I have written myself into a bit of a corner with this story and Etienne is proving particularly resistant to reason. In an earlier chapter I said the Queen was six months pregnant. The only way I can think of to resolve this is to move the timeline to a point where she is close to giving birth. I have, therefore, gone back and changed that part of the story. I am not entirely happy with this chapter but you have all been very patient and I want to move things along.
Suspicious Minds
Chapter Ten
The rest of the King's hunting trip passed without incident and without any opportunity for Athos to speak to his friends. When they formed up on the morning of their return to Paris he once again found Etienne at his shoulder.
"You will take two men and scout the road ahead," Athos said, desperate to rid himself of the oppressive presence of his cousin.
"Can't you send someone else?"
Athos held tightly onto his temper. Since making the allegation against Aramis and the Queen Etienne's behaviour had been insubordinate at best. "You are a soldier and soldiers follow orders. This isn't open for debate. Is that a problem?"
"No, of course not. I will see you later." Etienne left with very bad grace and a look that suggested he knew exactly why Athos had sent him away.
For the first time in days Athos could breathe easily. Now he just had to find the opportunity to speak to Aramis and then try to make things right with the others. Although he suspected that wouldn't be possible if he was to remain outwardly committed to Etienne's cause. Since his brief discussion with d'Artagnan the young man had at least been looking a little happier. Their interactions though had been confined to the business of guarding the King but at least they had been civil to each other. He greatly feared even that small victory would be taken away from him.
He was once again shackled to the King's side during the journey. It wouldn't do for the commander of the guard to ignore his duties. When they stopped for lunch Athos excused himself and went on a circuit of the camp. Porthos and d'Artagnan were seeing to the horses leaving Aramis on guard. Athos walked up and stopped beside him.
"We need to talk."
"I'm sure d'Artagnan will be happy to hear that."
"It isn't about d'Artagnan."
Aramis shot him a sideways look. "What then?"
Athos looked around to make sure no-one was close enough to hear. "Etienne knows about you and the Queen. I believe he is working for the Cardinal."
Aramis' look of complete shock was quickly hidden. "How is that possible?"
"I don't know although you haven't been very subtle…either of you."
"He can't know anything for certain."
"Maybe not but even the whiff of scandal could be disastrous."
"What can we do?" Aramis asked, his voice unsteady.
"Leave Etienne to me."
Aramis shook his head. "No, we are stronger together."
"Not this time. Do you really want Porthos and d'Artagnan caught up in this? We made a conscious decision not to tell them in order to protect them. If we tell them now about Etienne you will have to confess the truth and that is an unpalatable thought. That means he must believe we are still estranged and you have to convince Porthos and d'Artagnan of that fact. Tell them we spoke and that I still support my cousin despite what d'Artagnan told me. It will hurt them but that is better than the alternative."
"D'Artagnan has already been badly affected by your words. If you turn from him again I worry that you will never regain his trust."
Aramis' words echoed Athos' own fears. He couldn't imagine life without his three brothers by his side yet he had to push them away in order to protect them. "I will accept the consequences of my actions if it means saving their lives. You made this mess, Aramis, now you must help me clean it up."
TMTMTM
Aramis watched Athos walk away with a heavy heart. He would never regret his night spent with the Queen but he did regret the hurt it was causing his brother. When he thought of Etienne his hands balled into fists in anger and frustration. How dare he turn on his cousin! Athos had known only heart-break when it came to his family. Thomas' death at the hands of Milady had almost destroyed him and Aramis knew it was only their brotherhood that was saving Athos from completely self-destructing. If that anchor was removed how long would it be before he drank himself to death in some seedy tavern?
Yet, he knew Athos was right about one thing. They could never tell Porthos and d'Artagnan which meant keeping them away from Etienne until Athos could find a solution to their problem. It would pain both men particularly as d'Artagnan had been optimistic following his discussion with their leader. His stomach lurched when he saw his two friends walking towards and realised they would have seen him and Athos together. There was no way to avoid the inevitable questions.
"You spoke to Athos?" d'Artagnan said, his tone hopeful.
"Yes."
"What did he have to say?" Porthos asked.
Aramis swallowed to clear his throat. "He has considered what d'Artagnan told him but remains committed to his cousin." He saw hurt on d'Artagnan's face and anger on Porthos'.
"Are you sure?" d'Artagnan asked hesitantly.
"He was very clear. I'm sorry, d'Artagnan."
