Adapted from Tweets dated 31st August 2014 by @Mlady_de_Winter, @Exquisite_Wren and @Musketeer_Athos 

Milady de Winter smirks with satisfaction at a job well done as she slinks into the shadows of the Streets of Paris

“No one touches my man!”

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I wake to a smoke filling bedroom and jump out of the bed to open the door to the house ablaze downstairs. I rush to the window, peering out and mentally access the situation, then cast an anxious look back to the sleeping Ninon and throw the strewn night gown across to her calling out to wake up as I rapidly dress and look anxiously around the room. Using my knife I hastily tear strips from the nearby drapes and throw them in the wash bowl pouring water over them. Throwing the rest of my uniform and weapons out the window I look back to her waking as smoke continues to fill the room. 

She wakes in a confused state, coughing uncontrollably from the effects from the dark cloud of smoke that fills and invades our room. Now Instinctively covering at her nose and mouth as she barely make out my form and reach for her night gown in haste as she throws it on and scream for my aid. 

“Athos! I’m frightened and I can’t breathe!” 

I rush to her side through the hazy swirls of smoke, dragging her to the window, both of us coughing and spluttering. I take her hand and I try to hide my concern. 

“…It’s too high to jump from here…” 

I look at her with deep disquiet. 

“…I need you to trust me like you’ve never trusted me before…” 

I give her a serious nod of my head asking for her understanding. 

She squeezes my hand, fearing the worst as she nods profusely, while swirls of engulfing smoke and fire threaten to tear us apart….nearing closer and closer smothering the lustre and fear in her eyes. 

“Please…just get us out of here” 

Squeezing out the strips of wet cloth I pass one to he while wrapping two around my knuckles. 

“…I’m going to carry you out…and I want you to just hold onto me and keep your eyes closed with this damp cloth over your mouth and nose” 

My stinging eyes burn down at her, 

“….just so you know….I’ve always loved you from the moment I met you…” 

I cough as smoke filling lungs start to burn, 

“….are you ready?”

 Overly anxious and spluttering out her cry,

“No….yes!” 

She trembles within my grasp, the chaos of overwhelming smoke constricting…crushing at her lungs, 

“…and I’ve always loved you too!” 

She brings the wet cloth to her pale and clammy features, prior to throwing her arms around my neck as she clings to my only hope…me! 

Gasping what clean air I can from the open window and vaguely aware of the street cluttering to the sound of buckets of water being passed along and ironically rain falling heavily…I scoop her up within my protective arms, holding her close to my chest as I start our dash into the fiery hell of the conflagration below. You seem to weigh nothing as the adrenalin surges through my body, pumping strength and courage as I open the door to face the wall of heat from the flames below. Crackling timbers glow alight and flames kick and dance around me as I run the well-trodden path down the stairs. Pressing the precious bundle I carry ever closer to me I skirt their torment, and parry their attacks but all the time their roasting aftermath sucks the living air out of me as I splutter my way through, kicking doors open and stumbling into room after room in this hell fire of a living nightmare. The blistering heat burns into my flesh but still I fight on seeking  that exit into the cooling airs of the Paris streets. 

Held so tightly by me…bound within the strength of my arms, her face buried against the safety of my neck, the roar of combusting flames that lick and fuse rapidly into a blazing, menacing entity that exudes the discharge of the emanate blinding life force at the egress of our escape. Her ears ringing, while fear unleashes terror at lightning speed within the course of her collapsing veins as she struggles to maintain my consciousness in her frail state. 

With the stalwart determination of a king’s Musketeer, defiant in the face of this blistering combustion, my unwavering spirit drives me to my physical limitations as I finally reach the entrance to collapse on my bended knees coughing as you are snatched from my arms by persons unknown to the safety of the rain soaked air of the Paris streets. 

Unaware of the receiving recipient’s arms, still gasping and struggling for breath as she is carried to safety, now drenched from the heavy rainfall in a fetal position, snatched from my heroic arms, my embrace. Her fragile life she owes to my bravery and skilled, unrelenting efforts. 

Aided by strangers I stagger outside. Exhausted, still coughing the fiery embers of our near deathly demise, I push them aside as I desperately seek her being. Seeing her bedraggled form so vulnerable, huddled so child-like in this pouring rain, rekindles that passion that burns so deep within me. Still pushing everyone aside I stumble over to her and in this torrential down pour, her gown now clinging magnificently to her shapely curves, I lift her once more into my loving embrace and kiss you ardently, for all my life is worth.

 Adapted from tweets dated 25th August 2014

Her breath lingers as she lies between the lonely sheets, awaiting the warmth of my caress and all that my athletic physique does possess. She rolls from her position on hearing my footsteps near her bedroom door. 

 A gentle sigh whispers the night’s secret tryst…a lovers’ bedroom retreat. 

She rests back against the pillows to greet my gaze… her heart always giving loving praise as she watches me pull my jacket from my form. Her eyes take in where her lips have adorned. She smiles slightly with purpose, watching as I unbuckle my belt, then as I slide down my breeches she leans forward to see where her inner warmth has felt. She gently reclines back against the pillows with a saintly smile and her heart…it melts. 

“Good evening,” 

 She smoothes a hand down the covers as her eyes alight for no other. 

“Are you coming to bed…?” 

 I watch your eyes as I peel off my clothing, a warm inner smile pervading my subdued expression. I nod a relaxed confirmation as I tug the sheet free and roll onto my side as I join her under the sheet. 

“…Have you had a good day?” murmurs contentedly. 

My eyes again take in the softness of her features and the inner beauty that warms my heart. I push away a stray lock of her hair as I smile with loving fulfilment into her innocent eyes. 

Uncertainty benumbs her smile, slowly moving back from where my hand stroked down that lone ringlet of hair. Her eyes shift from mine in despair, where it came from she does not know but a single tear rolls down, a shard of ice grazing her cheek. She moves back further from my faltering smile, her heart not registering for it has been a while. She rolls from my form to face the wall. Alone in her darkness is where her features fall. 

I take a deep breath, exhaling slowly into the vacuous void between us. Heavy hearted eyes extinguish the light of hope as I roll back to face my own demons alone. 

“…Goodnight…” 

 She quietly sobs into her pillow, her tears unseen though they keep me awake and with no arms to hold her she shakes. She yearns to reach back now and pull me into her loving embrace now thinking through that coldness she so unthoughtfully displayed 

I stare blindly ahead…just not knowing what to do…numb!