The Future's in Our Hands

by YoureMyTicket

Aramis felt a pang in his heart, remembering what the King had told him outside the mausoleum, to not have been the one who taught his son how to ride, but he focused his mind on the fact that he was here now, and there was still so much for Louis to learn. (Post season 3. Part six of the "Fortunate To Be Loved By You" series.)

8. Reunion

I thought I understood your plan

D'Artagnan was the first one out of the house, followed by Constance, who had Louis by the hand, then Sylvie and Brujon.

Once Aramis had helped her off his horse, Anne started walking toward the others. She could see Louis pulling on Constance's arm, and so she held her arms out, signaling to Constance that it was all right.

As soon as Constance let go, Louis took off, and Anne went down on her knees to catch him in a hug. Pressing his reddened face against her cheek, he squeezed his arms tightly around her neck as he cried.

"What's the matter, darling?"

"You left," he sobbed, "and I-I thought you might've gone to be with Papa."

"Oh, no. Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetheart," Anne cooed, her heart breaking over Louis' admission. "I didn't mean to leave you like that." Kissing his cheek, she ran a hand over his hair and held him tighter. "I'm not going anywhere."

Maneuvering him onto her hip, she carried Louis inside and then held him a little while longer until he calmed down. Meanwhile, Porthos went upstairs to rest, Sylvie and Constance started putting some food together for them, and Athos went straight back out to take d'Artagnan and Brujon to the campsite. Aramis told Porthos to use his travel bed rather than the bedroll Porthos had brought, but otherwise Aramis just hovered by her until she asked Louis if he would help Aramis and Sylvie with the food while she went upstairs with Constance.

Once in the guest room, she removed the shawl and showed Constance what had been done to her hair. She asked Constance if she could do something about it, if she could make it look like her hair hadn't been hacked at with a knife, and of course Constance assured her she would take care of it before running to fetch a comb and some scissors.

Constance returned with the tools along with a bowl of water and a small towel so that Anne could clean her face first. When Anne leaned over to do so, she caught sight of her reflection in the water and saw the mess that was her hair; the shorter pieces that stuck out, the odd angles, the uneven length. She looked like a beggar woman, not a queen. The delicate plait had fallen away and all but undone, but she reached a hand back and found a single pin still buried in her hair. Pulling it out, she held it up in front of her and everything she had just been through, everything that could have happened had she not been able to unlock Porthos' shackles came crashing down on her and she burst into tears.

Constance was at her side in seconds. She gathered Anne into her arms and let her cry into her shoulder while she stroked her hair and told her that everything would be all right, just as Anne had done before with Louis.

MMMMMMMMMM

Aramis stopped before the partially closed door. "The King and I bring food for Her Majesty."

"Come in," came Anne's voice from the other side.

Aramis gave a nod to Louis, who then pushed open the door for him. Inside, Constance stood behind Anne, who was sitting in a chair by the window, and there were hair trimmings on the floor at Constance's feet.

"Mama, are you cutting your hair?" Louis asked upon walking into the room. Aramis came in behind him and set a couple of plates on Anne's travel bed.

"I am, darling," Anne answered as Louis came to stand in front of her.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to," was Anne's simple response. "It was getting quite long, wasn't it? As is yours," she added, raising a hand to ruffle Louis' mess of hair. "I can hardly see your eyes. I think you could use a trim too."

Louis raised his eyebrows at this, or rather, they disappeared under his hair. He then looked over at Aramis standing by the bed. "What about Aramis? His hair is long too."

Anne turned her head slightly to give him a hopeful look, and Aramis shifted on his feet and crossed his arms. He was particular about his hair. "Well, perhaps a little could be taken off," he conceded. "Men in our positions should take some care with our presentation, Sire, and your mother is very wise."

"Would you mind, Constance?" asked Anne.

"Not at all, Majesty."

Constance soon finished with Anne, and Aramis was pleased to see some of the tension leave Anne's body as she held up a small mirror and took in her appearance. Several inches had been taken off in order to even out the length, but her hair still reached past her shoulders with a slightly shorter layer of curls just above it. The strands near her face were swept back and the ends plaited together at the back of her head.

