The battle against the Spanish that had left all four Musketeers- Athos, Aramis, Porthos, and D'Artagnan- prisoners in a refugee camp in the Vosges in eastern France, along with the town's inhabitants- men, old and young, women, and children, was almost a massacre. The Spanish had rounded up every citizen of the small village and imprisoned them.
The question was what to do next.
There would be no rescue planned. No one was coming for them. No one on the French side even knew they were being kept where they were.
Their prospects were not good- the Spanish had recently gotten a reputation for starving prisoners, abusing them, and, as often, simply shooting them all, as opposed to keeping their captors alive, which cramped their style. Easier to simply dispose of them. Their outlook was grim. And from Aramis could assess from what he had managed to overhear from his captors, their move to slaughter each and every one of them might be imminent- at any time now.
So the four Musketeers hatched a plan of escape. It involved misdirection, and the procurement of some of their captors' weapons. Based on studying the habits and routines of the Spanish soldiers guarding them, it was settled- Aramis would provide the misdirection, aided by Porthos, who would provide the muscle to ensure Aramis' success. And Athos and D'Artagnan would then steal the unguarded weapons needed to arm themselves for their breakout.
"Are we all set?" Athos asked. He had mentioned to his three brothers more than one the importance of rejoining their regiment, as the French army was getting routed by the Spanish, and needed as much support as they could get.
As Porthos and Aramis nodded their assent to Athos' question, D'Artagnan blurted out, "I'm- not going."
"What?" Aramis asked.
"These people- we cannot just leave them. I will of course aid in your procurement of weapons for the three of you, but I am staying behind," D'Artagnan said.
"Their fate is sealed. We must rejoin General Toule and…"
"Sealed? What ae you saying?" D'Artagnan asked.
Aramis offered, "What Athos means, by brother, is that-"
"No, I'd rather hear him say it! He is writing these people off as a lost cause, isn't he?" D'Artagnan said, his gaze fixed firmly on Athos as he said it.
"No, that's not what 'e meant-" Porthos began to say.
But Athos interrupted.
"Yes, that is exactly what I meant. D'Artagnan, there is no time for your petulant musings- we are at war, in case you hadn't noticed. In war, we often have to make difficult choices. Our mission is to rejoin our unit, not babysit some citizens. We will of course inform the General of their whereabouts."
"But it may be too late! You said yourself how they may be getting ready to kill us all. And what if the General decides it isn't a sufficient use of resources to come rescue these people straight away?"
"All in good time, D'Artagnan," Aramis said.
"Time is what these people may not have!"
"D'Artagnan, I am giving you an order. Our window of opportunity is closing on the guard's shifts- I am ordering you to move, now," Athos said, as quietly as he could, without bring attention to themselves.
D'Artagnan shook his head grimly. "This is cowardice. How can you look them in the face? This is desertion of French citizens. Aren't we fighting for them? I am staying and will fight alongside them. I can train them to fight-"
"Fight with what? Even if we manage to steal an extra musket or two for you now, it'd hardly be enough for you to defend yourself and these folk for long. An' there's no time for trainin'," Porthos said.
"Then…that is the way it will be," is all D'Artagnan replied.
"Enjoy being slaughtered, then. Porthos. Aramis. Let's go." Athos said.
Aramis threw Athos a confused look. "Wait, aren't you going to tell D'Artag-"
"I don't speak to imbeciles," Athos said, his back to the both of them, walking away.
Porthos shook his head, then hugged his youngest brother. He knew D'Artagnan would not be swayed; he also knew that this was likely the last time he would ever see him. Alive, at least.
They shared a weak smile. "Take- care of yourself," Porthos said, his voice breaking. He then followed Athos.
D'Artagnan turned to Aramis and suddenly asked, "Aramis. I- have a favor to ask.
"Constance- she will-hate me for this decision. She will view it as me choosing strangers over herself. I- I know I face death here, with all these unfortunate souls. But please- act as my advocate. Over time, promise me you will continue to ask Constance to understand what I did staying here. I would hate to go through eternity knowing that she has not forgiven me."
"Of- of course," Aramis replied.
"And…Athos…" D'artagnan said, his voice breaking. "Soon I suspect he will think back on his parting words. Please tell him- I forgive him."
"While I am disinclined to do anything at the moment to assuage my older brother's guilt," Aramis said, suddenly realizing how furious he was with Athos with his dismissal of D'Artagnan, he continued, "I will let him know. Once he has the good sense to realize that he has done something to be forgiven for, that is."
Weapons acquired, Porthos, Athos, and Aramis soon ventured out, dispatching the few Spanish who got in the way, and stealthily sidestepping the others in their path to freedom.
Whatever their youngest brother's fate, they would remember him always with pride.
Athos' memories would not be as simple. And they would be thrice troubled.
