Something for the weekend... (Mega-long plot episode)
Previously, erm. Stable boy went splat, much drinking in tavern. Northos got some action.
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Porthos woke first and propped himself on a elbow to watch Norah sleeping beside him. He loved being a musketeer, couldn't imagine any other life, but there were times that he had to admit it was less than ideal. To have been back from exercises for less than a week before being sent away again was extremely annoying. Norah never complained, and was always pleased to see him, but he often missed her when he was away and worried sometimes that she'd meet someone who would be there for her more often that he was. He yawned and got out of the bed, cutting a chunk of bread from yesterdays loaf.
Norah rolled over and watched him. "Are you off?"
He pulled a face "Soon." He cut off more bread, spreading butter and honey on it before putting it on a plate and passing it to Norah. He licked the honey off his fingers.
Norah smirked "I could do that if you like?"
"Insatiable minx" He grinned and sat down on the bed next to her as she took the plate, then shot her a sideways look. "You could come with us?"
She shook her head "You know my order book is full, I can't afford the time away. I'm already going to be spending a good chunk of time at Lady Bea's house, and the Comtess has asked me to stay for a few days to sort out her wardrobe. Kate did ask, but I just can't - not this time.... Oh don't look at me like that!" She laughed at his mournful expression and got out of the bed. "Can you to take Kate's cloak with you when you go? She left it here for me to mend and she'll be needing it." Norah suddenly grinned mischievously "Or you could forget and you'll have to stop here to pick it up on your way out of the city!" She received an answering grin and wrapped her arms around him, tilting her face up for a kiss before pulling on her dress and lacing up the bodice.
Porthos pulled his jacket on and shoved his feet into his boots, then picked up his weapons and followed her down the stairs. Norah unbarred the door, he gave her a final kiss and then walked off, turning back to grin "I'm sure I've forgotten something..."
............
Athos sat on the edge of the bed, tired and worried. He had tried to find out the details of what had happened once they'd left the tavern, but Kate had ignored his questions and when he had pressed her, she'd shaken her head and the look of distress that had flashed across her face was warning enough to leave well alone. Back in her room, she had pulled clothes out for their journey, adamant they would ride the next day as planned.
She'd been curled up against him when he fell asleep, but he had woken several times through the night. Once when she had thrown herself out of bed, retching into a bowl, eyes wide in horror. Again when she jerked awake - pushing his outflung arm off her and frantically backing away from whatever stalked her dreams, and finally as the bells rang five he had woken to find her wrapped in a blanket on the window-ledge, cheeks damp and gazing out into the darkness. And still she had refused to speak of what had happened. It appeared that she had finally slept after he'd persuaded her to return to her bed - he had woken to find himself wrapped around her, and she was still curled into a ball under the blankets although it must be well into the morning now.
A clatter outside the door indicated that some food had been brought up. Footsteps retreated down the stairs and Kate rolled over in the bed, muttering in her sleep.
He pulled his clothes on, brought the food into the room and ate some the bread, then sat back down on the bed next to her, watching as a frown flitted across her face and she twisted again.
He put a hand on her shoulder and her eyes opened blearily, wincing at the daylight. She blinked a few times, confusion flickering across her face. Then closed her eyes again and rolled face down onto the pillow and groaned. "Oh Christ alive, how much did I have to drink?!" She curled back up into a ball, buried beneath the blanket "What time is it?"
"Mid-morning I think. Kate, we don't have to go today."
She sighed and pushed herself off the pillow, drawing her knees up to sit behind him on the bed. "We're going today. I need to see Robbie's family." He bit back the retort that it wasn't her responsibility - if she felt it was, then he wasn't going to be able to persuade her otherwise. He could feel the warmth of her body through his shirt as she leant against his back.
He twisted round to look at her and she shifted against his shoulder. "How are you doing?" There was long silence before she replied.
"Something has crawled into my mouth and died. My head is full of wool and needles, and someone has filled my eyes with sand. I need to find out what it was I drank yesterday, so I can make sure I never touch it again."
He passed her a mug and smiled slightly at the woebegone expression on her face. She drained the mug and passed it back, dropping her head onto her knees.
He reached towards her, resting his hand on her shoulder, then put his arm around her as she flopped against him, eyes closed. Finally she gritted her teeth and stood up, rubbing her face and stretching as she wobbled across the room and struggled into some travelling clothes. He picked up his boots, watching as she peered at the table - looking dubiously at the food before forcing down some dry bread, then turned to look at clothes piled next to a saddle bag. There was a rap at the door - he glanced at her, then opened the door slightly to find Mistress Fournier there, glaring past him at Kate as she marched into the room.