Anne stood up then, and turning her back on him and Louis, whispered something into Constance's ear before thanking her and going over to join Louis, who was sitting on the bed and snacking on some of the food. Aramis volunteered to go next in order to ease any uncertainty Louis may have, but before sitting, made sure to give Constance specific directions as to how she should go about cutting his hair.

"Oh stop fussing," Constance interrupted, turning him to sit in the chair, "I'm just gonna trim the dead-ends."

Aramis didn't have to sit there for long, and once Louis was settled in the chair, Aramis sat on the edge of the bed near Anne. "Did you have enough?" he asked as she moved aside the plate between them. There was still about a quarter of the food left on the plate.

Anne nodded. "What about you? I don't imagine you took the time to eat something before you went out to look for us."

"I ate as we put together the food," he said. It was the truth, though he was sure she wouldn't be happy about the fact that he really only had a few bites of bread and cheese, his stomach still in knots over her being taken while he was so close by.

"You should offer the rest to Porthos," suggested Anne.

"Sylvie brought him a plate," he replied, to which Anne gave him a knowing look. She was suggesting more than just delivering food, and he knew it. "I will," he amended. "What about the tour, do you want to cut it short and return to Paris?"

"No, I have to deal with Longueville," she said tiredly and then looked up into his eyes, "and I know you were looking forward to visiting the monastery."

"You're sure?"

She smiled softly. "I'd like to meet your orphans, and I think it would be good for Louis to spend some time with them as well, to play with other children without all the formality."

The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile as he followed Anne's gaze over to their son. He'd like to see that as well, and hopefully be able to partake in some of their games. Stealing a glance over at Anne, he thought about the other reason he wanted to go to the monastery with her. After what they'd just been through, he felt an even greater desire to go through with his plan and make coming out here worthwhile.

MMMMMMMMMM

"Can I come in?" Aramis asked from the doorway. "I bring more food."

Porthos nodded and, with a low groan, pulled himself into a sitting position before taking the offered plate and placing it next to him on the bed. He eyed it as Aramis took a seat on the edge near his feet.

"The Queen didn't finish?" he surmised.

"No."

"How is she?"

"Holding up. Putting on a brave face for Louis, I'm sure." Aramis' eyes flickered up to meet his. There was apprehension in them, but when Porthos didn't say anything, he continued, "Constance neatened up her hair for her."

"Yours as well, it looks like," he observed, and watched as Aramis ran a self-conscious hand through his hair and nodded, murmuring something about solidarity. "And the babe's all right?"

"Seems to be. Anne says she felt some more flutters while Constance was cutting her hair."

"Good."

"How's your leg?" asked Aramis, lifting his chin in the direction of Porthos' thigh.

"It's all right. I'm more sore from sitting in the same position for hours, especially once the Queen unlocked my shackles; I couldn't really move my arms until the morning when we made our move."

Looking down at the floor, Aramis slowly nodded his head. "Porthos," he began, and lifted his gaze to once again meet his. "Thank you," he said, his voice full of sincerity. "Thank you for keeping her safe, for keeping them both safe."

Porthos bowed his head briefly before looking back at Aramis. "She saved me too," he said earnestly. "We wouldn't have been able to escape if not for her." She's the one who thought of the pin and how to get it into his hands and then hers. She watched his back during the fight. And if she hadn't followed after him in the first place, Héctor might have gone ahead with Longueville's request and killed him right away. "She may not carry a sword, but she has the heart of a warrior," he added, and watched the corner of Aramis' mouth lift into a half smile as he nodded softly in agreement.

He took a deep breath. "And it was wrong of me to say those things about her," he continued. "I didn't mean-I know she had no way of knowing you and her would...at the convent...conceive the King. Even if she could, she would never use you like that. She loves you, Aramis."

"I know," Aramis replied, his voice gentle and forgiving.

"The two of you deserve to be together, to be a family, I just wish it wasn't so bloody dangerous. You could lose everything if you're found out."

