Chapter 6

Thanks for reading this story. Thanks to pallysD'Artagnan for their review and thanks to all the followers and the one who favorited this story.

New Chapter, read, enjoy and review.

Her breath was the only sound she could hear. Hid behind a tree, her dress all torn up, she knew. She knew she couldn't stay there any longer. She had to get up and leave. And ran as fast as she could. Faster than she had before. She must escape her pursuers. She needed to. She must reach Paris and the musketeers. She must get help.

Male voices echoed through the woods, her pursuers were onto her. She took another breath and ran. They were far away still. She could only hear their voices but it was enough. She must get away from them. It was their only chance. She must get help.

She ran, ran, and ran. Never stopping, never looking back. She must get help.

It was their only chance.

It had all started with a note. A note received by Milady, Countess of Carlisle, from Salvador. Salvador was an old friend. When she and Emmanuelle were on missions, Salvador helped by providing vital information on the enemies or by giving access to the enemy's camp. But he had also betrayed them in the past. Emma knew he couldn't be trusted. And yet, he was the only one with intel that they needed: the whereabouts of Montoya's.

On that day, Emma had left the garrison early to join Milady in her mansion. Received by Kitty, she was then led to Milady's office. There, she discovered the note. Written by Salvador's hand, he spoke of Châteaudun and Montoya.

"How do we know he's telling the truth?" Emma asked putting down the note.

"We don't." Milady sighed.

"Shall I remind you he had betrayed us before?" Emma countered.

"No need." Milady replied. "But this is the first we've heard of Montoya. It may be our only chance to know what he is up to."

"Right." Emma nodded. "And let's say we know of Montoya's plan for us…how do we proceed?"

"We strike first."

"That's a terrible plan."

"What other choice do we have?" Milady snapped back. "You know he will come for Kitty and me, if given the chance."

"I know." Emma said. "That doesn't mean we have to walk right into a trap for that."

"Salvador has no allegiance, he'll work for the richer one." Milady suggested.

"Or the most threatening." Emma stood up. "Let's meet Salvador first. Find out what he truly knows and then we'll decide."

"The Musketeers must not know." Milady warned her.

Emma stared her down. "I am a Musketeer."

"You, I tolerate." Milady said.

"Someone must know where we are going." Emma reasoned with her. "Just in case the situation goes wrong."

"We do as we always did." Milady retorted. "We let Planchet know."

Emma did not like this idea. She did not want to leave without Athos knowing where she would go. Not telling him certain things while he was on the battlefield was one thing but now…She did not want to lie to him, especially not after Madeline. Especially not while they were mending their relationship. What was she supposed to do?

"And Minister Tréville." Emma said and before Milady could protest. "It's either that or we are not going."

Milady glared at her. "I could go without you."

"True. You could." Emma nodded. "But you would have already. You don't want to do this alone, do you?"

"I'd rather not." Milady confessed quietly.

"It's settled then." Emma stood up. "I'll go to Tréville, right away and make this an official mission. No one will know the details and the destination. Apart from Tréville and Planchet." She put on her hat. "I'll also make arrangements at the Garrison for Kitty. She will be safe there."

"What will you tell Athos?" Milady asked her.

Emma hesitated. "Only what he needs to know."

"When are you leaving?" Athos asked her.

"At dawn. Tomorrow." Emma answered.

"Is this about Montoya?"

Emma stopped what she was doing. "It may be."

"Where are you going?" Athos asked again.

"It's an official mission for the crown." Emma sighed. "No one must know about the destination."

"I must. I am your Captain." Athos reminded her.

"I know." Emma walked towards him. Took his hands in hers and kissed them. "And also the man I love. It doesn't please me to keep this a secret from you. But it's important that I do." She turned away from him. "It'll be the last, I promise."

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were running away." Milady suggested as they rode out of Paris.

"What do you mean?" Emma asked confused.

"Out of habits or by principles, you put much more of a fight before agreeing to a mission." Milady continued. "You accepted pretty quickly this time. Is something amiss?"

"Do you really care to know?"

"You should know better." Milady smirked.

Emma took a deep breath. "Well, if you must really know. I thought Athos would benefit from this."

"Is there trouble in paradise?"

"Only the truth." Emma simply said.

"Madeline." Milady breathed. "You finally told him."

"Yes." Emma exhaled.

"Give him time. He'll come back to you."

"How would you know?"

"He hasn't left."

She stumbled and fell down a hill. The breath was knocked out of her when her body slammed in a tree at the foot of the hill. She struggled to get the air back in her lungs. She had to get up and fast. The sound of horses hooves could be heard in the distance. Her pursuers were getting closer.

