Four Is a Bond Now Broken
By Greenlips24
Chapter One – It Begins
Aramis always loved the ride back to Paris.
"It's a beautiful day, Gentlemen," he sighed, taking off his hat and holding his face to the sun. Porthos huffed. He was just tired and hungry. Nature did not appeal to him as it did to his poetic brother.
"I'm starvin'," he growled. "What I wouldn't give for a bowl of beef stew," he said wistfully. "A big bowl..." he added.
"Soon, Porthos," Athos murmured. Food was just fuel to him, sought only when his stomach reminded him it was empty. And even then he could take it or leave it.
"It will be good to get back," d'Artagnan chipped in, happily. They had been away for several days, but it had been an uneventful mission for once, and they had all enjoyed each other's company.
Arriving back at the Garrison, Athos climbed the stairs to Treville's office to give his report. Appearing a few minutes later as their horses were being led to the stables, he walked briskly over.
"We are not needed until the morning, so the evening is ours" he said.
After freshening up, they met up later at The Wren and took the table in the corner. Porthos was happy, beef stew was actually on the menu that night. He ordered two bowls.
"What?" he said, catching Athos's look.
"May I suggest a bigger bowl?"
"Nah, no time," Portos answered, his mouth full.
Athos looked away before Porthos could see the smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.
"Aramis!" cried Jenny as she carried bottles of wine to the tables.
"Where have you been?!"
"On a mission of great importance, my beauty," he twinkled, sliding an arm around her waist. "Have you missed me?"
"Of course!" she smiled, stroking his cheek.
Athos caught d'Artagnan's eye and they both shared a smile.
Porthos finished his stew, and considered ordering a third, but decided against it when he spotted a card game at a nearby table.
"How anyone still plays cards with Porthos is a mystery," whispered d'Artagnan.
"He doesn't always cheat," replied Athos, pouring more wine into their glasses.
"He is like an expert fisherman; he seeks his quarry, sets his lure, casts his net, and waits for the bounty."
"Like a black widow spider," d'Artagnan laughed.
"Precisely."
The night passed well. d'Artagnan saved their drinks by expertly raising two bottles of wine just as a neighbouring drinker was sent sprawling across their table by his disgruntled friend. The barman finally had had enough of Aramis taking up too much of Jenny's time and pulled her off his knee for the fourth time. By the loud booming laugh coming from their companion across the room, Porthos had apparently won again. Athos was pleasantly mellow after drinking less than he normally would; his mood light hearted as he sat with his back to the room, watching his brothers unwinding.
After a successful evening, they spilled happily out into the night, holding each other up and seeing each other to their individual lodgings.
The next morning found Aramis already sitting at the table in the yard, helping himself to bread and ham. Porthos and d'Artagnan came through the archway together and on seeing them, Aramis smiled.
"It's a beautiful day, Gentlemen!" he said.
"You said that already," growled Porthos, clearly worse for wear.
"That was yesterday," replied Aramis, laughing.
Picking up an apple, d'Artagnan crashed down next to Aramis, looking around.
"Where's Athos?" he asked, just as Treville's door opened and Athos emerged, buttoning his blue leather jacket and taking the stairs two at a time.
"What's the rush?" said Porthos, pushing two slices of beef between a squashed piece of bread. Athos frowned at the decidedly unattractive sight as Porthos took a bite, and shook his head.
"Just an errand," Athos replied, pulling on his gloves.
"I'll go!" d'Artagnan bolted to his feet.
"Thank you, but no, finish your breakfast. This won't take long."
Surveying his three friends, he smiled slightly and reminded them that the regiment were all due on the square behind the Garrison in one hour for assessment and briefing by the Captain.
Being last onto the square also meant they were the first off, and so it was that the three strode through the archway into the empty yard a few hours later.
They were in mid conversation, when Aramis stopped dead and threw his arm out against his brothers. Confused, Porthos and d'Artagnan followed his gaze.
There, in the middle of the yard, was a single blue leather sleeve, the pauldron still attached, although now secured by a wicked looking knife, thrust into the ground.
Aramis felt his stomach clench.
Porthos moved first.
"It's Athos's!" he shouted.
They moved forward and looked down at the sleeve. The knife skewered a note, its lettering clearly visible:
Four is a bond now broken
He has three days
Porthos reached down and pulled out the knife, freeing the note.
As he did so, the sleeve moved, and he fell backwards with a terrible howl, scrambling away.
A hand protruded from the cuff of the leather sleeve, the dead fingers already beginning to blacken.
Aramis fell to the ground, his knees buckling, and bile rising in his throat.
d'Artagnan staggered under the stairs where he lost the contents of his stomach.
Porthos continued to howl.
To be continued ...