Missing Scenes S3 E12 Letting Go.

Goodbye To Paris:

The builders had already been summoned to re-build the musketeer garrison, hammering, scraping and the general constructing din reverberated around the once standing wooden structure of Tréville's office and chambers.

Athos stood in the middle of the site, he scanned around at the charred remains of the buildings, the scorching around the window frames had left their mark on the Infimary building. The swordsman slowly wandered over to the makeshift door frame and walked inside. It had not been burnt that bad compared to the rest of the buildings. Athos walked past the soot ridden beds, the smell of smoke still filled the air.

A slight smile played on the swordmans lips as he remembered the the times spent in there. The banter that had passed between them when each one of them had been injured or ill. The nights spent just tending each others needs, taking turns caring for one another. The yelling, the crying, the laughter. Athos walked over to the cupboard were Aramis would store his herbs and concoctions. The times he himself had mixed up herbs as Aramis reeled off the instructions as he tended to one of his wounded brothers, the marksman had taught him alot.

The swordsman noticed a scorched book laying on top of one of the night stands, he wandered over and picked it up. Bits of ash and soot fell to the ground as he flicked though the pages. He noticed it was Shakespeare sonnets, a book he thought he had lost long ago. Athos stopped at the last page and read the written script.

To Dearest Athos

All For One

Tréville.

Tears began to fall onto the sooty page, he squeezed the book hard to his chest and bowed his head allowing the tears to flow.

"So here you are my friend." Came the sudden voice of Aramis. "We were beginning to think you had gone without saying goodbye. Until Porthos noticed Roger tethered to the side gates."

Athos rapidly wiped his eyes and turned to see Aramis stood in the doorway of the once infirmary.

"You know I would never do that mon ami."

"What is that you have." asked the marksman eyeing the book. He could see his brother had been crying.

Athos sniffed slightly and opened it up to show him.

"I thought I had lost it, I found it on one of the night stands."

Aramis read the text and smiled.

"Tréville gave it to me when he made me his lieutenant."

"This is his way of letting you know he is always with you Athos, you were meant to find it." added Aramis.

Athos gave his friend a dubious frown that didn't go unnoticed by the marksman.

"I know what your thinking mon ami, but believe me, how else did it get there? And look, its practically unscathed."

Athos felt a slight tingle on the back of his neck as he heeded Aramis' words.

He suddenly looked up beyond the window frame as he heard voices.

oooooooooo

Minutes later Athos was strapping his belongings to his horses girth. Porthos Elodie, d'Artagnan and Constance had arrived to see him off.

"You had better write and let us all know how you are 'thos." growled Porthos shooting a glance to his friends.

Athos turned and smiled. "You know I will."

"Prey tell me you will come back to Paris." murmered d'Artagnan.

Athos eyed the young man. "You are captain now my friend, you will do a good job, of that I know. Yes I will return one day...but not as Captain."

Everyone exchanged glances with one another as Athos answered the Gascon.

"But Athos...you are a musketeer...you are our leader...why don't you just make me an interim captain...then when you return you will take over once again."

Constance smiled at her husband and winked as she grabbed his hand.

Pleased her husband was thinking that way, she knew he had always looked up to Athos.

Aramis and Porthos nodded to one another in agreement with raised brows of agreement.

"I think that is a somewhat a wonderful idea Athos...do you not think? grinned Porthos.

Athos turned to each and everyone of his friends, a smirk on his lips.

"We will see...let me go away and have a think...I will write to each of you.

The swordsman turned back to his horse and fastened the saddlebags. He turned back to his friends.

"Well this is it my friends...I bid you all goodbye. The slight quiver in the musketeers voice didn't go unnoticed by his friends as he swallowed hard to abate the emotion.

Porthos stood forward, clamped his big arms around the swordsman and squeezed him tightly making Athos gasp and huff with the sheer force. making the others laugh.

"I'm gonna miss you brother." he growled into his friends ear. "Please return to us all again." The big man kissed the top of his head.

Athos looked into the big mans face, his eyes glazed over. "I will brother."

Porthos clapped him on the shoulder. "Now look what you 'ave done." he said wiping his eyes on his shirt sleeve. "Made a grown man cry like an infant."

The group chuckled.

Athos embraced Elodie and kissed her cheeks. "Promise me you will look after him for me?

Elodie chuckled. "Do not fret Athos...I will make sure of it." she replied.

Porthos let out one of his growling laughs.

Athos turned to d'Artagnan, the young mans face was streaming with tears.

