Savoy Desolation.
Chapter Eleven.
Captain Tréville's
Office.
After the visit of doctor Lemay the mood in Tréville's office was sombre as the musketeers stood or sat in different parts of the chamber. Each man going over in his own mind what the physician had actually stated about Aramis. The wounded and distressed musketeer was now sleeping soundly. Serge had been left sitting by his side. The old veteren told to fetch them if needs be, even if he moved. Serge had made certain he had his famous chicken stew ready and simmering incase the musketeer happened to wake.
x
d'Artagnan stared across Paris from the office window, he turned and scanned the room before speaking.
"He needs us captain, I do not relish the notion of him being alone in a monastery with none of his friends there by his side."
Athos sat on a chair opposite Tréville, the older man had opened his brandy and was pouring into four goblets.
"I concur, if he wakes whilst alone and realises we are not there with him, I dread to think what may happen, I would say it could make him worse than he already is." murmered the swordsman as Tréville pushed a goblet towards him.
Porthos who had been leaning against the wall suddenly moved towards the table as Tréville handed out the brandy. The big musketeer picked up the goblet and swigged back the entire contents.
"No disdain to the monks captain, but I also agree. If we are not there for him, it may hinder his recovery if he wakes in a strange place."
Tréville eyed the big man. "I doubt Aramis will find a monastery a strange place Porthos, he is the more religious out of all of us."
"Yeah I know what you are saying captain...but look at him...he does not know what time of day it is." persisted Porthos casting a glance at his two brothers.
"Is it too much to ask that we can not all stay with him.." murmered d'Artagnan sounding forlorn.
Tréville swigged some brandy. "The king would never agree to that...besides you will all be needed for palace duties."
d'Artagnan dropped himself into a random chair and ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
Porthos growled in sheer rage. "I could kill the bastards for this...it would seem they have raised an ugly demon inside 'im."
Athos shifted in his seat as he placed his goblet down on the table. He eyed each of his brothers before turning back to Tréville.
"May I make a suggestion captain." he asked
All eyes turned on the swordsman. Tréville refilled the goblets.
"Be my guest...anything is worth heeding."
Athos sighed slightly. "St. Vincents Monastery is what...seven..maybe eight hours ride from Paris...we could take turns. One of us stays with him for a few days, then we are relieved and another takes over...surly his majesty would permit that...knowing of Aramis' plight."
Both d'Artagnan and Porthos exchanged glances of agreement to Athos' idea.
Tréville looked across at his lieutenant. "I have already sent word to the palace informing him of what has happened, let us tarry and see what the king says in response to my letter. Do not think I am not acknowledging your request Athos...let us just see what his majesty suggests. We do not want to get too far ahead of ourselves."
"Let us hope the Cardinal does not intervene." murmered Porthos.
Tréville raised both brows at the big man.
"It has nothing to do with the Cardinal. Besides I am certain he has his own affairs to occupy himself."
The musketeers glanced at one another.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Royal Palace
Following Day.
Captain Tréville had been summoned to the palace after receiving the news of Aramis. He had left Porthos and d'Artagnan back at the garrison to take care of the wounded marksman but had insisted Athos accompany him.
The two men walked down the hallway of the palace, their blue cloaks trailing behind them as they went.
Courtiers and dignitaries wandered past them having left the throne chamber, some laughing and jesting with one another, others looking sorry they had ever spoken with the monarch.
"It would seem the king has finished his morning assembly captain, we are just in time." murmered Athos as they neared the royal chambers.
Tréville nodded "Let us hope he is in a good mood, I am in no frame of mind for contempt."
The two musketeers paused as they reached the throne room. Two red guard stood either side of the large door frame. Both eyed Tréville and Athos from head to foot in their usual scowling manner.
Athos shot a scathing glare to each man in unison. "His majesty is expecting us gentlemen, if you would be so kind and anounce us!
Both men jumped to attention and did as the swordsman had asked. Tréville stifling a smirk as the large ornate doors opened inwards.
"Captain Tréville and Musketeer Athos your Majesty! yelled the guard.
Athos raised an eyebrow as he walked slowly past the two red guards.
xx
Throne Room:
The king stood looking over paperwork with Cardinal Richelieu when Captain Tréville and Athos entered the royal chambers. The Queen sat at the table looking bored from Richelieu's tiresome and repetitive orations. Her beautiful face lighting up as Tréville and Athos' footsteps echoed on the polished floor.
