Authors note: This was inspired by one of the Whumptober 2020 prompts that I wrote. It is Aramis centric but the main whumpage belongs to d'Artagnan. It is complete and I will post one chapter a day (real life permitting). I hope you enjoy it.

Prologue

The area outside the garrison was usually busy with the overspill of soldiers. There were too many Musketeers to be able to complete all their training in the garrison yard. They often made use of the open space in front of the garrison. At times they would draw a crowd of locals watching them spar or practice their shooting. Only Musketeers and cadets were around at that moment. Even so, the atmosphere was one of expectation. A rumour had spread that the Captain had finally given up on one of his men. The most patient of leaders had been pushed to the brink by one of the original Musketeers. The other men wanted to see if the Captain would really strip him of his commission. They wanted to know if he would make a scene. Would he usher the soldier away to his office, leaving the soon-to-be disgraced man to walk away without the coveted Musketeer pauldron?

Treville emerged from the garrison and looked along the road. He gave the impression that he was looking for someone. One or two of the younger Musketeers and cadets could not hide the fact that they were watching to see what was about to happen. They were about to witness a Musketeer being humiliated.

Treville took a few steps away from the gate and glared along the road. The man in question was in the distance walking towards them. His expression was unreadable. Treville stepped towards him, his fisted hands on his hips.

'I have had enough of you,' said Treville, loudly enough to cause the activity around them to stop.

All the men were watching the spectacle unfold.

Aramis looked at Treville and shrugged with a shake of his head.

'In what way, Captain?' he spat.

'Your insolence for one thing,' replied Treville, taking a step closer to Aramis. 'But mainly for dereliction of duty.'

A couple of low gasps could be heard from the observing men. Aramis glanced around and raised his eyebrows at the audience. A couple of the commissioned men turned away and pretended they were doing something else. The cadets continued to stare.

'You were supposed to be watching the small west gate this morning. Where were you?'

Aramis scoffed, 'watching the west gate.'

Porthos moved closer, Athos was a step behind. The best friends of Aramis appeared to be undecided which of the arguing men they should take sides with.

Treville and Aramis were nose to nose. The Captain's eyes narrowed.

'You were not watching the gate, Aramis. And today was not the first time you've left your post. But it will be the last.'

The Captain went to say something else, but Aramis moved closer to him, pressing a finger into his chest.

'If you think you're going to take my commission,' said Aramis as he poked the Captain and pushed him a step away. 'You're wrong.'

Aramis stepped back and reached up to his pauldron, he unbuckled it and pulled it from his shoulder. He paused and stared at the Captain for a few seconds before pushing the pauldron against Treville's chest. Treville did not move. Aramis shook his head and stepped back, letting the pauldron fall. The symbol of his loyalty to the Crown and France dropped to the ground.

Porthos took a few more steps forward, pulling himself to his full height and puffing out his chest. All the things he did before a fistfight. Aramis turned his attention to Porthos.

'What? You of all people should be fed up with the way he treats us. He knows which of us he can push about. He's happy to let the noble sons get away with being drunken louts,' Aramis gestured towards Athos. 'But we have to behave and know our place because we're low born. We're supposed to be grateful-'

'I am grateful,' Porthos growled. 'And you are. You know he doesn't discriminate.'

Athos pulled Porthos back as he took another few steps towards his friend. The watching men were wide-eyed as the two best friends became enemies.

Treville stepped forward again and bodily pushed Aramis a few steps away.

'You are no longer welcome here. Leave now, or I will be forced to have you arrested. I'm letting you walk as a favour. You've been a loyal man up to now.'

'Loyal for nothing,' said Aramis, raising his voice to make sure the other men could hear him.

He looked around at the men and smirked. Porthos tried to pull away from Athos' grip.

'If you were sensible, you'd get out now, whilst you can. Before he uses you as cannon fodder whilst he dines with the nobles.'

Aramis turned on his heels and stalked away without another look back.

