Disclaimer: I borrowed two lines from the BBC. The storyline belongs to my imagination
Chapter XI
Elise and Aramis stayed in the chapel for a long time. They mainly stayed silent except for some moments were the soldier would break the peace by voicing his prayer out loud. She could not decide if he was aware of it or not, so she never made a remark. There were always the same words: "Please, save him. Take me instead." And then there was the Spanish, but she did not comprehend a word of this tongue. What she enjoyed was the way the words rolled on his tongue, more easily than the French. The French sounded harsh in comparison.
Breaskfast time must have come and gone when Aramis eventually stretched his arms, ready to leave. Elise felt groggy. It was rather cold in here when you did not move. He held her hand to help up to her feet.
"Thank you for staying. And for putting up with my bad mood."
"Thank you for not thinking I'm crazy. I wish I could do more to help."
"So do I...," he sighed, clutching his necklaces.
"They remind you of him, your friend." It was not a question. "Was he the one who gave them to you? The one whose life you saved?" Aramis cocked his head to the side. She understood her mistake and bit her lip. "Of course. No more questions."
"Thank you." He took her hand and kissed it gallantly. It warmed Elise's heart and she smiled. At least he did not think ill of her for slapping him.
"Shouldn't you go back to the Garrison? Athos will be looking for you."
"You are right. Let's not have him think I deserted my quarters. He will be worse than the Devil if he believes so."
They were back in the courtyard when Elise finally found the courage to ask what was going on between the two friends.
"Have you really done something that bad for Athos to keep you here?" Aramis stopped and faced her. His face as serious as it would ever be, but sad at the same time. He seemed to consider answering this question, too, then he sighed.
"I haven't done anything yet. He's only doing it to protect me. He's protecting me, you, him, everybody of what would happen if I did end up doing something." Too many secrets, too many hidden meanings in these words. Elise's head was beginning to ache. After a few seconds, she understood.
"He's keeping you from seeing your friend. But I do not understand...Your friend is sick. Surely it would be a comfort for him to see you, why would Athos want to keep you away?"
"Dear Elise, stop thinking too hard about it. Go back to your room, go see Constance, do something and please, don't concern yourself with my problems. I'll be fine."
Aramis smiled widely at her. However, his eyes were saying something else entirely. The morning had greatly confused her, she could not wrap her head around what she had learned, although she did not know herself what she had actually learned. What mattered was that Aramis was not at all himself, and that would not do.
Elise was browsing the small collection of books in her uncle's office, desperate to find something new, when Porthos bursted through the door, followed by Athos, d'Artagnan and Aramis.
"Captain Tréville has found your brother!" She may have fallen to the floor with relief if Athos had not been here to support her.
"Where? When? How is he?" She sat down at the desk, her heart beating against her chest.
"In his letter, he says they found him yesterday, and he seems well. There is no further information. I believe they will be detained in Orléans a few more days. There is so much more to settle before you can be reunited." She let out a deep breath. The men looked happy, too, as if they were the ones who had performed yet another successful mission.
"We'll drink to the good news!" Porthos ignored Athos's stern look when he opened a small cupboard, took out five glasses and a bottle of Armagnac.
"I'm not sure I should do that..."
"Nonsense. Enjoy the last moments of your freedom before the Captain is back!" Porthos said, filling her glass to the brink. Athos raised an eyebrow. The three others ignored him and emptied their own glass. The older Musketeer eventually did the same, glad to know that his commanding days would soon be over. Elise smelled her glass doubtfully. The last time she had drunk was before Aramis stitched her shoulder up.
She closed her eyes, thinking how happy she was to see her brother again very soon. She took one sip of her drink, but it burned her throat. The Musketeers laughed at her face and d'Artagnan was about to take her glass away, but she stopped him. It would not be said that she could not finish it. She swallowed all of it at once, and did not feel her mouth for the rest of the night. It was suddenly really hot around and inside her.
"There you go! That's our girl!" Someone slapped her back and she felt like she truly belonged among them. Her eyes crossed Aramis's and he raised his glass toward her before drinking slowly.
"We should find her something to eat or she may be sick."
Elise felt even happier now and she was smiling all the way down to the kitchen, where they all sat to share some bread and ham. Her head slowly cleared, she had only drunk one glass after all, and she spent the rest of the evening watching Porthos and d'Artagnan play cards. Porthos was teaching the younger man some tricks that would ensure him to win every time. There was a good atmosphere between them. Elise had not a care in the world in that instant; for the first time in weeks, she felt truly and completely at peace with the world.
"I won!" exclaimed d'Artagnan, startling her. "I won!"
"So you did...Well done!" Porthos seemed upset for a moment then his face lit up. He was proud of his friend, as a professor would be of his student. Elise chose to retire to her room on this good note. The two Musketeers bid her good night and went back to their game.
There were some hushed voices heard in the corridor as she was walking up the stairs. The voices were unmistakable and this time, they did not seem to be fighting.
"André said he heard a nurse say they had sent for another physician. One who is known to cure all fevers. Everything isn't lost, Aramis."
"It's been two days already. He is so little, he must be in excruciating pain. There must be something else to do but send for more clueless physicians."
"All we can do is pray, my friend. In our position, there isn't another option. I feel for you. This story does you no good. I mean, look at you, you're a wreck." Elise heard Aramis laugh.
"Who would have thought it could get worse?" The voices grew closer and Elise flattened herself against the wall to remain unseen.
