A New Beginning

It had taken a little more convincing, but Angelique had finally convinced D'Artagnan that she loved King Louis. He ultimately wanted her to be happy and so he agreed to keep her secret from the king. From that moment on Lorelei Baudelaire no longer existed. Fourteen months had since passed and much had happened. France had officially declared war against England, which unfortunately kept the king extremely busy. Trevare had been granted his transfer and she had not seen him since. She had written both Armand and Trevare long, detailed letters in an attempt to explain, but she knew that ultimately her words would probably be useless. She knew she had hurt them both badly and it broke her heart, but she could not be that woman anymore. The king brought out a better side of her. Angelique was kind hearted, genuine, and sincere. She always kept the king's best interests in mind and supported him fully. While they were not yet married, or even engaged, it was understood that she was to be his wife and she was already treated as such by servants and any visitors they may have. She had not yet been formally introduced to France, but her name was known and rumors of her exquisite beauty were heard all over France.

Lousia had been married to the Prince of Austria and was now out of the palace (much to everyone's relief, including Angelique's). It was much quieter without her around. Angelique was glad that Lousia was gone for it was one less thing for the king to stress about. She worried about him and did everything she could to help him. She had learned much this past year about politics and the government and could easily hold her own against any visiting dignitary at dinner. Angelique had plenty of nice dinner dresses, but when she was out during the day she much preferred simpler dresses. The king had kept his promise and gotten her a new Russian Wolfhound puppy that she had spent an extensive amount of time training herself. Her dogs were like her children and she now insisted that they remain indoors with her, which the king was happy to comply with.

The king and Angelique officially had separate rooms and because they were not yet married they had to be discrete, but most nights they spent making love in one another's room and then falling asleep in each other's arms. More than once a servant had walked in while one or the other was trying to slip out in the morning. The servants though knew to keep their mouth's tightly closed.

Angelique had been waiting for Louis for over an hour. He had promised her when he left early during dinner that he would see her that night, but as of yet he had not appeared. She was worried about him and the stress this war was putting on him. She put on her robe and walked down to his study, where she knew he would be. She knocked lightly before walking in. She approached him and looked at him.

"You're worrying me Louis. You need to get some rest."

He looked up when she entered, a casualty report was on his desk and it was not going well. The few skirmishes had cost France to many men and to many ships. To finance the war, Louis made agreements with Spain and Austria but now it seemed that to continue on like this would be fruitless. He was going to call for peace and see what came of it. He had been trying to sign it for a very long time but his hand just wouldn’t respond to his will. He looked up as Angelique, his love, his beauty walked into his office. He had dark spaces under his eyes and hadn’t slept much in days.

“Each time I try...my hand just refuses to sign it,” he said mournfully. She could see the quill in his hand. “They tried to kill you and my daughter Angelique...what should I do?” He asked her.

Angelique walked over and stood by the desk. She looked down at the peace treaty and then looked at him. She could see the conflict in his eyes. She knew in his heart that he wanted to sign it, but was being held back by the memories of what had happened to herself and Lousia.

"You must do what is right for France. What happened is in the past. I do not want to live in the past Louis when we have a future together to look forward to. I want us to marry and for me to bear you a son. Is that not what you want as well?"

He looked up at her and buried his face in her stomach. “I do my dearest, I want nothing more than that,” he told her wearily. He sighed then he shifted and picked back up the pen and signed the treaty. “Videl will not be happy...but I must do what my conscience tells me to do,” he said as he put the quill back into the ink jar. “I tire...take me to bed Angelique, war is at an end and we will celebrate peace and life once more,” he added as he stood. They did not make love that night, he slept in her arms and he did not wake early.

