A/N: Thank you beeblegirl and SnidgetHex for reviewing! I love that this verse gives me an opportunity to explore Athos and Ninon more.
Chapter 4
"Constance, this really isn't necessary," Aramis tried to protest yet again as they made their way through the streets.
"You've been back two days and haven't done it yourself," she replied.
He reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck. "I will once I've received my first commission deposit."
"You need a coat," she said. "You can't go on guard duty at the palace looking like a…" She flicked a look at his plain shirt and simple brown cloak.
His lips twitched. "A monk?"
Constance grinned. "Exactly. And the regiment's coffers will cover this until you receive that first commission and can pay it back."
Aramis sighed. She had a point, though, so he stopped trying to argue with her.
They entered a tailor's shop, one Aramis was familiar with from years prior. It had managed to stay in business throughout these hard times, though the stock was noticeably limited.
"Good afternoon," the owner greeted, coming out from a back workroom. "How may I help you?"
"We're looking for a coat," Constance replied, gesturing to Aramis.
The proprietor smiled brightly. "Of course. I have a fine collection right here." He walked over to a rack with a few articles hanging on the rods.
Aramis looked them over, then selected a dark brown leather.
"Excellent choice," the tailor said and removed it from the rack for him to try on.
Aramis took his cloak off and handed it to Constance, then slipped his arms into the sleeves of the coat. They fit, which was good. The length was much shorter than the coat he used to wear and the clasps on the front were fancier, but it moved well. The tailor took a few measurements, marking the places where adjustments needed to be made.
"If it suits you, I can have it ready by tomorrow," the man said.
Aramis considered it a moment longer, then nodded. He shrugged out of the article and handed it back to the tailor, who took it into the back room. As his gaze idly roved around the rest of the shop, he spotted a grey hat with a feathery plume. He'd need a new one of that, too, especially if he was going to be standing guard outside for any length of time.
He turned and found Constance smirking at him.
"Oh, go on," she said.
"I'll come back for it," he replied.
She shook her head and fished out a few coins. "Consider this making up for the past few Christmases you missed."
"I'm not the only one who missed them," he pointed out. His brothers had had it far worse than him out on the front.
Constance reached out to squeeze his arm. "Don't dismiss how much it means to all of us to have you back," she said softly.
Aramis dropped his gaze, then relented. How often at the monastery had he practiced the kindness of strangers to other people? Perhaps he should accept the kindness of friends.
They paid for the hat, set a time for Aramis to return tomorrow for the finished coat, and then he and Constance exited the shop to head back to the garrison. Constance pulled up short, gaze drawn down the street toward a square where a group of city guards were surrounding a man, woman, and two small children. Aramis immediately started toward them, but before he could intervene, Ninon came striding up toward the guards and shoved one of them away from the children whimpering at his feet.
"That's enough!" she exclaimed.
"How dare you!" the man spat and drew his sword.
By then Aramis had reached them. "You dare to pull a weapon on an unarmed woman?" he challenged.
"She's a menace," the guard rejoined. "Constantly inciting unrest." He cocked his head at his comrades. "Arrest her."
"On what grounds?" Aramis demanded.
The guard shot him a scathing look. "What I just said."
"She wasn't doing anything!" Constance interjected. "You were the ones antagonizing these poor people."
He rounded on her. "Mind your own business or you'll be arrested too."
"Hey," Aramis snapped. This was spiraling wildly out of control.
The other guards seized Ninon roughly by the arms.
"This isn't your jurisdiction, musketeer," the first guard sneered at Aramis.
He bristled in indignation, fingers twitching with the urge to draw on this scoundrel. But inciting a duel of his own wasn't going to solve matters, and would likely only exacerbate them.
He turned to Ninon. "Don't worry," he said. "We'll resolve this."
Her expression was tight but staunch as she was dragged away. Aramis clenched his jaw in frustration. He'd heard from the others what was going on in the city, but to witness it first hand…he wanted to thrash those men.
Constance hurried over to the family the guards had been accosting moments before. "Are you all right?" she asked.
The mother and father clung to their children as desperately as the children clung to them. They gave shaky nods in response to Constance's question.
"I have business in the city," the man stammered. "I found work. I'm not here to beg."
"Even if you were, that is no excuse for how those guards behaved," Constance said sternly.
Aramis glanced between them and the direction the guards had gone, most likely to the Chatelet. "How far is your destination?" he asked the man.
"N-not far. A few blocks. Please, if my new employer hears I've had trouble with the guards—"
"The trouble is not yours," Aramis said. "I was offering an escort to make sure you arrive safely." He looked to Constance next. "Then we must tell Athos what happened."
She nodded in fervent agreement.
The man and his family seemed stunned by the offer. It kindled Aramis's anger further that men who were entrusted to maintain order were, in fact, doing the opposite.
