The Masked Musketeer ( Closed )

[Questor]

"You have been a royal pain." Athos looked down at Anne. "You have stirred up trouble and it is blamed on the musketeers. As I have alreadty stated, we can not do anything if we are arrested. But do not think we have been lazy or not trying. We do it in other ways then outright attacks on the Cardinal's guard or others. We have yet to find anything useful that we can use against the Cardinal and have the Musketeers reinstated." He took his wine and drank it and poured himself more, before taking a seat in a comfortable chair.


"Yes he is a very careful man. He leaves nothing that will come back to him." Aremis spoke up. "He is as devious as he is corroupt." He spoke in a steady voice as if he was not easy to anger. He looked over at Dante, "You are good with that blade." he gave a smile, "You almost had Arthos here." Arthos looked at him with a look that would have curddled milk. "But it is true. " Arthos said something under his breath that could not be understood. "As I was saying, we have been trying to find out something but it is difficult if not impossible."

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne smiles up at him."glad to be of service honey." She smirked and rolled her eye's. When he talked down to her she raised her sword to his throat." Eh eh watch how you talk me Athos this is all woman and this is all pure god given talent. Love that pretty little neck of yours, but not as much as I love my pride. Plus I am no whore who needs to screw a man then hide behind him. I do what I do and if it falls on your shoulders means your not picking the slack up some where."She said.


Anne sighed."do I have to do everything for you dim wits." She pulled out of her bag a note."a spy is coming to meet with the cardinal about signing something. Swiped that off Rochefort the other day when he wasn't looking, he was in the market and you know before your man caught me. I was going to find out more. So the fact that I don't know more I blame you."She says"your welcome." She said standing and smacked Athos on the cheek."Like I said Love your pretty little necks."She placed her lips on his and pulled away winking. She grabbed the bottle of wine and went to look out the window.She rolled her eye's as Porthos asked her for one.She smiles. "Aww feeling left out." She waved him over. She kissed him on the lips and pulled his hair back. She had a knife at his throat. "Told you not a whore. Don't try it again. "She said. She rolled her eye's.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Arthos grinned as she place the blade at his throat and narrowed his eyes when she brushed his lips with hers. He took the note and read it. "Does not say who it is, but that he is to escort the spy to the cathedral immediately upon arrival in the city. "


Porthos had watched and grinned at the sight and then said, "Oh if you are kissing and telling, can I be next." When she had the dagger at his throat, "Oh I do love a woman that has a temperment. Makes things exciting and winked at her.


Aremis just stood there shaking his head. "So we have a spy of the Cardinal coming to the city." he said. We watch Rochefort, we find out who the spy is and then find out what the Cardinal is up to by following and capturing the spy after the meeting. Simple enough."


Dante laughed at her antics with Porthos and Arthos. "Well I found that out in a more pleasurable way last night." he looked over at Porthos, "Careful what you tell some of the ladies, they have a tendency to talk. Also I found out that Rosheford is told everything. That the Cardinal trusts him. Two birds of a feather I guess. Anyone know if Rocheford has a lady friend. He just might confide in her some things he would not his own men."


Aremis looked over at Dante. "Interesting and very possible. But who would have an intrest in a man like him?"


"There are those that like the 'bad boy' look and personage." Dante said. "As Porthos has said, it makes things exciting.


Aremis raised a brow, "That is possible." he nodded and looked at Arthos. "If there is such a woman in Paris, I will find out. She could be a wealth of information as Dante has said."


"Well first lets deal with the spy and then we will see if such a woman exists." Arthos said.


Dante then looked over at Anne and chuckled. "She pulled that stunt last night while she was in bed last night." he pointed to her hair piece dagger.


Porthos' facelight up and grinned ear to ear. "Oh do tell!"

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne rolled her eye's and put it back in her hair. She took the wine bottle and drank from it. Being a woman who was tough. It was hard to listen to the degrading conversation of woman.She leaned her head on the window and looked out. She was not ine to be trapped in a room. She definitely hadn't been in a room with 4 men ever. Anne sighed and closed her eye's. She played with a necklace as she opened her eye's and her gaze fell on something outside.


Anne said nothing about what she saw, she liked having the upper hand on the men. Her hand played with her necklace. She sighed and went back to the table and sat next to porthos."move over dear and share the port with me."She says and rolled her eye's.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Dante laughed and told Porthos, "A gentleman never tells such things. He looked over at Arermis. "Is that not right." Aremis gave a slight bow and grinned. "That is correct. One does not talk about what they have done. He could see that Anne was not up to such talk, "You must excuse us for or coarseness. We normally do not have a lady amongest us when we talk of such things, and when we do, well they are the type that do not care. They talk about men as we talk about them." Dante grinned and moved to the window as well.