The next day Videl was fuming, as she waited in the hall for him, they were to go out into the gardens with her dogs she heard him yelling. “It’s that...that woman! She has you believing we are weak my King!” He said angrily. “Watch yourself Videl, I will not have you speaking about my wife in this way, I signed the treaty, YOU, deliver the terms and get it done. If you do NOT! I will offer it with your head in a sack! Do you hear me!?” The King said. He was sensitive about Angelique and everyone knew better than to threaten her or speak poorly of her in his presence. “Now...get out!” He barked and Videl went. He paused and straightened his coat as he saw Angelique across the hall. He scowled at her then stalked off. All three of her dogs growled at him and watched him go warily. The King strolled out and the dogs whined as if they expected something good to happen. He was surprised by how passionate Angelique kissed him right then. He nearly laughed at her and they were lucky no one was watching them she managed to feel him up in the process.

“What has you in a mood my dear?” He said as they started off toward the exit.

Angelique stood outside his study the following day waiting patiently for him. He had promised to go out with her on a walk through the gardens with the dogs, but had some business to take care of with Videl first. Angelique strongly disliked Videl. She did not trust him at all. She knew that he did not like her and the feeling was mutual. And so when she heard him arguing with the king over her she wasn't at all surprised. However, the king's reaction as so strong and he defended her so passionately that it caused her face to flush slightly. She watched as Videl exited the study. He paused and looked at her slightly and she looked back at him. She did nothing to calm her dogs as they growled at him. He then stormed off in a huff. A moment later Louis emerged and she felt a wave of desire wash over her. She kissed him deeply and passionately. She smiled when he nearly laughed and she looked at him as she looped her arm through his.

"Several things actually. Firstly, you being all strong and kingly. Secondly, you defending me against Videl. And thirdly...you referring to me as your wife..."

He looked over at her surprised, “Did I? I can’t recall,” he said in his best sarcastic voice. He knew he was slipping that in here and there in hopes people would just take to it, their wedding was to far off for his liking but the planning was important to her and to France and he would wait. The dogs took off as soon as they left the palace. The paced forward to their limit and sniffed and relieved themselves. They barked at one another and played taking full advantage of the sunny, fine day. People waved to them and bowed to them and servants came with food or drink but he waved it all away. Today he was with Angelique and he would not waste a moment to see her in the sun. When they were out a good way, guards flanked them and moved around to the other side as well, he surprised her with a small picnic on a dark blue blanket. Wine, cheeses, fruits and a host of other things and he chuckled at how large her eyes got. While they ate they fed one another and drank from one another’s glasses, it wa a perfect afternoon and he had her take off her hat and he undid her hair so he could see it flow freely in the wind. She knew Vivian was not going to like that! But there was nothing for it now. He nuzzled her neck and whispered romantic things into her ears. Things she knew he’d make good on, he always did and one in particular made her get goose bumps.

The peace treaty was rectified by the British and peace once more was brought to France but there were so much poor and not enough industry to support everyone. There was starvation and woe in several places but the King did everything he could to feed his people. Many times he would leave for weeks at a time to make sure the food and money were distributed, there was so much corruption not much ever made it out to the people. France was a cesspool of sycophants and thieves in fine suits and uniforms he once told her. But even that to passed in the months to come and the day of the wedding grew ever closer.

For Angelique the planning of the wedding was quite overwhelming. Thankfully, she had many people who were hired to help her. As the day grew closer and closer Angelique grew more and more nervous. In just two weeks now she would be the queen of France! Unfortunately, they would not be able to take a Honeymoon due to the financial state that the country was in, but it didn't matter to her.

Her dress was nearly done and that day as she put it on for another fitting she looked in the mirror and could not believe the woman that looked back at her. The dress was made entirely of the finest lace and had a long veil and train. She looked positively regal and had never felt happier. However, she knew that being the queen of France would not always be easy and she often worried whether she would be able to handle it all.

That night she lay in bed with Louis in his room. They had just made love and she was lightly running her fingers over his chest as she lay there with him. She was quiet for a long time before speaking softly.

"Do you think I will make a good queen?"

He smiled lazily, just feeling her fingers touch him and not a concern in the world. “You will capture their hearts and do your people proudly my love as you have me,” he said. “Not all come from nobility, yet nobility can be found in all of us, you are proof of that,”he complimented. “They will see you as a good and just queen, and one that can scowl at her King very adroitly when she is not happy with him,” he added and smiled but then a concerned look came over him and he shifted up to look at her. “Do you want to be queen?” He asked. He wasn’t sure if he ever did ask her. “I’m sorry, I never asked you if that was what you wanted,” he said quickly and he looked confused. He should have asked her and he never did.

