Chapter Nine

They had set out early, d'Artagnan led them, riding at an easy trot to the spot they knew would be deserted. A few miles outside Paris an open but secluded area hidden from the road by a stand of trees. After securing the horses to the trees they moved into the open space. Aramis and Porthos looked at d'Artagnan expectantly. Despite only being a commissioned Musketeer for a year the man was already a capable teacher of swordsmanship. Aramis had every confidence in the young man to help their injured brother.

Athos had been quiet on the journey, which after the previous three days of questions was odd. But Aramis surmised the man was probably a little apprehensive despite his wish to be taught. They had spent some time the previous night telling him how good he was even though they knew that now, Athos knew nothing.

'Perhaps you two could do a bit of sparring, nothing over the top, just some simple moves?' asked d'Artagnan, 'let Athos get an idea of what we want from him.'

Porthos smiled, 'our pleasure,' he said with a nod to Aramis.

Both men took off their hats and drew their swords. D'Artagnan took Athos a few steps away. Aramis raised his sword in salute to Porthos who reciprocated. They often demonstrated basic techniques for the cadets and knew that this was no different. As much as they enjoyed trying to beat each other in a sparring session they knew that Athos might be intimidated if they were too aggressive with each other.

They had decided to treat Athos, at least during his training session as though he were a cadet. It was the only way they could deal with the thought of teaching their brother. Athos was a better swordsman than all of them and to have to teach him from scratch was not something any of them really wanted to do. But as Athos had suggested it and they knew it might help him they were willing to give it a go.

Neither man hit with full force, they did not move about too much, simply stepping in and back with their thrusts and parries. Aramis had his left hand on his hip, whilst Porthos kept his in the air. Aramis was aware of d'Artagnan talking Athos through what they were doing pointing out how they moved their feet and kept their balance.

D'Artagnan nodded to Aramis who smiled. He looked at Porthos and tilted his head, Porthos rolled his eyes. Porthos allowed Aramis to disarm him and effectively win their demonstration.

Athos had watched in awe of the whole thing. He turned to d'Artagnan.

'I'm not sure I can do that, it looks very difficult.'

'Don't worry,' said d'Artagnan, 'you won't be doing that yet. We'll start with getting your poise and footwork right then we'll move on to actually trying to hit someone with a sword.'

So that Athos did not feel too self-conscious both Aramis and Porthos joined him in the footwork drills. He watched them both carefully and tried to copy their movements. D'Artagnan corrected him and gently guided him to improvement. As they worked and d'Artagnan had to frequently correct their friend's grip on his sword Aramis worried that this new Athos was not really cut out to wield a weapon.

After a while, Aramis and Porthos left the others to work alone. They wandered off a little distance and observed the pair.

'D'Artagnan's a good teacher,' said Porthos, 'but Athos ain't a good pupil.'

'He wants it too much,' said Aramis. 'He wants his memories to come back and is trying too hard. He needs to relax, but I can't see that happening yet.'

'What if he never recovers?' asked Porthos.

Aramis replied, 'let's not get ahead of ourselves.'

'No, Aramis, we really have to consider it. I know Treville already is. What if he's really gone?'

'He's not gone. Give him time.'

Porthos shook his head, 'sorry. I'm just...I wish…'

Aramis looked across to Athos and d'Artagnan. D'Artagnan was again corrected Athos hold on the sword.

'It's like he's never held a sword,' said Porthos.

'He hasn't, this is not really Athos is it. We have to try to find Athos from the depths of this man's mind.'

'I hope you're right. I hope he is still there somewhere,' said Porthos sadly.

Aramis was worried Porthos was losing hope too soon. They had to keep trying. They owed it to Athos. Their brother was there somewhere, they just had to work out how to unlock him, how to get past the barrier that had been built.

The man in front of them was trying, it was clear he was enthusiastic but his wish to rush was what was slowing him down. Had Athos been a normal cadet d'Artagnan would probably have shouted at him by now, Aramis could see that he was becoming exasperated in the work and was struggling to hold his tongue. He decided they needed to change tactics.