In his note, Salvador had left indications on how and where to contact him. Instructions that Milady and Emma had followed. They went to the Inn named La Fontaine du Phénix, talked to the Inn owner and asked for the Count of Monterrey. The Inn owner led them to a chamber upstairs. The largest there was in the inn.

"The Count always had good taste." Milady commented as they went around the room.

She was right Emma said as she too looked around the room. The Inn had not looked really luxurious but the room was clearly for those who had money to pay for it. Silk sheets, beautiful decorations, it was not just for sleeping. It was a chamber set up to impress.

"Where is the Count at this hour?" Emma asked the owner.

"Usually, he takes a walk at the market place, m'dame." He answered. "Or eating downstairs."

"And when will he be back?" Milady asked sitting down on the bed.

"I don't know." He shook his head. "He had left two days ago. Still hadn't come back." Milady and Emma glanced at each other. "Still hadn't paid me either."

"We take the room." Emma said placing ten livres in his hands. "And keep this for your trouble." And added twenty livres to his purse.

"Madame is too kind." He bowed before handing the keys to the chamber to Emma.

He left and closed the door behind him. Emma listened for his retreating steps as he climbed down the stairs. She locked the door.

"What do you think may have happened to him?" Milady asked taking her gloves off.

"No idea." Emma kept looking around the room. "Trouble may have found him."

There was a letter on the nightstand. "What do we do now?" Milady asked her. She stood up when Emma did not answer. "Musketeer?"

"There are two envelopes. One is empty and the other one contains an invitation to a ball."

"So?"

"Where is the missing note? And what was it about?"

"Has he noted the date on which he received them?"

Milady, Emma and Salvador had taken the habit of noting the date on which they received letters and notes, on the envelopes or on the notes themselves. It was something that Emma kept doing even after the return of her friends.

"They both arrived on the same day."

"When is the ball?"

"Are you serious, Countess?" Emma turned to look at her. "You are not considering to go to the ball, are you?"

"Why not?"

"Our contact is missing. Which most likely means that he is either captive or dead. And if he was in fact on Montoya's track that must mean Montoya knows we are coming." Emma argued. "We don't have time to go to a ball."

"Whoever invited Salvador knew him. This person may know where he last went." Milady countered. "Do you have a better idea?"

I'm writing this on the 26th of March 1636.

As of today, we stopped at the Inn La Fontaine du Phénix. Salvador had rented a room here. We had found no trace of him. According to the Inn owner, he had been gone for two days already and still no signs of him. It appeared that he had received two letters before leaving. One is an invitation to a ball. As for the second one, we have no idea what it could have been.

Nonetheless, this might be a trap but my companion and I have decided to go the ball. We may yet find answers there. In any case, as soon as you receive this note you must go to the musketeers, we may need their help after all.

Emma signed the note and placed it in an envelope. It was addressed to Planchet, next to the First Minister, he was the only one who knew about their mission. Emma did not know what they may find answers or they may walk right into a trap. By sending this note, she was making sure that in case of trouble someone would come and rescue them.

It probably was wrong of her to do that. To say nothing of her mission and expect for them to come and rescue her. But how could she ensure that she and Milady would come out of this alive? Before the enemy she was going to face did not specifically knew of them. They would go and collect information. No one knew who they were. There were no confrontations whatsoever. And maybe, just maybe, she did not really care if she was to die.

With Montoya it was a different story. He knew of them. And he was a cruel man. He may already know they were coming. They were surely walking into a trap. And this time around, she did care if she was to die. More than she did before.

The Musketeer and the Countess would find soon enough that it was a mistake to go to this ball. Nothing was at it seemed. The Countess had wear a dark green dress, with a black corset. The Musketeer had wear a light blue dress with a white corset, her skirt much as the one she wore before, was opened in the front. No one would notice it at first glance. Underneath the skirt was a pair of tight black trousers and her usual mid-calf boots. When they first arrived, nothing if what they saw could have predicted of the disaster that would follow.

Everything had seemed normal. They were introduced as the Baroness De Sauvignon and the Countess of Carlisle as they entered. Some Dukes, Duchesses, rich owner and their wives, other Counts and Countesses, all the big oils of Châteaudun and around had been invited to the ball it seemed. The Countess and the Musketeer had mingled, danced, drank and questioned the guests. Questions about their host that had not shown himself yet, and on how they knew him.

Oddly enough, most of them had just heard of him and were invited out of the blue. Others barely saw him or barely remembered him enough to give a clear description. The Musketeers should have known here and there that something was wrong. That everything about this ball was suspicious.