Angelique looked up at him when he started to become upset. "I want to marry you Louis and I understand everything that comes with that. So yes, I want to become queen. I suppose I'm just a little nervous is all. I don't want to fail you or let you down."

“Angelique, you have never struck me as someone who likes to fail. I think you will be a wonderful queen and you will be loved, by me and everyone who comes to know you. You are both beautiful and kind and you care about our people. Trust me when I say that it will come naturally to you just like being a mother will. When we are married I do not want to wait on having a child. I want to see a pot belly on you my love and soon,” Louis told her as he fed her a bit of a pastry then kissed her neck as he nuzzled her and felt her right breast over her dress. The guards were not far but they were also not looking at them. They were looking out for possible threats.

Angelique couldn't help but smile at his response, especially the part about having a child right away. She had never pictured herself as being a mother until she met Louis. Now she couldn't stop picturing it. It excited her and she couldn't wait to be able to tell him that she was pregnant. She was even starting to imagine ways she could do it. She smiled and closed her eyes as he began to kiss her neck. She then grinned and giggled as she started to feel her up. She knew that they couldn't do anything right now, but it felt good. After a while she pulled back and looked into his eyes.

"I love you."

The rest of the day was wonderful but Louis had to leave her side for the deluge of meetings he had put off for this time together with Angelique. She still tried to make him eat, she was always doing that now because she knew when left to it he barely ate and it would not due as far as she was concerned.

She escorted their dogs...Louis loved them just as much as she did she suspected and he was always giving them food from his hand which she told him NOT to do! Back to their room which was not far from theirs. Louis had a space made for them in the palace, the first of its kind ever conceived as a birthday gift for her. Upon leaving them to go back down she noticed an absence of guards around her. When they were always under foot, they were difficult to miss with their halberds and plumed helmets, it was an obvious change. But it could be anything, shift change or a discussion about security there were a hundred possibilities and so she only shrugged and continued on her way. She rounded a hall however and she saw two servants unrolling a large rug. It was an odd thing to her eyes, normally such things were done early or late, had something happened to it? Just as she was about to ask she detected silenced footfalls behind her but before she could turn she felt a sharp pain the back of her neck and darkness took her…

She awoke to the jarring of a coach as it bumped along a dusty road. Her head hurt badly and she felt nauseous as if the blow to her head had given her a slight concussion. Had she fallen? How long had she been unconscious and why was she in a coach? She didn’t remember getting into one. She was very uncomfortable though and as she regained her faculties she realized her hands were shackled and they were above her head. And there were others there with her. Four others, three women and one man. Her head still lulled to the side, it took real effort to lift it up, and her vision swam when she did. The man was completely bald, dark skinned and thick all over. He had dark eyes and dark clothes but it was difficult to make out in the dim light of the coach. She heard whimpering from the others, they were women she decided and that when she looked down.

She no longer wore a dress she was in some kind of wool smock. It was itchy and poorly made she knew and it was dark brown like the others. The women were all fairly pretty she saw, all had dark hair and dark eyes but what was happening? Did they know who she was?

At first she thought this must be a dream. She had hit her head and was having some kind of nightmare. However, panic began to consume her when she realized that this was not a dream. It was very, very real. The shackles were cold against her skin and she felt sick to her stomach and extremely dizzy. She tried desperately to remember those last few moments. She remembered walking downstairs after putting the dogs away...servants had been unrolling a rug...she had thought it strange that there weren't any guards around...then she had heard footsteps behind her. It was in that moment that she realized she must have been kidnapped. Fear overwhelmed her and her heart began to pound rapidly in her chest. Who had done this to her? Where was she being taken? Was Louis alright? Had he been kidnapped too?

