Chapter XLIII
"What do you think will happen to me if some harm should befall the Dauphin?"
"You'll die?"
"God, thank you for the support." Porthos rolled his eyes at Aramis' proposition. "I am feeling so much better for it. Why did you have to recommend me?"
"Because you are a good teacher. The two of you have been working wonders with my nephew and since his Majesty cannot bare to be separated from Aramis, there you are," the Captain replied.
"Athos would be more than capable to teach him."
"Please, Porthos, have you seen Athos? The poor child would be scared just by looking at his face. He never smiles."
"What? Because I have to smile as well?" Porthos exclaimed, his friend chuckling. The Captain shook his head at the two Musketeers' banter.
"It is preferable indeed. He's only a small child after all. Of course, if you find it too difficult and would prefer to trade your new position with the one of looking after the youngest prince, I will be more than happy to agree."
"Would that do?" Porthos demanded quickly, a large smile plastered to his face. "Anything but watching over sleeping babies. Please."
Aramis almost fell off the chair he was sitting on in the kitchen at the other's expression. It took all the Captain had not to grin at the soldier's expense.
"You better temper it, though, or he will have nightmares."
"Shut your mouth. My smile is delightful."
"Well, don't smile like this to your godson or his mother will slap your head for scaring him."
"You're the one afraid of your wife, not me."
"I have no clue what makes you come up with such ludicrous ideas."
"I only have to watch how you are often so well-disposed to obey her."
"Do I have a choice when upsetting her means I could be shoved out of my bed?"
"As if it never happened before."
"Not with Elise. I know how to keep my wife happy, thank you very much."
"Aramis!" the Captaine exclaimed. His face had taken on a light red colour. It was not a conversation he wanted to listen to.
"Sorry, Captain." His tone of voice said otherwise. Porthos hid his smirk in his glass of wine.
"I knew there was a reason why I did not eat with the lot of you at the Garrison."
"Still, here you are, stuck with us for at least a month!"
"Don't make me change my mind about the Dauphin, Porthos," Tréville threatened, standing up to seek a better place where he would not have to hear about his niece and her husband.
The next day, a rider arrived after noon to announce that the Queen's escort would make its appearance soon. It was still extremely hot outside and the King had not wanted to leave the cooling corridors of Fontainebleau to go hunting. Aramis hoped his Majesty's attitude would change rapidly because he would be quite angry to have come such a long way to merely stay indoors. Being so close and so far away from the Dauphin at the same time was not going to be an easy task as it was, so he did not need any more hardships during his stay.
It was the middle of the afternoon when the carriage was eventually spotted at the end of the large alley leading to the Palace entrance. Porthos could not complain about the sun in his face out loud since the guards and the Musketeers were standing too close to their monarch. Yet, his sighs were enough to have the Captain step closer and warn him to stop. Aramis was too nervous to have the strength to mock his friend. Luckily, his hat would hide whatever emotions could transpire on his face. His right hand was resting on his hip, close to the pocket where he kept his crucifix.
The King stood up from under his canopy when the carriage door opened, d'Artagnan holding out his hand to help the Queen out. She squinted to get her bearings and took the Dauphin's hand in her own as he was awkwardly stepping out. Aramis had not seen him since Saint-Germain. Whether it was the Queen seeking to offer some comfort or pure chance, he had not seen him at the Louvres in July either. Whatever the reason, he was grateful for it. The toddler appeared happy enough, looking over the place, a smile on his face. It reassured the soldier. It was all he needed to be content. He could not have cared less about the second baby, safely held by Marguerite. His feeling towards the heir's younger brother was simply a dutiful one, nothing else.
His Majesty offered his greetings after the Queen and her entourage had curtsied respectfully. She did not look at Aramis or any of the others as she walked past them, but he made a point of bowing as much as he could, his head so low he could not have seen it if she had glanced at him.
The four friends were happy to be reunited, all sharing news as they finally settled in the soldiers' quarters that night. As expected, d'Artagnan complained about Porthos being in charge of the Dauphin's riding instruction. Tréville silenced him quite quickly with the same threat he had uttered for Porthos. Guarding sleeping babies was a task the young Musketeer abhorred as much as his friend.