As the guests were all awaited for their host. The Musketeer sneakily went around the mansion. Most of the rooms were closed and those that weren't hadn't been occupied. The furniture in those rooms were covered with white sheets. When she neared the kitchens, she noticed that there was more movement. She peeked around the corner and saw Spaniard soldiers. At least a dozen, from what she could see.

Emma returned to the main hall. Their host was at last introduced to them as he entered his own ball. All eyes turned on him as he was introduced as the Duke of Osuna.

"This is him." The Musketeer turned to the Countess. "This is Captain Montoya."

"There are Spanish soldiers, here. We must leave." The Musketeer urged her. Emma was not about to have a full confrontation with the Captain here.

As they turned to leave, armed men blocked their exits. "The Duke would love to have a word with you."

"The Countess and I have already had the pleasure to meet." Captain Montoya poured himself a glass of wine. "Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for you, Baroness. Or shall I call you Musketeer?"

"Musketeer should be alright." Emma retorted. "What should I call you? Duke? Captain?"

"It does not matter how you address me." Montoya started sipping from his drink. "What matters is why you are here?"

"Why should we answer? You already know the answer to this question." Milady spoke.

"Of course, your dear friend, Salvador Monterrey invited you." Montoya chuckled. "And you came as fast you could." Montoya stared them down. "Yet, you still arrived too late."

"What have you done to him?" Milady asked him.

"He was a traitor to our country. And treachery is a crime punishable by death in Spain." Montoya stood up. "Fortunately for us, he did not take his secrets to the grave." He circled around them. "I respect and admire you both. You had been great soldiers better than some of the bravest. Severing the Spanish Road by capturing Breisach was genius. Destroying our supplies convoy at the Downs, fantastic. Admirable accomplishments." He leaned over them. "However, in spite of those accomplishments, you committed a terrible mistake. You took away my little bird and I want her back. Where is she?"

"A little bird?" Emma glanced at Milady. "Do you remember a bird?"

"I do not recall seeing any bird when I was in Savoy." Milady shook her head.

Montoya chuckled. "You will speak soon enough."

"You know we won't." Emma said.

"Then you'll die." Montoya leaned back. "For now, I must attend to my guests. You know what to do." He looked at his men. "I don't want anyone to see them."

"No one will, Captain."

As soon as Montoya had left the room, hoods were thrown on their heads, and their hands tied behind their backs. They were thrown in a carriage with two guards flanking them. Emmanuelle did not like this feeling. A fear had gripped her throat, stopping her from breathing. She had felt it before when Athos had left Paris for the battlefield. When she knew she was expecting a child. She had been afraid to lose what she had at the time. Now, not knowing where she was going and what would await them, frightened her. She could not fathom the idea that her fellow musketeers would not be able to find them.

Were Montoya's men taking them out of town? Mostly unlikely, she thought. It had to be nearby. It must be nearby so Montoya could come in and out as he pleased. Without raising any suspicions. Still, she feared for Milady's life and hers. She feared she would not see him again.

She stumbled again, her dress only getting in the way. As she struggled to stand up, Montoya's men surrounded her. She was caught, she could no longer run away. Breathless, she looked at their smug grins with hatred. Hatred against them and against herself. She had failed to escape. She had failed to seek out help. Her escape had been useless.

"You certainly can run, madame." One of the men climbed down his horse. "I hope you enjoyed your little ballad because you won't see the light of day for a very long time."

He may be right but she wasn't willing to let him take her back to her cell. Still she would try to get away from them. She looked around her, trying to find a way out. But there was no way out. This was the end. It was all for nothing. The man forcefully grabbed her, before tying her hands behind her back. He pulled her towards his horse when a shot rang. One of her pursuers fell from their horses.

The Musketeers had come to save them. But they only found her: Milady De Winter.

"Where is Emma?" Athos asked her jumping down.

Montoya had come and went several times. And between slaps he would ask them questions or make unnecessary comments. Several days had passed, they lost track of how many. Emma knew that they had to escape because once Montoya would get bored, he would kill them both.

There was a plan. Two guards came in to bring up their food, twice a day. Once untied, they would attack the guards and escape. It seemed simple and easy but it would not be. They had no idea how many guards there was on the other side of the door. They didn't know if Montoya was staying in the house. There was so many things that could go wrong. It was risky. A risk that Emma was willing to take.