"To fit in with a bunch like this one must take things with a grain of salt. This is no ladies social where the talk is so civilized that it becomes boring and maddening. He knew, for his mother would have those for tea and he had to get away from the castle or go insane. "Or perhaps you fancy such type talk and actions." he grinned. She then moved over to the table by Porthos who greedily took the port and took a long drink from it.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne cracked her neck and sighed. " men tell woman to hold there tounge and you go and talk about us like were some piece of meat you can control and use. Some woman yes prostrate themselves at men. I however know that I am not one of them and Not all women see men as just a head between your legs."She stood and looked at Dante."you think because of your looks and charm woman will fall at your feet and beg for you. I however will run you threw. And I dont need a Ladies talk just ask that you do not degrade woman infront of me more then we already are."She said.


She glared at them and sighed. Anne grabbed her cloak."I gave you the puzzle pieces now all you have to do is put them together."She said. She put her cloak on and walked out of the room putting her hood up. She glared at the rain, but stepped into it any way. She could be more silent with out a horse. This was why she hated men, they always looked at her like she was a joke.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Ah the poor girl, Dante thought. She wanted to be like them, and not the courtly woman. But she had no idea of how she needed to be. The life the musketeers lead was a rough one most times. When they played, they played hard and went wenching. The women they sought most times wer the tavern wenches who were just as rough talking as they were. They talked about men the way men talked about women and they all had fun. It seemed Anne thought women should be put on a pedestal and and worshiped. If she truely wanted to be like them she would have to change her attitude. Even though Dante had been brought up proper, and taught the finer things in life. He still had gone out drinking with his father's soldiers and learned their ways.


Dante made his excuse to leave and gave them the address of his residence should they have need of him. He then left and mounted his horse. It was raining and it was a wet one. But before long it stopped and everything was wet. He made his way towards his room and stopped as he seen something ahead.


As Anne walked down the street some distance a voice came from ahead. "Well now look who we have here?" It was Roshefort and five of his men. "You have been a busy one, and now you will hang for your crimes against France."


Dante rode up and looked down at Anne and then over at Rochefort. He knew who it was by the discription he had gotten of him by the whores the night before. He leaned forward in the saddle, "Rochefort? Now you know that sounds so much like Roach. Any relationship to the Cocroach?" he asked. He dismounted and moved up next to Anne.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne looked up she hadn't been watching where she was going.She stopped. "Then hang me it doesn't matter. I was doing what was right for France unlike you. You conniving snake..."She said. She stopped as Dante walked up.


Anne looked away."ahh have a body guard now not like you from what we know."The captain said."Not a body gaurd just some boy who is trying to save a woman don't mind him. Come on I have a meeting with the hangmans noose tomorrow morning don't I."She said. She went to walk past Dante when he grabbed her gently.She looked back at him."what?"She asked him.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

"Now who has a death wish." he chuckled. "Remember it is I that have that." he drew his sword. "I heard you were quite the swordsman, care to prove it." Rochefort drew his own sword as did those with him. "Oh now is that how you wind your fights? Lackies doing your dirty work for you?" Dante taunted. Rochefort ordered them to sheath their weapons and told them he would take care of Dante. Dante turned his head slightly to Anne. "Second time I am saving that sweet ass of yours. But now do us both a big favor and get on my horse and ride away." he told her gently. He hoped she would do as she was told.


He advanced a few steps and took up his stance and watched Rochefort. "Who are you and what shall be written on your stone."Rochefort asked.


"Well I don't intend to die so there is no need for that. As for who I am, does it really matter?" Dante Replied and Rochefort attacked. As the sound of there blades filled the street, shutters were opened and people peered out to watch. Back and forth the two went and in circles as they tried to find an opening. Neither seemed to be able to and the look in Rochefort's eyes changed from being confident to one of uncertainty. "Not bad for a cockroach." Dante taunted and pressed his attack on Rochefort, Rochefort backed up and then could go no further as his back was to a wall. The sudden stop made him lose his concentration and Dante was able to pierce his left arm. That is when he lost it and he began to attack Dante with fierce blows, forcing Dante back up the street. But again this gave Dante what he needed and again his sword bit into Rochefort's left shoulder. Rochefort then backed away and retreated back to his men. "Take him." he ordered and walked away around the cornner.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne looked at him."my sweet ass doesn't need saving. I didn't ask for help did I?I was going to go willingly." She said. She glared at him. She got on his horse and ride for Athos Porthos and Aremis.