Tréville hastly scanned around noticing the interfering cleric as he rolled up parchments and replaced them into the desk drawers.
Louis suddenly glanced up as the two men approached.
Tréville and Athos bowed, their hats held close to their chests.
"Ah Treville! Athos! I have been expecting you." smiled the monarch.
Athos' eyes diverted as he watched the cardinal glance up and begin his slow amble towards them.
Louis sat at the large table that stood in the middle of the chamber, he glanced at the two musketeers and gestured to them to sit.
"May I ask how musketeer Aramis is faring...it is somewhat a bad business I might add." said the king sounding concerned.
"He is not good your majesty." replied Tréville shooting a rapid glance to Athos. "He is suffering both physical and mental wounds."
The queen glanced at the two musketeers, her features looking perturbed.
"Poor dear Aramis, what a shock for you men to find him in such distress and pain...I will pray he recovers well."
Tréville and Athos both nodded slightly as Anne spoke her concerns.
"Thank you your majesty." murmered Tréville.
Louis's eyes danced rapidly from one man to the other.
"I have spoken to doctor Lemay, he informed me that Aramis' mind is somewhat impaired?
Tréville figited in his chair. "That is indeed true Sire, but he can recover from this...with great care."
"I hear Lemay has also summoned another physician, a man of great knowledge concerning the mind." added Louis.
"Indeed Sire, he will arrive on the morrow, Doctor Lemay has suggested Aramis be taken to St. Vincents Monastery for caring and recovery."
The monarch stared across the table at the musketeer captain.
"Tell me, how long is this recovery going to last?
"I would say that depends on Aramis himself your majesty." replied Athos. "He has been subjected to the most heinous of crimes."
"Quite! murmered Louis as he tapped his fingers on the table.
Tréville caught Athos eyeline. Both men thinking the same thing. Would the king agree to allowing his men tend to the wounded man. His mind wandered as he glanced at Richelieu. The cleric had remained quiet, in fact too quiet, what was he plotting in his head.
"May I make a request Sire? asked Tréville. His voice sounding hoarse. The musketeer captain rapidly noticing the cardinal twitching as his ears pricked up.
The king smiled slightly and loooked straight at the older man. He gave him that look of knowing something was on his mind.
"Request away Tréville...what is it that troubles you man?
"I.. er'e...we...do not want Aramis left alone at the monastery Sire...he knows no one their...if his friends are there with him he may recover rapidly."
Athos averted his eyes to the monarch as Tréville spoke, his features crinkling as he thought.
Before the king could answer Athos interjected at haste. "If I may speak your Majesty?
Louis nodded to the swordsman to continue.
"We do not need to all be at the Monastery at once, I suggested to Captain Tréville that...it would be a good idea to alternate our duties whilst tending to him, that way Musketeer Aramis would indeed get to see all of us, at different times."
Athos could see the king taking in all the possible scenarios that he had just heeded. The king was a difficult man to read, his face never showing what he was really thinking.
Tréville nodded slightly as his lieutenant glanced at him. Both men hoping the king would see fit to agree.
Richelieu face had grown stern as his eyes scanned around the table.
"This is a travesty Sire, the musketeers are here to safe guard the French Monarchy not nursemaid their sick comrades."
Athos felt his teeth clenching tightly with anger, he shot a glance to Tréville knowing the older man was feeling the same rage.
The queen eyed the cardinal with disdain in her eyes.
Louis shot a glance to Richelieu before answering.
"What do you yourself make of such a suggestion Tréville." he asked instantly averting his eyes to the older man. "Will you have ample men to cover the palace duties?
"Your not actually going to permit such a preposterous undertaking Sire...the whole scenario is absurd." interjected Richelieu suddenly. "Surly that is a task for the monks...they will take care of him."
Tréville cleared his throat before answering. He sat more upright in his chair as he glanced towards Richelieu, his face had turned crimson.
"The safety of the monarchy will always be paramount your majesty, that would never be jeopagized. And in answer to your question Sire...yes I will have ample men to continue with palace duties."
"I think it is a splendid idea Louis, musketeer Aramis will recover much more rapidly knowing he is surrounded by his friends." added Anne as she smiled towards the king.
The king nodded slowly as he looked from one man to the other, before catching Richelieu's eye.
"Come! Come! Cardinal...surly you must see we will have our musketeer back sooner rather than later. I am most certain your red guard will aid in more duties."
Richelieu's eyes narrowed as he glared at Tréville and Athos.