Emma was quick to undo their bonds. The two guards came in, as they usually do, as soon as they put the plates on the ground, Milady and Emma attacked them. They had to be quick and quiet. Although weakened by their days of captivities, the two women had been quick on their feet. They both grabbed their chairs and broke on the soldiers' backs, effectively knocking them down. Once the men on the ground, they had to act quick. The men groaned in pain before trying to stand up, Emma slammed the head of one of them on the ground while Milady unsheathed a dagger and stabbed the other.

"Not killing him is a mistake." Milady said as they took daggers and pistols from the two soldiers.

"Can we discuss this later?" Emma retorted. Pulling his pistol out of his waistband. Milady stabbed the man in the neck. "Why the hell did you do this?"

"Exactly what needs to be done." Milady replied. "He would have done the same if he was in our position."

"You may be right but he was already down." Emma hissed glaring at her.

"Maybe we should discuss this later." Milady reminded her, nodding towards the door.

Emma shook her head before she opened the door. It opened on a dark hallway, no one in sight. They quietly stepped out of the room, listening to any sound that may indicate that someone was coming. They tiptoed to the end of the dark corridor until they came face to face with a staircase that was going up.

Pistols at the ready the two women climbed up the stairs during long and tense minutes. Before light hit them, Emma did not realize how much she had missed it. It was bright and blinding but welcomed. It felt like one step closer to freedom.

If only that they had not been discovered as soon as they reached the top. As soon as they made their way through the first hallway, a soldier found them. "The prisoners have escaped." He immediately called to the others. Emma shot him. There were no more reasons for them to be discreet. Before his dead body could touch the floor they both ran as fast as they could towards the exit. Only for them to be stopped by another soldier. A soldier that Milady shot down. Emma pulled Milady behind her in a room nearby.

They blocked the door to slowdown their pursuers. Milady threw a chair through the window and broke it.

"Baroness!" Milady called behind her.

"You go first." Emma said as she helped Milady through the window. As soon as Milady's feet touch the ground, the door behind Emma broke open. "Go!"

"Not without you." Milady refused to leave her alone.

"RUN!" Emma yelled before the soldiers got a hold of her. She kicked them, one of them punched her as Milady ran away through the woods.

She was thrown in another room, not before the soldiers kicked and punched her. She groaned as she got up. Blood was dripping from her mouth, her ears were ringing. All, Emmanuelle had hoped was that Milady was able to escape.

She got up holding a table. And looked around the room. She walked up to the big window. And was met with the sight of men standing with weapons aimed at the windows. This was the end. Montoya would be back and he would kill her. Milady's escape would enrage him and he would stop playing with her. All she desired was for him to make it quick.

The door slammed opened behind her. Montoya was back, he backhanded her and she fell on the floor.

"I realize now that I was perhaps too lenient with you." Montoya said oddly calm. "Once again, my prey escaped because of you. And because of her I lost my precious girl." He grabbed her face. "Maybe it's time I show you what happens to those who crosses me."

They dragged her out of the mansion. The sun was brighter outside, warming her bruised body. In spite of her situation, the sun felt good on her skin. They kept on dragging her away from the woods, away from the mansion. There was a barn not far away or maybe it was a shed, she couldn't see clearly as one of her eye had been swollen shut.

As they were getting closer, Emmanuelle could smell the horrible stench that was coming from it. They stopped. No one said a word as guards opened the shed and Montoya came standing right next to her.

"Remember your sweet friend, Salvador?" Montoya said. "You know he resisted longer than I thought he would. He may not have taken his secrets to the grave but you must know…it wasn't easy to get it out of him." The soldiers dropped a rotten corpse on the ground. "You should be really proud of him. He was very loyal to you."

Worms were crawling all over his dead body, the flesh had turned black, one of his eyes was missing, some of his fingers gone. Emmanuelle heaved and retched at the sight. The soldiers dropped her on the ground.

Montoya crouched down next to her. He put a strand of hair behind her ear. "I will be very careful with you, Baroness. It won't be two quick." Montoya smirked. "And once I'm done with you, I will send you to your dear Countess."

"Musketeer." Emma said quietly.

"What was that?"

"Not Baroness." Emma looked at him. "I am a Musketeer." She headbutted him.

Montoya fell on the ground as Emma jumped onto him. She straddled him, pulling out the dagger Montoya's men failed to take away from her. She raised it high over his chest, ready to strike. Montoya's soldiers pulled her away before she could, threw her onto the ground. They aimed their pistols at her and fired.

Milady was tired and beaten but she was ready to go back to the mansion. Emmanuelle needed her help. She must save the only person who had ever believed in her. She would never tell this to the musketeer but the woman was her only friend. They had saved each other's lives many times before. Always coming back for each other, they were not only friends but also partners. They were comrades.

