Treville led the boy over to a chair at his desk before sitting down in the chair beside him. He nervously stared at the child in front of him, he knew the decision he made was the correct one but he still had mixed feelings about it. Charles looked back at the captain attentively as he sat straight as a board in his seat.
Treville couldn't help smiling at his antics as he thought 'I think he just might be more nervous then I am.'
It suddenly occurred to the captain that the tight posture and attentiveness was the boy trying to impress him. This wasn't just a child trying to act like the grownups around him. Charles was scared that Treville wouldn't keep him if he didn't make a good impression. The boy's clenched hands and terrified eyes gave him away. The captain's heart ached at the mere thought of it and solidified that he had made the right decision.
"Charles, I assume you know why you were brought here," Treville said.
The boy quickly nodded his head before the captain continued the one sided conversation.
"Good. Then allow me to apologize for the horrible first impression I've given you. I have no room prepared for you nor do I have any clothing. I have yet to properly introduce myself or give my condolences. You have been nothing short of a gentleman while my behaviour has been unacceptable as a captain and as your godfather. I hope you will forgive me," Treville explained.
Charles stared at the captain as if he'd grown a second head. However, the boy's tense posture seemed to relax a great deal making Treville's plan a success.
"I will admit I am not an easy man to deal with at times. I am used to raising soldiers to their potential not children. However, I promised you and your parents at your baptism that I would strive to raise you to the best of my abilities in their place. May I keep that promise Charles?" Treville said.
Charles looked surprised and a bit confused. Wasn't it he that was supposed to be asking for a chance at this?
Not wanting to push his luck, Charles quickly nodded his head. Treville smiled at the boy and offered his hand for the boy to shake. Charles smiled back, a true smile that lit up the room, and quickly shook the captain's hand which dwarfed his own.
"Thank you," Treville said.
…
Garrett stood patiently outside the office as the pair conversed inside. Although they had been in there for some time, he had promised not to go without saying goodbye and he intended to keep his word. In his arms he held the last heirloom of Alexandre D'artagnan. A sword from his soldiering days. It was the sword he used to try and protect his family the night he was murdered.
The farmer smiled as the door opened and the pair emerged from the captain's office. He was pleased to see Charles with a smile on his face as he approached Garrett.
"I take it everything has been settled?" Garrett asked.
"As far as me being the boy's guardian, yes. However, there is the matter of him needing clothing, private quarters, and medical attention for his neck. I pray there is a chance his voice may return to him," Treville explained which brought a smile to the boy's face.
"I leave Charles in good hands then," Garrett replied as he gave the child a sad smile.
Charles returned the smile before he hugged the man's middle. The farmer knelt down and returned the hug with one arm before he said, "I will miss you as well my boy."
He then took the item in his other hand and handed it to the child carefully.
"Your father fought hard to protect you with this. Perhaps one day, you may avenge him with it," Garrett said.
Charles nodded his head with watery eyes as he clung to his father's sword. The farmer ruffled his hair before he stood back up and looked at the captain.
"You must promise me something before I go captain. Promise me that you will find Labarge and keep the boy safe from him. Finish what his father started and take that monster down," Garrett demanded.
Treville stared at the man with a deadly serious expression before he replied, "Alexandre was my little brother in all ways but blood and Labarge took him from me. I assure you I have every intention of doing just that Monsieur."
…
The captain stood beside his godson as the boy waved to Monsieur Garrett. The boy didn't stop watching until the farmer and his horse were completely out of sight. Even then, Charles stared ahead at the spot where the last of his past disappeared wondering what the future had in store for him.
The sound of the captain clearing his throat brought Charles out of his thoughts. The boy looked up at his guardian with big brown eyes.
"Come Charles. Before anything else I want to take you to the infirmary. I wish for the doctor to see to your wound," Treville said placing a large hand on the boy's back to guide him back into the garrison.
Charles allowed the captain to guide him towards the infirmary. However, as they got closer the boy became tense as he recalled the last time he had seen a doctor. He had woken in the middle of having his neck stitched and had to be held down as the poor man finished his task.
When they arrived at the infirmary, the captain walked in without hesitation. Charles was less confident as he followed after his guardian. Inside, the room appeared as he expected it to look. Beds lined the walls in two rows parallel to each other. Along the back wall were shelves and cupboards that held medical supplies.
"Captain…we were not expecting a visit from you for quite some time for inspection. Are you ill?" a man asked sounding caught off guard.
Charles looked over to the right side of the room to see two men at a table. One was an older man with blond hair and hazel eyes. The other was a younger man with brown curls and matching brown eyes. As Charles stared at the younger mam he couldn't help wondering why his eyes looked so sad.
"I am fine. However, I did bring you a patient," Treville explained before all three men turned their gazes to the nervous looking child.
