Good Advice
By: MusketeerAdventure
Summary: This story takes place during the season one pilot, Friends and Enemies. After helping to rescue him from certain execution, Athos gives d'Artagnan some good advice.
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Chapter 1: Advice from Athos
As the inseparables entered the garrison, Treville looked down from the walkway and felt relief.
There stood his three best, right here, where they belonged; the young Gascon some steps behind. He shook his head and wondered at the tenacity of Aramis and Porthos, to get the proof needed to have Athos released at the eleventh hour.
Yesterday, they had rushed to him with musketeer uniforms; Spanish gold; and the whereabouts of Cornet's body and that of his men. They had also dragged into the garrison, Red Guards, tied up and ready to confess to extortion and aiding their Captain, Gaudet, with the murder of Alexandre d'Artagnan and several other innocent people. There was more to this story, he was sure; but no one seemed eager to share how Gaudet had lost his life – but to say it was during a fierce battle.
They had then hastily made their way to the palace to get the King's signature to stay Athos' execution, with d'Artagnan following close behind.
Treville leaned over the railing and called down to the three exhausted musketeers, "come up!" The young Gascon, standing to the side, looked up as well at the summons. "You wait there", he added, "I wish to speak with you in a moment."
d'Artagnan nodded, and sat at the table, as the three made their way up the stairs to Treville's office.
Once inside, Treville gripped the hands of Porthos and Aramis, "Well done", he praised warmly; and then looked to Athos, who stood tiredly before him, his eyes hooded to hide his emotions. He looked disheveled and worn out. He hoped that his few days in the Chatelet had not been too hard on him. A musketeer among criminals would have been difficult.
With no words to express how relieved; pleased; and grateful he was to have Athos, standing alive in front of him; he instead held out his hand. Athos grabbed the offered hand and shook it firmly; understanding the emotions of his Captain behind the gesture.
Aramis and Porths had no such inhibitions. The handshake between their Captain and Athos was barely over before they pulled Athos into a three way hug. "All for one and one for all", they whispered softly to their brother. He leaned into their embrace, and wondered for the hundredth time at their loyalty to him.
They stood firm together for several moments with the Captain leaning against his desk, feeling his knees go weak.
He sat down heavily in his chair, feeling giddy and lightheaded. What would they have done if things had gone differently? He put his head in his hands and covered his eyes, noticing the slight tremors in his hands.
He knew he should have no favorites, but these three had a way about them that endeared them to him more like family than just soldiers. They were his weakness, and he knew it. One day, his feeling for them could be used against him.
When he looked up, the three before him had let each other go, and sighed deeply as one.
Aramis kissed Athos on the cheek, "Were you so ready to die?" he asked, recalling Athos' urgent plea to the firing squad to cut his life short.
Athos lifted his gaze to meet his friend's, but did not reply. The room became still and only their breathing could be heard in the quiet room. Porthos gripped Athos' shoulder and shook it with some force, "That was much to close", he surmised. Worried that Athos had no reply to having a death wish.
Athos nodded and exhaled, "yes", and then smiled slightly. "I thank you all, and of course I will thank his Majesty personally for the stay."
Treville looked up from his hands, "Thank your fellow musketeers and that young man at the bottom of the stairs."
"He led the charge to help prove your innocence", Aramis acknowledged.
"We couldn't have done it without d'Artagnan's help", Porthos agreed, "He is as stubborn and as single minded as you."
Athos remembered the look of him at the Chatelet. He seemed certain of himself- confident and self-assured. That he would risk his own life to help prove the innocence of someone he did not know meant something. He then thought back to their initial meeting. There was a gift there; a talent for the sword. But underneath it, was grief and rage.
"Of course, I will thank him also."
"I wish to speak with him first", Treville announced. "What you need Athos is rest; and to visit the infirmary. You are ordered to stand down for the next few days. This could not have been easy for you." He looked to his second and only received a brief nod as a reply. Treville knew he would see him in the morning.
As the three left his office, Treville called down for d'Artagnan to join him.
Hearing his name called with such authority, d'Artagnan leapt to his feet and made for the stairs. The three musketeers made their way down toward him, and as they crossed paths, Porthos and Aramis slapped him on the back and smiled at him widely. He smiled back; but noticed that Athos had no such salute for him.
d'Artagnan continued on to Treville's office with some apprehension. What could the Captain of the King's Musketeers possibly want to see him about?
Before they had headed off to the Chatelet, he had already thanked him for his part in helping to prove Athos' innocence; and had expressed his condolences on the loss of his father; but was glad they had found the true culprits.