“Who are you, where are you taking me!?” One of the women said in a desperate tone. The man had been just laying back watching them but when the woman spoke she saw his demeanor darken. “Women shut their mouths unless they are asked to speak,” he said in a tone that made her think that had been something he said often. “No! You will tell me, do you know who i am!?” She said in a much more angry tone. Angelique might think she sounded like a noblewoman or close to it. Without a word the man lurched forward and began to choke the woman. He had thick fingers and they pressed at the woman’s neck. She began to choke and sputter and the woman next to her began to struggle and scream. The woman ceased her choking and her head lolled again. Angelique was thankful however that she still seemed to be breathing. “Women shut their mouths unless they are asked to speak,” he said again in that same monotone drone of a voice. The woman stopped her screams and calmed herself and no one said another word.

It was dark when she began to smell the salt of the sea and it had gotten a touch cooler. She knew they had gone north and now she knew why. They were going to take them onto a ship. Not only was she being kidnapped but now she was going to be taken far away, not just to another city or town or even another country in Europe. They could be taking her anywhere…

………………………………………………………

The King rousted the guards and had the entire palace on alert looking for Angelique. She had gone missing without a trace and hundreds of men with lanterns combed the palace and the grounds looking for her. He would not rest until she was found and woe to anyone who may have harmed her! D’artagnan had made inquiries after it appeared she was not nearby about coaches that had been at the palace and left recently. He expanded the search to the surrounding woodland and used her dogs to help in that search. It was the next morning that the dogs had gotten her scent but they lost it a few miles along the road which confirmed that she had left or had been taken by coach.

The King wanted to join in the search but knowing he could not he told D’artagnan to find her and to not come back until he did! D’artagnan thought that leaving the King was dangerous but it was Angelique, the woman he had come to care for over the time that he had gotten to know her and he would not leave her to kidnappers if being taken was why she had left. He wasn’t certain she had been considering her history.

Angelique was about to open her mouth to start yelling and telling everyone who she was, but she immediately thought better of it. If they didn't know it might be better for her if they didn't. Then another woman started yelling and Angelique watched as a man, who appeared to be a guard of some sort, got up and began to choke her. She wanted to yell at him to stop but she feared what he might do to her. Terror, unlike any she had ever known, gripped her. She fought back tears. She didn't want this man to see her cry. She knew from experience that usually made things worse. Thankfully, the woman appeared to still be alive.

She remained silent and over the next few hours she did nothing but think about Louis. She hoped he was alright. Her arms began to ache and her head still throbbed. As it grew dark she began to smell salt in the air and realized to her horror that she was being taken to the sea.

It was difficult to count in the night and gags had been put into their mouths as she and apparently, many other women were made to walk up the steep wooden planks onto a ship that was docked at a harbor...somewhere, she didn’t know where. They were shackled by two’s, her partner was a shorter woman, full of hip and bosom with dark hair and dark eyes. She looked...resigned was all Angelique could really say about her. She held an expressionless face and said not a word while they had been loaded. They were led down into the hold of the large ship, a hasty count of how many brought her to 24 but she could have missed a few in the darkness. Some apparently, made water as they were loaded, the fresh scent of urine stung her nose and she could also smell the fear. It hung in the air, dank and heavy along with the urine and the salt of the sea. Many women still smelled faintly of flowers or herbs as if they to had been yanked from their lives to end up here.

Her fingers tried to find weaknesses to the shackles but thus far she had found none. What she needed was a bit of metal, anything to pick the lock but her hopes were quickly dashed when she heard the men shouting and the ship begin to move. Ungagged now that they were away many of the women began to weep…

The ship slowed, the lurch of the waves lessened, but it had only been a few hours she knew, dawn had come and they were all brought up onto the deck and forced into a line. She could not help but wince when two women began to speak and she looked around with a fearful curiosity as sailors seemed to be throwing what looked like blood and fish parts into the water off the side of the ship they were near. For what she did not know but whatever they were doing, she knew it wasn’t good.