MMMM

The area they were in was far enough from the road that the clash of swords would not be heard, it was also far enough away that a few gunshots would not draw attention either. Porthos watched as Aramis approached Athos and d'Artagnan. They had a brief conversation before d'Artagnan smiled and walked away, taking Athos sword with him. Aramis remained where he was and pulled his gun from his belt.

Porthos sat himself down on the ground, leaning back on a large tree. D'Artagnan sat heavily beside him.

'If he was a real cadet…' d'Artagnan trailed off.

'I know,' replied Porthos, 'you probably would have left him doing something really repetitive. It's difficult to know how to treat him. He's enthusiastic, but he's not a cadet. It wouldn't be right for us to castigate him...but he is, sorry d'Artagnan, but he's no good with the sword.'

D'Artagnan nodded, 'I'm trying, and he is paying attention but it just doesn't seem to stick.'

'And you don't want to admonish him because he's...Athos.'

'He's Athos,' repeated d'Artagnan.

They sat in silence as they watched Aramis talking Athos through the parts of the gun and slowly showing him how to load and prime the weapon ready for firing. Aramis pointed at something in the distance before raising the gun and calmly shooting. Athos looked impressed, the marksman had clearly hit whatever it was that he had pointed out to Athos.

Aramis handed the weapon over and allowed Athos to load the gun. It took Athos a while but he managed to ready the weapon. Aramis pointed at a tree several yards away. Athos raised his arm ready to fire. Aramis stopped him and spent a few seconds adjusting Athos' stance before stepping back and indicating he should continue.

Athos fired the gun.

The tree remained intact.

Athos looked a bit upset, Aramis shook his head and gestured for Athos to reload the gun. Again it took Athos some time to load and prime the weapon, Aramis had to talk him through every step. He had to be corrected several times before he was ready to fire for a second time. The ball went wide of its mark.

D'Artagnan sighed, 'what are we going to do. I hate to say it but he really is hopeless.'

'Aramis doesn't want to accept that he might be gone,' said Porthos as they continued to watch their friends.

'I don't want to accept it either...but how long do we wait?'

Porthos looked at d'Artagnan, 'I suppose that's the question ain't it? It's only been, what three or four days now. How long should we wait until we decide our Athos is gone and this man, this new Athos is what we have now?'

MMMM

Aramis had decided they should take Athos to the Palace. He proposed they take him very early in the morning. The others had looked at him sceptically.

'That's a bit risky,' said d'Artagnan, 'what if we run into the King, or...her.'

'Yes it's a risk,' agreed Aramis, 'but it's the only place we haven't been properly.'

D'Artagnan was unconvinced. The chances of them meeting someone who would want to talk with them was too high. Athos would not be able to pretend he was fine and they would probably get in trouble for bringing a man who was effectively a stranger to the Palace.

Aramis had helped Athos to strap his pauldron on for the trip, it would have looked odd if someone they knew saw Athos out of uniform, particularly as he would be with three other uniformed men.

They slipped out of the garrison as the sun started to rise. Porthos had grumbled about it being a bad idea throughout the ride across the city. They had deliberately gone early in the hope that the Royal family would still be in their chambers, which also meant there would be fewer courtiers around.

Athos had been taken passed the Palace when they had their day walking around the city, he had thought the building impressive, but he also did not recognise it. Now they were going in. They stabled the horses and walked towards the Palace.

'I don't want any of you to get in trouble doing this,' said Athos as they walked through one of the entrances.

The two Red Guardsmen on the door eyed the four Musketeers carefully. D'Artagnan wondered if they knew about Athos' predicament. They knew that the other men in the Musketeer garrison knew, but they had been given strict instructions not to pass the information on.

Athos looked around, taking in the paintings and grand furniture. They walked along as slowly as they could without drawing attention to themselves. Where a door to a room was open and unoccupied Aramis stopped and encouraged Athos to look inside.

Porthos was keeping an eye out ahead of them while d'Artagnan loitered back a few paces checking behind them frequently.

'This is pointless,' Athos said after a while, 'Aramis, if I was going to remember something about this magnificent building, I would have done by now.'

D'Artagnan watched as Aramis, who was about to speak, was stopped by Athos with a wave of his hand, 'you are taking too great a risk on my part. If we are caught here, I know you are the ones who will get in trouble.'