She looked back and watched the fight. She saw Dante being taken."Idiot"she mumbles. She rode to find the 3. She found them."Porthos I need your help, not me exactly Dante Rochefort has him. Aren't you men all about All for one and one for all." She asks."please not for me but for him he can't hang not in my place. The idiot took my place when Rochefort caught me.I didn't ask him to jump in. He just did."She said. She grabbed Porthos arm."please. "She said. She never begged, but this was different.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Dante now faced five men. He sighed. When he had fought two men at the same time it was hard. Five was impossible, nor was it possible to retreat. He did the best he could, killing one and wounding another before they bore him to the ground and disarmed him. At lest Anne was safe, since she had enough sense to do what she was told.


Porthos looked at Anne after she burst into the room and started aking him and the others for help. She told them what had happened and Porthos, said, "You say he drew blood twice? Now I know I like this man even more." Arthos, chuckled, "Well now if he was not English I would have him join the musketeers, if they were still sanctioned. The boy has the heart of a musketeer, I must say." Aremis nodded, "Anyone that can prick that prick of a man then he has my vote. They grabbed their swords and at a run were out and in the street running in the direction that the fight had taken place.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Alexandria sighed and rolled her eye's. Men are crazy. She thought. She ran after them.she got in Dances horse and rode after them. She didn't like to run so horse was her best bet. Alexandria sighed. She knew they wouldn't make it. Her hair clung to her as she looked on.


Anne hated Captain Rochefort even more now. She also was Pissed at Dante, he didn't have to take her place. She was proud to be hung for her country. She sighed as she got ti the are where they were."He isn't here.what do we do now?" She looked to Aremis. She knew he was the brightest out of the 3 of them.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

The street was empty, except for Dante's sword with had been kicked away from him and now lay in the gutter. Aremis picked it up and tried it out. "Beautiful balance and workmanship." he muttered.


Porthos said, "Well they will take him to the Cardinal for sure, before they hang him. A rescue?"


"We would be out numbered 100 to one or more. We might not make it out alive." Porthos said


"There are many places to put a prisoner in the Cathedral as well as the pits below it. Would be hard to find him." Arremis said.


"Ah then it is settled. We go rescue him!" Porthos excalaimed.


Dante was dragged down the street. Rochefort was angry and disgusted. He wanted to kill Dante in the worst way. He could and say he killed him in the fight. But he knew the Cardinal would want to talk to him. There was something about Dante that bothered Rochefort. He had the men hurry up and half carry and half drag Dante to the Cathedral. When he awoke he was in a dark room His wrists were bound behind him and he heard voices beyond the door. It was a mans voice and a woman's.


"Lord Buchingham has helped foil one beautiful plot to topple the king from the throne. Him and those blasted Musketeers. This time we will do it a lot differently. I hope you are better then your predecesor. She got herself killed."


"Yes your emenince." the woman's voice came. "I have no connection to any of the Musketeers like Lady DeWinter. I will do what it takes to make the plan work."


"You have two weeks to make it happen." the Cardinal's voice boomed. Then there was the door opening and closing somewhere beyond the closed door where Dante was.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

(Thinking what to write. I write something then it sounds stupid so mind is working over time )


Death to all betrayers

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne sighed and watched."what is our plan. Eh your not leaving me out of this."She says.


Anne looked around and rode off with them she followed them and rung out her cloak and hair when they went inti the room. They talked about a plan and got ready.


In the morning Anne woke and went with the 3 to save Dantes neck she was mad at him. He had jumped into her business and signed his own death warrant. She was not the woman to tick off. They had gotten into the crowd in disguise as they waited for Dante to be brought out.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

They knew that a direct assault on the Cathedral would be fool hearty so they had to find another way to rescue Dante. After several hours of talk and rejecting one plan then another, they finally found the solution and agreed on a plan. "Daring, Dangerous, Chance of success small, but we can do it." Aremis said.


"Yes I like it. Though the Cardinal will surely then be after us and have the hang mans noose waiting for us." Porthos said.


"Then we will go in the morning and see what happens." Arthos grinned. "Oh yes you will be there my lovely little trouble maker."