"Go get some rest. I doubt the Captain will let you idle in here when he is back." They rounded the corner, never taking the stairs. They must have been talking about Aramis's friend, the one who was sick. But he had a nurser? How old was this friend? Elise was more and more confused with any news she heard. She could not make sense of what was bothering Aramis. At least she wasn't the only one caring about him. Athos seemed to be a good support. He was right, though, Aramis was a wreck today.
It may have been the last remnant of the alcohol making the decision for her, but Elise did not go back to her room. Instead, she took a different path and knocked on Aramis's door. He opened it quickly, wearing only a loose shirt. The surprised look on his face confirmed he did not expect to find her here.
"Is it a bad time?"
"Not at all."
"Good. Can I come in?"
"I don't think your uncle would like his niece to visit Musketeers in their rooms unsupervised."
"Then we shall not tell him about it." She walked past him, entering a room quite similar to hers, albeit smaller. She did not think it could be possible. Aramis shook his head, laughing. This girl could be trouble if he was not more careful.
"Please, have a seat," he offered, gesturing to his bed. There was simply no other comfortable place to sit in his room. She sat at the edge, taking on her surroundings.
"I hope you are better than this morning."
"A little bit, yes. Your good news cheered all of us up. I'm truly happy you can be with your brother again."
"God has answered my prayers. It's such a relief; I do not think I will be able to find sleep tonight. It's too much anticipation knowing I will see him soon." Aramis smiled, glad to hear she was in good spirits. He was glad for her company, too. His night would have been spent thinking about his son and about how useless he was. It made him hate his situation even more. No matter how many stolen meetings the Queen could offer, he would never be close for the important moments, whether joyful or desperate like today. He would forever be denied the chance to be a real father.
"Your prayers will soon be answered as well, Aramis. I'm sure that God will not forget you," Elise tried to reassure him, seeing the fear and bitterness pass on his face. He was so conflicted. He sat on the floor next to his bed. He had to look up to see her eyes when he talked.
"Sometimes I think God must be weary of me and of all I have done. What if he has abandoned me?"
"He has not. Not unless you stop believing in him. You carry him with you everyday." She pointed to the cross resting on his shirt. She hesitated before continuing. "Aramis, your friend Louis, the one you are praying for, how old is he?"
"Elise..."
"I know. No questions, but I wish I understood. I may be able to help."
"You already help more than others by being understanding. Your situation is far worse than mine, you should not fret about me."
"I would not be here tonight if it weren't for you, Aramis. I owe you my life. I want to be helpful even if you think there's nothing we can do. You can always pray. Do you want me to stay with you again?"
The soldier forced a laugh, standing up from the floor, shaking his head. She was too adorable. If he listened to his heart, he would have to admit he'd be sad when she finally moved from the Garrison and he could not see her every day.
"Surely, you must find me quite pathetic, locking myself up to pray endlessly."
"On the contrary. I think it shows that you have a heart and you use it. It takes some courage to abandon yourself to a prayer like you were doing this morning."
"I am a bit desperate, if you must know the truth."
"I am aware. You look sad most of the time, and I have to say, it does not suit you. I prefer when you smile. There you go!" she added when he grinned. "Someone with such beautiful eyes should smile more often."
"How much have you had to drink when we were not looking?" Aramis asked. He could not believe she would actually be talking to him like that if she was sober. He observed her more closely, but she was standing very still, not looking intoxicated. Apart from her flushed face, there was nothing out of the ordinary. Was he dreaming? What was she doing?
"Just the one drink. I'm serious, Aramis. I don't think your lovers appreciate it when you're brooding."
"My lovers? I... I don't have lovers. Well, I did...sometimes. But right now, there's no one. Well, there's ….hmmm, there's Marguerite but she's...she's not important. I don't...I don't love her. She's merely a distraction." He pinched his arm to stop his mouth from uttering words that would compromise him. He didn't care if she knew about the women; everybody knew Aramis slept with plenty of women. What mattered to him was that Elise knew there was no one important in his life right now. He was starting to understand what Porthos had warned him about the week before. Captain Tréville would kill him if he didn't make the situation right.
"So women are only 'distractions' to you? I doubt I know one who would be happy with this sort of qualification." Elise put her hands on her hips, a look of disapproval on her face.
"They only begin to interest me when they are brave enough to slap me."
"You did not feel anything!"
"You should have hit harder, indeed."
"Would you like me to give it a second try?" Elise heard the words before realizing she should not have said them. What was she thinking? It was bad enough that she had come alone to a soldier's room, but now she dared make this kind of suggestions? What would have her mother said? She blushed but did not look down.
"I'd rather not. You would simply manage to break your wrist." Aramis stepped forward, grabbing both her hands to restrain her. She put up quite a fight in an attempt to break free, but she was laughing more than she was frightened. Aramis found some comfort in the crystalline sound of her laughter. Locks of her hair framed her eyes.
Then, Elise tripped on the bed cover hanging over the edge and fell on the bed, taking the stronger man with her. Aramis landed half on top of her and only then did they realize the dangerous game they had been playing.
"It's all right. I've got you," he whispered.
"So you have." Her breathing was laboured and there was a hint of hesitation in her eyes. Everything that had happened between them since this morning was so unlike her that she could not imagine making things worse. It would be a lie to say that she had not imagined this moment, although she would have never thought she'd be the one initiating it. Today had brought her good news, and she did not want the day to end.
They stared into each other's eyes for an eternity. Aramis knew he could not do anything or his friends and his superior would kill him and accuse him of taking advantage of a defenceless girl. He was about to stand up when Elise took matters in her own hands. Carefully, and not exactly knowing what she was doing, she raised her head and pressed her lips to his.