Their attentions were shifted up to the balcony above them. A man in a black long coat and triangular hat stood with his hands upon his hips. The sailors were as different as they were though they wore no shoes nor did they really spend much time looking at them. Each time they did a man in a blue long coat would bash them with his cudgel or screech at them to get back to work. Nearby the man that was in her coach held some kind of clippers and he clipped at his nails with it as the man on the balcony spoke.

“I am Captain Doman and this be The Spray you be on. You,” as he continued the same woman that had spoken up in the coach moved out of line and began to speak. However before she could get a word out the man with the clipper bashed her in the gut and she doubled over. The Captain shook his head and took a few steps before continuing on. The woman gasped as she tried to force air back into her lungs. “You’ll not speak unless spoken to. While on board you’ll do what yur told when yur told it. Your lives as ye knew em...are over. Yur passage aboard my ship has been paid. I dun care ta know who ye are or where ye be from, yur gold ta me and nothin more. Some o ya may cum from up high. But fer one reason or another, you’ve been brought ta me and now slaves ya do be for true,” he said as he paced. Several of the women near her shook their heads and cried in disbelief.

“Now, yur shackles will be removed but ya’ll not cause trouble, Yur slaves now and you’ll learn how ta act like a slave or you’ll not live long,” he said as if he were talking about nothing important. However now Angelique saw fins in the water near where they had been throwing the fish parts into. Large fish though she didn’t know what. The man picked up the woman that had tried to speak and with the help of another man, one of the sailors they seemed to be doing something to her mouth. Then, shey heard a loud scream and then what was left of her tongue was tossed on the deck before them. Many of the women wretched and more began to weep. Like a parcel, screaming, blood running down her chin she was tossed into the water. The fish turned out to be teeth with large bodies and they ripped her to shreds in moments. The water nearby turned red and a cold silence seemed to hit home among the women around her. “Ye can jump off now if ye wish ta,” the Captain said. “No? Well then alright,” And one by one their shackles were removed.

The smell on the ship was overwhelming. It made her stomach turn and she had to fight to keep was left in her stomach there. Looking around her she could see the frightened faces of many other women and men. She said nothing, she was too frightened to. She needed to get out of here before the ship left. She looked around for any sharp piece of metal she could use to pick the lock on her shackles, but before she could locate anything she heard shouts on the main deck and felt the ship begin to move.

For hours she sat below saying nothing. She thought about Louis and her dogs. She held onto that pleasant thought for as long as she could. Finally, at dawn she and the others were forced up into the deck into a line. She heard movement behind her and looked over to see sailors cutting up fish parts and throwing them into the water. She didn't know why, but something told her she would soon find out. She then looked over to see what appeared to be the Captain of the ship. She remained silent, but the same woman who had spoken up in the coach opened her mouth to speak again. Angelique winced as the woman was struck in the stomach and doubled over. She listened with growing horror as the Captain told them they were to be sold as slaves. She wanted to cry but she held back her tears. She then watched in pure terror as the same woman was taken and her tongue cut out. Angelique felt faint as she then watched them throw her overboard. She heard movement in the water and thrashing and saw large sharks begin to devour her. She was trembling but she told herself that she would be rescued. Someone had to be coming for her...

After two days aboard the ship few women dared to speak unless it was whispers at night. They were separated into  6 groups, each group of four, there had been 25 of them, that slept in their own small, cramped cabin. Hammocks hung from iron ringlets at each end, two on each side of the room and a small space in the center that they could sit or stand. There were no chairs and their shackles had been removed on that first day. It was no wonder, the shackles left marks on them and there was no place to go anyway accept over the side and they all knew what waited for them there.

