Chapter 3

ATHOS pov (I promise that the next one won't be Athos pov)

Two days, 15 hours, and he was not trying to count the seconds that have passed since Sylvie asked him about his wife, Milady, as she was known to the rest of the world.

He and Sylvie met up with Porthos and Elodie, and while Sylvie stayed at the Garrison with Constance, he visited the Queen who was informed of his arrival to Paris by D'Artagnan. Since Sylvie had asked the question he dreaded more than encountering his wife, she had not asked again but her inquisitive gaze followed him everywhere. The reason for that being that he didn't tell her anything. He could have told her that it was a long story, which it was, or that he didn't wish to talk about her, which he didn't. Instead, he stood there, looking disinterested by her question and unconcerned by D'Artagnan's scowl.

Now he was once again heading to the Garrison once again, upon D'Artagnan's request. He kept his eyes down and a frown on his face because as happy as he was to get out of that tiny apartment and away from Sylvie's questions, he had no desire to speak to D'Artagnan, who no doubt would resume their discussion regarding Milady.

He was welcomed to the Garrison by respectful nods from new Musketeers and quiet greetings from those that served under his command. As he walked up to the Captain's office he knocked and stood back, waiting for D'Artagnan to open the door. When the door finally opened it wasn't the young Captain that opened it. Instead Aramis stood there with a wide grin and his usual cocky demeanor.

"Would you look at what the cat dragged in!"

He couldn't stop himself from smiling as Aramis stepped closer and pulled him into a hug. The Musketeer turned Minister of France had not changed since Athos had seen him, perhaps only his clothes, dirty leathers exchanged for fine cloth. But his easy smile and the spark in his eyes was still there.

"Aramis. I am glad to see you."

His brother pulled back and slapped his shoulder, making him feel as though nothing had changed in the past two years, and they were still simple Musketeers on the lookout for trouble.

"Yes, I just wish the circumstances were better… I am sorry to hear about what happened."

He hummed quietly and nodded in response, unable to bring himself to say anything. Aramis must have sensed his discomfort because the next thing he knew he was being pulled into the office and the door was shut behind his back.

D'Artagnan was standing there, and gave him nothing more than a curt nod, and looked at him questioningly, most likely asking him in a wordless manner if he had answered Sylvie's question. Choosing to ignore his friend he threw his hat onto the table and turned back to Aramis.

"Do you still train Aramis? Or have you exchanged your musket and gunpowder for documents and expensive foods?"

Aramis laughs at his question and drops down onto a chair.

"Not yet my friend, not yet. The better question is how are you holding up?"

His smile instantly drops, as does his mood.

"I am fine."

The answer is stupid, and it gets the expected reaction from his friends. D'Artagnan throws his hands up in annoyance while Aramis tilts his head and glowers at him.

He glared back at them and clarified his words.

"I will be fine… Eventually."

Aramis smiled sadly.

"That you will. But we still worry. Especially me, after seeing you at church yesterday morning."

He narrowed his eyes and focused his glare solely on Aramis. He had noticed his friend sitting in the front rows but didn't realize that he was noticed as well. His reasons for going to church were not that of most, and he did not need someone to believe otherwise. God did not exist or did not care, of that he was sure, and ever since he hanged his wife he had not attended service.

"My visit was unrelated to religion. You have nothing to concern yourself with."

Aramis stared back at him and then looked to D'Artagnan.

"How often have you seen people come to church for reasons unrelated to religion in any way?"

D'Artagnan raised his shoulders slightly and then dropped them before looking pointedly at him.

"Never."

He rolled his eyes at his friends and reached for a cup of wine. His friends seemed to drop the subject and also picked up their wine. They sat in comfortable silence, until Athos relaxed his shoulders a bit, which is what his friends waited for. Now that he was less tense they decided it was the perfect moment to continue their questioning. Aramis, being a less than subtle man, leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees and turned his head towards Athos.

"So what was it that you were doing at Church?"

He clenched his jaw and glared.

His reasons for coming to church were foolish, and perhaps a bit concerning, but his friends did not need to know that, for he would rather retain his dignity by keeping his mouth shut. The first time he went to Church after his daughter's death he stumbled there by mistake, but when he saw what was inside, he couldn't stop himself from returning. It looked much like the church in Pinon, and in his intoxicated state, for a few moments, he believed that he was back there. He could almost hear his father's harsh words, his brother's silly joke, and his wife's joyful "I do". He had been happy, more than once, and every time that happiness was snuffed out right in front of his eyes.

The reason he went to church the day before was quite the same. The church in Paris was grander and busier, but when he closed his eyes he could imagine that he was sitting there with his brother. Those memories were ruined by the knowledge of what his brother had done, and what it had cost them both, but the bright oblivious days of his youth were still better than what he had now.

