It had been raining for days. Weeks it seemed to the musketeers, returning one morning from guard duty at the palace.
The King was growing increasingly frustrated about being kept indoors and his peevish attitude had begun to infect those around him.
D'Artagnan shifted his weight between the balls of his feet as he stood in the stables. Unbeknownst to him, it was the perfect imitation of the mare that Aramis was grooming. Porthos however did notice, and with a nudge to Athos, he noticed too. Athos raised an eyebrow as Porthos grinned widely.
"Hey, Whelp!" he called to the younger man, "Want an apple?"
D'Artagnan turned and caught the fruit that was tossed his way. He shook his long brown locks back away from his face before noisily munching the apple. Porthos let out a bark of laughter and doubled up at the confused look on the man's face. Even Athos grinned slightly.
D'Artagnan scowled, his chewing slowed. He knew something was up but he wasn't quite sure what…
Frustrated, he groaned, "When can we get out of here? Are you almost done grooming this poor animal?"
"Somewhere to be?" asked Aramis, eyebrows raised, as he patted the mare on the neck.
"No," he scowled. "It's just, I've never been in the city for so long. It's still strange to me," he said. Being stuck inside the city was a strange thing for the farm boy who, though he had been with the musketeers for several weeks now, was still not used to the busy streets and brick buildings on all sides. A part of the heart of the Gascon still yearned for the fields and the open air.
The quartet exited the stables, the remainder of D'Artagnan's apple going to the now scrupulously groomed mare.
"Better in the garrison in a warm bed than out on the road with nothin' but a bedroll," Porthos countered.
"It seems our days of bed may be numbered," responded Aramis. "It looks as though the Captain is looking for us…"
Athos cast a glance at Porthos and Aramis as Treville marched in their direction. "Did you two do anything I should be aware of?"
The two men had a hasty exchange of glances, before Aramis said, "I'm going to pretend like we didn't hear that."
"Besides," countered Porthos, "You would've been there too if we did!"
Athos rolled his eyes and turned to meet Treville.
"Gentlemen," said Treville when he reached where the men were assembled under the overhang at the base of the stairs.
"Captain," said the four, straightening to receive potential orders. Though a kind, good and honourable man, Treville seemed to travel under his own weather system even at the best of times. He had the disposition of a man that was always certain it would rain, and when it was raining, he was the man on alert for thunder. This made him nearly impossible to read for those who did not know him well, and made him an invaluable captain. He was always prepared for the worst.
"I have a mission for you," he said.
"Yes!" exclaimed D'Artagnan. Treville's eyes narrowed. D'Artagnan wilted under the scrutiny and shifted to regain his composure. Porthos turned his head and Aramis faked a cough to stifle their laughter.
"If you're finished," said Treville, catching each man's eye with that well practiced ice-blue stare. "About a week ago Michel and Girard were sent to escort a package from Le Havre for the King. Its contents were unknown. I received word from Girard that they had arrived and would be returning once they had secured the package. It is a three days' ride to Le Havre."
"They should have returned by now," said Athos, his quick blue eyes catching the worry in his Captain's.
"Well, roads are bad with all this rain," defended Aramis, "one could have been washed out and delayed them or they could have been delayed in receiving the package because of it."
Treville brought his hand up to rub the bridge of his nose. "I hope so, for their sakes, that is all that has happened," he said.
Four pairs of eyes grew instantly concerned at the hint of a threat to the other musketeers.
"The King…has grown impatient," he sighed. "It turns out that the package contains a valuable gift for the King from his sister, Henrietta…There have been implications that my men may not be trusted." He stopped as the wave of outrage hit him.
"That's absurd!" roared Porthos.
"I would trust those men with my life!" affirmed Aramis, D'Artagnan nodding his head profusely in agreement.
"You must have argued against that insinuation," Athos drawled, cutting across his brothers' further indignation.
Treville raised his eyebrow. "Of course! I stand by every man I accept into this regiment. The King has decided to use this situation as a test of my men's morality. I need you four to set out to find the others and return the package to Paris, by any means necessary."
"By any means?" Athos quirked an eyebrow.
Treville grew even more grim. A steely smile clung to his lips, but there was no warmth there – just determination. "I trust my men," he said. "I hope Aramis is right and it's only rain that has delayed their return…but if it's not…"
"We won't fail you," said Athos. Treville looked at his men, and once more catching and holding each eye, he nodded and turned on his heel, heading back up the stairs to the confines of his office.
oOo
