The Tale of Aramis and Christelle
By: Raven in Red
Athos had a wife at one point, D'Artagnan has Anne, and Porthos has all his favorite women, but what about Aramis? Why doesn't he have someone to love? Meet Christelle, who follows the Four Musketeers through the events of The Man in the Iron Mask.
Chapter Two
Christelle went to visit Aramis again the next day. When she reached the cathedral, she found him kneeling below the wall-mounted crucifix, deep in prayer. She waited calmly by the door until he made the sign of the cross and stood up. "Ah, hello, my dear," he greeted Christelle with a warm hug and a kiss on either cheek. "How are you today?" he asked kindly.
"Quite well, actually," Christelle replied with a smile. "Every hour seems to only make my day better now that I am back with you." She then sat down on a nearby bench. "I forgot to ask yesterday – how did your meeting with the king go?"
Aramis took a seat next to her and sighed. "The king has entrusted me with a very important mission, and he has ordered that I keep it private." Before either of them could say another word, the door burst open and in came Porthos, dressed in flamboyant clothes and flanked by three cleavage-bearing women.
"Porthos, not only was I in the middle of something, but didn't we already go through this yesterday?" Aramis sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Well, yes, but I thought you might be in a better mood today, so-" He stopped in the middle of his sentence. "Christelle!" She smiled in return. Porthos had always been the funniest of her Musketeer friends. Because of her loyalty to Aramis, she was also one of very few women he had never attempted to seduce.
"Hello, Porthos," she greeted him. "It's good to see you, and it's been so long."
"That it has, Christelle, that it has," he sighed. He then turned to the three whores. "I'm sorry I must do this to you again, my dears, but now is definitely not the right time. I will not be long, I promise." With that, he gently nudged them out into the hallway and shut the door behind them. He then turned to Aramis. "Well, you must be happy."
"That I am," Aramis smiled, pulling Christelle a little closer to him.
"I still don't understand how you could pass up an offer such as the one I presented to you yesterday," Porthos sighed. He pulled up a chair and sat down next to them.
"You simply do not understand that it is possible to be in love with only one single person for all of eternity, Porthos," said Aramis. Christelle was relieved that he felt that way. "I love Christelle," he continued, "I will always love her, and nothing will ever change that." The seriousness and calmness of his voice only made his statement that much more effective. "Do you understand love at all, Porthos?" he sounded a little irritated.
"I am insulted by your implication, Aramis," Porthos sounded hurt. "Of course I understand love."
"Then what is it?" Aramis demanded, taking hold of Christelle's hand.
"Love…what is love?" Porthos pondered. He scratched his head, deep in thought.
"That's just it, Porthos!" Aramis exclaimed. "You don't understand love. You've never been in love."
"You've got your girl back, I see," Porthos sighed. "Now you've got to rub it in."
"Porthos, he doesn't mean it," Christelle finally got a chance to speak. "He's just happy. That's all."
"I guess you do have a point," Aramis admitted with a smile.
Christelle reached over to Porthos and patted his shoulder. "You live your life the way you want to live it. Love how you want to love. Don't let silly old Aramis spoil it for you."
Aramis sighed. "Christelle, do you have to ruin all the fun?"
"Yes, that's why you love me, isn't it?" Christelle teased him.
"I've seen enough," Porthos sighed, yet again. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone now." He leaned down and gave Christelle a friendly hug before leaving the room to rejoin his ladies. Christelle then stood up.
"So," she began, only to realize that Aramis wasn't listening. He was looking off to another side of the room, sighing from time to time. "Aramis, is something wrong?" She sat down beside him again.
"There's just a lot on my mind and a lot going on right now," he replied, taking her hand. "Two nights from now, I will send word to Athos and D'Artagnan and then you and Porthos and I will all meet with them. We can discuss everything then." When he noticed Christelle's troubled face, he took both of her hands. "Everything will be fine, my dear. We're together now, and that's what's important."
The night that Aramis had promised came quickly. Under cover of darkness, he rounded up Christelle and Porthos and they all rode down to an old and historic church to meet with Athos and D'Artagnan.