The doctor looked the child over before he turned to the captain and said, "This is extremely peculiar bringing a child to me here. Who is this boy?"
"Long story short, this boy is Charles D'artagnan and as of today I am his guardian. He is also in need of medical attention which brings us to you," the captain explained.
The doctor looked between the captain and the boy for a moment before jumping back into his role as doctor. It did not take him long to notice the bandage wrapped around the child's neck and quickly got to work.
He turned to the younger man with him and said, "Aramis, get our guest settled on one of the beds. I will need him to be laying down in order to examine him."
"Of course," the younger man replied before he began approaching the boy while the doctor gathered his tools.
Charles wasn't sure what to do as the man approached him. The man with the sad eyes smiled kindly at him as he knelt down so that he was eye to eye with the boy.
"Hello there. Monsieur D'artagnan I presume?" he asked.
Charles nodded his head before the man said, "My name is Aramis. Would it be alright if Doctor Beau took a look at you?"
The boy wanted to nod his head to say yes but his memory of waking during surgery still haunted him. The man could see the distress that was quickly taking hold of the boy at the idea of seeing the doctor.
"Would you be more willing if I took a look?" Aramis asked which surprised both the doctor and the captain.
"Have you already excelled so far in your medical training?" the captain asked.
"Aramis has become a quick learner in the art of medicine this past year, captain. I would be confident allowing him to take on his first patient as a medic with supervision if it will get the boy comfortable," the doctor answered for his student.
Charles looked at the captain and the doctor before turning his gaze back to the man known as Aramis. He stared into his sad eyes looking thoughtful before he promptly nodded his head in approval.
"Very well. Follow me then," Aramis said as he stood up and led his patient to the first bed.
He instructed the boy to lay on the bed before sitting down in a chair beside him. Carefully he leaned over his patient and began unwrapping the dirty bandage from his neck before he tilted the boy's chin up so he could have seeing the damage to look at his injury. Aramis had to hold back his surprise at seeing the damage done to the boy's neck. The wound was well stitched but it appeared rushed near the end. Aramis had a theory as to why such a thing occurred but it disturbed him greatly.
"My friend I must touch your neck to examine this wound. I shall try to be as gentle as I can," Aramis explained before gently placing his fingers gently on the boy's injury.
The moment he touched Charles' neck the child grabbed Aramis' wrist as tight as he could while clenching his eyes shut. Aramis frowned at the young boy's reaction as he wondered what horrors he had been put through. He too had seen his share of horrors that haunted him and the possibility that another poor soul let alone a child shared a similar fate broke his heart.
"Listen to me boy. I want you to squeeze if I am causing you any pain. I will stop immediately if I am. I swear it on my honor," Aramis whispered in his ear.
Charles opened his eyes to see the sincere expression on the man's face before he nodded his head and slowly loosened his death grip.
Aramis carefully felt along the wound with gentle fingers. Thankfully there was no sign of infection but he suspected there may be permanent damage from how deep the cut was. It seemed that the blade just missed hitting anything vital that would make the injury beyond a doctor's care.
"It appears our patient is one very lucky boy," Aramis said to his captain and mentor.
"What did you discover?" Doctor Beau asked his pupil as he walked over to him and his patient.
"Well it appears that the blade missed the jugular by a hair. The wound is deep and will most definitely scar. The good news is that the assailant may have only nicked the vocal cords and by some miracle there seems to be no sign of infection," Aramis reported.
"Will his voice return?" Treville asked.
"With some exercises to work the muscles he will be able to speak but it may not ever be at full strength. He will likely never be able to speak above a whisper," Aramis explained.
Treville felt his stomach sink at those words. The boy could never be who he once was nor could he truly put this nightmare behind him. How could he when every time he looks in the mirror or try to speak he is reminded of what was stolen from him?
"Captain," a voice said pulling Treville from his thoughts.
He turned to see his lieutenant before Serge said, "A messenger has arrived from the castle. The king has sent for you."
"Of course he has," Treville sighed as pinched the bridge of his nose. This was most definitely not his day.
"Ready me a horse Serge. I shall be along shortly," Treville said before turning to his godson and the doctor.
"Does the boy need to remain here while he recovers?" he asked trying to contain his irritation.
The doctor cautiously took a look at the wound making sure not to touch the boy's neck before he replied, "Not necessary. Aramis is correct, there is no sign of infection. I will recommend a new bandage and soft foods for the next little while."
Treville nodded his head before he turned his attention to Charles. The boy looked weary and dirty from travel. He was in no way presentable to bring before the king but choice did he have? Treville didn't think it wise to leave the boy with the musketeers so soon after his arrival but there was no time to have new clothes made for him. Charles' current appearance would have to do.
"Let's get on with it then, we can't keep the king waiting," Treville said irritably.
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