Dante sat up in the room. He had over heard the conversation in the other room. The Cardinal was planning something and they had only two weeks to foil it. The door opened and the scent of a strange perfume waifed into the room. To of the Cardinal's guard picked him up and dragged him into the other room. The Cardinal stood there in his Red garments looking at him. "How gallent. Saving a woman in distress. To bad she was a wanted criminal and a traitor to France. Now you will hang for aiding in her escape. But who are you? Rochefort says your french is superb but there is a tiny hint of an accent.


Rochefort entered his left arm in a sling. He glared at Dante who just smiled. He handed the Cardinal a rolled up piece of paper. The Cardinal unrolled it and looked at the contents then at Dante and then the doucment. "Well now it seems we have some English Royalty among us. Well former Royalty. It looks as if you are a wanted man in England. Treason? Well not isn't that a coincidence. Aiding a traitor to France and being a traitor in your own country. I will have to inform the King of England that I am hanging you." The Cardinal grinned. "Take him away, he hangs in the morning." The guards half dragged and half carried him down to the dungeons below the Cathedral.


In the morning he was brought up and out to a large courtyard where many people had all ready gathered. He was desprately trying to think of a way to escape but was finding the possiblities lacking.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

When they got there in the morning Aremis and Anne stood next to each other the other two stood next to the hang mans noose. She saw them whisper to him. She waited for the que when they nod and take there cloaks off. She took hers off and pulled her sword and fought off some of the cardinals guards as Aremis got the carriage. She hopped in and looked back at three."Time to go guys." She said. They nod fighting the guards and jumped in.


When Dante was in she told Aremis to drive. She saw Dante and smacked him. " you didn't have to save me ass." She snapped. She rolled her eyes and couldn't believe she was doing this. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips. "Don't mess it up ass." She said. Porthos and Athos laughed pulling up a bottle " OK curtisie of the cardinal." Porthos says.


Death to all Betrayers

 

[Questor]

Dante was lead to the gallows and he could see the people surrounding the gallows. There were vendors selling food. The people had no idea of what was going on or what he was charged with, if it was true or not. They came to watch for entertainment. As he waited for the hangman to put the noose about his neck a priest leaned in and whispered to him. He looked at the priest and smiled. It was Arthos. Then all hell broke loose as there were screams, cries from the cardinal's guard, the clashing of swords. He was suddenly pushed off the gallows into a carriage that was being driven by Aremis. His bonds were cut and the ride began.


He could hear Aremis urging the horses drawing the carriage to a faster pace. Then Anne slapped him and told him he didn't have to save her, then she threw her arms around him and kissed him. Not that took him by surprise, a pleasant one, but still a surprise. He chuckled at her next comment and then Porthos seemed to have found a stach of wine and other things. "Cardinal?" he asked, as he wrapped his arms about her.


"The Cardinals carriage." Porthos grinned as he held up a bottle of wine. He took the bottle and opened the door and moved to the drivers platform and handed it to Aremis. "We are in a chase. Some thing red I think." he grinned and opened the bottle and took a drink then handed tit ot Aremis who took a drink and chuckled. Behind them Cardinal Guard were on horses chasing them. There were screams and curses coming from outside of the carriage as the carriage picked up speed and raced madly through the streets of Paris.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne leaned into him and laughed. "You all are hilarious."she looked back." We are going to have to ditch the carriage and get the hell out of here."She says. She grabbed the Bottle."give me that. Thanks." She said. She sighed and looked through the carriage and found a few things. She put a cloth in the bottle."some one hand me something to light this and save one of the 3 bottles.." She said. She cut a hole in the roof and stood up. She had them lit up. She threw it at the guards and ducked as it blew up.


Porthos and Athos looked at her suprised. "Where the hell did you learn that?" They asked in unison.She shrugged." I pick things up. Hand me another bottle. "She said and sat up. She sighed and did it again. She looked at Aremis."come on we got to loose these idiots. "She said. She was a little impatient and didn't want to get caught.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Indeed they would have to get rid of the carriage. It was not meant to be driven fast through the streets of Paris and it was slower then a man on horseback, even though it had four horses pulling it. The Cardinal's Guard would surely catch up to them and then they would be fighting for their lives as he was sure that more would be coming from all directions if they were stopped. As Anne began throwing bottles of wine with flaming rags in the mouth of the bottle, Dante got up on top of the carriage and moved to the drivers bench next to Aremis. The bottles of wine exploded in fire startling the horses and burning for a bit. This slowed the pursuers some. "Take a right up ahead and then another left at the street after that.:" he told Aremis. "There is a bridge over the river there. We can jump into the river and swim to shore before the guard knows where we have gone. The horses will keep the carriage moving until it its stopped. They may even think we are still in it."