"I thought we had made some progress. He apologised for judging me too hastily and seemed to believe me when I told him the duel had been Etienne's doing."
"Clearly he has changed his mind. Etienne can be very convincing."
"How can I serve with Athos if he doesn't trust me?" d'Artagnan asked, anguish in his voice.
"He will come around," Aramis said, hating himself for being the cause of so much distress. "Give him time. You have as much right as any of us to be a Musketeer. Don't be so quick to abandon your commission."
"I…I need some time to think." D'Artagnan looked longingly to where Athos was now standing behind the King before turning and striding quickly away.
"The whelp's hurtin'" Porthos said with repressed fury. "Why can't Athos see what a bastard Etienne is?"
"They have been friends a long time. Perhaps it is not so surprising."
"Why're you defendin' him?"
"Because I can see how badly it is affecting him and I have hope of resolving the conflict."
"The only way to resolve it is for Etienne to leave," Porthos said decisively.
"I fear you are right, my friend." Aramis could only hope that Athos would find a way to turn Etienne from his course before it was too late for all of them.
TMTMTM
After escorting the King to the palace Athos returned to the garrison to report to Treville. He took no pleasure in the Captain's praise for his command and excused himself as soon as he could politely do so. He knew that by avoiding Etienne he was only prolonging his agony so he set out to find his cousin. Etienne was in the stables caring for his horse when Athos tracked him down.
"I would speak with you," Athos said.
"You have considered what I said?"
"Yes, but this isn't a conversation to be held in public. Come to my room and we will talk."
When they reached Athos' room he fetched a bottle of wine and two cups. It had been days since he had last had anything to drink and he was hoping it would go some way to settling his nerves. He poured and pushed one cup towards his cousin.
Etienne picked it up and gave a mocking salute. "Have you finally come to your senses, cousin?" he asked.
Athos took a drink, momentarily closing his eyes as the wine slid down his throat. "Who started the vile rumour about the Queen?"
Etienne stared at him and began to laugh. "It's no rumour as you know very well. Come now, Athos. The Queen was trapped in the convent for a day and a night. Three months after her ordeal there is the happy announcement of an impending heir to the throne. Fortuitous timing wouldn't you say? After all, she and the King have been married for many years without a child."
"You and the Cardinal have made a mistake." Athos saw the brief look of surprise on Etienne's face at the fact he had worked out who was behind this. "Let me tell you about your patron. Who do you think paid the assassins to kill the Queen?"
"It was a Protestant plot."
"That's what the Cardinal wants everyone to believe. He through his agent, Milady de Winter, hired the mercenary Gallagher to rid France of a barren Queen."
"How do you know this?"
"That's not important. What matters is that you are setting France on the road to civil war."
Although Etienne looked shaken he held firm to his resolve. "What is the alternative? To allow the bastard child of a Musketeer to ascend the throne? Besides, who will take the side of an adulterous Spanish Queen?"
Given the rabid anti-Spanish sentiment coursing through Paris Athos very much feared that Etienne was right. However, the King of Spain wouldn't sit idly by and watch his sister be cast off or, worse, condemned to death. It could propel them into a war with Spain. Once again he cursed Aramis' impulsive nature and lack of self-control. "You are mistaken."
"The Cardinal knows the truth. It is only a question of when he chooses to reveal it. Confess and save yourself."
"Your concern is touching but I have nothing to confess. You and the Cardinal are wrong. Aramis and the Queen were not intimate. This is just another ploy of the Cardinal's to get rid of her because she knows of his treachery."
"Athos please don't insult me with your lies. I am trying to save your life. When Aramis is brought down you will also go to your death. As will Porthos and d'Artagnan."
Now it was Athos turn to feel uncertain. "They were not at the convent and cannot be tainted by these lies."
"Everyone knows how close you were to your friends. Will anyone believe you didn't share the knowledge of the Queen's infidelity?"
Athos could feel himself heading towards a full blown panic. "You leave them out of this."
Etienne raised one eyebrow in surprise before a self-satisfied smile lit up his features. "They don't know, do they? How will they react to being told not only of Aramis' treason but of the fact they were kept in the dark?"
"There is nothing to tell," Athos said somewhat desperately.
"Shall we find out? The Cardinal wants to see you tomorrow. If you don't appear I will make sure Porthos and d'Artagnan learn all about the events at the convent. And, if you continue to lie you can be assured that they will suffer the same fate as you and Aramis when the truth of the Queen's infidelity becomes known."
Tbc