The Three Musketeers – Act 3

The young fighter awoke to sunbeams filtering through the window. With a start, he remembered Constance’s arrest, and jumped to his feet. “I must find the Musketeers!” he said aloud. “They’ll know what to do!”

He could hear muffled voices down the hall: a grim lady’s tone and Constance’s low murmur. Sneaking out the window, D’Artagnan rushed to the same corner he’d found the Musketeers on yesterday, but there was no one there. Then, quickly, he caught a glimpse of a familiar uniform emerging from a pie shop. It was Athos!

“Athos! I need your help!”

The older guard looked concerned. “What’s wrong, boy?”

“The Cardinal! He’s captured my landlady, who’s actually the Queen’s lady-in-waiting, and he’s in cahoots with the spy Milady De Winter!”

Athos gaped at him. “Milady’s still around? I’d do anything to stop her! Let’s go!”

Five minutes later they skidded to a stop near the front of the inn. A familiar carriage, seemingly occupied, was waiting outside the door. Athos poked D’Artagnan. “That’s her in there! I’d know that voice anywhere.” He paused to listen. “And the other one’s the Cardinal, I’d wager.”

“You know her?” asked D’Artagnan curiously.

Athos sighed. “Yes, when we were both young and foolish. She’s actually a very talented spy. Ruthless.”

Together they listened.

“Now, Milady,” said the Cardinal. “We’ve got the Queen right where we want her. The next step is to kidnap the Duke of Kinzinghamshire and put an end to all this nonsense. The King will reward both of us handsomely for our service. Can I trust you?”

“Of course,” purred Milady. “Leave it to me.” With that, she stepped out of the carriage and turned toward the inn door.

“Now!” whispered Athos urgently, and the two fighters sprang forward to catch her. Milady whirled and, seeing them, jumped nimbly inside and barred the door. “You couldn’t ever catch me, Athos darling!” she yelled from the other side. “And now I’m holding this utterly annoying girl hostage, and you can’t do anything about it! Guards!”

With a clatter of metal, the same two guards, armed with huge swords, lumbered around the inn’s corner toward Athos and D’Artagnan. “Oh no!” cried D’Artagnan. “We’re not armed!” Even Athos looked slightly alarmed, but with a shrug, he yelled, “Here goes nothing!”

But just as the guards were about to reach them, they heard a cry…

“All for one and one for all!”

…and Aramis and Porthos jumped into the fray!

“We thought you might need some help!” said Porthos cheerily, deftly sidestepping a sword thrust. “And we…need…to…finish…our-dice-game!” grunted Aramis as he parried with the other guard.

“Thank you, my friends!” said Athos as the four fighters subdued their opponents. Leaving them tied together on the ground, the Musketeers and D’Artagnan broke down the door to the suddenly-deserted inn.

“She must be upstairs,” whispered D’Artagnan. “Athos, you must pretend to be alone and persuade her to release Constance. She knows you.”

Athos nodded. “I’ll be back, gentlemen.” As he reached the bottom of the stairs, however, they heard a scream. It was Constance! She and Milady appeared, Milady holding a sharp-looking knife.

“That can’t be safe,” remarked Porthos. “Steep stairs.”

“Stay back!” cried Milady, and raised her knife higher. With the only exit behind the Musketeers, she began slowly walking Constance down the stairs.

“Madame, we’ve come to offer you our help, not to oppose you!” called Athos.

“You’re lying!”

“No? Do we not also serve the King, and wish to see treason punished?”

Milady faltered slightly. “Why fight my guards then?”

“To give the opposite impression to them, so we could speak with you now and tell you our intentions.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

She squinted at them. All four swordsmen held their breath. “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” she asked suspiciously.

D’Artagnan stepped forward and reached into his pocket. “Take this, Milady,” he said firmly. “It’s the Queen’s ruby ring, and a sign of our loyalty to the King that we give it to you now.” He held it out to her.

Her eyes glinted at the jewelry. “Fine!” she said, releasing Constance. “I believe you!” Constance ran to hug D’Artagnan, who threw the ring at Milady. The spy caught it and slipped it on her finger, cackling, but in her distraction, Athos was next to her in one stride. Pinning her arms, he said calmly, “Selfishness undoes you again, De Winter.”

Speechless, she stared at him as the Musketeers cheered. “Let’s take her to the Queen!” said Aramis, but as they turned to go, they were halted by a splendid sight.

The Queen stood in the doorway, lit by the noon sun. “How delightful!” she exclaimed. “You’ve got just what I was looking for! Milady De Winter. Oh, and I’ll take that,” she said, slipping the ruby ring off the spy’s finger. “Well done, my brave guards. You’ve learned how to double-cross a double-crosser. How should I reward you?”

 

 

 

 

 

 

The fighters glanced at each other, turning red. “We require no reward, your Highness,” mumbled Athos.

“Oh, don’t be silly. I heard that there was a street commotion the other day and that tickets were issued to a certain quartet of Musketeers…? How about I pardon those right now, on the spot.”

“Oh, thank you, ma’am!” said D’Artagnan. “Although it was only three Musketeers the other day. I aspire to be one, but I’m just ordinary D’Artagnan right now.”

“Is that so?” said the Queen. “Well, you have certainly proven your bravery today. If you wish, I shall tell Mr. Treville that you are now a King’s Musketeer!”

D’Artagnan, stunned, couldn’t speak as the others cheered. “Th-thank you!” he finally stammered.

“Come, Constance!” said the Queen. “Leave this inn behind and stay at the castle with me. And if you would, Athos, take Milady to the castle dungeon. Goodbye, lads!” With that, she and Constance disappeared outside.

“So after we drop this off,” said Athos, gently shaking Milady, “how about that game of dice?”

“With our track record, it sounds like potential for trouble!” chuckled Porthos.

“Then that sounds perfect!” said D’Artagnan, smiling.

“Ugh,” said Milady.

And, grinning, the four Musketeers set out onto the busy streets of Old Kinzville, ready for adventure.