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Things aren't What they Seem
A Musketeer story by Deana

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Aramis sighed; he was not a happy man. First, he'd woken not feeling well, and now his closest friend was missing.

The night before, he'd gone to bed with a headache and risen that morning feeling shaky and weak, but he'd gone outside anyway and sat at their usual table. Porthos should've quickly joined him but never did, and just as Aramis was considering looking for him, he spotted Athos heading over. "Have you seen Porthos?" he asked.

Athos shook his head as he approached. "No."

Aramis stood. "Something must be wrong."

"Nothing is wrong," came a voice.

Aramis sat again as Captain Treville came over to them. "The king sent for Porthos and gave him an errand."

Aramis blinked, forgetting for a moment that he wasn't feeling well. "Alone?"

Treville nodded. "Yes, to deliver some sort of missive. Porthos didn't have time to come back here first, so he sent me a message telling you both not to worry and he'll see you soon."

Aramis sighed and closed his eyes for a few seconds when a wake of weakness suddenly swept over him.

"Aramis? Are you all right?" Treville suddenly asked.

Aramis opened his eyes, glad that he was sitting down. "Of course, why?"

"You're very pale," Treville told him.

"I didn't sleep well last night," Aramis told him. That wasn't really the truth; he just didn't feel like being fussed over.

Treville nodded. Whenever Aramis said that, he always assumed that nightmares of Savoy were the cause. "I don't have anything that requires your attention today…either of you. You are free to do as you please." He looked at Athos as he said it, knowing that he would take his words to mean, 'distract Aramis until Porthos comes back'.

"Thank you," Aramis said, relieved. He really didn't feel up to doing anything.

"Perhaps you should get some sleep," Treville told him.

With Porthos gone, Aramis didn't think he'd be able to do that. Too many bad things could happen to a man travelling alone, even men as strong as Porthos. "Maybe later," Aramis said.

Treville nodded and walked off.

Aramis suddenly felt Athos' eyes boring into him and he looked up.

"Does something ail you?" Athos asked. "Treville is right; you are unnaturally pale."

Aramis sighed. "Poor sleep and a resulting headache. It's nothing."

Athos nodded, knowing the feeling. "Dreams?" he carefully asked.

"No."

"Good." Athos was relieved to hear that.

Serge came by with breakfast and they ate, though Aramis hadn't much of an appetite and left half of it on his plate.

After the mess was cleared, they remained where they sat for a few minutes.

"Anything you want to do?" Aramis asked, praying that his friend would say 'no'.

"Nothing specific," Athos answered. "You?"

"No." That wasn't the truth either; he wished they was in only one place: with Porthos on the king's errand, where they belonged...either that or lying in his nice warm bed.

Athos could see that Aramis was worried. "Porthos will be fine; your fear is unfounded."

Aramis sighed and looked at him across the table. His eyes seemed to track sluggishly and he blinked to clear his vision. "I know, I'm just...out of sorts," he answered, with a shrug.

Athos nodded before standing from his seat and coming around to sit beside him so he could watch the goings-on in the garrison.

After that, Aramis seemed to lose track of time and quickly fell asleep where he sat, dreaming that Porthos was attacked by bandits who stabbed him and took his horse, supplies, and weapons, leaving him bleeding in the grass.

With a gasp, Aramis woke up, finding himself leaning against the post behind his back. He sat up straight and looked around, finding Athos beside him watching him with a frown.

"You were dreaming," Athos told him.

Aramis blinked, bringing up a slightly-shaking hand to rub his face. "I fell asleep?" he asked, without thinking.

"That is the time when most people dream," Athos said, with a slight smirk.

Aramis smiled slightly and lowered his hand.

"You look exhausted," Athos told him. "Maybe you should follow Treville's advice and go rest."

Aramis shook his aching head, which made him lightheaded. "No, I'm fine." After the dream he'd just had, he really didn't want to go back to sleep.