"Porthos, we have it under control, we are in control," Aramis assured him. "You don't have to worry so much."

"Yeah, well, you two are, at the same time, the luckiest and unluckiest people in France, so it's hard for me not to."

Aramis gave him one of those quick smiles that made you feel like everything was all right. "You should have more faith. God has a plan for each of us, and I'm finally on the right path."

"I'm starting to wonder if our paths all include a stop to see Constance and her scissors," said Athos, appearing in the doorway. "Though in your case, Porthos, I'm sure she'd make an exception and come to you," he added, walking over to Porthos' bedside and glancing down at his wounded leg as he crossed his arms.

"I can walk on it," Porthos asserted. "Though Longueville's going to wish I'd been maimed; take me longer to get my hands on him."

"Yes, about that," started Aramis. "I would also like to get my hands on your lieutenant, but do you think you could stand to wait a couple days to wring his neck?"

"What for?"

"I'd like to stick to the original plan and visit Douai first."

Porthos pinched his eyebrows together. "Why not go after, on your way back to Paris?"

"Because you won't want to leave your men once we deal with Longueville and I want you to be there when I marry Anne. You too, Athos."

"You're going to marry the Queen?" blurted Porthos.

"Not so loud!" Aramis said in a sharp whisper, throwing a quick look over his shoulder at the wall separating this room with the one the Queen was in. "I haven't told her yet."

"You mean you haven't asked her?" With Elodie he had assumed more than asked that she accept his proposal, and although he didn't doubt Aramis and the Queen's love for each other, this was different. Aramis was talking about marrying the Queen of France.

It was not Aramis who answered though, but Athos. "He already has."

Confused, and admittedly hurt that Aramis had apparently told Athos and not him, he turned to Aramis, but he had his own look of surprise on his face.

"Another dream of yours?" Aramis questioned.

Athos shook his head. "When you realized she had been taken, you called her your wife." He gestured to Aramis' left hand. "And you have a ring on your finger."

"Treville's ring?" Porthos asked, recognizing it as Aramis lifted his hand to gaze at the ring on his fourth finger.

Aramis nodded. "We pledged ourselves to each other once I became First Minister." He met Porthos' eyes. "That path I spoke of? It leads to her. It always has, and I want to see our union blessed by God, with my brothers at my side."

MMMMMMMMMM

Leaving Athos and Sylvie's home in the morning, Aramis joined Anne, Louis, and Sylvie in the carriage, with Anne loudly insisting within earshot of the driver that Aramis ride with them on account of his pulling a muscle during their stay. He hadn't actually pulled a muscle, of course, but he was glad for the opportunity to be near her and Louis. Anne didn't know it, but he'd spent most of the last two nights sitting in a chair. The night Anne had been taken he'd sat by the window in the room Louis was sleeping in, alternating between watching his son sleep, and looking out the window for any sign of Anne and Porthos.

Last night, he had let Porthos stay in his travel bed, while he laid on Porthos' bedroll on the floor of the parlour next to d'Artagnan, with Constance sharing Anne's travel bed, Louis using his smaller travel bed, and Brujon sleeping in Porthos' room. But even though Anne and Porthos had been safely returned, he still couldn't sleep, and ended up once again sitting by a window and keeping watch. As he had begun to fear the night before, their location, known only by a few, had been betrayed, and though Athos had searched the area with the others upon returning from the campsite, and both Anne and Porthos believed they could trust Miguel not to come back, he could not stop thinking of Savoy. And even once d'Artagnan got up and insisted they switch, thankfully without asking why he hadn't been sleeping, he laid there and continued to fight off the memories of blood on the snow and men who would never wake.

Now sitting in the carriage next to Sylvie, on the bench opposite to Anne and Louis, he began pointing out places and animals to his son as they went along. With him sitting backwards though, it was often hard for Louis to spot the things he was pointing at.

"Louis, why don't you let Aramis take your seat and sit on his lap so it's easier for you to look together," Anne suggested after they had stopped for lunch and resumed their journey.

