It was in the middle of the night when Porthos awoke by a noise. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark room as he got up with a soft grunt. He vowed he would never share a cot with anyone anymore as he shoved Athos' socked feet out of the way so he could get up. He threw a fresh block on the fire and stoked it, providing the small room with just enough light to see. Instinctively he walked over Aramis' cot, but it seemed Aramis was deeply asleep, not even feeling that hot for him to be uncomfortable.
Another soft moan filled the room and drew Porthos' attention to the other cot. Treville seemed rather uncomfortable with one leg half hanging from the cot, his sweaty face pressed into his pillow. The large musketeer quickly filled a bowl with fresh cold water before he drenched a cloth. As soon as he started to dab the sweaty skin, Treville's hand flew to his wrist. Glassy blue eyes flew open before they focussed upon Porthos.
"Cap'n?" Porthos asked as he looked a little confused at the man. " 'M not goin' to hurt you." Porthos gently removed the strong hand from his wrist and continued to cool down the man a little.
"Porthos?" Treville asked after a little bit, once again grabbing the man's wrist.
"Oui." Porthos said and put the cloth down. Treville let out a soft huff and let Porthos cool him down.
"Is there ever going to get an end to this?"
"You'll be better soon enough." Porthos kept bathing their captain's face with a cool cloth for most of the remaining night, even when the man had fallen back asleep.
"Everything okay?" Athos asked with a yawn after he awoke and found the other musketeer at the side of Treville.
"I might be too tired, but I think Treville's fever finally broke." Porthos said and put the cloth down once again. Athos came over and carefully felt Jean's brow to gauge the temperature.
"I do hope so. I am sure Lis will be able to confirm it." Athos looked up when a knock sounded on the door. "When you speak about the devil…" He said before he went to open the door.
"Good morning." Lis cheerfully greeted as she stepped in, followed by Serge who was carrying a whole tray filled with bowls of porridge. "How are we fearing this morning?" Porthos quickly summarised last night. "It indeed looks better." Lis said with a satisfied smile when she stepped away from Treville's cot. "Aramis' condition is unchanged, but that is not bad." Aramis blearily looked at them, softly thanking Serge when he handed him a bowl of porridge.
"How are things fairing in the infirmary?" Treville asked as he started eating from his bowl of porridge.
"We unfortunately lost another cadet and musketeer." Lis softly replied. Both Porthos and Athos silently winced at that. "But more are starting to better, and with a little bit of luck, several will be able to return to their rooms in a while.
"That unfortunate." Treville softly said.
"Alas, that leaves the task that I hope you two could fulfil."
"Digging graves." Athos said with a blank face.
"I fear so. I wished it would not be needed, let the lord bless us that they are the last." All of them hummed in agreement. "I have to go now; you know where to find me if you need anything." She offered before she slipped from the room, leaving the men to eat their breakfast.
-Musketeers-
Another week passed as finally the weather took a turn for the better. The sun flooded through the windows of the infirmary on a late afternoon.
"It looks like more of them are finally getting better." Lemay quietly said as he took a moment to look outside.
"Oui, I do hope the first one can return to his rooms in a week." Justine said with a nod. They stood in silence for a while, until someone entered the backroom.
"We have finished digging graves." Athos softly announced when both turned to see him.
"Floris shall go and help you bring them to their final resting place." Athos nodded and left them again. Once he stepped outside, Gabriel walked up to them, pulling a small cart. Together with Porthos, they loaded their comrades and cadets upon the cart. Ten, that were ten too many. With a heavy heart, the two musketeers and the brother pulled the cart to the small cemetery where they proceeded to lay their brothers to rest. Once all the coffins were properly buried, Floris started the appropriate rites. Both Porthos and Athos stood next to each other, Athos with his head to his chest, both watching the snow and dirt before their feet. Athos eventually joined into prayer, wincing as he remembered Aramis was not there with them. All three ended their prayer with an Amen.
"I will take the cart back; take all the time you need." Floris kindly said and clasped both men on their shoulder before he took the cart and walked off.
"Merci." Porthos said with a nod before he looked up. "No even an honourable death in battle…" He watched the fresh earthen mounts. They would be provided with a cross in the upcoming week so they also could be remembered and mourned for by the others that were currently healing.
"Most of them have not even seen proper battle." Athos softly replied. "For some it might be a great relief, while for some it is a big shame."
"Life is not fair, nor will it ever be."
"No need to tell me." Athos replied and gave Porthos' shoulder a squeeze before he fitted his hat back on his head. "I am going back to Aramis; you need a moment longer?"
"I need to do somethin' else first." Porthos replied.
"What do you need to do?" Athos curiously asked as they started walking back.
