The Book

Athos sat in his room and staring at the book. When Grace was shot, he wanted to check it out, but since then so much happened so completely forgot about that. Now it was all over. Addington was dead. Grace remains in Paris with Aramis. Everything turned out well, so there's no reason to put off any longer. He took the knife and slit the cover of the book. Letter and a small figurine fell to his lap. Athos put down the paper aside and took the pendant to his hands. It was a small wooden angel, which he very well recognized.

FLASHBACK

Athos stared out the window at the white nature. The landscape was covered with snow and at noon it shone like diamonds. But now it was already evening. First Gracelyn's Christmas in La Fere, everything went well, but after dinner, Grace has disappeared somewhere, and Athos couldn't find her. He was a little worried. The last couple of months she has spent here were good and she was cheerful most of the time, but this had been her first Christmas without mother and father.

Walking through the large house and all of a sudden seemed to him that he heard a quiet squeal. After a moment, he was sure, that someone is crying. Athos tried to find the source of the sound and eventually came to large curtains which hung in the corner of the deserted common room.

"What are you doing here?" Athos asked the girl gently, who cringed under the dusty curtains.

"Nothing." Gracelyn mumbled into her skirt.

"So I'll do nothing with you." Athos said and sat down next to her. He knew that the girl would speak. If he has learned something, it is that she never stay silent for too long.

"Do you think I'm a bad person?" Grace whispered, finally.

"What?" Athos was surprised. He did not expect something like that.

"Do you think I'm a bad person because I hate him?"

"Who do you hate?" Athos could not imagine, that she hated someone. Grace loved everyone immediately. Almost everyone.

"My father." She said and crying again. "He promised that he would return."

Athos was thinking for a moment. Many times he did not understand why adults sometimes do what they do and even in this case, he did not know why Lord Haley drove off. Then he remembered what Grace actually asked about.

"No, you're not a bad person." Athos assured her, thinking about his complicated relationship with his own father.

"Are you sure?" Grace looked at him hopefully.

"Absolutely." He answered and fumbled in the pocket. "I've got something for you." Athos pulled out a little wooden angel. He carved it himself.

"It's beautiful." Grace enjoyed examining her new gift.

"I am glad you like it." Athos smiled, stood up and then helped to stand up Gracelyn. "We should go."

She nodded and then tugged him by the sleeve.

"What is it?" Athos stopped in his steps.

"Thank you." Grace smiled at him and then hurried away to her room.

END OF FLASHBACK

Athos put the memory aside and looked at the letter. He unfolded it slowly and just got to know a little bit messy handwriting of her cousin.

Dear Athos,

as you know, I have returned to France. I suppose I have visited you in Paris in the musketeers barracks and if everything went according to plan, it was the last time I've ever seen you.

It is complicated, but one man from England, Henry, is arriving to Paris. You have to met him. I told him that if he doesn't find me, has to go to you. Trust him. Believe everything he will tell you. Believe what he will tell you about me. The last five years I lived in a lie and a lie is also the last thing I told you before I left France, and mainly you. This is the reason why I am running again. At that time, you needed me and I left. I hope that someday you forgive me.

Help Henry. At first I could not believe that you became a musketeer, when I learned, but the more I thought about it, the more I was sure that this is your destiny. Therefore, I believe you will help Henry to stop the coming events.

One day you have devoted me this angel, and told me that I am not a bad person. At the time, I believed that you are right, but now I am not so sure. Even though I have many times said myself you may forgive me, learn the truth and I will stay in Paris and everything will be alright, eventually I am too big coward to risk the possibility of the opposite. This way I will remain a hope you may not hate me at least, even though I will not be with you.

I wanted to thank You for everything you've done for me. If you were not here for me then I don't know how I would deal with the death of my mother. With you I had a wonderful childhood and had an older brother, who protect me, even I did not want always to and I love you for it.

Maybe we will meet again. God knows what my fate will bring.

Thank you for everything

Your Grace

Athos closed the letter and wondering. Then, when Grace came to the garrison for the second time it seemed to him strange that she asks about the book. She was afraid that he had already read the letter. Thanks to the ironic game of fate, it was the cardinal, to whom Athos could be grateful for Gracelyn's staying. If he was there where Grace waited him, she would have been long gone, and Athos was infinitely glad that this time it was not according to her plan.

XXX

The next day Athos went to visit Grace. When he put wooden angel to her hands she looked at him in surprise.

"So you have read..." she said somewhat hesitantly.

"Yes." He nodded in approval, and then very seriously added. "Never think about leaving again."

"I'm sorry." Grace grinned at him apologetically. "I thought that it would be just better to go without seeing your look, when I tell you the truth. Which frankly was a horror. Before the inn I mean. I didn't know that you would be able to forgive me."

"Grace," Athos said, and waited until she will be fully focus. "I love you, I will forgive you probably always and you're not a bad person, but..."

"But?"

"Next time you'd better tell me everything, because you really cannot assume my reaction."

"Hey." Grace giggled and getting smacked him lightly in the shoulder. "As if you could assume mine."

"I am a great in the presupposition of your reactions." Athos countered.

"And what then, when you told Thomas, that I am definitely not jumping into this pond in the dress, when he throws my hat there?"

"True. At the time, I was absolutely wrong."

Goodbye guys and thank you for everything. This story could not exist without you. :)
NikaJ