Aramis looked over at her and she lifted her eyebrows at him as if to say, "Why not?" Louis kept getting out of his seat to look out the windows anyway, and they were going along quiet countryside roads.

"Sire?" Aramis asked.

Louis sprang off the bench in answer, and Aramis maneuvered around him to take his spot before lifting him onto his lap.

"Better?"

"Better," Louis answered, leaning closer to the window.

Aramis started playing games with him as they went along the road, trying to count the number of sheep in a flock before they passed by or to be the first one to spot a cow (with Sylvie keeping score for that game). When they went over a particularly rough patch of road, Aramis would grab hold of Louis and shake him or lift him up towards the ceiling when they went over a bump, and as Louis laughed Aramis would look over at Anne and grin even wider at seeing her smiling at them.

As the hours stretched and the temperature began to drop, Louis leaned more and more back against Aramis, burrowing between his arm and his side. Once Louis had grown quiet, Aramis caught Sylvie's eye and asked if he was asleep, mouthing the question. Sylvie nodded in affirmation, and Anne looked to see what was going on.

With his free hand, Aramis beckoned her to come over. Smiling softly, Anne grabbed a blanket and slid over to them. She tucked one end of the blanket around Louis, and Aramis took the other end while she settled under his arm, draping it over her shoulder once she was pressed against his side. His hand snaked down to wrap around her hip then, his fingers brushing over the side of her stomach as he held his family close and finally allowed himself to close his eyes.

MMMMMMMMMM

"We're nearly there, Majesty," Aramis informed her once he roused her awake. "D'Artagnan's gone ahead to let the brothers know."

Anne nodded and reluctantly began to push away from his side, his hand rubbing up and down her back as he retracted it from her hip.

Soon they were passing through the gates of the monastery, and once they came to a stop in the courtyard, Aramis got out first to help the rest of them down from the carriage. D'Artagnan was there waiting for them, and next to him was a man dressed in white who must have been the new abbot, Aramis' friend, Valerius.

Aramis embraced his friend before bringing him over to where Anne and Louis stood at the front of their assembled party. Valerius bowed. "Your Majesties," he said, opening his arms out. "Welcome to Douai."

"Thank you for having us. I've heard such stories of Aramis' time here, I'm glad to have the chance to see it in person and to meet you all."

"It is an honour, Majesty, and I thank you for bringing our brother back, even if only for a visit." He looked to Porthos, d'Artagnan and Athos. "We owe him and his friends a great deal for protecting us."

"So do I," said Anne, gazing over at them.

"Yes, I heard about the attack. I am glad to see you looking well," he said to Aramis. "Have you fully recovered?"

"More or less," answered Aramis, flexing his left hand. "I just have a couple more scars now."

"A knife went through his hand," piped up Louis, "but you couldn't see through the hole."

"No? Well I'm glad it mustn't have been a very big knife then, Sire." Valerius turned back to Aramis. "May I?" He took Aramis' left hand to examine the wound. "And it went into your side as well?"

Aramis hummed a "Mmm" in response, and Valerius went and grabbed his right hand, holding both palms up. "What's this?" Aramis asked.

"I'm checking for the stigmata," Valerius answered. "Take off your boots."

The two broke into laughter and Valerius released Aramis' hands, his white teeth shining brightly against the contrast of his dark skin. He clapped a hand on Aramis' back. "The children are waiting inside, practicing very hard at the virtue of patience. Come, come, let us get out of the cold."

They were led inside, and as soon as they stepped foot into the main hall, shrieks and shouts of "Aramis!" broke out, followed by what sounded like a small stampede as a group of four children ran forward and surrounded Aramis, hugging at his waist and legs.

Anne took a step back in case they toppled him over, and hoped they weren't pressing too hard on his side, but apart from an initial "oof" he was all smiles and laughter as he told them how happy he was to see them.

"Children, children," Valerius called out once they started to settle down a little. "You've forgotten to say hello to our guests." The children looked from Valerius to Anne and Louis, and the people standing behind them, their little mouths going slack. "Like we practiced," Valerius gently reminded them, going into a slight bow.