Athos threw his arms around him. "I will write as soon as I get there brother."

"I will write every week." croaked the Gascon with a sniff as he kissed Athos on the forehead.

Athos grinned. "You may not get the time now your captain."

d'Artagnan smirked and pushed Athos playfully.

Constance handed the swordsman another saddlebag.

Athos shot her a curious glance.

"Just a few bits, I do not want you going hungry on your travels."

Athos kissed her and hugged her. "I'm going to miss your enjoyable fussing Constance." he smiled. "Thank you."

Athos turned to Aramis.

The marksmans face said it all, his eyes glazed and watery as he moved towards the swordman. He swallowed hard to abate the lump in his throat.

Both men embraced. "I am going to miss you brother so so much! whimpered Aramis. He put his lips to the top of his brothers head and kissed him.. "Please come back to us."

Athos' own eyes began to flow with tears as he looked at Aramis in the face. "I am going to miss you too brother. Who am I going to tease now about their lady friends?

Everyone laughed aloud as Aramis raised both brows and smirked.

"I somehow do not think we will be doing that again Athos." commented Porthos with a grin.

That moment horses hooves echoed onto the sooty cobbles as a carriage stopped outside the archway to the garrison. Four musketeers surrounded it as one opened the door.

The others exchanged rapid glances as they watched the queen walk with such grace towards the group of friends.

Athos turned to Aramis who beamed at his brother.

"You knew she would come." murmered the swordsman.

Aramis rasied his brows and smirked. "She wanted to say goodbye my friend."

The queen entered the building site of the dusty courtyard.

Everyone bowed as she approached.

Anne raised her hand to them to stand free.

She approached Athos with a smile.

"My dear Athos, I could not let you leave without saying goodbye, I would never have forgiven myself."

Athos felt his face flush as he looked at her.

"I am most humbled your majesty, this is indeed an honour."

"I hear you are travelling to Périgord. I must say you will indeed be missed Athos, you have been a most admirable musketeer in your time at the palace and beyond. You have served your king and queen excellently, I myself am most grateful for that."

Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan smiled at one another as Anne spoke to their brother.

Athos bowed. "I thank you your majesty...and I know General du Vallon and Captain d'Artagnan will carry on to serve the monachy in the most splended of ways possible."

Porthos nudged into the Gascon and grinned, making the young man purse his lips.

Athos turned to Aramis as he carried on his orate. "I know you will be safe your majesty, that I am certain of. "

Anne and Aramis' eyes met briefy, she smiled into the swordsmans face and took something from her cloak pocket.

She took Athos hand. "I want you to have this Athos, it will keep you safe on your travels."

Athos looked into his hand, he felt the lump again forming in his throat.

"It is a St. Christopher, he will watch over you." she added.

Athos bowed his head once more.

"Your majesty is most kind, I thank you."

Anne glanced around at her small audience and smiled, she beckoned her musketeers over.

"I will take my leave Athos. Remember to write!

The swordsman smiled. "Certainly your majesty."

Anne hitched up her gown and turned to walk back to her carriage, followed by the four musketeers escorts.

Everyone watched after her as she got into her carriage, she took one look back before the carriage rode off.

Athos felt speechless as he glanced at his friends.

"Well she certainly thinks alot of you my friend." teased Porthos.

"She thinks that of you too brother, in fact all of you. Remember that." commented the swordsman.

Elodie and Constance exchanged glances and smiled.

Aramis patted Athos on the shoulder as he mounted his horse and grabbed the reins. He turned and looked at each of his friends and smiled, before steering Roger towards the archway.

The others stood watching as he trotted away, he suddenly turned and glanced back, he could see Constance put her head into d'Artagnans chest and weep, he watched as a frowning Porthos slid his arm around Elodie.

Then he caught the eyes of Aramis who smiled fondly back at him and nodded.

Just for those seconds he could visualise the four of them sat at their table eating dinner and jesting with one another, arguing about what tavern they should visit after their duties at the palace. His eyes scanned upward as he saw the image of Tréville standing on the balcony watching them spar.

Athos nodded back and fought back the emotion. He turned forward and tugged at the reins, before riding into a canter.

They all watched in silence until he was out of sight.

Athos was gone, but would he return one day?

THE END.

Hi Guys,

I was almost in tears writing this. I do hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Thank you for the lovely reviews, they mean so much to me.

I am thinking of writing a sequel to this, what do you all think? But If I do it won't be until after the festivities.

Speak Soon

Pippa xxxx