In one of the larger cabin, there were two, the women were shown the ‘proper’ way to please a man. A man that went by the name Aston Gregor, he was fairly short at 5’7” tall, short brown hair and blue eyes, coached them on how to act and react as they had sex with men. Unfortunately since some of their clients were women, they also had to learn how to please a woman as well, something that most of the women seemed to have particular difficulty doing. It was slow work but it rarely took more than a few threats to get them to do what he wanted. To not meant, well they had never found out because no one was that stupid to not just do what they were told or try to do what he expected them to. The training was slow going, there was more than a fair bit of acting involved but Angelique excelled at that part thus she was usually one picked out that they had to ‘pleasure’ under the watchful eyes of Aston. She had heard them say 6 more days before they would make harbor in Liverpool. They were also taught English if they did not know it well. A young man named Darius, he was tall, very pretty with curly blonde hair and blue eyes was the man that they had to practice on. He was very well endowed and seemed to be able to remain hard for ungodly amounts of time. Most of the women had far less trouble...it seemed to Angelique, learning when he was involved. When the women learned they were left alone. When they didn’t or caused trouble, that hadn’t started until the 4th day, they were given to the crew for a night. The morning after they were meek and eager to learn what they could not the day before.

Unfortunately also, for comfort, two of the women in Angelique's cabin had taken to one another and she had to try and fall to sleep with them carrying on right next to her. When she was allowed free time she might enjoy being on the deck, feeling the wind and seeing the waves or wales jump out of the water. But those times were rare and soon they would arrive and if she couldn’t escape, she could be sold to someone. It was unfathomable to believe that people conducted in such business but then again, perhaps she could believe it.

On the last day the shackles were put back upon them and though she was able to find a rusty nail to try to pry it loose, it snapped as she tried to use it and left her without another opportunity to find another. They were led off as they were led on and the gags were returned as well as the cover of darkness. They were hustled into coaches, there were six in hers with her this time and the bumpy ride inland began.

Hours and hours passed, they were denied water the last day so it was no surprise no one had to make water while in the coach, they wouldn’t have stopped anyway she suspected and the curtains were drawn so she could see nothing. How long, 6 hours? 10? It was warm and stuffy inside and they were all thirsty and hungry. The man that was with them was the same one that was with her before. He was dozing now but with her hands up as they were, her shoulders and back screamed bloody murder at her, her legs and feet were free and she knew if she didn’t try she’d likely never see Louis again. She had no idea which direction they had gone or how to speak English well enough to pass as a commoner here but first things first she needed to get free. And then her opportunity came. The Coach lurched suddenly and the stocky little man was thrown forward toward them. She lifted up her legs and seized his neck with her thighs as he tried to right himself. He tried to pry her legs off, even beating at her back and buttocks, he was strong and it hurt, oh god how he hurt her but she continued to squeeze and squeeze as the woman with her all gasped and quietly rooted her on. Finally she felt him go limp and he pulled him toward her on his knees.

For Angelique the time aboard the ship was pure hell. She, like the other women, were forced to learn how to perform sexual acts on men and on other women. Angelique was already well acquainted with how to do both, but the men enjoyed Angelique and so she received quite a bit of attention. Despite being dirty and hungry she was still extremely beautiful and quickly became a favorite among the men, including the Captain. She never spoke or caused trouble. She knew better and even though she wanted to kill every man aboard, she forced herself to be patient. A time would come.

After days aboard the ship they were reshackled and gagged and forced off the ship under the cover of night and into coaches. She knew they were in England since they had been taught bits of English. However because the curtains were drawn closed she had no idea where they were going. She waited and waited knowing a time to act was soon. She would get free and return to France somehow.

She watched as the guard began to doze after several hours. He did not seem overly strong and she had a feeling she could over power him. Suddenly, the coach hit a bump and the man was flung forward towards her. She reacted without thinking and squeezed him between her thighs. She had strong thighs and was able to hold him despite the fact that he was thrashing about. She squeezed harder and harder until she felt him go limp. She breathed out a sigh of relief and quickly rummaged through his pockets. She found the keys to the shackles and immediately freed herself and the other women. She then quickly went through his pockets for anything she could find. She found some money (not much) and a few things she could sell. Glancing out the window she could see the sun was going to be rising soon. They needed to get out now. She told the women to remain as quiet as possible. She opened the door as the coach was still moving and one by one she had the women jump out. The coach wasn't going terribly fast so they were able to jump out easily and without any noise. After the last woman was out she took no time in starting to run for the woods that were nearby. At this point they had not been noticed, but she wasn't going to take that chance.

ooc: New Thread!