Going Back

Chapter 11

As they rode up the lawn of the lodge, D'Artagnan and Athos could see Porthos waiting for them.

"This doesn't look good," D'Artagnan muttered as they spurred their horses to ride faster towards him.

"Aramis?" asked Athos instantly, seeing the stress written on the face of his brother.

"He's fine. Let's take this inside," said Porthos casting a wary glance around the lawn.

Athos' eyes darkened as he followed the brawler into the trophy room. Aramis was standing there pouring over a book; a trunk was open on the desk in front of him. He straightened as Athos and D'Artagnan followed Porthos into the room.

"Is that a new shirt?" Aramis asked, picking up instantly on the changed appearance of his brothers.

Athos shrugged. "The merchant has been murdered," Athos said. "Apparently he was threatened to help this Felix. He was searching for the lost key. He killed the merchant with my grandfather's dagger when he said he didn't have it," he said dropping the blade onto the table. "The murderer ran. I barely grazed his arm as he fled," he said bitterly, his frustration palpable.

"Did you get anything more on Joseph?" D'Artagnan asked.

Aramis and Porthos exchanged a look.

"Joseph was supposed to have left to check some snares early this morning. Maurice said he never showed. He hasn't been back since," said Porthos.

Athos shot his brothers a quizzical look at their anxious expressions.

"Do we have to beg?" Athos asked. Porthos and Aramis glanced at each other again. Porthos shrugged and Aramis took charge.

"When we realized we wouldn't be able to speak to Joseph right away, we decided to search his room. I found his journal and Porthos was able to crack the chest. In it we found your grandfather's pistol, and the missing bible pages among other things. His journal…" Aramis began, "his journal is that of a man who is deeply disturbed. He seems to have been obsessed with your family for some time, and has somehow connected them to all the misfortunes in his life – from his service in the army, to his inability to find a wife or a job, every unfortunate incident he has suffered he has tied to your family."

Aramis ran his hand through his hair as he struggled to communicate the depth of what he had learned. "The journal..." he began, "The journal is full of violent thoughts and language and a strong assertion for what he is owed, but nothing to actually support those claims. It is the ravings of a madman, of a man that has let his anger and misfortune drive all reasoning from his mind. His writings date back to La Rochelle. I'm not sure what may have happened to him there, but having been there…the horrors of that battle could be enough to break any man. Somehow I think that's when this delusion began," he said with a shake of his head.

Aramis took a deep breath as he watched Athos' face. It was clear that the wheels in his mind were spinning rapidly.

"There's more," Aramis said. Slowly, he turned to show them the last page of the journal that lay open on the table. The handwriting was jagged and wild. A dark smudge also marred the page and looked suspiciously like blood.

The words on the page burned into Athos' eyes. With effort he tore them away and looked to the marksman. Aramis' brown eyes were wide with concern. "Joseph is Felix, Athos. Joseph Felix Lacroix."

"He was told he was named after your great grandfather, which fed his delusion that he was your grandfather's son," said Porthos. Athos nodded.

"Athos, he may be coming for you," said D'Artagnan urgently. Again Athos nodded, which frustrated the younger man. "He's already shot Aramis and has now killed someone. His crimes have escalated. If he thinks you are the last thing preventing him from laying a claim to the land, he'll come for you," he said forcefully.

Aramis nodded. "With you out of the way, there would be no one to dispel his claim. And as you said, he has just killed a man who seemed to have aided at least in some of his crimes."

The men grew silent, waiting for Athos to respond.

"Athos," said Porthos carefully, "What's the plan?"

"We let him come," said Athos.

"What?!" cried D'Artagnan, incredulously.

"This is my home," Athos said lowly. "I will not surrender it without a fight. I will challenge him to a duel."

Porthos growled. "Athos, you can't be serious. This is a soldier Athos. We have no idea how good he may be with a blade, but we know he's fast and he's a fighter."

"This is reckless Athos. Foolish even," said D'Artagnan. "You gave away the estate, why not just give this place away as well."

"Because he loves it," said Aramis quietly, causing Porthos and D'Artagnan to whip their heads around to stare openly at the marksman. Aramis stared straight ahead, his and Athos' eyes locked together. "It is his birthright. It is one thing to give it away, and quite another to have someone strip it from you. If this is what you want Athos, I will be your second."

The swordsman stared into the eyes of his brother with all the love and gratitude he could muster. In that moment, he and Aramis came to an understanding. Athos felt the pain of being told they were undeserving and unworthy of their title and Aramis felt the pride in a place and a name – even if it was a hated name – that he never could before. Looking into Aramis' eyes, Athos nodded.

"No," said D'Artagnan.

"You're both outta your minds if you expect us to sit here and watch the two of you risk your lives…" Porthos growled.

"Porthos…" Aramis said softly.

"This is somethin' just outta your playbook. You were shot only a few days ago!" he roared. The marksman flinched at his brother's words, but he held his ground, his eyes burning defiantly at Porthos. Porthos knew he had gone too far, but his protective instincts could not be dialled back.

"No Porthos," said Athos, "This is about loyalty and above all else honour," he said. "I cannot let this murderer pretend to lay claim to all that remains of my family's lands – to all I have left of my brother, and the only place other than the Garrison where I have ever felt at home."

D'Artagnan stood there nervously gazing between his brothers.

"Athos," he whispered, "Are you sure?"

Athos looked around, catching each brother's eye, and nodded firmly.

oOo

A/N: Oooh a cliffhanger! Sorry, I'm not sorry ;-)

Thanks again for reading and reviewing - more soon!