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Leaving LeHavre

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After a meal and drink, courtesy of Emile Bonnaire, Odette pocketed some extra food in her satchel, unsure as to when her man of honour would allow her such a privilege again. Never in all her years of living had she met a man so bewildering as Athos. Nor one that could rile her quite so easily as him. She reasoned that when they were in Paris, the farther she stayed away from him, the saner she would remain. Paris certainly had to be big enough for the two of them.

Knowing that her travel companion was somewhere about the tavern with his men, Odette went searching for him. She knew that they were going about some business with Bonnaire, but the thought that not one of them stayed with her bothered her. Were they truly so boorish as to leave her alone in an unknown country, in a tavern for God's sake? Musketeer business or not. King's business or not. Not one of the four could possibly have been spared? Although, Odette suspected Athos would believe she would simply head to the cart, but she was determined to prove him otherwise. She refused to be the meek and strictly obedient type. Especially not for him.

Odette rounded the corner and headed in the direction where she believe the stairs to the rooms for rent up above ought to be. Sure enough, her suspicions were correct. The four men stood on the upper landing of the stairs. They were huddled together and speaking in hushed tones. There was no sign of Bonnaire nor his wife, leading Odette to conclude that they were presently occupied behind one of the doors.

The Musketeer she believed was called Aramis was the first to spot her. He elbowed Athos, who looked over Porthos' shoulder to see her and the bottom of the stairs. His roll of eyes was quite dramatic. She couldn't hide her grin at his annoyance as she smiled up at him with her hands on her hips.

Athos rubbed his brow as Odette climbed the stairs, lifting her skirts slightly so she wouldn't trip over them. "Leaving me alone downstairs in a tavern full of drunk men probably wasn't your finest idea," she said as she approached the group, standing between Porthos and the young one whose name she couldn't quite remember.

"I asked the tavern owner to look after you." Athos' hushed tone was harsh and his gaze pointed.

"I don't recall my uncle's letter saying . . ." Odette fished his letter from her pocket and pretended to read it. "Oh, that's right. It says that Athos is one that is supposed to be looking after me until I'm safely to Paris." She folded the letter and stuffed it back in her pocket before folding her arms over her chest. Odette glared right back at Athos, not yet willing to step down to him. It was hard not to notice the beautiful color of his eyes. A shame the good lord wasted them on someone like him.

Aramis and Porthos rubbed their mouths with their gloved hands, clearly trying to hide any glimpse of amusement. The other one, whose name still escaped her, didn't attempt to mask his slight smile.

Odette couldn't help but add further salt to the wound. "Then again, I'm not the one that will have to answer to him for my lack of judgment. So, please continue."

Athos' eyes widened and his nose flared. He opened his mouth to say something but must have known he's regret whatever he was about to say. So he closed it. He ground his lips together for a few seconds, carefully choosing his words. He then took a step closer toward Odette, using his height to his advantage to look down at her, like she was nothing more than a petulant child. "I am one of your uncle's most trusted men. He trusts me and he trusts my discretion. You will arrive safely in Paris, mademoiselle. I will see to it with my life."

While most women would have taken a step back, Odette took another step forward, glaring up at him. "Very well then. And when do we leave? Or are we spending the night in Le Havre, ye wee nyaff?"

Athos took a deep breath, never breaking eye contact with Odette. They stood practically toe to toe, nose to nose - keeping their eyes steady on the other. Neither of them dared to blink or back down. "Aramis, please escort Miss Treville to her cart," Athos managed without looking away.

Odette scoffed. "Oh, so you're getting rid of me then? Quite the man of honour, hm?"

"We're about to embark and I have a matter that needs attending. I don't have to explain myself to you." He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"However, I do believe ye just did," Odette smirked at Athos before she turned and looked at Aramis, having gotten what she wanted - to know when they were leaving.

Athos muttered an obscenity under his breath as Aramis offered Odette his arm. She smiled brightly at the chivalrous Musketeer before accepting his arm and placing her hand in the crook of his elbow. The pair then began to descend the stairs with the one, whose name Odette couldn't recall, following behind them. Although Odette couldn't help but look back at Athos over shoulder. He looked rather perturbed, but he had more than earned that.

"What was it you called him?" Aramis asked, his voice steady and smooth when they reached the bottom of the stairs. "It was Gaelic, I presume."

Odette furrowed her brow for a moment, trying to remember what she had even called the stubborn musketeer. Gaelic just slipped out sometimes. "Nyaff?" Odette asked as Aramis opened the door to the outside and motioned for her to step through it.

