Athos was by no means proud of himself that it had come to this, but as he was now beside himself worried about the fate of his younger brother, he found he couldn't bring himself to care.
So spying on Treville and Richelieu was the last resort absent Treville opening up to him about the boy's mission.
His stealth training put him in good stead- now it came down to seeing how much the two would discuss openly, not speaking in code.
In this spot of the Palace, voices tended to carry well. He listened intently, only grasping a few phrases together at a time.
Richelieu's voice: "…and if the boy takes his own life…" -what?
Treville: "he'll do…necessary…botched dealings…your precious mercenary…"
The Cardinal's retort: "…his sacrifice…good of France…up to the job…if you…to babysit…Musketeers, then perhaps they…inadequate…good day, Captain."
Reeling from what he had heard, Athos made his way back to the Garrison. Mission stealth be damned- he was going to confront Treville.
"I have, actually," D'Artagnan replied to Henri, seeing no reason to lie, as the letter was in his hand, for him to see.
Henri was no fool- as soon as D'Artagnan had left his sight earlier, he followed him and stealthily watched him break into his home. He wasn't a successful mercenary for nothing.
"So Richelieu simply wants you to obtain it. No further missions," Henri spat.
D'Artagnan had to think quickly. "No, he wants the letter, but also to leave the door open for future dealings as well," he lied.
"Nonsense," Henri replied, pulling out a pistol and pointing it at D'Artagnan.
D'Artagnan used a misdirection move learned from Aramis, and he leapt onto Henri, sending him sprawling, his pistol falling and strewn across the room.
While D'Artagnan may have thrown himself on top of Henri, Henri wasted no time in finding D'Artagnan's throat, onto which he was already applying intense pressure. D'Artagnan's eyes went wide with horror at the pain it was causing; he could also not breathe. At all.
D'Artagnan had a small dagger and pistol on him, his sword, at the moment, outside with his horse Zad. However as he needed both hands to continue to restrain Henri, neither weapon was available to reach. A second's letup would give Henri the advantage. More than the advantage he already had.
Assuming Henri did not kill him outright, he did not – could not- become this man's prisoner.
Henri then managed to flip D'Artagnan over and now had the Gascon pinned underneath him.
A kick to Henri's groin (thank you, Porthos) gave him about a second or two as Henri grunted and lessened his grip, but it wasn't enough time to grab a weapon.
D'Artagnan managed to keep Henri from finding his throat again. But Henri began punching D'Artagnan mercilessly, landing several blows to the head and stomach. D'Artagnan continued to violently battle back, landing in some good shots of his own. However, more blows landed by the mercenary began to make D'Artagnan see stars. He was quickly losing this battle.
The dazed look on D'Artagnan's face made Henri know it was an opportune time to end this.
Disable, bind, torture. In that order. Unfortunately for Richelieu, France, and especially D'Artagnan, the mercenary's mind went exactly where they had all feared it would.
The threat of a bullet, then getting the boy bound, would be followed by a sneak across the close-by border. With the right contacts in place, it would not be long before the boy, along with the letter he held, would be his meal ticket to a prosperous relationship with Spain- and disaster for his former partner in crime.
But as loathe as Henri would be to admit it, the punches that his 'nephew' was landing were beginning to take their toll as well. Best to end this with a pistol to his head before the advantage shifts.
After a few more painfully effective blows to the Gascon, Henri caught a glimpse of his pistol, let D'Artagnan go, and lunged for it.
With the little strength he had left, D'Artagnan leapt up and went to tackle Henri. The move caused Henri to launch forward and hit his head on the edge of a table, and he went down like a sack of potatoes.
D'Artagnan, breathless, checked for a pulse. He was alive.
He caught his breath, wobbly managed to get to his uncertain feet, grabbed the missive, slowly exited the home, and as inconspicuously as possible, jumped onto Zad and got the hell out of there.
Athos confronted Treville as soon as he returned to his office.
"So D'Artagnan is on a- suicide mission?"
"I thought I saw you wandering around the Palace," Treville replied. He sensed Athos might have been following him. He did not just fall off the turnip truck.
Athos continued. "I'll take whatever consequences there are for the manner in which I found out about this. But now that I know what I know, I'd like the courtesy of you filling in the blanks."
"Oh, you would like me to extend you a courtesy, do you? As a reward for spying? That's rich."
"Captain. Please."
Treville paused, and then began to tell Athos everything. Despite his anger at the man standing in front of him, he also knew he could trust him implicitly. Plus, his newly energized anger at Richelieu put him in a bit of a rebellious mood.
When Treville was finished, Athos, absorbing the information, said "So the suicide aspect of the mission would only need to be invoked had this- mercenary got the better of D'Artagnan, and captured him? And then he would need to take the poison only if he were headed to Spain?"
"Exactly. So you see, the likelihood of it getting to that point was remote enough that I almost believed it to be a non-issue." That wasn't entirely true, but Treville saw no upside in potentially worrying Athos more than necessary.
Having also explained Julien's role in the mission, Athos said "So now we have no way of knowing of his fate? Is there an allowable amount of time that would need to pass before we could make our way to Dax?"
"Yes, and it has yet to pass. Athos, I appreciate your concern, but if you are to be a Captain one day, you must be able to live with the harsh reality of sending your men on missions from which you know they may not return."
"Sending them on such missions would be understandable; sending them on such missions where they are merely pawns of the Cardinal's is something else altogether."
"And you think I would willingly do that to one of my men?" Treville challenged Athos.
"How hard did you try not to?" Athos countered.
