I was expecting this to be the last chapter but Athos and Aramis insisted upon having a long conversation. Hopefully in the next chapter we will get to see Aramis and Porthos trying to patch up their differences.

A New Day Dawning

Chapter Ten

It didn't take long to settle Porthos down again. Aramis administered another pain draught, all the while talking in soothing tones, praising Porthos for his fortitude. Once he was satisfied that his brother was sleeping peacefully he returned to his wine. His heart thumped once when he looked at Athos. He knew the Captain was upset with him and he had been tempted to lie; to promise obedience. Unfortunately, his conscience wouldn't allow him to evade the consequences of his actions.

It was only after several minutes of uneasy silence that Athos spoke. "Treville told me that you were also attacked. Were you injured?"

The unrelenting ache in his right shoulder was a vivid reminder of what had happened at the Palace. "Someone pushed me down the stairs. I was able to save myself before any great harm was done."

"That doesn't answer my question."

Aramis briefly closed his eyes. He recognised that tone. Athos wasn't going to give up until he received satisfaction. "I knocked and strained my right shoulder. It is nothing to be concerned about."

"Really?" Athos raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Then you won't mind showing me."

He had no particular urge to remove his shirt knowing the amount of pain it would cause. "That isn't necessary."

"Are you so intent upon refusing my orders?" Athos asked mildly.

"If you insist." He raised his left arm and slid it out of the sleeve. When it came to his right arm, however, he found that he couldn't raise it beyond the horizontal. He dropped his arm back to his side with a groan. He was immensely glad that he was sitting down as the spike of pain had made his head reel.

"Nothing to be concerned about!" Athos muttered. "Here, let me help you." He gently eased Aramis' arm out of the sleeve and lifted the shirt over his head. "Your shoulder is black and blue," he said.

Aramis turned his head to look. The whole of the top and front of his shoulder was one massive bruise. When Athos reached out to touch it he flinched back. "I can assure you that no permanent damage has been done but I would appreciate it if you could dispense with poking and prodding it."

Athos gave him a knowing look. "That bad, is it?"

Aramis decided against answering. "If you could help me to put my shirt back on I'd be grateful."

The revelation of his injury seemed to have broken the ice between them. Once Aramis was fully clothed again Athos reached for his wine and stretched his legs out in front of him.

"The King has ordered us to abandon the investigation. It isn't a rational decision. Treville is concerned about Louis' health."

"Have you seen any sign of illness?"

"That was the first time I'd been in the King's presence since our return. He looked thinner and pale but that could just be from the strain of the war. I don't imagine he thought it would go on for so long, or cost so much in money and lives."

"I wonder if he regrets his decision to declare war?" Aramis mused.

"What choice did he have? Vargas and Rochefort between them had almost brought down the monarchy."

"Rochefort wasn't doing Spain's bidding when he accused the Queen of adultery. He loved her and was overcome with jealousy." He suppressed a shudder at the memory of being chained up and locked in a cell, believing that his life was about to end in a most painful fashion.

"Regardless of his motives he almost succeeded in destroying the King. If the Queen had been executed, he would never have forgiven himself."

Aramis gazed off into the distance. If the Queen had died what would have happened to their son? The thought that the innocent child could have been murdered was enough to bring him out in a cold sweat. "Well, what's done is done. Rochefort is gone, Vargas is in prison and the Queen and Dauphin are safe and well."

"You must stay away from them," Athos cautioned. "Who knows what lingering damage Rochefort's poison might have caused."

"I have lived without them for four years. It will be no hardship to continue to do so." Aramis looked away as he told his lie. His heart ached to see his son and his love for the Queen had never diminished. Regardless of his feelings though, he doubted if she would want to see him. Once again he had deserted his post. It didn't help to know that if he had remained with the Musketeers he would have been dispatched to the front. Whatever path he had chosen he would have been separated from them for almost four years. He dragged his thoughts back to the present. "Will Treville really give up the investigation? I'm convinced that the Marquis wasn't working alone. The Baron is still not clear of suspicion and then there is the mysterious man who shot Porthos and was probably responsible for the Marquis' murder."

"The Minister has given me no further instructions but I wouldn't rule out the possibility that he will confront the Baron when he feels the time is right."

"What has Paris become?" Aramis asked plaintively. "Feron is venal and corrupt, and Marcheaux and his men are just like rabid animals."

"We must not despair, Aramis. Treville has the ear of the King in many respects. He will do what he can to mitigate the damage done by Feron and the Red Guard."

"He is only one man."

"No. He has us. Why do you think he ordered us to stay in Paris? We are his mailed fist. We will stamp out corruption wherever it appears and will give the people hope of justice."

Aramis smiled. "You sound just like Sylvie." His grin broadened when he saw a faint flush tinge Athos' cheeks. "You like her."

"She is a dangerous radical. Besides I have neither the time nor the inclination to become embroiled in a relationship."

"If you say so," Aramis said, amused by the vehement denial. He was taken completely off guard by Athos' next question.

"Are you happy to be back?"

Aramis contemplated a glib response before deciding that Athos deserved better. "It is harder than I expected and I did not foresee Porthos' animosity."

"He took your absence hard. It got so bad that we couldn't even mention your name without him falling into a rage."

"I didn't know." He felt bile rising in his throat at this evidence of the depth of Porthos' anger. "What can I do? We were brothers once and now he feels like a stranger."

"You are still brothers. He just has to be made to see that. Perhaps this brush with death will calm his mood."

"I can only pray that you're right." He bowed his head. "I have begun to question my place here."

"You will always have a place here. Don't forget that you have other brothers who were happy to see your return."

"And you have my gratitude for your acceptance of my need to dedicate a part of my life to God. As it turns out, though, I made the wrong choice. The Abbot knew before I did. He was a very wise man who didn't deserve to die at the hands of those bandits."

"Your actions that day in Douai saved many lives. Besides, surely you don't regret the time you spent with the children?"

A fond smile graced Aramis' face. "How could I regret that? They filled my life with light and laughter. Of course there were challenges as well. They weren't always so well behaved."

"You kept our memory alive in your stories. That must have been painful."

"You are wrong, my friend. It was a comfort to think of you all. Occasionally word came to the monastery about the progress of the war. Your names were always mentioned. You became heroes in real life, not just in my stories."

"We simply followed our orders."

"You did more than that. You carried out your duties with a selfless courage that would be a shining example to those around you."

Athos began to look embarrassed. "You give us too much credit."

"I think not." He picked up his wine glass and drank deeply. "May my courage be a match for yours in this new war for the safety of Paris."

"I don't doubt it."

It was a balm to his battered spirit to sit and converse with Athos without any of the reticence that had marked their interactions thus far. It gave him a sliver of hope that they could overcome the difficulties and rekindle their brotherhood. He looked over at the bed where Porthos lay quietly. Now, all he had to do was convince his stubborn friend to forgive him.

Tbc