The musketeers did not trust her still but it didn't matter to her. Emma trusted her and saved her, she could not let the musketeer down. Plus, the woman had a soft heart and too much decency. She may pass on the occasion of killing Montoya, if she had the chance. And she, the Countess of Carlisle, could not let the Baroness de Sauvignon do such stupid things.

"How well do you know this place?" Aramis asked her as they getting closer to the house.

"They didn't exactly give us a tour of their property." Milady retorted. "Such terrible hosts."

A small group of soldiers were standing in formation near a shed. "What's happening over there?" Porthos asked.

They got closer as much as they could. "Montoya." Milady whispered as the man crouched down next to his victim. They could not see them as the form was hidden by the soldiers standing.

It all happened at once, Montoya landing on his back, the soldiers pulled his attacker off of him and threw them on the ground. The Musketeers all sprang into action at once, pulled out their pistols and fired.

"MUSKETEERS" One of them shouted.

"I want them dead." Montoya ordered his men.

She was not to die today, Emma thought relieved. She stood up as fast as her broken body allowed her to. Seized a sword. Athos, Aramis, Porthos and D'Artagnan danced around the battlefield, men falling in their wake. Milady and Planchet were fighting too, making their way towards her. It was chaos and yet, she only had one clear thought. She must not let Montoya go.

She blocked a sword coming down on her. Kicked her opponent before pushing back another. She could barely keep up with the flow of men coming her way. It was getting harder to fight them. Her arm was sliced, she was slapped and she fought back. She thrust her sword in their flesh. She slashed at them, fighting them off. She fought as hard as she could and with hopelessly.

She felt a sharp pain on her side. She had blinked for one moment and it was enough for her to be stricken. "EMMA!" Athos roared. She yelped in pain and fell to the ground as the man withdrew his sword from her side.

Milady pressed her hands on Emma's side. "Took you long enough, Countess."

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you're happy to see me, Musketeer." Milady answered.

"Emmanuelle." Athos breathed out, taking her in his arms.

"That's the first time I've heard you used my full name." Emma chuckled before groaning in pain against his shoulder. "I'm still alive. I'm still here."

"And what of Montoya?" Minister Tréville asked the Musketeers as they reported to him a few days later.

Emma's face was almost back normal. It was not as swollen anymore, her side had been stitched up by the healing hands of Aramis. Milady looked better than she did. Of course, the Countess had used her make up to cover the bruises on her face and neck. Both had been in a miserable state.

Almost two weeks, they had been missing. On the fourth day of their captivity, Planchet had received her note. On the same day he set off to the garrison and warned the musketeers. Four more days before they reach the inn in which Milady and Emma had been staying. It took them a few more days to locate the mansion in which they were being held. They had been very lucky this time. Emma did not want to think about what would have happened if they hadn't arrived on time.

"Unfortunately, he escaped." Athos shook his head. "We don't know where he went. He might still be in France…"

"Or back in Spain." Aramis finished.

"I don't think he went back to Spain." Emma said.

"What makes you say that?" Tréville asked her.

Emma exhaled deeply. "This is personal for Montoya. He made it clear. He wants the girl back, he wants Milady and I dead for taking her away. And what he did to Salvador…" Emma paused. "This is personal."

Téville sighed sitting back behind his desk. "What do you suggest we do?"

"Nothing." Emma clenched and unclenched her fist.

"Surely, you are joking, Baroness." Milady scoffed. "We cannot stay here and do nothing. You said it, it's personal. Montoya is out for blood."

"And it would be reckless to go after him." Emma retorted. "We almost paid the price for it. Salvador did. If you fear for your safety, well, Planchet will be staying for as long as you need him. And if you don't feel like doing nothing, then, make yourself useful. Go back to your duties as the King's agent. But we are not going after Montoya."

"Don't mistake your fear for mine." Milady spat back. "I don't fear Montoya." Milady started to walk away from her. Emma caught her arm and pulled Milady to her.

"You should." Emma warned her. "You didn't see what he had done to Salvador. What he is capable of?"

Milady ripped her arm from Emma's grip. "And you didn't see what he had done to Kitty. I know exactly how cruel Montoya is, Musketeer. I refuse to stay here and do nothing.

"Then wait for him."

"What?"

"We were reckless because we thought we could stop him, right there and then." Emma continued. "But he was waiting for us. He knew we would come after him."

"What are you saying?" D'Artagnan said.

"I'm saying, let's play his game." Emma answered. "Let him think that we are too afraid to go after him. That we'd rather be safe in Paris. Let him come to us."