The Musketeer Girl

Chapter 9

"Wake up you lot!!" a sudden voice boomed, startling the five once sleeping friends; they each stop up from their sleeping position, reaching for their weapons as if to protect themselves - that was until their eyes landed on.....Treville?? "Okay, seriously" Kayley spoke, her voice tired, joking, but with a hint of seriousness "we have a locked door for a reason!!" this was the fifth person to break into their room!! She'd talk to Constance about the lock in a bit as it could be a dangerous issue - especially with her and her brother helping the musketeers out with missions. "What are you doing here Captain??" Porthos asked as she stood up from his place on the floor, pulling his lover with him, before they stretched; sleeping on a hard wooden floor with only a few blankets and pillows did nothing for their backs - they wouldn't change it though. Last night was brilliant. Rolling his eyes, Treville placed his hands on his hips "waking you lazy sods up" he stated, though it was only twenty past eight in the morning "the Duke of Wales is coming to the Palace today!!". This earned a frown from Athos as he put his boots on - he and his other fellow musketeers had slept in their day clothes "a surprise visit?? Great" he sighed. They finished getting ready, Kayley leaving the bathroom as she tied her hair up once again "are we coming too uncle Treville??" she asked as she attached her belt and weapons before leaving the room with the group of men, locking the door once the door was shut; the Captain nodded his head "indeed you are" he sent the teen a smile "her majesties, the Queen, insisted upon both you and your brother being present". The siblings shared a look of joy at the information. As soon as they reached the Garrison, they saddled up their horses and left for the Palace - they ate some bread and jam as they travelled as a quite breakfast. 

Upon arriving at the beautiful home of the French royal family, they handed their horses over to the stable boys and entered the Palace, following Treville as he led them though many hallways until they reached the throne room. "You're majesties" they greeted with a respectable bow; both husband and wife turned towards the group "it's good to see you have all returned safe, well and unharmed from your latest mission" Louis said to three musketeers and their two new friends; Anne couldn't help but frown as she caught sight of the fourteen year old's face - the cut on her lip had finally stopped bleeding and had scabbed over, the skin around it bruising quite a bit as the harsh colours painted the side of her mouth. "I wouldn't say completely unharmed dear" she voiced, making her husband take a proper look at the young girl - how he hadn't seen her injury?? If you could even call it that - none of them knew. Kayley sent a bright smile as she reassured the royal couple that she was fine "doesn't even hurt anymore". Returning to the purpose that they were there, Louis explained how the Duke of Wales would be arriving only an hours time "he wishes for a parade like always" he rolled his eyes at the request "so we shall wait for him in the gardens" the Queen looked over at the brother and sister who shared a wondering look "you two shall attend with your friends as well, we need there safety and ours in good hands after all" she seemed to understand what they were thinking. They all smiled, happy that the D'artagnan's were receiving this experience - they could handle it after all. After the discussion, they began to make their way towards the garden at the front of the Palace; Anne had the teenager walk with her so that they could talk - she had really taken a liking to the girl. "So how was the mission?? And how did you get hurt exactly??" her majesty asked, her voice laced with curiosity, concern and wonder; Kayley didn't hold back any details as she explained everything - just as the Queen wished. 

With the King and Queen sat in their portable thrones, and Treville and the Cardinal stood near by, the musketeers and their helping friends were stood in a line, side by side, as they waited for the Duke. "How long have we been waiting??" D'artagnan asked, bored out of his mind - they all were; Athos thought momentarily "about an hour and a half". This earned a multiple of signs. They could hear the King Louis complaining about the same thing, stating how "it was just like the Duke to be late" and how he was extremely bored; they couldn't agree more. "Heat...flies...boredom...I do so love parades" Porthos mumbled so that only his four friends next to him could hear, sarcasm dripping from his mouth "I'm thinking about fainting just for something to do" they couldn't hold back their grins - Kayley even let out a small chuckle. Finally, after another ten minutes, a carriage could be seen making its way towards the Palace; the door was opened once it stopped to reveal the Duke and Duchess - they stepped out and approached the royals of France. "Welcome to Paris Adam, Claire" Louis greeded with a polite smile "it is good to see you both, I hope the ride was okay??" the two men shook hands "it was just fine, thank you". Returning to the throne room to talk, the Duke and Duchess noticed the teenager follow, a sword and gun attached to her belt - she was walking with the musketeers "you have a young girl as one of your musketeers??" Claire asked quietly; the King nodded proudly "indeed, Kayley is quite the swords woman from what I have heard" he explained "but she and her brother, D'artagnan, are not actually musketeers, they're just giving some assistance to the musketeers". It certainly interested their guests. As they sat down, Treville and his musketeers stood a few feet away - they were just security after all; the Cardinal joined the King as they sat down at a table the servants had prepared some tables and chairs with some food and drinks. "So tell me, what brings you to Paris??" Anne asked with her usual sweet smile; Adam and his wife returned it after sharing a look of confusion "well...I'd like to think that we are all still close friends, am I correct??" the Duke asked earning two nods from the royal family "of course, what on earth would make you think otherwise??". Both Louis and Anne were confused by the question, wondering what their friends were talking about. Claire took over for her husband "you see....we received a letter from you just over a week ago" she explained, not helping anyone's confusion "and it was....rather unsettling to read". From what the five friends and their Captain could hear, this wasn't good "hmm" Louis seemed to think as he placed his glass down "well I can assure you, neither my wife nor I sent you any letter" he attempted to reassure "and certainly not one that would course any concern". Speaking up, Anne asked if the couple had the letter with them; Adam nodded as he retrieved it from his pocket. The Queen gently pulled the letter out from the envelope which held the French symbol - it was one that only the royal family use.