"This way!" Aramis whispered, taking Christelle's hand once they all dismounted. Christelle and Porthos followed him into the dark, empty church. The trio traveled through long and winding hallways until they finally stopped at a tapestry. Aramis pulled it to the side to reveal a hidden doorway. "Sometimes things are more than they appear," he explained before leading them inside.
"Aramis, is this the way to hell?" Porthos worried as they ventured down a long, dimly lit, dusty stone staircase.
"Hell may be our destination," answered Aramis. "Not this trip." Every few steps, Porthos made some exclamation of fright or nervousness. Aramis, however, remained calm. Christelle decided that, as long as he was, she should be, too.
After only a few more seconds, they reached a small door. Aramis ushered them all inside. Once they were safely shut into the little room, Christelle sighed with relief. It was then that she realized where they were. Aside from the little table with a single lit candle and a crucifix mounted on the wall, she looked around and saw at least half a dozen skeletons.
"A tomb," she whispered frightfully.
"We're in a tomb," said Porthos. At that moment, another door opened and D'Artagnan was led inside by a man in a cloak. One more door opened and Athos was led in by a similar man. All five exchanged glances at one another.
"The secrecy…is regrettable but necessary," Aramis announced. "Please, sit." He gestured at the table. Everybody took a seat. Athos and D'Artagnan were glaring at each other. "When we were young men, and we saw injustice…we fought it," Aramis began.
"Now we know that some problems cannot be solved with a sword," D'Artagnan chimed in.
"And some can't be settled without one," Athos added angrily.
"Here…is the problem at hand," said Aramis calmly. "The Jesuits oppose Louis's wars and the starvation that results. So…Louis has ordered me to discover the true identity of the general of the Jesuit Order…and to kill him." The others either scoffed or sighed.
"You should let the secret general worry about that," said Porthos, possibly missing the point.
"The problem is that…I am he." Aramis took a pause. "I am the general of the Order of Jesuits." Everyone appeared to be in disbelief. Christelle sighed worriedly. Aramis reached under the table and held her hand tightly, as if to offer comfort.
"What do you propose to do?" Athos offered. He looked confident.
"Replace the king," Aramis answered. He squeezed Christelle's hand even tighter.
"I cannot listen to this," D'Artagnan finally spoke.
"It can't be done!" exclaimed Porthos.
"It can!" Aramis declared, slightly excited. "I know the way!"
"I am with you," said Athos.
"So am I," said Porthos.
"No!" D'Artagnan resisted.
"I need you," Aramis persuaded. "All for one, one for all…"
"You cannot ask me to betray my king! I have sworn an oath," D'Artagnan held firm.
"When a king is dishonorable, you are removed from your oath of honor," Athos joined in.
"An oath is an oath precisely because it cannot be removed!" D'Artagnan raised his voice.
Athos stood up. "Why do you follow him, D'Artagnan? Why?" he shouted. "What we fought for is greater than king or rank or reward. What do you fight for now?"
"I fight for the belief that every man can be better!" D'Artagnan declared proudly. "Even Louis!"
Athos addressed Aramis, "Whatever the plan, I am with you." Then D'Artagnan again, "The next time we meet, one of us will die!" He then stormed out.
"Athos, wait!" Porthos followed him.
Aramis stood up from the table, with Christelle left to contemplate what had just happened. "D'Artagnan!" Aramis called out to stop him from leaving, too. When he got his full attention, he continued, "Even were I not a priest, I could see that your heart carries a secret weight…and that it is hurting you to bear it alone."
"I cannot betray…my king," D'Artagnan said firmly. "I will defend him with my life."
"Then God go with you," Aramis made the sign of the cross. "For none of us will." It was then that D'Artagnan finally left. Aramis turned his attention back to Christelle, who was breathing deeply, trying to calm herself down. "Oh, my dear," he whispered, sitting down beside her and pulling her into his arms. "I never should have gotten you into this."
"If I cannot help you and stand by your side, then what else am I good for?" she sighed. "How else can I best show that I love you?"
"I've waited two years to hear you say that," Aramis smiled and kissed her forehead. "No matter, what happens, you must remember…that I love you."