Athos eventually got bored sitting there and sparred with some of the youngest musketeers. Aramis watched for a while before dozing off again. He didn't dream that time, but when Athos woke him for lunch, he felt disoriented, and once again left most of his food untouched.

"Why do you worry for Porthos so?" Athos eventually asked, assuming that to be the reason for Aramis' lack of appetite. "This isn't the first time he's gone somewhere alone."

Aramis shrugged as he pushed his food around on his plate. "I don't know…I just feel like something is wrong."

"That doesn't make it true," said Athos.

Aramis nodded. "You're right." He put his fork down and sighed before looking at his friend. "I'm sorry; I'm just not good company today."

"You're always good company, Aramis," Athos said, giving one of his rare compliments. "You're entitled to have an off-day just like everyone else."

Aramis smiled at that. "Thank you." His spirits raised, he picked up his fork again and tried to eat some more, but he only managed two more bites. He simply wasn't hungry.

As the day wore on, Aramis grew progressively worse. He felt like he had no strength and there was a floaty feeling in his head that made him feel detached from everything, as if he were viewing the world from afar.

"Aramis," said a sudden voice. "Aramis?"

It took a few seconds for him to realize that he was being spoken to, and Aramis blinked up at Athos, who was bending over him with a frown. "Hmm?" was all he could get out. A hand touched his forehead and he shivered, suddenly noticing that he felt cold.

"You fool," Athos said. "Why didn't you tell me that you're ill?"

Aramis gave no answer, blinking slowly.

Athos moved his hand to his friend's cheek. "You're burning up, Aramis." Looking up towards Treville's office, he shouted, "Captain!"

Treville came out and looked over the rail before heading towards the stairs. "What is it?" he asked as he approached.

"Aramis has a fever," Athos told him.

Treville frowned and felt Aramis' forehead for himself. "He's burning up," he said, echoing Athos' words. He quickly looked around the garrison and beckoned to the first musketeer he saw. "Fetch Dr. Lemay; tell him we have a man with a high fever."

The musketeer nodded and ran off.

"Aramis," said Treville. "Let's get you to your room."

Aramis blinked slowly, giving no reaction.

The two men gently pulled Aramis off the bench, and were further worried when the sick musketeer's knees buckled and he tipped into Athos, who caught him under his arms.

"Aramis!" Treville exclaimed, putting a hand under his chin and lifting his head.

Aramis blinked again. "Porthos?"

Treville shook his head. "No, it's me and Athos. Come on." He took Aramis on one side and they carefully got him up the stairs and into his room, sitting him in a chair to take off his belt, jacket, and boots.

Aramis slumped bonelessly, eyes closed. He made a little noise that wasn't quite a groan, but it was enough for them to know that he was still awake. After they got him down to just his shirt and pants, they quickly settled him in the bed.

Treville fetched the basin of water on the dresser and wet a towel in it before handing it to Athos, who was sitting on the side of the bed.

Aramis flinched at the feel of the cold water on his overheated forehead and clumsily reached up to dislodge it.

"No, Aramis," Treville said, reaching out to hold him down while Athos put his hand on top of the towel to keep it there.

Aramis flinched again. "Too cold," he said, shivering.

Treville sighed. "It only seems that way because you're too hot," he said. "I'll fetch you another blanket."

Aramis gave no reply, but his shivering increased and he made a sound of distress.

Treville quickly got Aramis' spare blanket from a chest at the end of his bed and spread it over him, before sitting on the other side of the bed.

Aramis' eyes opened slightly before they closed again. "Porthos?" he weakly asked.

"He's not here," Athos told him. "But he'll be back."

Aramis gave a shuddering sigh and continued to shiver.

Athos patted the cloth over his friend's face before rewetting it and holding it to Aramis' forehead. He heard Treville sigh and looked at him to see extreme concern on his face…the same concern that he felt.

As they waited for the doctor, Athos had only one thought…he wished that Porthos was there.

TBC