'Aramis,' said d'Artagnan, 'you know he's right, let's get back to the garrison before Treville misses us, or we do get caught here with an injured man in tow.'

Aramis was forced to admit defeat and nodded. Athos smiled at him.

'Thank you for continuing to try though,' he said.

MMMM

'I'm sorry,' said Aramis as they returned through the garrison gate, 'I just wanted to try…'

'Where have you all been to so early?' asked Treville from above them.

They looked up, Treville was looking down at them, 'there can't be many places he hasn't been by now.'

'Aramis thought it would be a good idea to show me the-'

'-river,' finished Porthos who had realised that Treville would probably not appreciate them sneaking around the Palace early in the morning with an injured man.

Athos quickly nodded his head in agreement. Treville looked at them carefully. Porthos could tell he knew they were lying, but he could not prove it. The men would all just pretend the exchange had not happened.

'I think we need to talk about our...situation,' said Treville, 'come up to my office after you've had your breakfast. And Aramis,' he paused and looked at Aramis hard, 'let's not take any more risks please.'

Treville walked back into his office.

'Does he know where we were?' asked Athos, 'and how did he know that you were the one who suggested we go there?'

Porthos was grinning as he put his arm over Aramis' shoulders, 'Treville has known Aramis for a long time...and I am fairly sure he can read minds.'

MMMM

Treville was a little surprised when Athos also walked into his office. Porthos noticed the look on Treville face.

'We're gonna be talking about him. And he knows and understands what's happened to him, he should be here,' Porthos remarked before Treville could question the inclusion of the injured man in the meeting.

'It's alright Captain,' said Athos, 'you can be honest with me when you talk, you don't need to dance around the subject.'

Treville nodded slowly. He was still finding it difficult to accept that the man in front of him was his lieutenant. Although he was not really. This man was really quite different. He was much more talkative and inquisitive. He was friendly and very open. Not that Athos was not those things but it was only on very rare occasions.

Once the door to his office had been closed he looked at his men. D'Artagnan looked a little apprehensive, Treville knew they had not had much success with trying to train him the previous day. He hoped the young Musketeer was not blaming himself for Athos' lack of ability.

Porthos almost looked resigned to the loss of his friend. Treville thought it was akin to mourning after a death. Athos was in the room, but at the same time, he was not.

It was Aramis that Treville knew he would have the toughest time with. If their early morning trip out was to the Palace as he suspected, Treville knew that Aramis was prepared to try pretty much anything to help Athos regain his memories. Aramis, who probably still thought he had done something wrong with his initial treatment of the man, would find it hardest to accept that Athos might be gone.

'I think you know what I have to say,' began Treville.

The men did not interrupt him, they did know what their Captain had to say.

'Much as I want to leave the four of you to work on your problem,' he glanced at Athos with a sad smile, 'I cannot spare all four of you for this anymore.'

Aramis was about to speak but Athos stepped forward.

'It's alright,' he said glancing at Aramis, 'I know my continued lack of improvement is frustrating, trust me I'm very frustrated by it. But you all have a job to do. You should be protecting the city. You should be being soldiers, not my guardians.'

'But there are more things we can try,' protested Aramis.

Treville looked at Aramis who wisely decided not to continue.

'I know this is difficult for you all to accept, but Athos, your memories may never come back, or it may be weeks or months.'

Aramis sighed and looked down, d'Artagnan rested his hand on the marksman's shoulder in solidarity. Treville thought for a moment. He knew that with the Palace about to be busy with visitors he could not spare all three of his men, but he could probably manage to spare one at a time. He knew that the other Musketeers in the garrison would be happy to cover the disparity of two missing men, one injured and one helping him.

'Let's compromise,' Treville said looking at Aramis who had raised his head at the words, 'for the next week I will spare one of you to be with Athos each day. You can continue to walk him around Paris, and train him, if that's what he wants.'

Athos nodded enthusiastically. The other shifted slightly, Aramis straightened up a bit.

'We can take it in turns,' said Porthos, 'one on one training might be what you need.'

Athos asked, 'would it be possible to continue my training in private? I know the others have been told about my condition, but from what you have all said about me I'm, somewhat better than...I...am at the moment.'

D'Artagnan smiled, 'I think that can be arranged.'

MMMM