He and Constance escorted the family to their destination, a large house in one of the wealthier districts of the city. Hopefully it meant the man had obtained housing for his family while he worked, but that wasn't Aramis's place to stay and find out. Once the four had been admitted into the house, Aramis and Constance turned to hasten back to the garrison.
The immediate yard was empty when they arrived, though a group of cadets were gathered in the back near the dragon dens where it seemed d'Artagnan and Porthos might have been giving some introductory lessons. Aramis didn't see Athos with them, so he turned and hurried up the steps to the captain's office. He didn't stop to knock before pushing the door open, Constance on his heels.
Athos looked up with raised eyebrows upon the unannounced entrance.
"Ninon's been arrested," Aramis said without preamble.
"What?" Athos surged to his feet.
"She stood up to some city guards harassing a family with young children," Aramis explained. "They arrested her on the preposterous charge of inciting unrest."
Athos cursed under his breath, causing Aramis and Constance to exchange a surprised look at the uncharacteristic lapse in composure. "When the refugees at the camp find out, they will be incensed, I'm sure. Ninon is a respected leader among them. Many of them are already on the verge of mounting an uprising against the guards, and this incident may very well push them over the edge."
"What can we do?" Constance asked.
"It was too late when I returned yesterday to seek an audience with the King," Athos said. "And I've been told he's been wholly occupied with the Dauphin, but I suppose now I'll have to insist."
He rounded his desk with a determined look and marched out of the office. Aramis and Constance followed behind.
.o.0.o.
At least as the King's valued Captain of the Musketeers, Athos wasn't kept waiting for over an hour for his liege's pleasure.
That didn't mean Louis wasn't a little irked at being taken away from his newborn son.
"Yes, Athos, what is it?" the King asked impatiently as he walked into the room.
"My apologies for the interruption, Your Majesty," Athos said. "But there is an urgent matter developing between the City Guard and refugees in the city."
Louis frowned. "What kind of matter?"
"The guards have been harassing the refugees, and it has escalated into severe tension between the two groups," Athos explained. "Just an hour ago they arrested the camp's leader on false charges, an act I fear will prompt the refugees into taking retaliatory action against the injustices they have been suffering."
Louis's eyes widened in alarm. "You are talking about an uprising?"
"Not against you or the Crown," Athos quickly assured him. "Their grievances are against the City Guard. Unfortunately, Governor Magnier has been unwilling to listen to concerns regarding his mens' behavior. Which is why I believe the only way to prevent things from escalating further is for Your Majesty to step in."
The King furrowed his brow. "How?"
"The woman they arrested has been advocating non-violence among the people. Her only interest is in helping the refugees, and they respect her for it. I believe if she were released from custody, she could convince them not to take up arms."
"A woman?" Louis said, sounding slightly intrigued. "Who is she?"
Athos faltered; he couldn't reveal Ninon's identity.
"A merchant's daughter from the south," Aramis interjected.
"Your Majesty," Constance spoke next, "she was only arrested because she dared to stop some city guards from harassing a family of refugees with young children. Both Aramis and I witnessed the confrontation. The children were frightened and she was only trying to protect them."
Louis's expression creased in contemplation.
"I ask for you to grant mercy, Your Majesty," Athos picked up. "For the sake of peace."
The King appeared to be considering it. "Very well," he finally said. "In honor of my own son, I will order this woman's release."
Athos's shoulders nearly sagged in relief. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Louis nodded and strode over to a writing desk where he procured a quill and parchment. "What is this woman's name?"
Athos stiffened and flicked a tense look at Aramis. "Ah, Ninon," he answered with a grimace.
Louis paused in his writing. "I knew a Ninon once," he said thoughtfully. "You remember, don't you, Athos? The lovely Comtesse de Larroque." He sighed. "She turned out to be a witch," he lamented.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Athos replied.
Louis finished scribbling out his orders of release, stopped, then continued writing. "On second thought, have all the refugees that have been arrested released. Make sure they know it is a gift from their King." He stood and handed the parchment to Athos. "I want to hear no more talk of rebellion."
Athos bowed his head as he took the document. "I am sure they will be immensely grateful, Sire."
Louis nodded, then turned on his heel and departed.
Athos let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He shared bewildered looks with Aramis and Constance; that had gone better than he'd expected.
With the release orders in hand, they hurried back to the garrison. Athos wanted a dragon presence when they arrived at the Chatelet, not to mention a quick ride to the refugee camp before anyone there decided to take up arms.
"Everything okay?" d'Artagnan asked as they quickly saddled Savron and Rhaego.
"If we're not yet too late to avert disaster," Athos replied dryly.
"I'll be back later," Constance told her husband, then climbed up behind Aramis on Rhaego.
D'Artagnan was left sputtering as they took to the skies and flew the short distance to the Chatelet. The dragons had to land in the wide street outside the prison walls, but their arrival was enough to get everyone's attention.