Aramis nodded his head. "Yes. That. What does it mean?"

Odette licked her lips, trying to think of the best way to translate the Gaelic word. "Stupid . . . irritating . . . contemptible person. Seemed rather fitting to me." She glanced briefly at Aramis and shrugged her shoulders.

Aramis chuckled. Athos was certainly bound to have his hands full on the journey back to Paris. While Odette didn't seem to be the type of woman Aramis was usually attracted to, he admired her spirit. And the way she could rile Athos up. He'd never yet seen someone able to manage a feat, especially in such a short amount of time. And time alone would tell what possibilities the future could hold. Not that Aramis would ever express such a sentiment to either Athos or Odette.

Odette allowed Aramis to guide her to her cart that stores almost all her earthly possessions. It seemed strange to have one's entire life fit in such a small area. Then again, she was in France to start a new. Perhaps one day she's have something more to show for her life. Although, that would likely involve finding a husband. Odette crinkled her nose at the thought.

Aramis held his hand out for Odette to take as she climbed onto the seat of the cart with a gentle but firm boost from him. She smoothed out her skirts before glancing down at Aramis.

"Thank ye," she offered with a small smile. "Now will you tell me the plan? Lord knows he won't tell me."

A smile twitched Aramis' face. She was right enough about Athos. He likely wouldn't involve her with the plan. But Aramis saw no harm in telling her. Especially since she was to be a small part of the plan. "Bonnaire is going to try to make a break for it." He then pointed to a window on the tavern and then to the cart parked in front of hers. "Hired man for the escape. Already paid him off. My horse is waiting for me in front of that cart."

"Ah," Odette nodded, quickly putting the pieces of the plan together in her head. "So you're letting him think he's escaping when he's really falling right back into your hands."

He nodded. She was a smart thing, that was for sure. And smart women like her either ended up old maids or with a man strong enough to handle such an amazing treasure.

She smiled. "Clever. Whose idea was that?" Odette asked.

Aramis grimaced slightly knowing she wasn't going to like the answer.

"No," Odette groaned, throwing her head back. Athos had come up with the plan. She could read enough from his expression even if he hadn't voiced the words. What was it about this man that his men admired? Sure he was slightly ruggedly handsome. But the looks were wasted on a man with his personality.

"Athos really isn't so bad, once you get to know him. Rough around the edges, a bit moody perhaps. But he's a good man. A fine man. I'd even go so far as to call him clever."

Odette's eyes widened, realising exactly who he was referencing. But Aramis held his hands up in defence, "Your words, not mine." Although, he made no attempt to hide the grin that spread from ear to ear across his face.

"Well, I have no desire to get to know him," Odette said as she straightened her posture and crossed her arms over her chest, reaching for her locket with one of her hands. "Once I'm in Paris, I hope to never have to see him again."

Aramis chuckled. We'll see how that works out for you, mademoiselle, he thought. Knowing the captain, as well as he did, Odette likely wouldn't be far from his sight unless her situation changed. And Athos was Treville's most trusted man and close confidant. There was no way the two of them could avoid the other for long. Especially not if Aramis had anything to say about it. He quite enjoyed seeing Athos with his feathers ruffled.

"I must take my leave," Aramis said, removing his hat and giving her a slight bow. "Athos should be here momentarily. And if you could do me a favour, try not to rile him too terribly. . . at least not without me present." He gave Odette a wink before turning to walk away.

At least he had a sense of humour about him, Odette mused. Unlike the other one. The very thought of him made her roll her eyes. Everything about him bristled her. And that very fact annoyed her to no end.

Athos soon appeared running out a side door before he rounded the cart and swiftly jumped onto the seat beside her. He didn't say a single word to her. He just sat beside her. Although his posture did look rather rigid.

Odette glanced upwards at the window Aramis had pointed out, where he assumed from which Bonnaire would escape. Athos must have noticed her looking in that direction because he groaned. "He told you, didn't he?" Athos grumbled, rubbing his face with his gloved hands.

"Something ye should have done. No?" Odette scoffed, tucking her hair behind her ears. "Especially considering since you're now involving me in your Musketeer business."

Athos arched an eyebrow. "You're not involved in any form."

"I do believe that my cart is involved and last time I checked, I'm on the cart. For all I know, my life could be in danger. What if his wife armed him? Hm?"

Athos pondered her words for a moment, reluctantly seeing her point. But he groaned. "She wasn't armed. Porthos checked her. And I checked Bonnaire, myself."

