A/N oh wow I did not expect so many wonderful reviews so quick! Thank you so much. This chapter mainly touches on the compassionate friendship of the Queen and Aramis. That will run through the story. I like the thought of them as friends not lovers. Anyway enjoy and thank you all again
Chapter 2
Aramis sat silently against the tree, his eyes fixed on the white stone in front of him: the stone that marked where his heart lay. Running a hand over tired eyes, he rested his head back against the tree, sighing deeply as he did so.
"You know my darling, I can still see our wedding day so clearly in my mind. How you looked so beautiful, enchanting and perfect. The way I can still feel your touch when your hand was placed into mine. The way you smiled as you turned to me and we spoke our vows…" He trailed off, words catching in his throat as he closed his eyes, allowing his mind to play out that day 6 years ago. He felt his heart clench painfully as that dull ache that was always there heightened, triggering off a wave of tears. Opening brown eyes, Aramis focused them back on the stone in front of him. Crawling over to it he placed a hand to it, the cold feeling of death edging its way to his very soul.
"I miss you so much Marie. Everyday. I would give my life to have you back in my world. To have you by my side. My heart belongs only to you my darling angel. I love you always," he whispered, pulling his knees close to his chest and dropping his head in folded arms, allowing his tears of pain and grief fall freely.
Anne stood watching the man in front of her for a while. She had chosen to take a walk to visit her friend. She had been slightly surprised to find Aramis leaning against the tree opposite the grave, eyes closed as he dozed in the sun's heat. Not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene, she had yet to go to the young musketeer but a sense of worry crept over her and the need to check he was well took over. Aproaching him slowly, she stopped before him, blocking the sun's beating rays.
"Aramis?" she called to him gently, causing him to stir. Sleepy brown eyes gazed up at her. He blinked a few times before making to get to his feet when realising who it was. Anne shook her head, placing a gentle hand to his shoulder and stopping him.
"Don't get up Aramis. May I instead join you?" she asked him. Sinking back down, he nodded in reply. "Of course your majesty, Forgive me. I didn't mean to fall asleep," he said sheepishly. Anne smiled softly at him.
"There is nothing to forgive. This is your place Aramis. You can come and go as you wish," she assured him, sweeping concerned blue eyes over the man and noting the tired sad look in his eyes as well as his pale features. "Tell me Aramis are you well?" she questioned, her voice laced with concern.
"I am…well your majesty," he replied, flashing his trademark smile, though the look on the queen's face told him that she didn't believe his lie. Sighing deeply, he dropped his gaze to the stone in front of him. "6 year ago to this very day, Marie and I were married," he told her as he swallowed hard to stop a fresh set of tears falling. He was far too tired to cry any more. A soft touch to his arm made him look to the face of his queen. She smiled sadly at him.
"Aramis I am so sorry. I can't pretend to know what you must be feeling right now," she soothed, not knowing what else to say. The young musketeer merely nodded as he closed his hand around his wife's ring. Anne watched him silently, wishing she could ease his hurt so much more. "Aramis tell me about your wedding day. I imagine yours was so very different to mine. After all you married for love," she said. Her last words caused a gentle squeeze of her hand from the man in front of her, his soft eyes filled with sadness and compassion. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it gently before grasping it in his own. Anne found his touch relaxing with an understanding that he was seeking that comfort. "Will you tell me Aramis?" she asked him again. Taking a shaky breath, he nodded.
"Our day was prefect. Marie she…she looked like the queen that she was in my eyes…" He stopped realising his words in current company and he flashed Anne a sheepish grin. She chuckled with a shake of her head. "It's okay Aramis. I take no offence to what you have just said," she assured him. Nodding, he continued. "When she walked by Athos's side towards me, I realised then that I was the luckiest man in the world in that this angel loved me for all my faults. She trusted her life to me and I to her. Her beauty took me away. She looked enchantingly perfect. When her hand was placed in mine and she turned to me ready to take our vows…I….I…" His words caught as he shut his eyes tight, the memory hitting him hard thus causing a sharp pain to shoot through his head. Dropping the queen's hand, he gripped his head. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest as he frantically wondered what was happening to him.
"Aramis?" Anne called to him, panic evident in her voice. She watched as he gripped his head, his breathing coming out in short, sharp gasps. She looked round as she saw a musketeer walk past. He stopped when she called to him and turned quickly on his heels at her orders to go and get help. Turning back to the distressed man, Anne's worry was plainly evident on her face.