Athos strode into the yard as the warden rushed out to meet them. He shoved the King's orders into the man's face. "The refugees are to be released, by order of the King."
The warden blinked dubiously at the document, which clearly had Louis's signature and seal. "Does Captain Lahaye know about this?"
"Does Captain Lahaye supersede the authority of the King?" Athos said with dark menace.
"No, of course not," the warden blubbered. He turned to his guards and gestured weakly. "Release those prisoners."
Athos, Aramis, and Constance waited in the yard while the prison guards scurried back inside. It took several minutes, but eventually a group of bedraggled people were escorted out. Some blinked rapidly in the harsh sun, having been down in the cells for days. Ninon had her arm around a man's waist as he staggered along. She almost pulled up short when she spotted Athos.
"The King has granted your release," Athos announced to them all.
Ninon passed off the man she was helping to another person, then walked toward the musketeers. She smiled at Athos. "I knew you would come through for us."
"The King came through for his subjects," he replied.
She just gave him a knowing look.
"What is going on here?" a furious voice interrupted.
They all turned to find Captain Lahaye storming into the prison yard.
"Warden, you better have a good explanation for this," Lahaye seethed.
"Orders from the King," Athos told him calmly. "Granting clemency to all these people. They have, after all, suffered enough in this war."
Lahaye stared at him for a long moment, chest practically seething. Then he turned on his heel and marched off.
"Your men should watch themselves from now on," Aramis called after him in warning.
Lahaye didn't react, though his stride did falter when Rhaego shifted out in the street to level an intense glower at him.
"That will not be the last trouble we'll have from him," Constance remarked.
"I know," Ninon said.
"You and the refugees will have to be even more careful," Athos warned. "The law will not protect them if they take matters into their own hands."
"Speaking of which," Aramis said, "you should get back to the encampment before word of her arrest reaches them."
Athos nodded and put one hand around Ninon's back while gesturing to his dragon with the other. "I believe you've had the pleasure of Savron's flight once before."
She smiled nervously. "I have. But I hope you do not plan to stick me on his back alone and send him on his way."
Athos canted his head. "We will go together."
"What about…?" She craned her head to look back at the other released prisoners.
"We'll make sure these people get back safely," Aramis said.
Athos walked Ninon out to Savron and gave her a boost up into the saddle. He then climbed up behind her and slipped an arm around her waist.
"Forgive me," he murmured.
Ninon leaned back against him. "If you wanted a chance to be closer, all you had to do was ask."
Athos was so caught off guard by her comment that he forgot to hold on when Savron leaped into the air with a flap of his wings, and his reflexive reaction was to press forward more firmly against Ninon. The resulting embarrassment heated his face, which was fortunately hidden at the moment.
It wasn't a lengthy flight to the edge of the city, and only a couple of minutes later, Savron was landing outside the refugee camp. Several frightened screams went up at their arrival, and Athos realized most of these people wouldn't have lived with dragons constantly flying overhead like the citizens of Paris had, back when the Musketeer dragons had been at the garrison and not at war.
Savron snorted and shuffled away as soon as Athos and Ninon had dismounted, trying to give the refugees a bit more comfortable distance. But as people scrambled away from the dragon's location, several men came charging forward, armed with little more than tools and a few real weapons. Nothing that would be effective against a dragon, in any case, though Athos admired their bravery and desire to protect their own. He also recognized the man leading the charge.
"Ninon," the refugee gasped in surprise as they all pulled up short.
"Harlan, you can put those down. This dragon is a friend and won't harm anyone," Ninon said.
The men hesitated, flicking uncertain looks at Savron before slowly lowering their weapons.
"We heard you had been arrested," he said. "We were about to come after you."
"You thought you could lay siege to the Chatelet with just these?" Athos said, unable to keep the disapproval from his tone.
"Or take some city guards hostage and demand her release," Harlan retorted.
"There is no need for that," Ninon quickly interjected. "The King has granted not only my release, but the release of all the other refugees who have been unlawfully imprisoned. They will rejoin us soon. The King and the Musketeers are on our side."
Athos watched surprised reactions ripple through the refugees. The armed men began to stand down, though this Harlan fellow still didn't look fully appeased. Still, a delicate peace had been restored, for now.
Ninon turned back to Athos. "Thank you, again." She gave him a sultry smile. "I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other now."
"I suppose we will," he replied stiffly.
Ninon arched a brow at him. "Does that please you?"
He angled a dry look at her, then with a twitch of his lips, he turned and walked back to Savron. Ninon just smirked at him knowingly as he climbed into the saddle.
Yes, he was pleased by the prospect.
NEXT TIME
Food shortages stir unrest within the city, and multiple thefts have the musketeers scrambling to keep the peace.
