Thanks again for all the interest. I've loved reading all your suggestions for what animals our fave characters would be, there are some great ideas. It's amazing how we all have different interpretations and they all fit. To guest reviewer Uia, who I can't reply to directly, thanks so much for your review. You make some interesting points about Athos and Porthos. To me Treville is a man who needs a purpose. He sees it as being a soldier and defender of France and her sovereign. Given the way things end S2 and how they are in S3 I thought he might be questioning things a bit so this chapter reflects this mindset.
Post season 2
The palace took on an eerie impressiveness at night. Former Captain of the Musketeers - now Minister of War - Treville paced the corridors quietly. Since war with Spain had officially been announced – and he had taken on a new role and quarters – it was a habit he had acquired. His mind was too busy to sleep. Instead he patrolled the Louvre, ensuring its security. An achievable task to focus on, in place of so many unachievable ones.
"Treville." The soft, quiet voice was not quite a whisper. Treville immediately bowed at the sight of the queen.
"I find sleep often alludes me these nights," she answered his unspoken question. "And at the moment so to for my son," she nodded at the bundle in her arms. The child was wide awake, his tiny arms flailing, little hands waving, miniature fingers clenching and unclenching.
The dauphin's newly appointed governess stood respectfully nearby. Her Majesty had been more reluctant than usual to be parted from her son. Treville searched the boy's face. He could only see the queen. He wondered if that was because fortune only allowed the boy's mother to be seen or if it was all Treville let himself see. He feared Rochefort's scheming had done more damage than just war with Spain.
"I think sleep may be alluding us all for some time to come Your Majesty."
Anne was silent as she gazed into the night. "Do you really think the war will last?"
He didn't know what to say. King Louis was justifiably furious at the Spanish intrusion and interference He wouldn't be easily appeased this time and even the previous peace had been fragile. He decided to give her the truth. "I hope so Your Majesty."
"I feel like this is my fault." It was a whisper, but he caught it.
"This war is not your doing Your Majesty." She gave him a look. Queen Anne played her role as sovereign flawlessly. Treville counted himself fortunate to be one of the few who was trusted to know the woman who wore the mask as well, in private moments such as this.
"Whatever others may say, I know you have always acted in the interest of peace."
She smiled. "Thank you. Just as I know you have done the same. I feel better having you here."
Constance had left the palace for the garrison. He should be with her, not making the opposite trade. He tried to hide his thoughts, but the queen guessed them. "I know you feel uncomfortable in your new role as minister. When the king first offered you the position you claimed you weren't a politician and too blunt for diplomacy. I think we could do with less politicians at court and more honest men, now more than ever. You may not believe yourself suitable, but I can think of no one better. I know I am not alone in my thinking."
His heart tightened. The regiment had left for the front only days ago. Already Treville wondered how many of the men he had recruited and trained, had he seen for the last time. Again, the queen correctly read his thoughts. "You worry for them. I do too. I include them in my prayers, but I have faith that they will survive this."
He hoped more than believed. He had seen too many battles and too much war to fully allow himself to hope. He had captained these men. As good as they were, there had always been a risk they would not return from their latest mission. That their next fight would be their last.
His thoughts turned from the collective to the individuals. He had no regrets about appointing Athos as captain. If Treville could not lead them into battle himself, there was none more than the former comte he would want to do so. Porthos and D'Artagnan would watch the man's back and be friends, soldiers and lieutenants where needed.
He worried most about Aramis. It was ridiculous. Holed up in a monastery, Aramis was the safest, away from the front. It was the best place for him, especially in light of recent events. But the thought left Treville unsettled. Aramis had always been more reckless than he should but Athos and Porthos had had a knack of limiting the impulse to a degree. Or more accurately helping fix the worse of the damage and ensuring Aramis didn't get himself killed. In turn Aramis had often returned the necessary help in kind, treating the emotional and physical wounds of Athos as best he could and supporting Porthos in commission, brotherhood or general mischief so the big man was not alone. What impact would his absence have on the other three? Would it be what finally, permanently separated the Inseparables?
There was another reason Aramis' resignation pricked uneasily at Treville. Aramis had been one of the original commissions. With his departure and Treville's own parting, there was none who remined of that time. No one but Serge who remembered the original oaths and determination. It was as if the musketeers were no longer his. The regiment had been such a large, important, constant in his life, the realisation left him feeling unbalanced. He could no longer watch over his men. He was no longer a musketeer.
"They will survive this," Anne insisted, sensing his dark thoughts. "They are brave and loyal and skilled. Musketeers do not die easily."
In the darkness of the night and lateness of the hour, Treville could not find it in him to humour her. She would not want it anyway. "In war that is not always enough, Your Majesty."
"They have each other. And they have you."
He couldn't hide his surprise or his doubt. What could he do, here in Paris.
"You have trained them well. You have thought them courage and loyalty and honour. You may not fight with them now, but you taught them how to fight. And you may not be fighting on the front with them in body, but you will be fighting a battle in spirit, here at court for them. The king needs you here to advise him how best to fight this war. Your men, these soldiers need you here to ensure they are adequately supplied and assigned. France needs you here, you know more about war and soldiering than anyone else at court.
"Your battleground is here, Minister. Your men do not need you to fight with them. They need you to fight for them."
The queen had always spoken less than the king. Had always been quieter, more serious, soberer. It had been clear even as a girl. But when she spoke her words were just as powerful. She stared at him for a moment the full weight of what she had charged him with in her gaze.
Treville was a soldier. He had sworn his life to crown and country. And he would serve them however he could. His queen needed him to.
This week's question: what kind of superpowers would our characters have.
Athos - heated vision.
Porthos - super strength.
Aramis - he sort of already has it with his sixth sense so I'm going with super senses or healing powers.
D'Artagnan - talks to animals.
Treville - immortality.
Constance - none. She doesn't need any. Also she has common sense.
Anne - psychic. Empathy or clairvoyance.
Milady - teleportation or enthrallment.
Grimaud - teleportation. Man already has invulnerability.
Louis - being king already is a superpower I guess.
Dauphin - invisibility or intangibility. Kid sneaks around better than anyone.
Cardinal - illusions.
Any one has any other ideas let me know.
