Chapter XXIX

The birthday festivities for the royal couple came and went, the Musketeers having a little more time for regular missions and less idle standing. Aramis would have never imagined it would be Porthos complaining about the changes in his life. As far as he was concerned, he found it quite well-balanced and since his ankle was better, it was never dull. He could run around and his fighting was becoming more fluid. Captain Tréville was once again able to give him assignments that required a lot of riding and could be potentially dangerous.

Elise and him never mentioned her talk with the Queen. They never discussed this decision either; it was an unspoken agreement. It was all for the best. The young woman seemed to have been transformed by the ball at the Palace. She spoke about it for days, regaling Constance and her new friend and neighbour Delphine with every detail she could remember. Moreover, she had met several young girls that night and she was enchanted when she was invited by one of them one afternoon. There were so many distractions to be had in Paris.

It would soon be November, which meant that the Dauphin would celebrate his first birthday. The King had requested another party for his heir, albeit less incredible than the ones in September. Aramis was trying not to think too much about. It bothered him that he had only been assigned one night on nursery watch the past month, and none during the day. He could not voice it out loud though. Porthos and d'Artagnan took charge of it. They had strongly complained after finding out that they were to be near the Dauphin at least once a week whereas their friend only had one night.

"If you want to defy the King's orders, please go ahead. But do not expect me to come visit you when you'll root at the Châtelet," Captain Tréville had replied curtly. "You are Musketeers and if you are assigned to watch the Dauphin until he turns 20 then you will do it. His Majesty has other assignments for Aramis."

The interest Louis XIII had developed for the soldier since Versailles and the hunting party was becoming oppressing. Monsieur Aramis had to follow him everywhere he went, once he was even asked to practise sword-fighting against his Majesty. It had not been a good day for him, he was too afraid to wound his royal opponent. The King had won without glory, the Musketeers praising his fine skills and his swift parry.

A few days before the Dauphin's birthday, the new schedule regarding his security and guards was given to the Musketeers while they were eating lunch at the Garrison. Aramis' spoon tinkered in the table when he saw that his name was not on it. He felt his heart stop for a second, and he gripped the table, his knuckles turning white. His friends were complaining as always, oblivious to his problem. Only Athos noticed, and he put a strong hand on his shoulder to restrain him.

"Aramis, calm down," he mumbled in his beard, taking a sip of his wine.

"How can she..."

"She can do whatever she wants. She's the Queen." Aramis was fuming. He made to stand up, but his companion's grip sat him back down. "If you move, I punch you."

"You would not. Not here."

"I swear, Aramis. Stay where you are or I punch you." Aramis shook his shoulder free, put his hat on his head and stood up anyway to go see Captain Tréville. His friend stood up as well and turned him around before punching him hard on the nose. The other fell to the ground, shocked. All the soldiers in the room stopped talking but Athos simply finished his glass of wine then he walked out without looking back.

"What have you done?" Porthos asked, helping Aramis back on his feet. He wiped the blood running down his nose with the back of his hand.

"He must not be happy to see that I am given better duties when he has to watch a baby," he lied.

"Well, I am not pleased either but I'm not going to beat you up for it. It's not as if it was your fault." Aramis could not help but wonder, though. What had happened in the past months in order for the Queen (because it could only be her) to shun him from his child? They had to talk. He had to find a way to see her.

Straightening his uniform, he went outside to get some fresh air. The weather was growing chilly, the sky was grey. It looked like it could start snowing at any moment. Gathering his warm cape around himself, he leaned against a wall. The wind was on his face, but he could not have cared less. This unfortunate new schedule should not have affected him that much. It was wrong and it was dangerous. Athos had been right in his action, although the soldier's jaw was sore already. The punch had terribly hurt.

"Are your thoughts clearer?" a sour voice asked. "You cannot act like you just did, Aramis."

"Must we really talk about this again?"

"As long as you won't understand that your actions could cost you your life as well as the lives of others, yes we will!" Athos' face was so close to his own; they could not risk their conversation being heard. His friend glared at him.

"She has no right to keep me away. She..."

"She has every right, you fool! She may do whatever she pleases!"

"But she promised!"

"Listen to yourself!" Athos hissed. "You sound like a child. You're talking about the Queen, she can break whatever promise she desires and if she does, no one will blame her for it. Others will take the blame instead."

"I thought it would be different this time. You don't understand, Athos. I have to see him, he's my son."

"He's not! How can you still hold on to this idea? He is not. Do you hear me? You are no more than a mediocre guard for him and it is all you will ever be. You are nothing to him!"

