Aramis began dreaming again a few hours later. "It's in the tree!," he said urgently. "Please ... leave Athos alone. It's in the tree! I will show you!", and began trying to get up. Porthos laid a hand across his shoulders, gently restraining his brother to lie back down.
But Aramis became more insistent. "Please ... don't hurt him! I told you where it was. That's what you wanted. Please, don't shoot him! Please!" the words tumbling from him, his face scrunched up in anguish. He kept imploring Albert, becoming more upset each time.
Athos by this time had awakened, as had d'Artagnan, Treville and Angelique. Athos started to get up to go to him, only to find Treville and d'Artagnan keeping him down.
"Please, he needs me. He thinks Albert is going to kill me. My voice can calm him down," he pleaded, something Athos almost never did.
Treville finally said, "Let him go to Aramis. If he gets any more agitated, he will pull that wound open again."
Letting go, they watched as Athos quickly moved over to Aramis' side, cupping his cheek in an affection displayed only for his brothers. "Aramis, it's Athos. I am all right, brother."
But Aramis was not conscious and was in the grip of his dream, his nightmare. He pushed against Porthos, trying to get up, but he had the strength of a kitten and didn't even budge Porthos. This only made him more frantic. "Please, I said I would do ... what you wanted. Please, don't shoot him! Please!" His breathing was so ragged by this time that he was gasping, trying to take in enough air.
Athos gathered his beleagured brother into his arms, leaning down and whispering, "Aramis, it is Athos! I am here. I am holding you in my arms. Albert did not shoot me. I am here. The shot was from the Captain. Please, open your eyes. You helped save me. I am here."
They could now see his eyes moving under his lids, then the lids fluttering. "That's it, Aramis. Come on! Open your eyes for us," Porthos encouraged him.
Aramis was still trying to catch his breath as it gradually calmed down. Finally, it evened out, and he opened his eyes. When he saw Athos and realized his brother was really there, the tears began to trickle down his cheeks while his hand reached out for his brother.
"You really ... are here!" he managed, as Athos clasped his hand and held it against his chest.
"Yes, I am, thanks to you and the Captain," Athos told him. Aramis' eyes widened when he saw Treville smiling at him over Athos' shoulder.
Treville told him, "Albert and his band are tied to some trees a few yards from here. They can't cause us any more trouble. If you had not knocked out the man who had the gun on you, I could not have taken the shot. It would have been too big a risk that he would shoot you. Now, we just want you to concentrate on getting better. And that is an order!"
Aramis, who by now was barely able to keep awake, gave them a tiny relieved smile before his eyelids dropped in sleep. Athos said he wanted to stay next to Aramis, promising to rest. Laying down next to his brother, whose hand still had his clasped in it, Athos closed his eyes to sleep, as well. The eyes of Treville, Porthos and d'Artagnan met above their brothers' sleeping forms, and for once they were able to share a smile about something for a change, looking over to Angelique to include her in their happiness.
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The rest of the night passed with no interruptions, and day dawned. Aramis was the first one to awake, jumbled images and words running through his mind. Then, one thought rose above the others, and he started to lift himself up, only to find his hand was held down. Confused, he looked down to see Athos laying beside him. Athos held Aramis' hand tightly, as if afraid to let it go. Seeing his brother brought back the incident during the night, and the joy he had felt that Athos was alive. He was alive!
Laying his head back down, Aramis snuggled up to the brother he had been so afraid he would lose, and closed his eyes again. It didn't take more than a moment before he was once more asleep, this time with a little smile playing around his mouth.
An hour later, Porthos gently shook Aramis and Athos' shoulders. "Time to wake up, you two! I made breakfast, and it's about time you put some food in those bodies."
Both of his brothers had almost identical reactions, causing Porthos to burst out laughing. They both had shrugged his hand off and turned away, determined to keep on sleeping.
Porthos was having none of that, though. He went through the whole rousing routine again, but as before, very gently. "I made such a good porridge, too. How about waking up to eat to reward me?"
Reluctantly, his brothers abandoned the sleep they had been interrupted from, Athos getting up to go get a bowl for Aramis. Porthos was having none of that, though.
"Athos, you need to eat. You have not been well, either. I will give Aramis his breakfast."
Athos gave him the raised eyebrow, in him sometimes more eloquent than words, and without protest, sat down with a bowl and ate in silence.
Porthos sat down next to Aramis, who sleepily looked up at him. Porthos said, "Let's see how much of this you can eat. You have had next to nothing for several days now, and that can't continue. You will never be able to fight to get well if you continue."
Aramis surprised Porthos by eating about half the porridge, then a cup of water. He was again tired by the time he had eaten, though, and was asleep in a few moments. Porthos ruffled his hair, so happy to see any signs of improvement for his best friend.
Athos seemed to have the opposite reaction to eating that Aramis had. He was more wide awake after his breakfast, and determined to question the bandit leader with no more delay. When d'Artagnan tried to suggest that he take it easy, Athos said Treville had said for him to rest until morning, which was exactly what he had done. Now, he was going to get down to business.
But after interrogating Albert for more than an hour, he still hadn't convinced him to tell them who had hired them. Albert acted almost fearful when he said he wasn't going to tell them anything. So who in the world inspired that kind of fear in a man who had thus far exhibited no fear whatever?
Frustrated, Athos returned to the main body of the camp to talk to Treville, unhappy that they were no nearer to solving the mystery. If the person who had hired Albert was this determined to get his hands on the papers they had been carrying, they had no way of knowing that he hadn't hired others besides the men they had captured.
Treville then changed the subject slightly. "We also need to find those papers. What was Aramis talking about when he was telling Albert about them being 'in the tree', and that he would lead him to them?"
Athos had no idea. He really didn't relish the idea of questioning Aramis about them, either, as it could bring back his disturbed sleep by reminding him of Albert's threats the day before. But he also knew they had to ask him before they started back. The King would have a fit if they returned without them. It was their duty to retrieve them.
Aramis finally awakened about midday. Porthos was very happy, as he wanted to get some more food into him, and he and d'Artagnan had just heated a nice thick broth, usually one of Aramis' favorites.
Bringing a bowl over, he plunked himself down next to Aramis. Then, putting an arm behind his shoulders, he raised him a little higher against a saddle so he could eat. Aramis just let him do what he wanted, smiling as his brother fussed over him.
"I have the feeling you want me to finish whatever is in that bowl?" he asked, with raised eyebrows, teasing Porthos.
Porthos was so happy to see Aramis joking, he burst out in a big grin. "I expect you to eat every bite," he responded.
Aramis let out a dramatic sigh, then proceeded to do exactly as Porthos had hoped, making the big man even more happy.
Athos came over after they were all finished with the noon meal, taking Porthos' place next to Aramis. He still really didn't want to be the one to bring up the subject of the missing papers, but he resigned himself to it and said, "Aramis, when you were delirious the other night, you said something about the papers being in a tree?"
Whatever Aramis had expected Athos to say, it wasn't that. He was silent a moment, then said, "I don't remember what I was dreaming. Probably what I would have said to Albert if pandemonium hadn't broken out next."
Athos waited, and Aramis continued. "Athos, the papers are hidden in a knobby hole in a tree by the creek Angelique found me at. I am sure she can guide us to the creek, and I can show you which tree," yawning as he spoke. His body was beginning to tire rapidly. This was the longest he had been awake in several days, and it was protesting now.
Athos noticed, and said, "Thank you, Aramis. You did well. Rest. We will leave in the morning if you are up to it."