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Chapter 70
"How was it at the palace today my friends" asked Athos as they started to walk towards him.
" The king was in one of his childish moods today" replied d'Artagnan as he ran his fingers through his hair and away from his face. " He thought it a good idea to play a game of hide and seek with The Duke of Rouen's children.
" That man is one bloody pain in the backside" growled Porthos, " As is we 'ave nothin' better to do with our time, afterall we are musketeers".
" Please tell me you did not have to join in" asked Athos as they all walked across the courtyard.
Aramis slid an arm around the swordsman and laughed. " At one point I thought he may ask us to join in mon ami, I myself would have liked to go back to my childhood and joined the children in their game, but alas we did not get asked".
" You bloody would" growled Porthos with a smirk. " You are like a big child at times, anyway we didn't join the regiment to play bloody 'ide and seek".
The others laughed at the big mans words.
" How many children does the duke have" asked Athos
" Four of the little brats" answered Porthos
" My dear Porthos they are children, not brats my friend" said Aramis winking at the others.
" We had to follow them around the grounds" added d'Artagnan, " and them grounds are so vast"..
Athos changed the subject. He knew his brothers must be hungry.
" Come, lets have dinner" he said leading them to the dining chamber. " I would say you have all earned it after today".
Chapter 71
The following morning was bright and sunny. The men had had their usual muster and some where now sparring.
The inseperables where sat at their uaual table when Treville leaned over the balcony.
d'Artagnan noticed his captain and glanced up. " Morning Sir" he said.
Treville nodded in aknowlegement.
" I want a word with you boys. But finish your breakfast first". he said.
Porthos looked at the others as though they all knew what for. Aramis shrugged his shoulders.
" Dont look at me my friend" he answered. " Maybe the king needs us at the palace again."
Porthos rolled his eyes, pray tell me we dont 'ave to put up with that duke again". he growled.
" Well we will never know my friends if we dont go and find out" said d'Aratganan standing and taking a bite of an apple".
The others followed the Gascon in single file up the steps.
Treville heard the clomping of the mens boots on the wooded floor as they neared his door. He glanced up from his paperwork and yelled out.
" Come in boys".
The four musketeers walked into the office and stood in front of Trevilles desk side by side.
Treville looked up at them and gestured to them all to sit down. He picked up a parchment of paper and held it up between two fingers.
The four men exchanged glances before turning all their attention on their captain.
" I have had word from the palace early this morning." continued Treville. " last night the duke of Buckingham escaped from Dover Castle and is on the run."
"WHAT? " growled Porthos " You mean that BASTARD is free again?"
Athos was glaring at Treville as though in a trance, he felt phyically sick.
Treville noticing the swordsmans face reached for his brandy and poured him a drink. He handed the goblet to him, Athos shook his head in refusal to the astonishment of the others.
Aramis' face had paled as he glanced at his friend. " HOW? those bloody English guards, are they so dilligent as to let him just slip through their fingers?" he asked
d'Artagnan had his head in his hands, " I do not believe this is happening" he hissed through clenched teeth "DAMN! DAMN!"
Porthos had stood and began to pace up and down the office, his hands balling into fists.
" He knows he will bloody 'ang if he sets foot on French soil again" he growled.
Treville glanced towards Athos, who suddenly looked ill. " Athos are you alright?" he asked the swordsman.
Athos took a breath and looked at the older man, " Yes...I ..I am fine..as Porthos has said he won't come back here if he knows whats best for him".
Aramis patted his friend on his shoulder, " Your right mon ami, he would be a complete fool to even think about it".
" King Charles has doubled the search party, so I cannot see him getting very far" said Treville.
Athos suddenly stood to his feet, " May I be excused Captain" he asked.
The others looked at each other with concern. Aramis grabbed the swordmans arm. " Athos my friend..." Aramis was cut off as he spoke. " I just need to get some air..I am fine" Athos walked out of the door, four pairs of eyes watching him as he disappeared from view.
Aramis siged out loud, " With respect Captain, do you not think you should have kept that from him, he has still not mentally recovered. He still has nightmares about what happened to him in LaHarve". he said sounding angered.
Porthos nodded, " Lets 'ope this does not knock him back on the bottle".
Treville looked at his men opposite him and leaned back in his chair.
"Gentlemen! if we kept eveything back from him, he would never forgive us. Athos is stronger than you all think. Besides he is my lieutennant, he has a right to know whats going on".
Aramis had stood and wandered over to the window, he turned back into the chamber and glanced to each of his brothers.
" Your right Captain he is strong phyisically...but mentally we all know he keeps thing to himself" he replied. " And if you do not mind, I am going after him, I need to make sure he is alright".