Aramis had been trying to remain calm, but each of the other's words felt like another punch in the face. He could only take a certain amount of blows before it became too much.

"Take that back!" He pushed him away, Athos stumbling. "Take it back!"

Athos pushed right back, cornering his companion. One of his legs went between Aramis' and he put one arm to his throat to keep him from moving. Hats fell to the ground. Aramis struggled for a while, trying to break free, until he choked, Athos' grip tightening.

"I will not. You are upset, very well. Be upset in silence. You are this close to ruining your life even more, Aramis. Have you thought about Elise? Have you thought about your wife?"

He realized that no, he had not thought about her, too blinded by his anger and his lack of understanding. Athos may care about Elise and his friend's well-being, he was also scared for himself. Aramis knew it; he knew his feelings would lead to multiple downfalls, some harder than others. He was his son, though. He was his son, he was his son...He was his son, was he not?

"Let me go."

"Give me your word you will not do anything foolish."

"I do not owe you anything, Athos. Let me go." The older Musketeer only released his friend when they heard Porthos' loud voice coming up the stairs.

"I am serious, Aramis."

"So am I."

They went their separate ways and did not talk to each other for the following days. Aramis was all to aware that now, Elise would pay the consequences too if he made a serious mistake so he wished, he wished really hard he could stop feeling the way he did. He wished he could disregard the new schedule and spend days at the Palace only seeing the royal toddler from afar.

He stood still during the birthday ball where the Dauphin was not even present. He was probably sleeping in his crib. Many courtiers had brought gifts in hope to earn either the King or the Queen's favours. It sickened him to realize how spoiled the prince was. In his heart, Aramis hoped he would not grow up temperamental like the King.

The following week, there was finally an opportunity for him to approach the nursery and hopefully, the Queen. Athos and Porthos were out of town on a mission. D'Artagnan was supposed to keep watch over the Dauphin, but he was endlessly complaining about how he would spend a better night with Contance. Aramis could not miss this chance.

So there he was, standing at the door of the royal nursery, listening to Marguerite's desperate voice as she tried to calm the baby down. He had been crying for such a long time that even with the door closed, the Musketeer's ears were starting to hurt. He could not go inside, though. He knew he could not. He was already taking too many risks being at the Palace.

Suddenly, the door opened and Marguerite was facing him, the Dauphin wailing in her arms. She looked at a loss.

"What is wrong with him?" he asked, concerned.

"I don't know. Ssssshhhhhh. He's been asking for the Queen. Lucie went to look for her but it's been an hour and they are not back yet. He's been crying ever since he's last eaten. Sssssshhhhhh."

"Maman, maman, maman!" It was more a shriek this time. There were tears on his face and he was throwing his tiny fists in the air.

"It may be something he has eaten," Aramis offered. It hurt him physically to watch the child suffer.

"That's what I thought, too, but rubbing his belly changes nothing."

"Would you like me to seek the physician?"

"I was actually hoping you could help me. Please? I should not say this but...the Queen has been quite cross lately and if she finds out I sent for a physician before asking her...Please, Aramis?"

He did not quite know what to say. At least he was not the only one who had noticed the change in the Queen's behaviour. It may not be all his fault after all, whatever it was he had done. He followed the governess inside the nursery. The Dauphin was gently laid in his arms as he walked to and fro, rocking him and singing lullabies. A tiny hand grabbed his leather jacket, the other clutching his arm as the little body was shaken by more sobs.

Whether it was the singing, or the firm grip he had on his son, the cries somewhat lessened after a while. There were hiccups now that Aramis tried to ease by rubbing circles on baby Louis' belly.

"Ssssshhhhh, your Highness, sssshhhhhh. It's nothing. Everything will get better soon. I promise. It's nothing."

"Impressive," Marguerite congratulated him. "It seems that you have missed your true vocation."

"It's a gift," Aramis answered softly, the steady movement of his body calming the baby. The only talent the governess lacked in such a situation was the love a parent could give to his child.

"May I know what is the meaning of this?" A voice coldly asked behind them. Marguerite cringed when she turned around to face the Queen. "Marguerite?"

"I can explain, your Majesty. I..."

"Silence. You have greatly disappointed me. Return to your apartments for the night. Your services are no longer required." The Queen's words cut at the governess who curtsied then left. Aramis did not move, waiting for the wrath of the monarch to be directed at him. His hold on the Dauphin somewhat tightened out of habit. Always protect those in danger, no matter the danger.

"Are you trying to kill us all, Aramis?"