A/N nice long update for you as there will be nothing till the end of the weekend now. Thank you for your support. Please continue to let me know thoughts. Thank you again

Chapter 9

It was the love and friendship that the queen and Marie shared that had brought Athos to the palace. He now stood outside the queen's chambers waiting to be seen. The two woman had continued to be close friends even after the three years following the incident with Rochforte, and he hadn't wanted her majesty to hear that her close friend and confidant had passed away from some official. He respected her too much for that.

"Her majesty will see you now," one of the ladies-in-waiting told him, making him sand straighter. He nodded a thank you before stepping into the chamber.

"Athos. This is a nice surprise. What brings you here when you are not on duty?" Anne greeted him warmly. Athos did not answer at first, his mind trying desperately to figure out how to tell her what had happened without letting his emotions get the better of him. His face must have betrayed his feelings as the queen turned to her hand maidens. "Leave us please," she dismissing them leaving just the two of them alone. She went up to him and placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"Athos, tell me what has troubled you so that it has brought you here? Is there something wrong?" Anne asked him gently.

Athos cleared his throat before speaking, "No your majesty. I wanted to be the one to tell you. I didn't want you to hear from anyone else." Athos searched frantically for the right words to break the news.

"Tell me what? Athos what has happened?" Anne asked again, this time the panic evident in her voice.

"It's Marie. She… she died yesterday. She was shot..." he stopped taking a shaky breath to try and regain a control of his emotions. He was still raw from the loss of his sister. He didn't know if the gaping hole in his chest left by her death would ever cease to hurt.

"No! Oh God," Anne whispered dropping into a chair, as tears rose in her eyes. "Who would do such a thing? Poor Marie, she never harmed a soul!" She turned inquiring blue eyes onto Athos.

"A disgraced ex-musketeer who is out for revenge," Athos replied, dropping his gaze to the floor. Anne stood back up, facing the grieving musketeer. She could see the signs of how much this had hurt him on his face. The pale color, the bloodshot eyes with dark circles underneath, it didn't look like he had slept or even rested for a single minute.

"Athos I am so sorry. I loved Marie so much, she was a good friend. A kind and brave woman like none I had ever met, she was as close to me as if she was my own sister. If there is anything I can do, let me know," Anne said, placing a gentle comforting hand on his arm.

"Thank you for the kind words, your majesty."

"Tell me how is Aramis?" she asked him, fearing for the younger musketeer. Athos shook his head.

"He is not well, and I fear he will only get worse," he told her, his voice breaking at the thought of his brother. Anne squeezed his arm one last time before removing her hand.

"I can only imagine; to have the woman he love taken away so suddenly and cruelly, he must be besides himself. And oh, poor darling Thomas, to lose his mother so young. This is a wretched day indeed!"

Athos kept quiet. He did not have any words of comfort for the queen. How could he when he himself couldn't believe the injustice of it all. It was a cruel and sadistic god that Aramis believed in so much.

Anne seemed to visibly compose herself as she took a deep breath and looked at Athos. "When are you having the funeral?"

"Tomorrow. We will say goodbye tomorrow." Athos replied. Anne nodded.

"I would like to come then, if that's alright. I would like to be there for Aramis and the little one, and for… Marie"

A soft smile came over Athos' face as he looked at the queen. The woman knew that the threat of the rogue musketeer was still very much present but she wouldn't let that stand in te way of saying goodbye to a dear friend. Athos had always known that the queen was a woman of strong character but it was nice to be reminded from time to time. "I am sure Marie would have liked that," he said, nodding.

"Then I will see you tomorrow, but for now you must go back to your brother. Your place is with him as is D'Artagnan's and Porthos's. He needs you all more than he ever has. My prayers go with you," she said. Athos nodded bowing slightly before he left silently. Anne watched him go before sinking back into the chair, letting her tears fall as she cried for her friend.

Athos arrived back at the garrison just as the sun was starting its decent, and the darkness had started to creep through the streets of Paris. But for once Athos welcomed the darkness with all its sinister shadows and secrets. The bright gaiety of day just seemed wrong, today.

If this was any other death that had happened on his watch, he would have made his way straight to the tavern. God above knew he had drank enough when he had buried his brother. But this time, he resisted the urge. He couldn't allow himself to drown his sorrows and greif in wine. Too many people needed him sober.

"Athos! Thank god! Where have you been?" Porthos greeted him, Athos frowned noting the stressed look on his friend's face.

"I was at the palace. The queen needed to know. What is wrong?" Athos asked, as he followed his friend quickly back to his rooms. Porthos stopped before turning to face his friend, worry etched on every part of his face.

"It's Aramis. He doesn't believe she is dead, Athos. He thinks she is missing, that she has gone somewhere. I don't know what..." Porthos trailed off as he watched the look that crossed the older man's face.

"Take Thomas back to your room tonight. I will talk to him." Athos said, his heart sinking at what he had just been told.

"Do you want me and D'Artagnan to help you with him? He isn't going to be easy to handle when you tell him what's really happened," Porthos pointed out gently. Athos shook his head.