"The red guard always do an excellent job Sire as you know. But extra duties may take its toll...we cannot allow to let the monarchy down."
Athos stifled a chuckle as he glanced towards Treville. Since when had the red guard actually achieved anything worth speaking of, certainly not whilst he had been a musketeer.
"I do believe you have become somewhat rather forgetful Cardinal." said Anne in sardonic tones, a slight scowl upon her lips." Was it not Aramis who saved your life when you succumbed to poisoning, not that long ago when Ninon De Larroque was on trial for Heresy?
Athos smirked slightly as he heeded the queens words. He shot a glance at Tréville who had raised his brows towards him.
Louis grinned as he grasped Anne's hand in his. He looked towards Richelieu and flashed his smile.
"I do believe my dear wife has spoken the last word Cardinal, I shall permit the musketeers to do what is indeed needed to aid in the recovery of musketeer Aramis."
Cardinal Richelieu's features had become distorted with iritation as he inclined his head towards the monarch.
"Whatever his majesty wishes Sire." he answered curtly.
Anne smiled towards the two musketeers, both men nodding slighlty in acknowledgment.
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Musketeer Garrison Infirmary.
Following Day.
Aramis was still not coherent, since his friends had rescued him he would still shout out in his sleep, sometimes even when awake when his mind would wander. He still suffered agonising pain when he moved both from his two broken ribs and to his raw back. Doctor Lemay had left instructions for Aramis' friends to continue to spread the salve onto the musketeers lash wounds, and to make certain his ribs remained wrapped. The physician knew he really did not need to bother knowing they would have done so anyway, whether he himself said so or not.
x
Aramis was sat in a chair at the side of his bed, he stared ahead at nothing as his mind wandered, his eyes full of torment as he now and again would flinch away from his demons and vacantly scan around the infirmary. A blanket was draped around his shoulders, held tightly by the musketeer as though his life depended on it.
Athos felt the marksmans brow, it felt cool, no sign of any fever. The swordsman nodded towards Porthos who was sitting on the bed.
"Someone will be visiting you very soon mon ami, doctor Lemay has someone who wants to meet you." murmered Athos.
Aramis didn't stir, his face slowly lifting up and searching the swordmans eyes.
"When will I be hanged...I must hang...I murdered those musketeers...I must pay the price...I must pay the price...I must pay the price."
Athos swallowed the forming lump in his throat as he shot a glance at Porthos, the big musketeer looked at his wit's end. The dispairing emotions evident on his face.
Athos sat next to the marskman and squeezed his hands, they felt cold to the touch as he gripped the blanket tightly.
"No one is going to hang you mon ami, you have done no wrong. Savoy was not your fault."
Aramis suddenly grasped Athos wrist, his eyes becoming terrified and full of sorrow.
"You must not hide me...you cannot hide me away...I have to be punished...maybe Isobelle will come and visit...do you think she will?
Porthos was rubbing his hands over his face as his wounded and tortured brother rambled on. He sighed loudly and prayed inside. Dear God...help him.
That moment the door opened making the men glance up. d'Artagnan appeared into the room.
"The physician has just arrived with doctor Lemay gentlemen... Tréville is with them now."
"Good...let us hope he knows what to do for Aramis." murmered Athos.
Three pairs of eyes turned to the marksman as he began muttering in Spanish and pulling the blanket tighter around himself.
"Promise me...that Adele will come and visit me when I am confined in the Bastille." asked Aramis suddenly.
"You are not going to the Bastille Aramis, you are going somewhere so you can get better." replied d'Artagnan crouching down in front of his brother.
The wounded and confused musketeer stared at the Gascon. He slowly stroked the young mans hair and smiled slightly, his lips pursed.
"You...I know you...you are one of my brothers...do you know where Marsac is?
d'Artagnan looked from Athos to Porthos then back at Aramis. "No my friend...I do not know...but we will find him...I promise you that." he said softly.
Aramis reeled back from the young man and began to rock back and forth muttering to himself once again.
That moment the men heard the heavy footfalls as they neared the door.
Then the voice of their Captain as he entered with doctor Lemay.
"Gentlemen this is Monsieur le Guesle, a friend of doctor Lemay. As you all know he is here to see Aramis."
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To Be Continued...
Hi Guys,
Thank you for the wonderful reviews, they are fab!
Well will Monsieur le Guesle be able to fix our Aramis. He is so hurt both physical and mentally.
I will update ASAP! will try and get a couple of chapters before Christmas.
Speak soon guys...
Pippa xxxx
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