After those first months, it was as if d'Artagnan had been French all along. She learned Spanish and German almost as quickly as she had learned French. She read every book she could get her hands on. The only one she couldn't touch was the Bible. It was written in something called Latin, and only "men of the cloth" could read it. Just as well, European religion was beyond baffling. In The Enchanted Forest, the gods didn't care about the people, and vice versa. In Europe, you could be killed if you weren't unwaveringly loyal to this God.
Aramis, on the other hand, was devout. He always said that is he wasn't madly in love with Isabelle, he would be a priest. Aramis must have loved Isabelle, because a year after d'Artagnan of Misthaven became d'Artagnan d'Herblay, Isabelle announced she was going to have a baby.
"Aramis, are you out of your fucking mind?! What were you thinking?" d'Artagnan had never seen Charles so angry. d'Artagnan was just as surprised. Aramis is only 16. What makes him think he could raise a child?
"Papa, please. I'll marry her. I'll make it right." Aramis promised.
"Marriage? Don't I get a say?" Isabelle worried. As Charles' unofficial apprentice, Isabelle was practically a member of the family. Despite that, Isabelle was just as much of a child as Aramis or d'Artagnan. One thing was for certain: d'Artagnan didn't envy anyone in the room.
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The argument soon didn't matter, because a month later, Isabelle lost the baby. Aramis wanted to speak to her, but Isabelle's father told him she had left and refused to say where she was. It was d'Artagnan's turn to comfort Aramis. Charles became cold and distant. This rift would heal, but it would take time.
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Aramis and Charles did reconcile, but the relationship between father and son remained strained. d'Artagnan thought that if it wasn't for her, the two wouldn't even speak to each other.
Charles had begun to spend more time in his brewery. d'Artagnan, now age 12, threatened to burn the brewery down if Charles didn't promise to be productive.
"You're not the first alcoholic I've dealt with, Papa d'Herblay." "Papa d'Herblay" was the compromise they had come up with. "Charles" was too formal for him, and "Papa" was too casual for her.
"My stepfather drank," d'Artagnan continued. "He was mean when he was drunk. I've gotten more than my fair share of black eyes and burn marks." d'Artagnan was trying to be assertive, but she was too small to be threatening."
"I could let you go down the same path, but I can defend myself better now. I care about you and Aramis too much to let you ruin it." d'Artagnan didn't like crying. Her nose and face got all red. It wasn't pretty. But d'Artagnan couldn't help but let a few tears escape.
"I'm still a brewmaster, d'Artagnan."
"True, but that doesn't mean you can drink away your entire inventory." Charles replied by nodding and setting his tankard down.
"You Misthaven girls are stubborn as fuck."
"That's not fair. You only know one Misthaven girl. I'm not a good example… Papa d'Herblay?"
"Yes, d'Artagnan?"
"I'm sorry for threatening to burn down your brewery."
"It's fine. I probably deserved it, anyway."
No, you definitely deserved it."
"Ha, ha. Come here." Charles had opened his arms and d'Artagnan happily hugged her foster father.
"I love you, Papa d'Herblay."
"I love you too, mija," Charles replied sweetly.
d'Artagnan was pretty sure that was the first time she had said "I love you" to anyone. She wished she could see Rumplestiltskin again, even if it was for one minute, just to tell him that she loved him.
"Will you please talk to Aramis, Papa d'Herblay?"
"I did. We forgave each other," Charles confusedly replied.
"No, you didn't. Not really. Aramis' pride is something he gets from you. The two of you need to forgive each other. Truly forgive," d'Artagnan emphasized as Charles rolled his eyes.
"Fine. For you, mija, I would climb the mountains." Charles' slight Spanish accent was endearing. For once d'Artagnan had a family who truly looked out for her. For once, d'Artagnan was happy.