With Aramis' help, the children formed a line, and from them, Anne and Louis received one bow and three wobbily curtseys.

"Children," began Aramis once Anne and the others stepped further into the room. He gestured to Louis. "This is His Majesty, King Louis. And his mother, Her Majesty, Queen Anne. Your Majesties, this is Vincent and his sister Josephine," he said, laying his hands on the heads of the smallest boy and girl. Then, he moved to the next child, a girl with dark hair who looked perhaps a few years older than Louis. "This is Catherine."

"And you must be Marie," said Anne before he could introduce the final little blonde girl.

Marie's mouth fell open once more, and she tugged on Aramis' sleeve. He crouched down next to her and she whispered something in his ear that made him smile. "No, she's not an angel," Aramis said in a low voice, though still loud enough for Anne to hear. "But I agree, she certainly looks like one," he added, and the smile he sent her way made her heart flutter.

Aramis stood up, and held a hand out towards two older children who hadn't joined the rush to hug him and remained standing in front of the gathered monks. Anne could also guess who they were, and was proven right when Aramis called them over. "Luc, Adele."

Adele promptly walked over and joined the line of children, but Luc didn't move a muscle, seemingly caught in a daze as he stared at her. Anne glanced over to Aramis and found him trying to wipe the almost gleeful smile off his face. He met her eyes and gave a pump of his eyebrows before clearing his throat and repeating the boy's name, louder this time.

Luc whipped his head towards Aramis, and realizing that they were waiting for him, nearly tripped over his feet as he quickly walked over to stand at the end of the line. He and Adele proceeded to go into their respective bow and curtsey, murmuring their "Your Majesties" as they did, but while Adele successfully came out of her curtsey, Luc remained bent in half.

"Thank you, Luc," said Anne, smiling graciously once he lifted his head up and then directed her gaze down the line of children. "Adele. It's lovely to meet you all. Aramis has told the King and I many stories of your adventures, and perhaps later you can give us a tour."

The children nodded eagerly, and Aramis proceeded with the rest of the introductions, eliciting gasps from the children when Porthos, d'Artagnan, and Athos were pointed out.

"You wrote that Pierre went to live with an aunt and uncle?" said Aramis.

"Yes, we managed to get in contact with them and they came to collect him a couple months ago now," Valerius confirmed. "They've since written that he's doing well. Though since his departure we have already gained a new addition; a little baby girl we named Nicolette."

Anne's heart clenched and she noticed how Aramis' jaw tensed at the news. He had told her of how his former charges had come to be orphaned and it was likely that this baby would have her own tale of misfortune and tragedy. "A foundling?" he asked.

"Yes, she's only about a week old."

Her heart squeezed even tighter and she heard Constance say "Poor thing" behind her. This child wasn't just a baby, she was an infant.

"The children have been a great help in tending to her," Valerius added, directing a soft smile towards the children. Whatever the baby's story was, it wouldn't be discussed in front of the others.

"I give her my Dolly when she's upset," said Marie, proffering up the cloth doll she had an arm wrapped around.

"That's very kind of you, Marie," Aramis told her.

"Should we fetch her?" Catherine asked.

"Oh no, not yet," Valerius kindly replied, "We'll wait until she wakes from her nap; we don't want her to be sleeping when she meets Their Majesties, do we? Besides, I think our guests may want to rest for a bit themselves, they have come a long way to see us." He looked over towards two of the brothers standing by the far door. The men nodded and Valerius turned to Anne. "Your rooms are ready for you, Majesty."

MMMMMMMMMM

While Sylvie, along with those who traveled by horseback, did take up the offer to rest, Anne, Aramis, and Louis changed into less ostentatious attire and the three of them were shown around the grounds. Outside, the children led them to their favorite spots; the hill they liked to roll down, and the large and gnarled tree they liked to climb. A small herd of sheep dotted the landscape, and a large, white dog with tan markings was watching over them.