"That is way over the line, Athos. Is this rightful indignation over my allowing him to go on the mission, or perhaps can it be that you still have not been able to acknowledge that D'Artagnan is in training to become a Musketeer, and there will be times that he will not be within your grasp to protect? I'm well aware of your love for the boy, but danger comes with the role of being a Musketeer. Not to mention that it was also the King himself that also sanctioned this mission."
"But he is not yet a Musketeer. This was not a mission that he should have been involved in."
Treville's patience was at an end. "Out of respect for you and your position amongst the other Musketeers, I'm going to stop you right there and order you to take your leave. If you wish to respond to what I have just said, give me the courtesy of a few hours, for you to consider my words, and for tempers to cool. Now go away."
Athos sighed, nodded, and then left.
A little over three weeks passed. It seemed as if a cloud of despair grew over each of the Inséparables, and they grew darker and more ominous with each day that passed that did not bring their young brother through the Garrison gates.
Athos knew he had risked insubordination, or worse, from Treville by doing so, but he had filled Aramis and Porthos in on everything that he had spoken to Treville about. Their reactions included, but were not limited to rage, surprise, worry, and a feeling of helplessness.
Porthos, especially, seemed to take it hard.
"We're just pawns," he said, furious and frustrated. ''T's always been that way."
"We are soldiers; we follow orders, no matter where they lead. Always remember that," Aramis replied, invoking his own words after the truth about the Savoy mission had come to light. "And the country cannot afford to have the soldiers themselves question the authority that guides them. Otherwise, there would be chaos."
"But that presumes we assume the 'authority' always acts with good intent," Athos replied.
"It is that presumption that is paramount," Aramis said. "Us questioning that authority, or the wisdom behind their decisions, is where we get into trouble."
No one said anything. Even if in their hearts as dedicated soldiers, they agreed with Aramis' sentiment, for the moment they didn't have to like it.
Not when the welfare of their youngest lie in the balance.
All they could do now was wait.
When Porthos, Aramis, and Athos all saw D'Artagnan enter the Garrison the very next day, all three of their hearts soared.
D'Artagnan's warm but tired smile spoke volumes. His brother's warm greetings were very much appreciated.
"How are you?" Aramis asked once D'Artagnan dismounted from Zad.
"I'm fine. I must see Treville."
"How did everything go?" Athos asked.
None of them missed D'Artagnan's blanch- he had come too far to now discard the need for stealth for this critical mission. However the bruises on his face told them that it did not go without some trouble.
He merely repeated, "I must see Treville now. Is he in his office?"
"Yes," Athos replied.
Suddenly D'Artagnan was reminded that he was not on good terms with his mentor. He avoided his gaze.
"Good ta see ya, pup." Porthos said with a big smile, grabbing the boy into a huge hug.
"Good to be seen," D'Artagnan smiled, content to offer that at least.
When D'Artagnan politely knocked on Treville's office door, Treville said, "Come."
When he saw D'Artagnan enter, in one piece, he was astonished at his depth of feeling to see one of his soldiers back, especially in light of the circumstances of this particular mission.
"Captain."
"D'Artagnan. You are well?"
"I am well, Captain. I procured the letter. I knocked Henri out and fled successfully. He still lives."
"That is fantastic news, D'Artagnan. Well done," Treville responded with a smile.
D'Artagnan pulled out the missive. "I have been meaning to burn this ever since I left Dax. I give it to your care now."
Treville read the letter. He proceeded to light a lantern and burned it. But he had an idea- one he need not share with D'Artagnan.
The Gascon then, upon prompting from Treville, began to relay the circumstances leading to him finding Henri Odson, breaking into his home, finding the letter, then fighting with and disabling the man. D'Artagnan made a point of giving his older brothers most of the credit- the wrestling moves that Porthos taught him when in the grasp of the enemy, keeping one's cool under pressure, a lesson Athos had drilled into him time and again, and the finesse of a good lie, the proper execution of which Aramis had bestowed upon him.
As brash and cocky as this young man could be, Treville beamed with pride at his modesty in the recitation of his exemplary solo performance of such an important mission.
"Incredible, D'Artagnan. You should be very proud. France's very existence may have hinged on your success. Now have Aramis tend to your injuries, and beyond that, your orders are to eat something, and to take a rest until further notice.
"One more thing. While I did relay the details of your mission to Athos, and I suspect he may have passed them along to Aramis and Porthos at this point, you are still never to discuss this mission with anyone in the future, including your three brothers. The fact that they know of the mission, and that I alright with it, is a testament to their integrity, and my trust in them, that our secret is safe. However, no need to press it by having any further discussions on it. Understood?"
"Of course. You have my word. Thank you, Captain. Um- Captain- I do have one question. Have you seen Julien?"
Treville grimaced. "D'Artagnan, when you took off on your mission, Julien was at a card table at the Wren. He has been summarily dismissed."
D'Artagnan looked confused. "Playing cards?" Treville nodded.
"Oh. I see. Do you know where he is now?"
"D'Artagnan, by 'summarily dismissed', I mean he was banished from ever entering the Garrison again. He failed to follow a simple order, and left another Musketeer cadet alone when he was supposed to accompany him, and that is an unforgivable offense. As to his whereabouts, I neither know or care."
"Yes, Captain."
Upon his descent from the Garrison stairs, D'Artagnan was swarmed by his older brothers. He told Aramis, "I am under strict orders to have you look at my bruises, then eat and take a rest."
"Then let us proceed," Aramis smiled.