Chapter 4

"Has Athos been told?" Aramis inquired as he wiped gently around the stitches he had just completed on Marie's head before carefully checking her over for any other wounds. Apart from a few more bruises on her body she seemed okay, though the three friends knew emotionally it would take her a while to recover. Placing a soft kiss on the sleeping girl's head, he nodded to Constance and Porthos to leave her to rest and return to the kitchen.

"D'Artagnan went to find him," Porthos replied. Just then there was a loud knock at the door, Aramis flinched slightly at the noise, hoping it hadn't disturb Marie, before Athos's voice could be heard.

"Where is my sister!" he demanded, heading into the kitchen with Constance and D'Artagnan right behind him.

"She is sleeping, Athos, so will you kindly keep your voice down?" Aramis said firmly. Athos flashed him a hostile look.

"Is she hurt?" he asked, not taking his eyes off his younger friend.

"A few bruises on the body, and a cut above her right eye which I have treated. Apart from that, physically she is fine. It's the emotional effect of the attack I worry about," Aramis explained.

"Who did this to her?" Athos demanded, looking at Porthos and D'Artagnan.

"Men I didn't recognize, but she kept muttering about how it was meant as warning. She wasn't making much sense. It was planned, though, that I don't doubt," Porthos told him. Athos hissed, anger flooding through him.

"May I make a suggestion?" Constance piped up, causing the four men to look at her. "There is not anything that can be done tonight. Marie is now safe and resting. She can stay here for as long as she needs to. Porthos, D'Artagnan, and Athos, you go back to the garrison and get some rest-"

"What about Aramis?" Athos interrupted again, glaring at his friend who held his gaze steadily.

"Aramis will stay here with Marie for tonight. I have a feeling she will need the comfort," Constance finished, aware of the outburst her suggestion was going to cause.

"You are not staying here with my sister! I have told you to keep away from her!" Athos snapped, turning on Aramis.

"Athos, for once let it go! She needs looking after and Aramis is the only one she will willingly let near!" Porthos warned, grabbing the older man's shoulder just as a cry could be heard. Aramis ran to the room Marie was in and found her sitting up, shaking and sobbing. Slowly, so as not to startle her, he walked up to the bed.

"Marie. My love," he called to her.

"I didn't do anything wrong. It was a warning to my brother, and to you. I didn't know them. I am sorry. I didn't know them," she cried, falling into his arms again.

"Please don't leave me alone tonight, Aramis, please, I don't want to be alone. I don't want them to come back," she cried, the hysterical sobs wracking her body causing Aramis to pull her as close to him as he could, feeling the need to protect her.

"Hush, my darling. I am not going anywhere. That I promise you. Not tonight. Not ever" he assured her, planting a kiss on her head and feeling her relax into him.

He heard footsteps and looked up, feeling someone's gaze upon him. He found himself meeting the eyes of Athos. The man didn't say anything. Instead he cast his gaze upon his younger sibling cradled in the Musketeer's arms, her cries subsiding as she responded to the tenderness of Aramis's touch and his quiet soothing words in her ear, which he continued to repeat while never taking his eyes of Athos. Athos resumed eye contact with Aramis again before breaking it and turning on his heel to storm out of the room.

A second later Aramis heard the front door slam shut, causing him to sigh deeply. He knew that Athos was angry about the attack on his sister and because he hadn't been there to protect her. He was also angry that it was Aramis's protection she wanted now and not her brother's. He hoped the other two would go and stop Athos from looking for trouble tonight, or worse, drinking himself into deeper despair than usual. He sighed deeply again before carefully moving himself and Marie into a position where he could sleep with her still cradled protectively in his arms. With another tender kiss planted on her head he closed his eyes as exhaustion and emotion from the last day drew him into a deep sleep.