An uncomfortable silence fell. Treville stooped to pick up the discarded pauldron. He stared at the fleur-de-lis for a few seconds tracing the pattern with his finger before looking in the direction that Aramis had gone. Athos stepped forward but was stopped by a wave of the Captain's hand and a shake of his head. Treville returned to the garrison. They could see him climb the stairs to his office, still looking at the pauldron, with occasional shakes of his head.

MMMM

Chapter One

A few weeks earlier...

Aramis watched the Captain nodding a greeting to a couple of the other men. He approached Porthos who was brushing down his horse and said something. Porthos glanced at Aramis and nodded. The Musketeer passed the horse brush to one of the stable lads and crossed the yard to Athos who was sat at the table deep in conversation with Paul and Luc.

The Captain continued walking around the yard, talking to a few of the men.

Aramis went back to his work cleaning his gun. He worked slow circles of gun oil with a cloth. The work was calming. Aramis enjoyed taking a few minutes alone to take stock. He looked up when a shadow fell across him.

The Captain looked down at him. Aramis could not make out the expression on his face as the sun was still high enough in the sky to be dazzling. Aramis raised his hand to shade his eyes.

'What can I do for you, Captain?'

Treville's expression was serious, almost accusatory. Aramis tried to think if he might have done something to upset the Captain.

'I need to see you in my office,' said Treville, 'now.'

Aramis nodded. He was surprised at the Captain's tone. A couple of the other Musketeers who were busy nearby looked up. Treville's tone was one that implied Aramis was in trouble and about to have a dressing down.

He placed the gun parts on the table and followed the Captain. Several of the men watched them go. Aramis disliked the attention under the circumstances. He spotted Porthos and Athos watching as he climbed the stairs to the Captain's office.

Treville stood aside to allow Aramis to enter his office first. As the door clicked shut Aramis moved to stand in front of the Captain's desk. He stood at attention, not wishing to get himself in any more trouble. Although, he still had no idea what it was he had done to upset Treville. He watched the Captain reach his desk. He sighed and looked at the papers on his desk for a few seconds before looking up.

'I'm sorry, Aramis,' he said, 'I needed that to look convincing.'

Aramis furrowed his brow, not understanding.

'I have a mission for you,' continued Treville, 'but it will not be pleasant or simple.'

Aramis nodded, still trying to work out why Treville wanted the rest of the Musketeers to get the impression he was in trouble.

'I need you to go undercover. You will have to spend two or three weeks setting yourself up as being disillusioned with your work. You are a longstanding and loyal Musketeer; I don't think a sudden change of attitude would be believed.'

'Am I the most suitable for the work, Captain?' asked Aramis.

Treville nodded, 'yes. I need someone who holds a position of trust here and at the Palace. Someone who will be a party to more than the newer men are. I will help you to get the cover in place. It will mean I cannot be friendly with you. I will have to be harsh with you. And you, in turn, will have to show insolence.'

Aramis took a slow breath as he thought through what his Captain was proposing.

'I want Athos and Porthos to be involved, and d'Artagnan, when he returns in a couple of weeks. They will meet you as necessary when you are able to go fully undercover.'

A knock at the door made Treville pause. He looked over Aramis' shoulder.

'One moment,' he called out, before looking back at Aramis, 'I wanted to be sure you were prepared to take on the mission before I briefed the three of you.'

Treville raised an eyebrow as he waited for Aramis to respond. Aramis did not need to consider his answer. Despite not knowing any specific details he knew Treville was asking him because he was the best man for the job.

'Captain,' he said. 'I have every faith in your decisions and will take on the mission.'

Treville smiled and nodded. Aramis could see that the smile was grim.

'Come in,' called the Captain, raising his voice.

The door was pushed open by Athos, who was followed by Porthos. Both Musketeers were trying to maintain neutral expressions. Aramis could see they wanted to know what was happening.

'Gentlemen,' started Treville, 'Aramis has agreed to take on an undercover mission and you will be needed to ensure it runs smoothly.'