Treville nodded in acknowledgment to Aramis. " Fine Aramis go if you must".
d'Artagnan glanced at his brother. " If you need us you know where we are my friend".
Porthos patted Aramis on the shoulder, he did not need to say anything, he knew Aramis would be back for them if needs be.
Chapter 72
Athos was walking across the market square when Aramis spotted him from the garrison gates.
Aramis quickened his pace to try and catch up with his friend. That is certainly not the way to the Wren thought the marksman. Maybe he heads somewhere different, knowing we may follow him. That was typical of Athos when he wanted to by himself, he wouldn't let any of them near him. But Aramis knew this was different...he knew his friend was suffering in silence and he wanted to help him overcome it. Thats if he would allow him to.
A horse and cart past Aramis as he pesued the swordsman blocking his veiw, he almost sprinted out of the way losing sight of him. " Damn...damn!" he mutted to himself. Watched by two women as they stood on their stalls. Aramis gave one of his smiles and raised his hat. " Ladies " he said.
Aramis carried on walking, he stopped suddenly as he scanned around but there was no sign of Athos. He took off his hat and wiped his brow as he glanced towards Notre Dame. There he spotted his friend walking through the entrance.
Aramis frowned, now I know he is not himself he thought, Athos is not religious, he never talks God, in fact the marksman would go as far to say that the man was a heathen.
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Aramis removed his hat as he walked into the Cathedral, just a few people sat praying in the nave. He spotted three monks sitting side by side on the far side of the main chapel. Aramis walked slowly down the aisle, stopping to bow his head and make the sign of the cross as he approached the beautiful figure of Christ.
Aramis sat in one of the pews and slowly scanned around. He spotted Athos sat in the front, his head lowerd to his chest. It was so quiet he thought Athos would hear him breathing six rows behind him. Aramis felt his eyes welling with tears for his friend, he knew how much dispair he must be going through for him to actually come to a place that he had never believed in before. God had obviously guided him here. Knowing the man needed to free himself of this hidden anguish. He bent his own head down and began to pray for his brother.
Athos sat motionless staring up at the Crucifix in front of him, the row of candles flickered on the altar. Tears trickled down his face as he sat, still staring ahead trance like. He close his eyes tight, Buckinghams face was there again looking at him with that leering smirk. Athos gasped as he opened his eyes again. He looked up at the Crucifix, " Is this a punishment for nearly killing my wife?" he whispered out loud. " Are you really up there hearing me, my brother Aramis says you are everywhere". He suddenly noticed a door to his right with winding steps leading upward.
Athos stood and walked towards the door and stopped in the threshold, he peered upward into the dark stone walls. He grabbed one of the torches from the sconce and began to climb upward.
Aramis watched in confusion as his friend walked through the door and out of sight.
" Mon Dieu Frere...where are you going...No..No...No" he murmered to himself. Aramis stood and started to follow his brother once again. Questions and theories whirled around Aramis' head, why is he going up the heights? No please God I ask you not to let him do something stupid, his brothers and I need him. Aramis looked up into the darkness and could make out the torch his friend held as he climbed. Without hesitation Aramis took one of the torches and started to climb the stone steps.
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Athos stood in the belfry staring up at the huge bells. He looked across Paris from the tower. He looked downwards realising just how high he had climbed. He swayed slightly as he got nearer to the walls edge. Athos walked backwards away from the wall and sat on the stone floor away from the tower. He leaned up against the inside wall and wrapped his arms around his knees. He felt the breeze blowing through his hair as he sat. He lowered his head and sobbed out loud. He couldn't rid himself of the image of Buckingham inside his head. He still felt like he had let his brothers down sob! sob! he had not even told them what had happened to him sob! sob!.what would they think of him..sob! sob" sob!
Aramis reached the belfry and noticed Athos sitting against the wall, he could see he was in distress as he slowly approached him, he could hear him as he sobbed aloud. Aramis stood for a moment watching as his best friend as he sobbed he felt a lump rising in his own throat. The man looked broken, what had this bastard done to such a strong man as Athos?. Aramis walked slowly towards him.
Athos suddenly glanced up, he blinked away the tears as he noticed Aramis standing there holding the lit torch.
" You do not need that up here my friend, its daylight" sniffed the swordsman as he wiped his eyes on his scarf. " Anyway what are you doing here? can I not have a moment to myself?"
Aramis smiled slightly at his friends words, he placed the torch in an empty sconce on the wall and joined him on the floor.
Both men leaned against the stone wall in silence, " I was worried about you, so I followed you from the garrison. said Aramis staring up at the bells. " I take it you climbed up here for a better view of Paris my friend?"