"Dear Adam and Claire - the Duke and Duchess of Wales. It has come to my attention that you, along with much support from England, have plans to declare war upon France. Due to this information, I ask for you to travel to Paris so that we may discuss what possible reason you have to do such a thing, as well as what we have supposedly done to warrant a war cast upon my country. I hope to see you soon. Yours sincerely, King Louis of France".

Anna finished reading the letter out loud, shocking all but the Duke and Duchess who had reach it many times. "No one has informed me that you wish to declare war on France!!" Louis exclaimed, his anger clear on his face and in his voice "and I most certainly did not write that letter!!". Both Adam and his wife sent his majesty a smile "we assumed as much, we looked at your old letter" Claire explained "the writing does not match" her husband spoke up "but we thought it were best if we came to Paris anyway, just to make sure" he rubbed his forehead "and to let you know about it as we didn't want you to also receive a letter like this one". Upon hearing about the different writing, Treville stepped forward "may I see the letter your majesties??" he asked, earning a nod from the Queen as she handed it to him; he scanned the ink covered paper deeply "you're right about the writing, this isn't his majesties". From where she and her uncle were stood, Kayley could see the letter from the side - she couldn't help but have a small flash back from her past. No....it couldn't be...could it?? Standing next to her uncle, Kayley asked if she too may look at the letter "by all means" Anne smiled - they doubted she would or could ever say no to the teenager. Handing the piece of paper over, Kayley brushed her fingers over the supposedly dry ink....only for it to smudge; it was dry, yet it still wondered from its original place. "Hmm....I wonder??" the room full of people watched as the young girl brought the letter up to her face and...sniffed?? That earned a few raised brows and looks of confusion, yet they remained silent as they watched Kayley's eyes widened as she gasped out in shock and slight horror - she removed the letter from her nose quickly. "D'artagnan" she looked over at her brother as she approached her, a questioning look being sent her way "what does this ink smell like??" was all she asked. 

With a raised brow, the man took a small sniff of the paper, only to react the same as his sister did "it can't be!! What kind of person has the money for that type of ink?!". The girl shrugged before turning towards the four old time friend and their uncle "whoever touched this letter needs to wash their hands now!! And with the best soap you have!!" she ordered, not caring it was towards royalty; they were alarmed by this and asked why "the type of ink that's been used for this letter is one that is extremely rare, as well as expensive" she explained "it's not actual ink, it's poison!!". All eyes widened in horror at the information. None of them needed to be told twice and the royals, duke, duchess, Treville and Kayley left to intensely scrub their hands - the teen washed her nose, just to be safe. Ten minutes later and they had returned to the throne room; the Cardinal, musketeers and D'artagnan patiently waited for them. "how did you know the ink was poisonous??" Claire asked wit curiosity; the brother and sister shared a look before mentally agreeing to reveal the reason. The man spoke up "when I was fifteen years old, I had received a letter from someone who we later discovered to be an enemy of our father" he explained before his sister took over "the ink on the letter was poison, just like this letter....but at the time, we didn't know of such a thing" this didn't sound like it was going to be a good story. Signing, Kayley continued "D'artagnan had eaten lunch after reading the letter, so the poison was on his hands and was on every piece of food he ate....within an hour, he had collapsed to the ground in pain" they looked towards D'artagnan who nodded to confirm the story - he winced as he remembered the agonising pain. "We had no idea what was happening, nor did the doctor...that was until Papa found the letter and recognised the ink to be poisonous" she smiled "as soon as the doctor knew what was wrong and that it was because he had been poisoned, he knew what to do and healed D'artagnan, though it was nearly too late". The story was extremely alarming, though they were glad it ended well "I didn't know that happened!!" Treville exclaimed, not understanding why his best friend hadn't told him that his son had been poisoned; his nephew shrugged "father didn't want to worry you I guess". Returning to their currant dilemma, Athos spoke up "so whoever actually wrote and sent this letter had the intention to start a war between France and Wales, as well as try to join England to it?? And possibly murder the duke and duchess??" he summed up; Porthos turned towards Claire and Adam "do you have any enemies that could get their hands on this kind of poison?? Someone that's extremely wealthy??" he asked as he remembered what Kayley had said about this particular poison. The couple thought about the question, yet they couldn't pick out a name "no...we don't".