"Aramis. Talk to me!" she begged him, gently moving his hands from his head. He opened his eyes and she gasped upon seeing the pained look in them. "My head…it hurts" he whispered before crying out and shutting his eyes again then dropping to the floor, curling up tightly, bringing his hands up to grip where the pain was. Anne knelt next to him and placed a soothing hand to his body, her other running through his hair in attempt to calm him. "Make it stop. Please make it stop!" he sobbed, eyes still tight shut. "Just hold on Aramis help should be here soon," she soothed him, relief washing over as Treville and Athos appeared. Athos dropped down next to his brother while looking up at the queen.
"Your majesty what happened?" he asked her as he ran a gentle hand soothingly up and down Aramis's back.
"He was fine one moment as he spoke to me about his wedding day and then the next he was like this," she explained. Athos nodded. "We need to get him to a bed and we need some water and herbs to settle him. This hasn't happened for a while now but I should have known there was a chance it would today," Athos muttered, causing Anne to frown.
"Athos please what is happening to him? Will he be okay?" she questioned him. Athos turned sad blue eyes to her. "We do not know why it happens but when Aramis has certain flash backs, ones that cause him hurt or stress to his mind, this happens. He gets a pain in his head and the only way to be rid of it is for him to sleep it off. That is why we must get him to a bed," Athos replied before turning to Treville. "Captain, some help please. He won't be able to walk," Athos said. Treville nodded crouching down next to the sick man.
"Aramis? It's me Athos. The captain is here also. We are going to move you and get you to a bed okay? You need to sleep this off," Athos called to him gently. Aramis opened his eyes weakly and looked up into his brother's face. "It hurts Athos. Make it stop please," he begged, as another surge of pain pulsed through his mind. Athos nodded to Treville and between them they pulled the musketeer to his feet. The movement proved too much for Aramis, who promptly vomited. "I am sorry," he sobbed, his voice weak, his face a deathly white. Anne watched, concern at whether Aramis would make the journey home.
"Take him to one of the guest chambers in the palace," she ordered them, causing the two men to look at her in confusion. Anne nodded, walking to them so she stood in front of them. "He is too weak to go much further. You yourself Athos said he needs a bed fast. Take him to the chambers and I will send for my physician," Anne relayed her order, her eyes falling on Aramis whose eyes were bound shut again, pain gracing his handsome features.
"Your majesty is too kind," Treville said. Anne shook her head. "This is my fault. I asked him to speak of his memories of his wedding day. Go and take him now. He needs to rest," she replied, dismissing them and silently following behind.
Once inside the room, the two men lay the third down on the large bed. Athos turned to the Queen. "Your majesty, the room needs to be dark please. Light hurts his eyes too much," he said. She nodded as she ordered the maids to have the curtains pulled closed. Athos smiled a thank you before turning back to his friend.
"I have to get home. I need to be with my son." Aramis told him weakly, as he struggled up but a crippling burst of pain caused him to collapse against the pillows, crying out as he did so.
"Aramis please. You must rest. Thomas is safe he is with the two girls and D'Artagnan. You need to sleep. And drink this," Athos told him firmly, taking the cup from the physician. "No! I know what that is. I will not drink that," Aramis refused, pushing it away from him. Athos growled as he supported his friend's head and brought the cup to his mouth. "You will, Aramis, because it will take away the pain and help you settle. The sooner you drink, the sooner you can go home," Athos stated and to his relief the musketeer reluctantly drank it before sinking against the pillows once more when he had drained the cup. Athos nodded as he stepped away to watch the medicine take effect before he removed Aramis' boots and pulled the covers over him.
"Will he be okay?" Anne asked quietly, reminding Athos he was in the company of the queen. He smiled sadly at her. "He will be for now." He replied. She nodded, dropping her gaze back onto the sleeping man. "Is this why he is still not back on duty?" she questioned. Athos sighed deeply, sitting on the side of the bed. "His body gets stronger every day your majesty…" He paused wondering how best to word the next bit. "What we have to understand is that Aramis suffered a great loss. His body and mind suffered such a shock. You know yourself it nearly killed him. I fear it's going to take a long time for his mind to catch up with his body," Athos explained carefully. Anne merely nodded. "Come, your majesty. He needs peace and quiet to sleep. I will come for him before the evening to take him home," Athos said, going to make to lead her out. However, Anne stopped, shaking her head. "If it's all the same Athos, I will stay with him. I don't like the thought of him waking alone. I have no pressing matters this afternoon and it would be nice to have some peace and time to my own thoughts," Anne told him. Athos hesitated for a moment before eventually nodding. "If you wish your majesty." Bowing to her, he flashed her a small smile as he rose. "I will come for him later. Till then your majesty," hesitated and then he was gone, leaving Anne to make herself comfortable while Aramis slept on peacefully.