He stood anxiously at the door and then looked back down below him and caught the musketeer Athos looking up at him with an expression he could not read. But then their eyes connected and he saw a slight nod encouraging him to enter the office.
So, with that reinforcement, he took a deep breath, and stepped over the threshold.
Treville stood behind his desk, and beckoned him to enter and close the door behind him. d'Artagnan closed the door, and turned with trepidation. Had he done something wrong? Was he to be politely sent away?
While accompanying Aramis and Porthos, he had thought to ask the Captain if he could stay; perhaps he could train to be a musketeer. Things had been so hectic; his chances to ask had been few. Now it looked as if his chance had passed him by.
He had no one now; and could not bear to go home to Lupiac with his father not there.
After his death, he had taken his father home, and buried him beside his mother; and sworn over his grave to bring his killers to justice. He had done that and more. He had also seen the bravery and courage of the King's Musketeers.
He had felt something as well. He had felt a sense of belonging and purpose. And when he had engaged Athos in the courtyard, those many days ago, he felt not only rage at the time; but also excitement.
His father had been his teacher; and they had sparred many times, but he had never felt what he felt that afternoon when he had challenged Athos to a duel. Fury had fueled him on. But he could feel the adrenaline in his body; and the genius of Athos. He would give anything to be able to wield a sword the way Athos did. He was so in control; and moved without breaking a sweat. He was at ease in his movements; and only struggled when he tried to get him to listen. Athos had woken something in him.
Looking back on it, the man had defeated him with little effort; and had actually spared his life.
d'Artagnan thoughts were interrupted by Treville speaking, "I saw you in the courtyard with Athos; and there is some real talent there."
d'Artagnan's mind snapped to attention, "Talent? He could have killed me if he had a mind to."
Treville looked at d'Artagnan closely. Did this boy really not see it? "You pushed him and gave him a good fight. Not many recruits or experienced musketeers for that matter keep his attention for as long as you did."
d'Artagnan wasn't sure he was hearing this right. The Captain obviously did not see the fight the way he saw it.
Treville took a leap, "Would you like to stay d'Artagnan, and train here at the garrison, with the musketeers? We cannot offer you room or board; or pay, but we can offer you meals and when your training is complete, a possible commission, if the King sees fit."
d'Artagnan found himself bobbing his head up and down, and with no hesitation answering, "Yes. Yes sir. I would like that very much."
Treville smiled, pleased with that response, "Very good then. I will see you bright and early tomorrow morning to begin. We meet in the courtyard."
d'Artagnan left Treville's office in a daze, unsure of how he made it down the stairs. His life would take a detour starting at this moment. He would not go back to Gascony. For now, he would leave his father's farm behind. He would give this a go, and hope against hope that he was good enough. He hoped his father would be proud that he was being given this opportunity.
When he made it to the bottom of the stairs, there was Athos sitting at the table. He stood when d'Artagnan reached him, "Has he offered you to stay and train then?"
d'Artagnan unable to find his voice, nodded in the affirmative.
Athos held out his hand; and d'Artagnan reached out to take it. Athos held his hand firmly and shook it with gratitude, "I thank you for helping to save my life; and will see you in the morning."
He let go then, and began to walk away; but instead turned back, "May I give you some advice, something to think about before tomorrow?" he asked.
d'Artagnan nodded, his mind still dazed with this turn of events.
"The other day, when we fought here, I felt your gift. But there are some flaws in your technique."
d'Artagnan stood to his full height to listen; and perhaps hear his first tip on how to improve from this master swordsman.
Athos frowned and spoke slowly, "You lead with your emotions; parry with indignation and strike with anger. If you don't control this", he touched his fist over d'Artagnan's heart, and tapped it there, "it will get you killed, no matter how much talent you have."
He looked d'Artagnan full in the eyes hoping this young man could hear him; and understand his words.
d'Artagnan's brow furrowed, but he held Athos' gaze and nodded all the same.
Athos looked hard and deep into that gaze and sighed. Not today then – perhaps he would hear the advice tomorrow.
He stepped away then, and left to join his brothers at the Wren to drink and try to forget that he had almost lost his life today; that secretly he had been ready to lose his life today. But now something had changed. Instead of feeling adrift; he looked forward to tomorrow.
He would leave the Wren early tonight; to be ready.
d'Artagnan stood still for a time; and thought on the advice Athos had just given him. He wasn't quite sure what the man was trying to say to him. How could he fight, if he had no anger to drive it?
He shook these thoughts from his head. For now, he would go to the Bonacieux home and rest. He looked forward to tomorrow.
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To Be Continued.
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