"So which part of 'Wait here, I'll be right back' did you not understand. How did that translate to 'Go to court', or even 'Go out and drink yourself stupid with the stable hands'? Lady Ana is furious. You're one of the Queen's Ladies, you do not... are you even listening to me?" Her voice was sharp with exasperation as Kate turned to face her, then looked past her.
"Are you packed?" He shook his head "I'll see you at the garrison then."
He nodded, more than happy to avoid the argument that was brewing, then paused at the door "Do you want me to take Jasper there for you?"
She shook her head. "But can you let them know I'll be along to pick him up within the hour?"
He nodded, resigned. As he closed the door he heard Mistress Fournier begin to protest.
"You're still going today? Are you mad - after what happened yesterday? You're allowed to grieve you know - you can't pretend nothing happened, it will eat away at you inside. You know that."
Kate paused, and turned back to the small pile of clothes. "My father; my husband; five babies dead before they could even draw breath. And now Robbie. What can you tell me of grief that I don't already know?" She turned look at Mistress Fournier "What would you have me do? Should I wear it like a scar - rub it into everyone's faces until they flinch to look at me?" The older woman opened her mouth to speak, then thought better of it - at least she was talking now. Kate turned back to fasten the bag. "Better to push it away, swallow it down. And if sometimes it comes vomiting back out then you look at it again - hard and sharp like broken glass, so you shove it away again. And each time it comes back again the edges are blunter and the pain is less raw, until you can't pull it out anymore because it's a part of you, wound through your soul..." Her voice trailed off, lost in memories. Then she turned, expression bleak. "Please do not presume to speak to me of grief. I ride today, it's already later than I'd like."
Madame Fournier glared at her, torn between sympathy and fury at her stubbornness. "Kate... " there was no response "Well you suit yourself then." she closed the door firmly behind her and started down the stairs as Kate leaned against the wall, gazing blankly into space.
.........
He walked into the stables - it was busy, but the atmosphere was muted. Helene stuck her head out of a stall. "How is she?"
He shrugged. "Tired, sore head. Insists we're riding today. She asked me to let you know she'll be by for Jasper in half an hour or so.... What happened yesterday?"
"She didn't tell you?" It was the one who'd been thrown out by the stable master the previous night, watching him with a sneer on his face.
"Course she didn't" Martin walked out of a stall wiping hoof oil off his hands with a cloth. "She never does. You can usually work out how bad it is by how long it takes her to talk about it. She still won't talk about..." his mouth snapped shut and he shrugged at the raised eyebrows "What? I've known her since I was seven. Stubborn then and stubborn now. Jasper will be ready to go when she gets here." He turned away as the stable master walked over and looked dismissively at the sneering hand.
"The end stall still needs mucking out...." He looked pointedly until the man left, then turned to Athos, escorting him out of the stables "How is she?"
"Tired, sore head." he repeated
"Hmm - my fault probably - we poured some brandy into her after it happened - didn't seem to make any difference so we probably kept pouring it longer than we should have... Still, she's got a better head for drink than some of this lot. Can you take this?" He passed over a small bundle. "It's Robbie's stuff and his wages. And a letter for his family, not that I've got anything to say that she won't." He paused "She is planning to stop there isn't she?"
Athos nodded and took the bundle. It seemed pathetically small to account for someone's life. "What happened? She wouldn't talk about it."
"He got a kick in the head - sent him flying. He knocked Kate down and landed on top of her. Looked like - well you'll know how head wounds bleed, and it was a bad one. She was drenched... held him until he was dead." He shook his head in dismay at the memory. "We poured some brandy into her, got her cleaned up as best we could then sent for a maid and fresh clothes. Certainly didn't expect to see her back again, but we couldn't leave her here by herself and I figured we could at least keep an eye on her if we took her to the tavern with us." He shook his head again "He was a good lad that one."
"His family- how does she know them?"
He got a shrug in return "She knows them, she knows a lot of people. Robbie worshipped her."
Athos kept his face still during the exchange, hiding his thoughts. Martin had known Kate since he was seven? It explained the easy familiarity between them, but she'd said nothing. And she knew the dead boy's family - no wonder she'd insisted she'd see them herself. He walked to the garrison with the small bundle of possessions, turning this new information over in his head.