Athos and Porthos nodded. Porthos glanced at Aramis who smiled, trying to offer his friend reassurance. In truth, Aramis was a little apprehensive. The Captain was implying the mission was going to be dangerous.

'About two years ago,' Treville continued, 'the Red Guard foiled a coup at the Palace. It didn't cause much of stir. It was covered up well. I don't think even the King knew about it. But the threat did not go away. The gang that had been employed disappeared. We never found out who the paymaster was-'

'But something has happened to make you think they are back?' suggested Athos, whose keen mind was already ahead of the Captain's briefing.

Treville nodded with a smile, 'yes, I have an informant who knew to keep an eye out for the leaders of the gang. He told me this morning that two of the gang were back and looking for somewhere to stay. I believe the paymaster, who I suspect is someone at the Palace, has decided it is time for another try.'

The Captain leaned back in his chair, he looked at them each in turn.

'These are ruthless men-for-hire. My informant tells me they have already been responsible for a couple of nasty robberies.'

'What is it that you want me to do?' asked Aramis.

'Once you have spent a couple of weeks acting as the disillusioned Musketeer, I expect the gang will approach you. They need someone with a good knowledge of the Palace and the guards. They will need someone who knows the movements of the people in the Palace. As a Musketeer, you will have knowledge that even the courtiers do not have. The paymaster, if he is a courtier, will not want to risk trying to get access to the guard's timetables or plans and the like. He will want to keep away from all that. The rumour is that whoever he is, he wants to install his own garrison of men to replace both the Red Guard and the Musketeers. Then he will have control of the King without the Cardinal or myself interfering.'

Porthos chuckled, 'cos you two like to interfere.'

Treville acceded the point, 'we may not see eye to eye on... most things, but we do know the King needs... guidance occasionally.'

'Do you think this man wants to take the First Ministers position?' asked Athos.

Treville nodded before looking back at Aramis.

'You will likely become a figure of hate around here. I cannot risk letting anyone else know the plan, I need the rest of the garrison to act as normal. I'm sorry, but you are in for a rough ride on this one.'

Aramis nodded, 'I understand.'

'Your focus will be finding out who the paymaster is. If you cannot apprehend the man yourself, you will need to get word to us, preferably with some proof. And you will have to remain with the gang until the arrest is made in case anything goes wrong with the arrest. If that happens, we will need to know if the gang are going to run again.'

They continued to discuss the plan. They worked out where they could meet if Aramis could not return to the garrison and what signals they would use for various scenarios. Aramis was careful to take in all the details he could. He tried not to let his mind wander to what the next few weeks might bring. He disliked the idea of being vilified by his brother Musketeer's, but he knew that was likely. If he was to become insolent towards the Captain and not as dedicated to his work, it was only to be expected that the other soldiers would turn against him. He knew it would be hardest to interact with his closest friends. He was glad Athos and Porthos were involved in the mission.

'Aramis, are you sure you want to take this on?' asked Treville, his eyes searching Aramis' face for an answer.

'Yes, Captain,' replied Aramis with a firm nod of his head.

'The only place we will be able to drop the pretence,' said Treville, 'will be here, in my office. Everywhere else has the chance of being spied upon.'

'I would like to say before this begins properly...' said Aramis. 'I'd like to apologies now; in case I need to say things to any of you that are... insulting.'

Porthos smiled and slapped him on the shoulder, 'I agree,' he said. 'Whatever is said in the course of the mission... it's not meant. You say what you've got to say, Aramis. Insult away. Athos can take it.'

Athos smirked, 'Porthos on the other hand...'

Aramis saw the fatherly look on Treville's face as his three soldiers made their peace before they had even begun the charade.

Treville rose from the desk and collected four glasses and a bottle of spirit. He poured the spirit into each glass and glanced up at them. They each took a glass.

'To the success of the mission,' said Treville.

'To the success of the mission,' they echoed.

MMMM