"Hello, Drogo," Aramis called out. The dog turned his head at his name being called, and apparently recognizing Aramis, ran over to him. Aramis got down on his knees to greet him, rubbing his hands through the thick fur and laughing when the dog licked his face.

"Oh Aramis!" said Catherine excitedly. "You must see Blanche and her puppies!"

"Puppies?" Aramis held Drogo's face in his hands to look him in the eyes. "You're a father?"

Giggling, the children nodded their heads vigorously as Aramis stood up, and with Vincent and Josephine tugging on Aramis' hands, they brought them over to the nearby stable, shouting "Blanche!" as they went.

As they approached the stable, another dog looking like Drogo but with all white fur exited the structure, and she too recognized Aramis, her tail wagging happily, though she remained standing in the entrance.

"What's in there?" Aramis asked her.

Blanche gave an enthusiastic bark in response, turning her head towards the stalls before looking back at them. Luc jogged ahead into the stable as little yips started coming from inside, and Louis gasped when the first little snowball of a puppy bounded out into the open, followed by another a second later.

"How many puppies are there?" Anne asked the children as more puppies walked, stumbled, and ran outside to follow their mother.

"Eight!" Marie answered

"Goodness," Anne replied, her hand drifting to her stomach. Next to her, Louis started counting.

"One's missing," Louis announced.

"I've got her," said Luc, coming out of the stables with a yawning puppy in his hands.

"I'm sorry, did we disturb you beauty sleep, mademoiselle?" Aramis cooed once Luc handed him the sleepy ball of fur, and then suggested they lead the puppies over to a grassy area.

Luc and Adele helped to expedite the process, carrying over some of the stragglers and placing them before the children where they gathered on the grass. While Louis joined in with the children in playing with the puppies and making sure they didn't stray too far, Aramis sat down on the ground next to Anne, and set the puppy down between them.

"They're only about six weeks old," Luc told them as Anne began stroking a hand along the puppy's back. He then began to list off their names, happy to inform Aramis that not only had one of the puppies been named for him, but Athos, Porthos, and d'Artagnan as well. The remaining male puppy had been named Baby Drogo (chosen by Vincent), and two of the females were named Snowy (chosen by Josephine), and Ursula (chosen by Valerius).

"And this one?" she asked as she ran her fingers over the silky soft fur on the puppy's ears. The dog had laid her head on Anne's leg and seemed to have fallen back asleep.

"We haven't decided on one yet. The Abbot suggested that we let Aramis name her when he came to visit-but perhaps Your Majesty would like to?"

She glanced over at Aramis, who of course gave her a look of encouragement.

Anne gazed back down at the puppy. "She is sweet, isn't she?" She looked to Luc, who nodded in confirmation. "Then perhaps that is what her name should be: Sweetheart."

Luc smiled. "It's perfect, Your Majesty."

Blanche came over then, and sniffed Anne before turning her nose onto her daughter.

"Is she your Sweetie?" Anne asked the dog, and reached out her other hand to pet her before she went over to Aramis.

"They're beautiful," Aramis told Blanche as she sat down in front of him. "You should be very proud."

On the other side of Blanche, Luc stood up and said a quick "Excuse me, Your Majesty," before taking a step, spinning around to give a quick bow, and finally walking off somewhere.

"What breed of dog are these?" Anne asked, returning her attention to little Sweetie.

"They are called Great Pyrenees."

"They come from the mountains, then?"

"Mmm, it's why they have the extra claws here," Aramis answered, pointing to Sweetie's back paws, "to help them scale the mountains when guarding their flock. They are imposing beasts, but they are great with children," he added, glancing over to Louis and the others, "and very protective of their families, both canine and human."

"I meet her approval then?"

"Of course." He leaned closer. "You have my scent," he whispered into her ear, sending a shiver down her spine. "Are you cold?" he asked, pulling back.

She shook her head. "I have my own personal fireplace, remember?" she said, and laid a hand on her stomach. The baby was providing her with extra warmth and she'd had to start sending instructions ahead that their hosts not prepare too large a fire in her room during the course of the tour.

