Happy Birthday, Celticgal1041!
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"I exist in two places, here and where you are."
~~~~~ Margaret Atwood
"We were together even when we were apart."
~~~~~ Shannon A. Thompson
"Distance between two people is inconsequential when their souls are united."
~~~~~ Matshona Dhliwayo
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Chapter Two: Athos
Even after so many months, Athos was still getting used to no longer being a Musketeer.
He'd never wanted to be captain, and it had always sounded strange to his ears. There were times he had looked for Tréville before responding to the title.
But now, he was simply Athos, an ex-soldier doing his best to keep his woman and child safe as they tried to find a place to settle, something made much more difficult by the war.
Today was his birthday, and as far as anyone else was aware, it was d'Artagnan's birthday as well. They started sharing the date when Athos persuaded the younger man to admit why he hated his own birthday. Athos, seeing his friend, someone he had grown to care about in such turmoil, he'd offered to share the date of his birth with d'Artagnan.
This year would be the first birthday he would be spending without d'Artagnan, and it only punctuated just how much his missed his brother as well as Aramis and Porthos. Because of the ongoing war as well as he and his family continuing to move around so much, it weighed heavily upon him that it had been so long since he had been able to send a letter to d'Artagnan.
He'd already enthusiastically celebrated with Sylvie before having a quiet breakfast in their room at the inn they were currently staying at. He would never admit it, but his son was the best gift – even if it had been an early present – he had received in a long time, not including d'Artagnan's friendship.
Athos had contemplated telling Sylvie the story of how he'd come to share a birthday with d'Artagnan, but he'd decided to keep up the lie. It wasn't that he didn't trust the woman, but because having d'Artagnan share his date of birth was something he'd come to believe should remain between them. Admittedly, it even helped him be able to enjoy his own birthdays more so than before. It was nice to share the day with d'Artagnan, especially now that he was so far away from his friend and brother.
Tonight, he was having a quiet dinner with Sylvie, while the innkeeper's wife looked after his son. With shortages, it wouldn't feel like much of a celebration, but he was determined to raise a glass of wine to d'Artagnan.
Tomorrow morning, he would continue in the tradition he'd adopted of going with d'Artagnan to visit a chapel and light a candle in honor of his brother, Thomas, and spend time thinking of the friends he very much missed. Thankfully, this village had a chapel, and it was part of the reason he'd chosen to stay for a few days. He wasn't much for praying, but when he visited a chapel with d'Artagnan, he would always try to appeal to God to keep his friends and fellow Musketeers out fighting on the front safe.
He wakes before sunrise on d'Artagnan's original birthday, and quietly gets ready for the day. Sylvie, who doesn't understand why he needed to visit a chapel, barely stirred. The previous night, he'd gotten directions to the chapel and hoped the place would be open so early in the morning.
When he arrived at the chapel, the doors were closed and locked. It is only then that he remembers the smaller churches were closing for a time during the night. He's not sure how long he waits, but it seemed less than a half hour before a lay brother opens the doors from inside and nods a greeting to him.
No one else is waiting to enter, and he wonders when the first mass of the day starts. Either way, he's thankful he will have at least some time alone to continue the tradition he'd started with d'Artagnan. He waits by the door, uncertain if he should enter and be about his business. Thankfully, the lay brother quickly leaves to take care of some other duty and he is alone.
As quietly as possible, he makes his way to the candles, of which only one was currently lit. He was about to light one, but instead he decides to sit for a moment and remember Thomas. His laugh. The pranks they played when they were children. The hours of sword play. His guilt over his brother's death.
Swallowing past the sudden tightness in his throat, Athos stands and heads back towards the prayer candles. He reaches into his pocket for a coin to deposit into the earthenware bowl next to the jar of spills. Taking one and lighting it from the only candle currently lit in the display, Athos lights a candle for Thomas as he asks for forgiveness. He then lights another asking for the safety of his friends and the Musketeers.
Blowing the flame out on the spill he puts it into another jar standing by the one of unused spills. Despite knowing he should return to Sylvie, Athos sits back down on the rough-hewn bench he'd previously occupied. It isn't long before thoughts of d'Artagnan start to overwhelm him. The first time he'd met the lunatic, stubborn Gascon. Honing the younger man's skill with a sword. So many memories, but at the moment, the first time he'd come with d'Artagnan to light a candle for his mother is at the forefront of them all.
On a whim, he stands and heads back towards the prayer candles. He deposits another coin and picks up another spill.
As he lights a third candle, Athos murmurs, "Happy Birthday, d'Artagnan."
Knowing he needs to get back to his family, he nods in deference to the chapel's altar, and with a last glance at the prayer candles, Athos turns to leave the place.
Just before he reaches the door, he hears what could only be d'Artagnan's voice saying, "Peace be with you, Athos."
Despite knowing it's impossible, and believing it to be his desire to hear his friend's voice again, he turns around and looks for the source of the voice. When he sees no one else in the chapel, he still can't help but feel downcast.
However, there is one new detail that he cannot ignore despite the fact no one had entered or left since he'd seen the lay brother left.
Looking at the prayer candles, Athos observes that a fourth candle is now lit next to the one he'd lit for d'Artagnan. It's impossible for it to have been lit by anyone else, and yet…
Athos stares dumbly at the sight, before he accepts the gift he's been given and smiles. Suddenly, the memory of d'Artagnan hugging him that first year he'd accompanied d'Artagnan, which makes his throat tight with emotion.
As Athos leaves the chapel and begins heading back towards his lodgings, he considers just how little the distance between them matters, because he and d'Artagnan will always be together in spirit.
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The end.
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No beta for this one. Any remaining mistakes are my fault.
Thanks for reading!
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