"I need to run by the court for a bit." Porthos replied with a small grunt. Athos gave a small nod, knowing it was something he should let the large musketeer do.
"Then I shall await your return." Athos said with a nod, knowing he should not pry. Porthos gave a small nod before he turned and started walking in another direction.
"Aramis, please, you are not strong enough yet to be on your feet…" Athos heard Pierre plead as he approached the door to Aramis' room. Athos quietly slipped inside the room and found Aramis sitting up in his cot, without the support of several pillows. "Good lord, you have returned." Pierre sighed when his eyes fell on the musketeer. "If you will excuse me, I have other things to attend to." Athos never had seen anyone hurry out so fast as the young brother just had.
"What is going on?" Athos asked, a little confused.
"I wish to get out and have a breath of fresh air." Aramis huffed, glaring at the door.
"I do not think that is such a good idea just yet."
"Non. I am done with this." Aramis shook his head as he swung his feet over the edge of his cot, fighting a dizzy spell. Even though he was finally feeling a bit better, he was not nearly near getting out of bed healthy.
"Aramis." Athos warned, wishing Porthos was here right now. "I know you are tired of being in bed for so long, but you are not healthy enough to get up yet."
"Just hold your tongue." Aramis snapped back, his eyes flaming. He had to get outside, and he had to get there right now. Athos never truly had witnessed the wrath of the marksman, but he was very close to have it directed at himself. With trembling hands, Aramis pushed himself up from his cot, his knees almost instantly buckled, but he managed to catch himself, sitting back on the cot.
"Aramis…"
"Non!" Aramis gritted out from clenched teeth. "For the love of the good lord! I missed his birthday and slept through the celebrations of the new year! I have not even been outside in so long I wonder how the wind feels on my face!" As Aramis neared the end of the sentences, his voice grew louder and rougher. When Athos went to offer him some water, he deliberately knocked the cup out of Athos' hands.
"Aramis." Treville ground out as he glared at the musketeer from the other cot. "I thought you knew better. Yelling at your friends, and now this? I am very disappointed." The last words crashed over Aramis like a bucket of ice water. He carefully met the tired blue eyes of the captain.
"Je suis désolè." Aramis softly said.
"We all want you to get better as soon as possible, but if you keep straining yourself, it only will take longer." Treville calmly said. "You heard Lemay's words. I could have returned to some light duty last week, but the chance I could get ill again is very big, according to Justine."
"Can I still go outside, even if it is for five minutes?" Aramis requested, knowing the chance it would be granted was very little.
"Not today, Aramis." Athos shook his head. Still feeling the glare of Treville upon him, he let Athos tuck him back into bed. With a sigh, Aramis turned on his side, with his face to the wall. He had no idea how much time had passed when a hand gently came to rest upon his shoulder. As Aramis looked up, the blue eyes of Treville met him once again.
"I know being patient for so long is hard, but you must be a little longer. I refuse to think about losing the best marksman from the whole regiment. I have brought you out of even deeper holes, and you can climb out of this one as well. The biggest hurdle you have already passed, but now to really go and climb out, you must very wisely and carefully choose where to put your hands and feet. Speed is not of the essence in this. Having the support of friends on the other hand might help you to find the correct places to put your hand and feet, even if that seems the most unlikely place to find grip. Athos and Porthos love you dearly, like I do. That is why we put up with you, even when you are in those foul moods, knowing you do not really mean a word of it, even if it still stings. Sometimes we just need a reminder of all things we have so we do not take them all for granted."
"Sorry." Aramis softly said, still feeling rather awful at having disappointed Treville.
"All too soon you will be up and about again, letting girls melt at your feet with those eyes and smile." Treville winked and gently squeezed his shoulder. "Just be patient a little longer."
"Merci." Aramis said, his throat feeling uncomfortably tight. Porthos and Athos quietly watched from the door so they would not disrupt the moment Aramis obviously needed. Porthos still stood with his arms full of wood, but he certainly did not want to interrupt their captain. Treville poured him a cup of water, only then seeing Porthos had joined them again. He gave the cup to Aramis. Only when Aramis had spotted them as well, Porthos came in and dumped the firewood next to the fireplace.
"That was a pretty speech you gave, Cap'n."
"That I suppose is one of the qualities you need to become a captain." Treville said while a little twinkle appeared in his eyes.
"I call for some wine and a good toast." Athos replied as he dug out a bottle of wine from Aramis' clothes chest and Porthos lined up four mugs.
"How did that get there?" Aramis asked, raising an eyebrow at the count de la Fère.
"Just a bottle for emergencies." Athos replied before he popped the cork and filled the mugs.
"To health and good speeches!" Porthos said as he raised his mug after he sat down on the foot end of Aramis' cot. Three 'aye's' echoed through the room before everyone contently sipped their wine.