Disclaimer & Spoilers: See Chapter One.
Timeline: Prequel. Athos (Olivier) is between five and six years old. This chapter comes first in my timeline.
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"What happens if, too early, we lose a parent – that party on whom we rely for everything? What did these people do when their families shrank? They cried their tears, but then they did the vital thing. They built a new family…"
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Chapter Fourteen: Brother's Keeper
"They'd ridden in that fashion multiple times as Thomas had been learning how to ride, Athos considering it both his duty as the older brother and his pleasure to teach the young man and keep him safe."
~~~~~~~ Chapter14 of "Family" by Celticgal1041.
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Olivier begged, pleaded, and even pretended to throw a fit until his governess finally consented to let him have his way. She had then proceeded to sternly scold him about appropriate behavior for one of his station. The lecture had lasted forever but he had thought it worth it to get his way on this one, very important thing.
His governess, who hated nicknames and refused to answer to anything but Madame Chenault, made him sit down on the sofa, and left the room for a few minutes. When she returned, she was holding a small bundle in her arms. Standing directly in front of him, Madame gave him some last instructions. After glaring at him for a moment to make sure he would follow them to the letter, she bent down and gently transferred the blanketed bundle into his arms.
A tiny, little face was visible from amongst the soft blanket's folds, and he finally had his first glimpse of his younger brother, Thomas. The baby, born almost two weeks prior, seemed to be deeply asleep and completely oblivious to everything that was going on around him.
Olivier carefully shifted in order to get more comfortable holding his little brother, who was much heavier than he had imagined a baby would be. With Thomas's head cradled in the crook of his right arm and the rest of the tiny body resting on his lap, supported by his left hand, Olivier stared at his brother, fascinated by how small the babe was and how it made him feel gigantic and clumsy all at once.
Madame Chenault kept a close eye on him, likely afraid that he would do something to hurt his brother, but he couldn't imagine ever doing such a thing. This was the first time he had been allowed to spend any time with his brother and he already loved him more than his parents. He had been waiting his whole life for a sibling – more than five-and-a-half years – and finally he had one. He was all the more thankful that it was a boy like him.
Finally a little more comfortable in what he was doing, Olivier lifted his left hand and brushed a finger up and down his brother's tiny cheek a few times. Thomas shifted a little, but did not wake, and he marveled at how soft the skin was and how chubby the cheeks were. Olivier wished Thomas was awake, because he was curious to know what the little babe might think of his big brother.
"Hello, Thomas. I am your older brother, Olivier. It is my duty to watch over you and keep you safe."
With those words, his brother opened his eyes and started to flail an arm in the air. Olivier caught it and squeezed the little hand gently, feeling a slight pressure in return. The pressure might have been unintended but, to him, it felt like they had sealed a bargain. He would take care of his brother – always.
When he sensed his time with Thomas was growing short, Olivier leaned down and whispered into his brother's ear.
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, Thomas. Hurry up and get bigger so we can play together."
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The end.
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Next time: Chapter Fifteen: Tradition
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