(NOTE: for anyone who does not know the story of the Three Musketeers – Richelieu is the Cardinal who is Prime Minister of France during the reign of Louis XIII, Louis XIV's father.)

Athos finally found the priest in one of the barns. Aramis knelt on the ground, deep in prayer.

Athos cleared his throat to make his friend aware of his presence, and as he did so, a thought struck him. Aramis had always been the most devout of the quartet but it was only the more recent years when he had made the decision to become a priest.

Athos mentally did the sum. Six years. He felt a pang of guilt for having judged his friend so harshly, now realising that the former Musketeer was doing penance for his sins against Philippe.

Seeing that there was no immediate response, Athos spoke.

"We should talk."

Aramis considered for a moment, before he crossed himself.

"I never wanted you to find out this way, my friend," he said quietly. "I can only imagine what you must think of me."

"Aramis…I…"

Athos could not find the right words.

Aramis shook his head.

"You know, I can't bear to look at the boy. And yet I've seen him every night in my dreams these six years. Those eyes…He was so scared."

Athos sank onto a hay bale. His head swam with thoughts. Part of him wanted to be supportive; another part wanted to shout some more at the Priest.

"I wish I had said no to Louis," Aramis went on. "Because you're right, death would have been better than the guilt. But then Louis would have just found someone else to take Philippe to the prison and then I would not have known where he was."

Athos looked up sharply.

"Don't!" he said, shaking his head. "Don't even pretend that you always intended to free him."

"I'm not, believe me. I didn't expect it to be so difficult. It was just going to be another mission."

Athos looked troubled.

"I don't get it, though, why would Louis choose you?"

"You remember the night Louis was born?"

"Hmmm…D'Artagnan, Porthos and I went to dinner. We didn't hear about it until the morning."

"Yes, but I was on duty. Athos surely it strikes you that the similarity between them is more than coincidence?"

"I haven't really thought about it. I was concentrating on getting Philippe well."

"You see, things on that night didn't exactly go to plan. The Queen delivered a second son."

Athos looked up in anticipation.

"A twin?"

Aramis nodded.

"Needless to say, the King and Richelieu were less than enthusiastic at the prospect. The Cardinal told me to wait at a rear door for a parcel I was to take to a country home. They bought me a basket which held a newborn baby, wrapped in a blanket."

"Philippe."

"Exactly."

Athos shook his head and sighed.

"Philippe has many questions," he said. "I think the least you can do for him right now is to give him the answers he desires."

"Of course," he said. "Just tell me want he wants to know."

"I think you can find that out for yourself. He's asked for you to come back up and see him."

Aramis' eyes flashed with an emotion Athos could not read.

"Really?"

Athos nodded.

"He's a brave young man," he said gravely.