"No I need you to look after the girls and Thomas. I can take care of Aramis," Athos replied. Porthos nodded, understanding. Athos smiled softly before opening the door finding Aramis pacing the room his son held firmly in his arms. He stopped on hearing the door open, fixing panicked brown eyes on the two men who entered.

"Athos! Thank god you are here. Marie, she has gone missing! I tried to go look for her but Porthos won't let me leave," Aramis explained to his friend, his voice raw with worry. Athos bit down on his lip, hating to see his friend in this state, and hating the thought of having to crush whatever wall he had built in his mind to shield himself from the truth.

"Aramis, how about you let Porthos take Thomas and then you and me can try and figure out where Marie has gone. Thomas will be safer with Porthos, away from this," Athos suggested watching Aramis eye Porthos up before finally nodding agreement.

"You be a good boy for Uncle Porthos okay. Papa loves you," he said to the little boy planting a tender kiss on his cheek and handing him over, Thomas happily waved to his father before turning his attention on to Porthos, talking away as they left.

Athos racked his mind, trying to figure out how he was going to tell the musketeer what had really happened. It worried him that Aramis didn't remember, and he wondered if putting him to sleep the previous night had been the best idea. He knew what he had to do. It would completely ruin Aramis, he knew that. But it was the only way to make Aramis believe what had really happened.

"Aramis, come with me brother. I know where she is. I will take you to her," Athos told him. Aramis didn't say anything. He just nodded, looking at Athos eagerly, his dark eyes holding complete trust in them as he followed Athos.

"Why are we here? Why have you brought me to the church?" Aramis asked, as they headed down the aisle. Athos caught the eye of the priest who just nodded silently on seeing who was following close behind. Taking a deep breath Athos came to a stop outside the chamber he had hoped he wouldn't have to visit again.

Athos did not reply, instead he opened the door. Aramis frowned stepping into the room. His eyes fell on the body of his wife. For a second he froze. Then he rushed forward, everything coming back to him in a rush, as he stood beside the cold stone slab on which his beautiful wife lay. The sound of a gun, Marie lying in his arms dying from a shot to her chest. Her last words to him before life was cruelly taken from her. Strong arms caught him as his legs gave way.

"It's okay I've got you," Athos's soothing voice broke through his pain. Aramis felt sick, as his eyes again refused to move from the girl in front of him. Pulling away from the comfort of Athos's arms he straightened up. Athos stood back watching silently.

Aramis reached a shaking hand out to her, feeling her ice cold skin as he touched her cheek. He recoiled so violently that he fell back slightly. Athos moved to help him but stopped on seeing him regain balance and move back towards her.

"You can open your eyes now, my darling. Please wake up. Come back to me. I love you, I need you," he whispered, as the tears started to fall. "I am so sorry. I let you down. I promised I would protect you always but I didn't. This is my fault. I should have been able to save you. I am so sorry please, oh god, my dear darling Marie, please forgive me," he sobbed, his legs giving way as he crashed to the floor, hysteria kicking in as he cried for his lost love.

Athos fell by his side wrapping him in his arms as he held him close. He breathed deeply fighting his own tears as he felt every bit of his brother's pain. He ran a hand up and down Aramis's back repeatedly, in an attempt to offer him some comfort, but he knew it was a wasted effort. Aramis was completely lost to grief and Athos knew there was nothing that could be done or said that would make his hell even a little bearable.

After a while when Aramis's sobs became weaker as exhaustion took over, Athos decided it was time to get out of this room full of death and make their way back to the garrison.

"Let's back to the garrison Aramis. You need to sleep," Athos said gently, easing his friend up carrying most of his weight.

"It's my fault. I should have saved her," he muttered as Athos led him out of the church.

"This is not your fault. You could not have saved her, Aramis. Please believe me, Marie would not want you to blame yourself." Athos begged him. The vacant look in the musketeer's eyes told him though, that his words hadn't even been heard, much less understood.

Porthos was there to greet them when they stepped into the courtyard by this time Athos was all but carrying Aramis.. Porthos merely nodded when Athos shot him a look that clearly said that he would explain later, and helped Aramis to Athos's rooms, laying the musketeer down on the bed as Athos quickly removed his boots. To their relief Aramis did not fight sleep and was settled in seconds.

"I took him to see Marie. It was the only way I could think of to make him understand what had happened," Athos answered Porthos's silent question.

"I know you are going to stay with him tonight and I am not even going to try and change your mind but please make sure you get some rest yourself. Tomorrow is going to be a tough day for everyone. Leave Aramis to me and D'Artagnan tomorrow. You need to mourn your sister," Porthos told him. Athos just nodded, kicking his boots off and collapsing on the bed next to Aramis. The younger musketeer instantly curled against him, seeking warmth and comfort. Porthos smiled heading to the door.

"Good night Athos," he said to his friend, Athos inclined his head towards him, watching him leave before sinking further on to the bed closing his eyes. Surprisingly, he found himself drifting into an uneasy sleep.