D'artagnan and Athos' blood began to boil as Helena Lavisk led a small group of beautiful young girls into the room to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Athos feels the young Gascon tense next to him as one of the men reached for the lead girl. "Please end this before I end up wanting to kill everyone here," he growled under his breath so only Athos could hear him. They sat silent as the bidding began and as the bid for the first girl reached 40 livres Athos interjected, "I bid nothing." The statement caused the room to fall silent and Helena spun around to face him and with a voice laced with venom and hatred said, "I don't think you understand Monsieur."

Unable to contain his anger anymore Athos Shouted, "I understand very well!"

D'artagnan looked to the young woman in front of him, "Do you trust us?" his eyes locking with hers. It didn't take long before shout yelled to the girls behind her, "Go with them!"

As soon as those words were said chaos ensued. Helena's guards made a grab for the girls while wealthy men, fearing for their livelihoods and reputations, made a dash for it. In the madness Helena could be heard yelling to her husband.

Outside in the street just outside the gate sat an apprehensive Aramis. He cursed himself for showing his hand too early to Helena and causing him to have to wait outside or risk raising suspicion and blowing the whole operation. The Spaniard pushed himself away from the wall that he had been leaning against when he heard yelling at the gate. A few men who Aramis had seen enter earlier that evening were now spilling into the streets, running from some unseen danger.

Recognizing that it was time to act, Aramis took off towards the entrance dodging between the fleeing Lords, comtes, and wealthy merchants. As he breached the door he could see D'artagnan at the base of the staircase ushering a group of women in white sheer gowns towards the door. There were more than he had been expecting.

Aramis noticed that his young friend was unarmed. This meant that Athos was most likely unarmed as well and he removed one of his swords from its sheath and tossed it to D'artagnan who tossed it up the stairs to Athos who was attempting to fight off two guards with swords.

"Go with him!" D'artagnan shouted to the girls and began pushing the group towards the exit.

Just then a guard clad all in black lunged toward D'artagnan, but missed by mere centimeters as the lithe Gascon twisted around to face his attacker. In one swift movement the man was disarmed and D'artagnan was readying himself to face another attacker, stolen blade in hand.

By then Athos had made it down the stairs and was about to be overtaken by one of the guards and Helena's husband. Aramis leapt onto the guard and D'artagnan pulled Lavisk back by his collar giving Athos the opening that he needed to make a slash as Lavisk's hand. The other man let out a yell and released his sword as Athos landed a well-placed blow to his head.

The two older Musketeers having dealt with their opponents took the opportunity to follow the girls out into the street. D'artagnan placed himself between the two remaining guards and his companions to cover their escape.

After disarming one and fatally wounding the other D'artagnan turned to depart as well, but did not see Helena pick up her husband's abandoned blade as she charged at him. D'artagnan turned into the attack as Helena gave a frustrated scream. The blade bit into his back and right side as he turned.

Faster than she could even comprehend, D'artagnan had knocked away the sword and held his own blade against her exposed throat, "I've never killed a woman before, but for you, I might make an exception." Hate dripped from his words as he pressed the edge of the blade harder against her skin, drawing a thin line of crimson down her neck.

Helena's eyes filled with fear and D'artagnan let his words sink in a moment before shoving the woman hard and turning to leave.

On the street Athos and Aramis had rounded the girls up and stood at the corner, eyes trained on the empty courtyard and the open gate. Their muscles were tense as the seconds ticked by. Athos called out for D'artagnan, but no response came.

Seconds later the two men visibly relaxed as the lean frame of the Gascon came into view, but it was short lived as Aramis noticed a slight hitch in D'artagnan' s step.

Just as D'artagnan came level with the gate Helena appeared in the doorway having grabbed a pistol from one of her dead guards and took aim at D'artagnan.

From where they stood both Aramis and Athos recognized the blast of a pistol and watched in horror as D'artagnan' s body jerked violently as the ball impacted his left shoulder.

"D'ARTAGNAN!" Athos yelled as Aramis took off at a sprint towards their youngest member.

D'artagnan managed to stay upright after being hit and in second Aramis was at his side and fired a shot of his own. The ball imbedded itself in the wooden frame of the doorway showering bits of wood and mortar on Helena forcing her to duck back into the building.

Aramis placed a hand on D'artagnan's back to steady him and together they took off towards the awaiting girls and a worried looking Athos.

Once there D'artagnan leaned against the wall next to a torch. He winced as Aramis began to paw at him to locate any and all of his injuries. "I'm fine," D'artagnan announced attempting to hide his discomfort, "the shot hit my shoulder," but the truth of it was the pain in his side was making it difficult to breathe.

Athos shared a look with Aramis, who in the dim light was unable to make out the severity D'artagnan's wounds.

"Can you still run?" Athos asked.

D'artagnan nodded and Aramis gave him a gentle pat on his uninjured shoulder, "Always one for the dramatic flair, ay D'artagnan? I'll patch you up at the garrison, but now we better leave before they find the courage to give chase." The three companions took off at a run with their charges in the direction of the Musketeer's garrison.