Their task was to accompany the wagon laden with gifts for king Louis sister in England to the port in Calais. It should have been a fairly pleasant ride, a welcome break from being cooped up in Paris. Instead the venture was marred by the tension between Porthos and Aramis, who instead of riding side by side as normal were instead at opposite ends of the procession with Athos and D'Artagnan situated awkwardly between them. Calais was more than a day's ride and if the atmosphere felt uncomfortable so soon after leaving Paris then Athos did not want to dwell on how things might be by the time they finally reached their destination, not to mention that there was then the return journey to factor in.
"What's the matter with them?" D'Artagnan asked in earnest, he'd never known Aramis and Porthos to quarrel before.
"It is a private matter – but I am sure Aramis would appreciate your company"
D'Artagnan sighed from the lack of explanation but he understood an instruction when he heard one no matter how thinly veiled. With a nod, he dropped back to ride alongside Aramis whilst Athos urged his horse on to catch up to Porthos.
"Is everything alright?"
Aramis smirked, tactless as ever D'Artagnan could be counted on to get straight to the heart of the matter.
"Why wouldn't it be?"
"You and Porthos … have you quarrelled?"
Aramis sighed, "I suppose you could say that"
D'Artagnan considered him for a moment, he would not ask for more details instead casting his friend a sympathetic look, "I am sure that whatever it is will soon pass … What you and Porthos have, I do not think could be put aside lightly."
"Thank you mon ami" Aramis gave his brother a fond smile before allowing himself to sigh, "but I am not so sure … I, I have made a terrible mistake"
D'Artagnan's eyes narrowed slightly, he had a suspicion but he would see what the marksman had to say for himself first. "What did you do?" he prompted almost warily.
"I laid with another"
"Aramis!" D'Artagnan groaned, "but why?"
"Oh, I don't know … I honestly don't. She was just there –" Aramis dare not admit just who 'she' was not even to D'Artagnan although he would most likely hear about it soon enough from either Athos or Porthos, "I have never met anyone like her before, she was so beautiful but also so very sad and I too was feeling grief … we found comfort in each other's arms"
"And bed" D'Artagnan chided.
"And bed – but, I did not know then about the depth of Porthos's feelings. I had thought that I was alone in my affections, if I had then I swear I would not have done it and on my honour D'Artagnan I swear that it will never happen again … I just hope that Porthos gives me one more chance to prove that to him"
D'Artagnan looked long and hard at his friend, it was no wonder that Porthos was upset but looking at the misery in those dark eyes and the way Aramis stared forlornly ahead to where Athos and Porthos were riding side by side, the youngest musketeer couldn't help but feel sorry for him, and despite not being a betting man he would wager that Aramis had learned his lesson and would never do something so foolish again – especially now he had the surety of knowing where he stood in the other man's affections.
"You should talk to him when we make camp"
"Athos said I should give him space"
"Hm, I can see the wisdom in that but you don't want to give him too much space that you can't reach him" D'Artagnan was silent for a moment considering, before giving a light shrug "but it is you that knows him best Aramis, you must do what your heart tells you"
Aramis nodded and smiled softly, "thank you D'Artagnan"
"Don't thank me – what are friends for?" he leaned across and patted his brother's shoulder.
"All for one"
"And one for all"
Both men smiled brightly at the other, some of the tension eased even if only for a short while.