Emilie smiled slightly while she watched Thomas chat happily to one of the merchants as she stood at the next stall. Shaking her head, she walked over to him. "Come on you! I am sure this kind man has had enough of your chat today," she said with a smile at the elderly man in front of her. "Oh Madame it is okay. Young Thomas here was telling me all about how brave his father and uncles are and also how he will be a musketeer one day. Isn't that right little one?" he said, ruffling the boy's curls. "Yeah! I was telling the man how I am going to shoot guns just like papa and fight with my sword like uncle Athos!" Thomas grinned excitedly as he pretended to manoeuvre an imaginary sword. Emilie laughed. "And you will make a fine musketeer one day," she assured him. Thomas flashed her a toothy smile. "And I will make mama proud because she is always watching over me," he added. Emilie smiled sadly as she caught the compassionate look that crossed the merchants face. "Thomas your mother is proud of you every day. As is your father," she assured him.
"My deepest sympathy Madame," the merchant said, tipping his hat to her. Emilie shook her head. "It's okay Monsieur. His mother passed about 5months ago but thank you," she stated, offering him a small smile before turning back to the little boy. "Come on Thomas. We should be heading home. Your father will be wondering where you are soon so say thank you to this kind man," she told him. Thomas turned to the merchant, "Thank for talking to me Monsieur," he thanked with a smile. The merchant laughed. "You are very welcome Thomas." Turning to Emile, he continued. "Good day to you, Madame." He inclined his head before returning back to his goods.
"Come on trouble. Home we go," she said, taking his little hand in hers. They hadn't gone too far before a voice made her stop. "Emilie wait! I will walk you back home!" She turned to see Marcus walking up to her and smiled fondly at him. This was one young musketeer she always enjoyed seeing. Athos spoke so highly of him after all he had done to help them with Lucas. He was a good kid and she knew with the four best backing him that he would go far.
"Marcus! How are you?" she asked as he fell in step with her while Thomas walked a little ahead. He nodded. "I am well thank you. And yourself?" he replied. Emilie smiled. "Very well thank you." Marcus returned the smile before letting it drop slightly as he watched the little boy in front of him.
"How is Aramis? I see the others most days but never long enough to enquire after him. He is missed at the garrison," he told her. Emilie sighed deeply. "He is getting better slowly Marcus but we always knew that his recovery would be a long one. He will be back when he is ready. There is no pressure on him. I think his main focus is being a father as that is all he wants to be right now and he is a fantastic one at that. Thomas wants for nothing," Emilie replied. Marcus nodded. He made to answer her when a cry stopped him. The cry sent ice through Emilie's blood as she recognised it - Thomas's. Panic kicked in as she couldn't see him anywhere.
"Thomas!" she shouted as she followed the sound with Marcus right behind her. When she rounded the corner, a strong arm clamped round her, a hand closing over her mouth to stop a scream escaping. Emile caught sight of Thomas in the same position as her, his bright eyes terrified as he stilled in the arms of the man. As Marcus rounded the corner himself she watched horrified as a knife was pulled against the 4 year old's throat causing her to thrash against her capture weakly in an attempt to free herself.
"One more step, musketeer, and the boy dies. It's no loss to us. There are plenty more brats on the street that will make great slaves," warned the man holding tight to Thomas. Marcus froze, not sure what to do. The look in the man's eyes told Marcus he was not lying and that he would heartlessly take the kid's life there and then. He glanced at Emilie and caught her eyes. He understood the look in them thus understanding what she wanted him to do. Nodding, he held his hands up, watching as they shoved the two captives onto a cart. It was in that moment that he noticed several more women and children gagged. The scene made something snap inside him and as they went to leave he pulled out his pistol ready to shoot but he never got the chance to pull the trigger for suddenly his world went black.