Aremis turned the carriage down the streets he told him to and Dante called down to the others, "Get ready to jump. The river is comming up fast." The doors of the carriage opened. "You need baths anyways." he chuckled and as they moved on to the bridge he stood up as did Aremis. "Now!" he cried out and jumped.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Porthos held on to anne and smiles."ready Missy."She rolled her eye's and nods. She and prothos jumped into the river below. She closed her eye's and cling to portions as she hit the water. Anne panicked and trying to swim to the surface. She wasn't use to jumping water. One thing she didn't know was how to swim. She surfaced and sputtered as she coughed out water. Porthos grabbed a hold of her and pulled her to the river bank. "Yes great idea to jump in a river."She said.


He helped her up and they run up into the forest out of sight. When they were out of sight and safe enough for now she dropped to the ground and sighed looking at the sky. She coughed I hate you."She says to Aremis. She sighed and closed her eye's. She was cold t om the water and soaked through. "Perfect couldn't find an easier way."She said


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Porthos laughed and looked at her. "Don't know how to swim do you?" he chuckled. "Should have said something." He laid down on his back and breathed deeply. Soon enough Dante, Arthos, and Aremis joined them. "Well it was the only safe way to get off the carriage without breaking something." Dante told her and laid down next to her. They were all wet and needed to get into some dry clothes, or at least to a warm place and dry out. "Any one know where we can get some dry clothes?" He would have gone back to his room, no one but Anne knew where that was. Not even the Cardinal's Guard or the Cardinal himself knew that. They might know where Aremis', Porthos', and Arthos' places were, so they could not return there at the moment.


"At least we are not being chased anymore, and we have gotten rid of the carriage." he looked over at her smiling. "Be thankful it is not winter." he chuckled.


Porthos said, "I know of a place we can get some dry clothes. Come on." he got up and started moving. Aremis handed Dante his sword. "You need to keep hold of this you know."

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne shook her head and breathed. "That I do not. Yeah should of, but oh well what is done is done."She said. She closed her eye's and shivered. She hit Dante for his comment and sighed. She listened to the ask of dry clothes. She knew a few places, but didn't have the energy to speak up.


She nods in agreement to not being chased any more that was nice the four men with her were crazy and some times insulting. She sighed she however loved every moment. She was thankful it was not winter or the be frozen to death by now.


Anne felt porthos get up and sighed. She wanted to get up, but couldn't her limbs were not working. They just wanted her to stop and not move. She knew they were fine. She was just tired and trying to swim to shore was the worst. She would not make it walking much further.


Death to all betrayers

 

[Questor]

Dante laughed and got up and then moved over to Anne and helped her to her feet. She looked tired. "Well at least you didn't drown. " he put one of her arms about his shoulders and held her about the waist with his other to support her. They walked through the forest and back towards the city. They would not be able to enter the city but Porthos had another destination in mind. Outside the city walls there were a number of farms and other places. They were lead to a house where a man about Arthos' age lived. At the sight of the three he ushered them into the house and closed the door after looking about quickly to see if any one was about.


"We need some dry clothes." Porthos told the man. The man went back to a room and returned with an arm full of clothes. "They might not fit as well as your own but they are dry." Porthos said. He started digging through the clothes and taking some. The man handed Anne some and lead her to the back room and shut the door for her. They then began stripping off the wet clothes and putting on the dry. The man gathered the wet clothes and took them out side and began hanging them up to dry.


Once dressed Dante looked at the other three men. "We have only four days. The Cardianal has a plan or the woman he was talking to has one that will bring down the King and put the Cardinal on the throne. She said she was not the Countess DeWinter and would not make the same mistake as her."

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Anne sighed as he helped her up and her arm went about his shoulder she shivered and tried to get as much warmth from him as possible. She hated they knew one of her weeknesses. She watched the other three with quite and slow breaths.


Anne watched as Porthos got them dry clothes. She was lead to the back to change. The clothes were a bit big but she used rope on the pants and her corset to tighten the shirt up. She tied it in the front and put her boots on. She looked herself over and smirked. She was good at substitution and the way she wore the clothes made them fit her form.She wrung out her hair and brakes it to the side. Jumping in the river had so many disadvantages. She sighed and walked out. She listened to Dante and frowned.Anne said nothing but watched the four. She saw Aremis his face made a small Grimace. She knew what was on his mind she went to say something but fell silent.


Death to all betrayers