Aramis smiled softly and scratched behind Blanche's ear. "I'm sure she can tell that you're a mother, too."

"Perhaps," she agreed. "Though I would never dream of complaining about carrying one baby to her."

"Ah, but here comes someone you can commiserate with," said Aramis, looking past her shoulder.

She turned her head to see Sylvie and the others approaching. Gently, she moved Sweetie's head off her leg, and with Aramis' help, got to her feet so that they could meet them halfway.

Constance had a bundle of blankets in her arms. "Nicolette?" Anne asked, and pushed back the thick fabric to reveal the tiny pale face, eyes looking up at the world around her.

"Her mother died sometime after giving birth, they said. She made it to the monastery and must have used the last of her strength to bang on the gates and get someone's attention," Constance told her in a low voice, looking down at the baby. "They assume the father is a soldier, but of what side they don't know, or if he even knows of the baby's existence."

Anne tucked the blanket back around the baby. "Men aren't the only casualties of war," she remarked sadly.

"I offered to take her out for some air once she woke, give the brothers taking care of her a break," Constance explained. "Though I didn't know there'd be so many moving obstacles out here for me to trip over," she added ruefully, and though the puppies were thoroughly occupied with the children, she still looked down at her feet.

"There are some benches over there," Aramis pointed out, and with a hand on his wife's back, d'Artagnan guided Constance over to one.

MMMMMMMMMM

After Athos managed to persuade Sylvie to go and sit down on another bench-on the condition that Athos bring her a puppy-Aramis caught Porthos' eye and gave him a nod before asking Anne to walk with him.

"I want to show you something," he said to her.

As they walked past the children, Anne laid a hand on Louis' head and told him she would be right back before she continued to follow Aramis.

"Your Majesty," Luc called out behind them as they reached the edge of the clearing.

Turning, he saw Luc jogging over to them with flowers in his hand. When he reached them, he gave a quick but deep bow to Anne.

"Your Majesty," he repeated, and held out a bunch of pansies, deep-blue ones with yellow beards on the bottom petals. "The King said they matched your dress when we passed them, and you said they were beautiful, and-and the bits of yellow, they match your hair too, so I thought I'd pick some for you," he eagerly explained.

"Thank you, Luc," said Anne, accepting the flowers with a gracious smile. "That was very thoughtful of you. They really are beautiful."

Luc smiled even wider, clearly happy to have pleased her. He glanced over at Aramis, and he gave the boy an approving nod, upon which Luc bowed to Anne again and then went to rejoin the others.

Walking ahead, Aramis made a show of checking around the corners of the archway they had been about the pass through.

"Is something wrong?" Anne asked.

He stepped into the threshold and put his hands on his hips. "Just checking for any more of your admirers."

"Did you find any?"

"Just this one," he grinned. "Now, do you mind going up some stairs?"

"Not at all," she answered, and he proceeded to lead her to a staircase that brought them to the top of the monastery's wall.

He stopped when they reached a corner of the wall that jutted out into a small rectangle, and gestured to a simple wooden bench on the far side. "I'd come up here to sit or to look out over the battlements and watch everything going on around here."

"Ever the marksman," Anne remarked, laying her flowers down and peeking her head over one of the gaps in the stones before looking straight ahead. "It must be a lovely view in the Autumn once the leaves start to turn."

"It is," he confirmed, and went to stand next to her, leaning his arm on the tall stone. "But even in the Winter, when all the leaves had fallen and the trees were bare, I'd still find myself out here...trying to look further out, towards Paris." He had known it was pointless to even try, but it made him feel closer to her and Louis, and that his thoughts of them could more freely drift from his mind and travel the vast distance between them more swiftly.

When Anne turned to him, he met her sorrowful gaze. "Ana, I didn't want to come here just to see the children and the brothers again." Straightening, he moved his arm off the stone and took her hands in his. He rubbed his thumb over her wedding band. "I want to marry you, Ana, in the sight of God."

Anne's lips parted, but no words left her mouth.

