going to go anywhere" I lent back "I want to be pain free and back in the Garrison, and with you" I ran my hand over the cotton of his shirt and inside the opening to the warm skin of his chest. He inhaled sharply and closed his eyes

"Oh I want nothing more than to hold you again, be with you again" he inhaled and moved quickly holding his body weight on his arms above me making me gasp.

There was such a raw dangerous power in Athos even when I was terrified in prison the thought of being back with him; was the one comfort I had knowing he would keep me safe"

"Estelle" the concern in his voice had me looking up at him. He moved from over me and sat me up and wiped away the tears that were now streaming down my face "Did I hurt you? what's wrong" I put my head in the crook of his neck and couldn't control the wracking sobs, he put one hand on the back of my neck and the other stroked my face "Estelle, please?"

"You didn't hurt me" I sniffed "I have just realized you are mine now and I'm safe" He let out a huge sigh 

"Yes you are, and I wish we could marry now" he smiled

"It wouldn't be much of a wedding night at the moment"

"No, it wouldn't, that is why you need to rest and to heal" he got a twinkle in his eyes "so the wedding night will be very, very special".

Over the next few weeks I healed and got stronger again. I'd spent a lot of time with Constance and the Queen who was now beginning to show with a slight pregnancy bump spring had gripped Paris and the cold was a distant memory. Athos and the Musketeers had been gone from Paris with the King and the Cardinal hunting about two hundred miles south of the city.

"Estelle, Estelle" I looked around as Constance walked into the room "I've been looking for you"

"Sorry I was a million miles away" I pushed up from the window seat 

"Are you feeling alright?" she asked coming over 

"A few twinges in my back but nothing I can't handle" I smiled at her "Is there any news of them coming home yet?"

"No" she sighed "I wish some word would be sent" she squeezed my hands. The door opened and one of the Ladies in waiting came in

"The Queen has asked that you both join her in the long gallery". I looked at Constance who shrugged and linked my arm. we followed her and rounded the corner and saw Charles standing with the two men he now had tailoring for him

I felt Constance stall, she took a deep breath, and I gave her a comforting smile; it was the first time she had been face to face with Charles since the Queen told him of her decision. He turned his head and looked at her and the nerve in his cheek twitched.

"Constance, Estelle" the Queen smiled 

"Your Majesty" we both dipped into curtseys 

"I have some papers for you to sign Constance, Monsieur Bonasieux" she looked toward Charles "he has already signed them there was a large leather purse on the table in front of them" Constance frowned and looked at the papers; they were for the dissolution of her marriage. Charles turned his head and looked at me and narrowed his eyes. as the sound of Constance signing her name with the quill seemed to echo from the walls. "There" The queen said with a wide smile "You and Monsieur Bonasieux are no longer married" Charles looked away from me and lifted his head 

"Thank you, Your Majesty" I knew Constance was trying to hide her excitement.  She stepped back and looked at me with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Now Estelle" I stepped forward "I have had something made for you as a gift of thanks for your loyalty to me" one of the tailors bought out a dress in a pale cream with red roses embroidered all over it "I thought that the roses would remind you of your English roots and maybe it could be the dress you wear when you and Athos marry"

"Thank you, Your Majesty" I ran my fingers over the skirt of the dress "It's beautiful".

"That will be all Monsieur" The Queen looked at Charles he bowed low to her and turned and walked away with the tailors. "I have also been informed that the King shall be back within the hour" Constance and I looked at her and them at each other "Your Musketeers are coming home"