Athos carried on staring ahead, " I have never been up here before, I thought it a good place to be alone". he answered glancing side on at Aramis with a raised eyebrow.
Aramis nudged into him with his shoulder and grinned, " And I came along and spoilt that loneliness I take it?"
Athos smirked slightly at his friends words, " I needed some time to think".
"Athos my friend, you are always thinking, and you keep your thoughts deep inside your head." murmered Aramis.
Athos sat in silence, he felt Aramis turn his head and look at him."Sometimes there are thoughts that need to come out and and be dealt with so that they do not haunt the rest of our life on this earth".
Athos turned to his friend, brown eyes meeting green. " Let it go mon ami, whispered Aramis squeezing the back of the swordmans neck. " It will eat you up until it takes over your mind".
Athos felt the tears welling again, he didn't want them to spill from his eyes, he didn't want Aramis to see him like this, he was a musketeer not a silly child that had fallen over and needed his mother." I can't do this" he said as he went to stand but Aramis grabbed his arm.
" Athos! look at you, you are in despair my friend." demanded Aramis still holding his friends arm.
Athos pulled free from his friends grasp, " Leave me Mis... go back to the garrison".
Aramis leaned back against the wall and glanced up at him as he stood over him. He smiled slightly.
" I am not going anywhere my friend...I will stay here until nightfall if needs be".
The swordsman glared at him not knowing quite what to do next, he knew Aramis was worried for him, he knew they all were. He sat back down next to the medic bringing his knees up and wrapping his arms around his legs.
Aramis watched him without moving his head. They both sat in silence for what seemed like an age.
Suddenly Athos spoke as though in a trance. " He...touch...touched me Mis" he said through a gasp.
He let the tears fall, he started to sob out loud again. He put his hands on top of his bent knees and leaned his head forward as he sobbed.
Aramis turned to look at him as he spoke. He felt his own eyes tingling with tears, a lump forming in his throat. " Buckingham?" he asked.
Athos wiped his eyes and nodded his head." He had me..sob! strapped down to a cot...sob!...sniff!...I couldn't...sob!...move...gasp!..he...he..pressed his lips..on...sob!...
...Aramis slid his arm around his friend as he sobbed. Athos leaned against his shoulder and wept...mine...sob! and kissed me...gasp...sniff! He was naked and ...sob!...he was on top...sob! of me Mis...he...he...was touching me...and...rubbing himself all...gasp! over me...sob!...he kept kissing...sob! me...all...over my...gasp!...body. " He...sniff!...said we where...lovers...ARAMIS! I did nothing to...make him...want to do..sob!..this".
Aramis grabbed him by the shoulders and looked into the swordmans tear soaked face.
"NOW LISTEN! to me Athos...THIS IS NOT YOUR FAULT! do you hear me brother...all this was HIS DOING! not yours. He is sick, he is evil, he is a mad man".
Athos looked at him, I feel dirty...sob! all the time...gasp!...I wanted to vomit all the while he was touching me...sob!..and I couldn't do anything to...stop him...gasp!".
...Aramis was also sobbing as he held his brother against him, he stroked the mans hair as he wept his own tears falling into the swordmans head. He couldn't quite believe what this evil bastard had done to their brother. Right now he wanted to kill the man.
" Shh, shh, shh, whispered Aramis as he comforted him. " Everything is going to be alright mon ami...I promise you that, we are all here for you".
Athos looked at him, " Mon Dieu Mis...what will Treville, Porthos and d'Artagnan think of me...they will..."
...Aramis cut him off..."they will say the same as me mon ami...knowing Porthos, he will want to kill him. Everyone knows he is repulsive and obnoxious, he has done things to his own family. Even King Charles has forewarned him in the past about his behaviour".
Aramis reached for his waterskin and handed to his brother. " Drink my friend". he said. Athos took it from him and swigged from the skin expecting water. He glanced at his friend, " Brandy? Aramis smiled, " I came prepared mon ami, and I am so glad I did". Athos handed it back and gave him a sad smile. Aramis drank some back and handed it back to Athos.
The marksman looked at him, " How are you feeling now mon ami?
Athos breathed in and let out a sigh. He glanced at his friend. " Better Mis...I thank you for listening...and I am glad you came after me".
Aramis smiled and patted the swordman on the back, " You my friend are going to be fine, you are going to carry on doing what you do best, and carry on as normal. But alas my friend I do not mean drinking yourself into oblivion every night. You do not need to do that, you just need to talk to us...we are all here for you brother."
Athos felt the tears again, He reached out and took Aramis into an embrace.
" I love all of you so much" he sobbed. Aramis held him tight. " And we love you my friend, and never ever forget that".
TBC
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