"Valerius, I trust him," he continued. "He's ordained, he could perform the ceremony, and he would keep it secret."

"Does he know about us?"

"Not the details, not that it's you, though he might already suspect now that you and Louis are here."

Nodding, she looked down at their hands.

"Well, what do you think?" he asked, near-bursting with anticipation, and when her eyes met his they were bright and sparkling.

She nodded more heartily, dimples appearing on either side of her closed-lip smile. "I love you, Aramis. If you say we can trust him, then I trust him."

He grinned. "I told you if I could ask you to marry me, I would."

Her smile widened. "And I told you I would say yes."

Taking both her hands, he raised them to his lips to kiss her knuckles. He felt so happy, so light, so much so that he thought a strong wind might not just carry away his thoughts, but his whole body too, and the only thing keeping him from floating away was his grip on her hands.

Still, he risked letting go of one hand to pick up the pansies Luc had given her. "Here," he said, handing her the flowers, "you can use them as a bouquet."

"Did you ask him to pick them?" she questioned.

"I wish I could say I did, but no," he admitted. "The boy seems to be genuinely infatuated with you, and I think I ought to marry you before he asks for your hand."

"Hmm, come to think of it, you've never given me flowers," Anne teased.

Aramis raised his eyebrows and put his hands on his hips. "Oh, you don't consider the multiple scars I've gotten from saving your life, most recently from a man using flowers to help hide his very sharp knife, a romantic enough gesture?" he asked with light sarcasm.

"Well it certainly made my heart skip more than a beat," she replied.

Double-checking that no one was around, he took her hands again. "Come here," he said, and after pulling her down onto the bench, kissed her.

He could feel Anne smile before she pulled away. "Aramis?"

"Yes, my angel?" he answered, and was pleased to see her blush at the endearment.

"Wear this for the ceremony," she said, laying a hand on his chest.

He glanced down. "You want me to wear my leathers?" He had brought them so he wouldn't have to worry about getting his ministerial clothes dirty if he ended up helping Athos around his home or playing outside with the children here.

She nodded, her fingers tracing over the emblazoned cross on his chest. That piece of his uniform was more ceremonial, but he had thought it would be a fitting nod to his time as a monk. "Ana and René are getting married," she explained, "not the Queen Regent and First Minister."

---

Historical background/inspiration:

-Travel beds "were used by a wealthier type of person, as only they could afford to transport such a heavy and cumbersome pieces of furniture. Stockport Heritage Service owns a travelling box bed, from approximately 1600... Having a travelling bed reduced the risk of disease and other infections, because it allowed the owner to regulate who slept in it." -Sarah Ann Robin, "The Public and Private Realms in the Seventeenth-Century: A Parameter of Wood and Fabric"

-Among the instructions for little Louis' daily routine found in Maxims and Directives for the Education of Boys, which had been drawn up at Anne's request when Louis was about 4, was that his hair should not be allowed to grow too long in order to keep his glorious curls under control -Antonia Fraser, Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King

-The Pyrenees is a mountain range that straddles the border between France and Spain. Great Pyrenees are large dogs that were bred to guard livestock

Names

-The two smallest orphans are named after Vincent and his twin sister, Josephine, of the Danish royal family just because they reminded me of them

-Catherine was for no particular reason. I think I looked at the names of the kids who played the orphans, saw Carolina, and went from there

-Anne and her brother Alfonso being born on September 22nd, the feast day of St. Maurice, were named Ana Maria Mauricia and then Alfonso Maurice, so I envisioned baby Nicolette being born on December 6th, the feast day of St. Nicholas

-Drogo is named after St. Drogo, the patron saint of shepherds

-Blanche, for her white coat

-Ursula, the patron saint of orphans

-Anne had a (favorite) Spaniel named Friponne, which according to Google translate means "naughty" and Louis XIV had dogs named Pistolet (as in pistol/gun?), Silvie, Mignonne (Cute/Cutie?), and Princesse, so I thought Anne might go for a simple name like Sweetie. Also my family had a dog we named Precious simply because she was so precious