Well, at least he hadn't been stupid enough to let them in without checking them. But that didn't cover everything. "What about the room? Did you check in there? His wife could have hidden something before we even arrived. Especially since you lot were more concerned with chain man than her."

He sighed in frustration. "Aramis and D'Artagnan checked the room."

"D'Artagnan, that's it!" Odette gently slapped her knee.

"What about him?" Athos' head whipped quickly to look at Odette, which caught her off guard. His voice sounded a bit tense. He was staring at her rather intensely. It was a bit infuriating.

Odette blinked slowly, trying to understand the man's odd reaction. "I couldn't remember his name." Odette shifted a bit further away from Athos on the seat, before continuing her interrogation. "What about beneath the floorboards? Did they check there? I'm sure that she could have . . . "

"Mademoiselle, I know how to do my job! I have learned much from your uncle. He wouldn't have sent me to escort you if he didn't think me up for the task." Although Athos was careful not to say that this task might be the very death of him and not because of anything to do with Bonnaire.

Odette huffed a breath of air before blowing a stray tendril from her face. "You're not the only one he taught," she offered, folding her arms across her chest. "My uncle taught me many things, especially how to look after myself. I'm not - I'm not trying to accuse you of anything."

Athos looked at her rather pointedly, because that was exactly what she had been doing since the harbour.

"I'm just used to taking care of myself. That's all." She wrapped her arms a little tighter about her person, clinging to her locket with her left hand. Odette sighed. She wasn't sure why she had offered that piece of information up to him. It had just spilt out. She was normally pretty good at keeping her darkest fears hidden within her. Odette refused to look over at him.

"Well, from here to Paris, that's my job and I need you to let me do it. Or you could get us both killed."

An independent streak certainly makes sense, Athos mused. And it likely hadn't done her any favours to obtain a suitable husband and secure a future. But soon her independent streak wouldn't be his problem. It would be the captain's.

Odette was rather thankful to see Bonnaire climb out the window and slide down the roof. It meant that she could return to a blessed silence with the brooding man beside her. She carefully scooted over a bit further to put as much distance between her and the brooding man as possible. Even if it meant she was half off the seat of the cart. It was better than the alternative.

Bonnaire climbed into the cart in front of them before hiding himself beneath the canvas that covered his goods. His cart then began to move forward. With a quick motion of the reigns, Athos set their horse in motion. The initial jut of the cart, caused Odette to squeal and lose her balance - because he hadn't warned her they were about to move. So, she began to slip off the cart.

But Athos was quick and reached out his arm, snaking it around Odette's waist before pulling her closer to him. "What the hell was that?" he hissed, holding onto the reigns with one hand and Odette with the other.

Odette's nose crinkled and her brow furrowed in anger before she began to elbow Athos in the side. "Remove your hand from me this instant," she hissed. She would have yelled at him, but she wasn't stupid enough to try to spoil the mission and startle Bonnaire.

Athos looked at her in disbelief, his jaw slackened. "I was trying to help you." He still hadn't made move to release her. Instead, he still held her tightly to him with his hand about her waist as he steered the cart with one hand.

"Ye should have warned me," Odette argued, peeling his hand from her waist. She then elbowed him one more time for good measure. He hardly seemed to react to her attack. So scooted over to put some distance between them. But not so much that she would fall from the cart again.

"I assumed it obvious," Athos muttered loud enough for her to hear, which made Odette roll her eyes.

The sound of horses' hooves clicking against the pavement seemed to grow louder. Someone was approaching them. Odette turned to see D'Artagnan riding alongside them. "Everything alright over here? I thought I heard . . ."

"We're fine." Athos and Odette both snapped in unison at D'Artagnan.

Odette and Athos exchange glances of exasperation with the other before focusing on the cart before them. D'Artagnan simply smiled before falling back behind them.

In the cart up ahead, Bonnaire seemed to figure out that he had played right into the Musketeers' hands as he uncovered himself. Odette squinted her eyes to see the Musketeer Porthos sitting at the front of the cart with his weapon pointed at Bonnaire, grinning from ear to ear.

"He looks like he's enjoying himself too much up there," Odette chuckled to herself.

Having heard her comment, Athos glanced over at Odette. He almost smirked at her comment. Almost. But wisely, he said nothing. Silence seemed to be much preferable. Especially if they were to somehow survive the trip to Paris together.

God save them both.

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Author's Note: Is this chapter mostly filler of Athos and Odette annoying each other? Yes. But I had to get back into writing this somehow and this was the most enjoyable. I hope seeing these two antagonize each other was fun!