"As I said, it had nothing to do with religion. The same way it has nothing to do with you two."

Aramis bit his lip in doubt but nodded his head and leaned back knowing that he would not get any other answer out of him. D'Artagnan on the other hand was not willing to let it go, not since he was told that something had happened between her and Athos.

"Perhaps it has something to do with Milady?"

Upon hearing the name Athos couldn't stop himself from standing up and making a menacing step towards his younger friend. Aramis was also on his feet in a second, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"If you mention her one more time…"

Aramis patted his shoulder and pushed him back, but it was too late because D'Artagnan was now too on his feet staring challengingly at Athos.

"You'll do what? You don't think I see the way you act? You always act impulsively when she is concerned."

Athos tilted his head to the side and narrowed his eyes.

"It is you who keeps implying that she is involved when I have already told you that she isn't."

D'Artagnan huffs loudly and turns away.

"But it was you who said that something happened between you two before you left with Sylvie!"

Aramis looks between the two confused, but it doesn't take him long to catch the implications of this argument. He shoves Athos back once again, and steps between him and D'Artagnan.

Athos ignores him and glares at the Captain of the Musketeers over his shoulder.

"And that is no one's business but my own."

D'Artagnan turns back to face Athos and pushes Aramis to the side.

"And I disagree! It concerns Sylvie!"

This time Aramis shoves D'Artagnan back, but he turns to Athos and stares at him questioningly.

"So what happened with Milady?"

Athos steps forward again and ignores the question. Instead he stares at Aramis incredulously.

"Are you his parrot?"

D'Artagnan points at him and looks to Aramis while shaking his head in disbelief.

"Sylvie asked him who Milady is, and he didn't answer her. That was three days ago!"

He frowned sarcastically and shook his head.

"Since when do you represent Sylvie's interests?"

Aramis looks at D'Artagnan and then back at him and lightly lifts his eyebrows.

"Well D'Artagnan is right. You have to tell Sylvie about Milady."

Athos stares at them both and takes a step backward. Huffing loudly he tries to imagine what he would tell Sylvie if he ever got around to that. He would start by telling her that Milady was his wife. And then what? That he hung the woman he loved? That he left all his duties behind? That he started drinking? That his wife had tried to kill him? That he had tried to kill her in return? That he almost ran away to England with her? No. Sylvie would not understand. The same way everyone else couldn't understand. Because how could a sane person love someone who was willing to slice their throat with a knife.

"I do not have to do anything."

D'Artagnan stares at him disbelievingly.

"If you don't want to tell her, then I shall do it myself."

His eyes fly up from the floor, filled with terror and fury.

"No you shan't."

His words were sharp, and his gaze even sharper. The only thing betraying his furious appearance was the fear in his eyes. He knew what D'Artagnan would tell Sylvie, and a lot of it would be lies or half-truths. Of course his friend was not to blame for his lack of understanding, for Athos was the one that chose not to share what happened with his brothers. But it was better if his friends remained ignorant of what kind of man he truly was. He was so focused on D'Artagnan that he failed to notice Aramis peculiarly.

"You're hiding something!"

He turned his head to face Aramis.

"Everything I hide, is hidden for good reason."

Aramis foolishly stepped forward and squared his shoulders.

"The only reason I see is you are a coward."

He had never looked at his friend, his brother, this coldly before, but he couldn't stop his anger from boiling when two of his closest friends purposefully pushed him to the very edge of his patience. With his jaw clenched and eyes narrowed he faced his brother.

"If I am a coward, then what does that make you? A deserter? A traitor?"

Luckily before either of them could do something they regret, the door swung open and Constance rushed in.

"Do you all hear yourselves? Because the entire Garrison heard all of that!"

D'Artagnan opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by his wife before he could try to come up with some lousy excuse.

"I don't care what the deal is with Milady! Look at yourselves! Forget about her, if you must, but I will not stand here and watch as you destroy your brotherhood over this!"

Letting out a disappointed huff she turned around and left the office, leaving all of them speechless.

Athos was the first one to move. He was stubborn, but he would not let it ruin years of friendship. He picked up his hat from the table and turned to face D'Artagnan and Aramis.

"I will consider your words. But do not forget that you had no right to intervene, for you yourselves were not, and are not privy to the whole truth."

Tilting his head he placed his hat on his head and swiftly left the office and then the Garrison. He ignored Constance and Sylvie both as they pestered him with questions about what happened, instead he focused his mind on his wife, his past actions, and the wine he was in a rush to drink at the nearest tavern.