For the next weeks, Aramis was relieved to realize that avoiding the Queen and her first-born was as easy in the countryside as it was in Paris. The Palace was so big that since he did not try to meet with them on purpose, he could sometimes spend days without seeing one or the other. The King usually requested to set out hunting in the morning and the parties often lasted the entire day. It was no so hot in the woods after all, the trees and the heavy foliage offering a cool atmosphere.
When he did not miss his target, his Majesty could be quite amiable, even though the Musketeer was careful after what had happened to him the previous year, and never let the King's conversation distract him. It made no doubt that his traitors of friends had cast some wager on his possible injuries. The look on Porthos' face as he came back every night in one piece had been enough to convince him.
What really bothered Aramis was to be so far away from Elise and the baby. Of course, they had Christophe and Constance to keep them company. Still, it was not easy. There were many nights when he would lie in bed, unable to fall asleep as worry ate him up. A messenger came from Paris once a week to bring letters from the King's Council and the soldier took advantage of it to send a rather long message to his wife, telling her about what was happening in Fontainebleau, reassuring her that he was fine and inquiring about how she was doing. It was a joy when a reply arrived a week later. The others joked endlessly about how he would not stop reading it over and over, but it did not bother him. He could not be close to the child here on the grounds with him; he could at least remain close to his other one, even if only on paper.
It turned out that the Dauphin rather enjoyed being taught how to ride. Even when he was not out hunting with the King, Aramis made a point to be sent somewhere else so he would not have to escort the monarch if he wished to assist to the lessons. Athos, silent as always, still helped his friend in this enterprise. Not a word was spoken between them, none was required. The only news he received were from Porthos. The child seemed to be growing fond of him, calling him by his name without making any mistake, which had to be a first. Apparently, the heir was a talkative toddler, laughing and smiling through his lessons. It was wishful thinking from his Majesty to believe he would be able to hold the reins himself at only one year and a half, yet, if the teaching continued back in Paris, his instructor had not doubt that he would one day become a very skilled rider.
"Quite the opposite of his father, if you want my opinion", Porthos stated one evening as they were all lying down in the grass. The Red Guards crowded their quarters and any attempt to bring the two regiments closer had failed miserably.
No. Quite like his real father actually, Aramis thought bitterly.
One day, about a month after they had arrived at the Palace, a messenger brought a second letter to Aramis. He was excited and impatient to read it, his pace quickening in the long corridor. The King would be busy with affairs of state for a long time so he would not be missed. He could retire for a couple of hours before it occurred to his ruler that his favourite guard was not by his side. He was walking so fast that he did see who was coming in the other direction, his gaze focused on the sealed paper in his hand.
"Good Lord! Would you watch where...My apologies, your Majesty!" he exclaimed when he realized it was the Queen he had almost shoved to the ground. He bowed, taking off his hat. They had not spoken a word to each other in weeks, but she seemed happy to meet him by chance.
"There is no harm done, Aramis. You seemed quite in a hurry. I hope nothing is wrong."
"Everything is perfectly fine, do not fear. I've simply received a letter from my wife and I...I wanted to read it at once, which is selfish. Please, forgive me."
"I find it quite normal, on the contrary. It must be difficult to be far from her."
"Her Majesty is correct."
"Perhaps I could..."
"You should not worry so much about me, your Majesty," the Musketeer cut her off. He knew what she was going to suggest, and it would not do. It would not be said that he benefited from privileges because the Queen should not know that much about his private life in the first place. "My duty is here, keeping all of you safe."
"Very well. I thank you for your unwavering dedication. I was heading to the riding circle. Will you escort me?"
The question sounded innocent, the tone was as neutral as expected from the Queen, but he knew it aimed to please and bring joy to him. He would have loved to say yes, yet his senses were telling him to decline the offer. Aramis knew she would not have insisted and respected his choice. There were guards standing in the corridor, though; they had to have heard the conversation as they were the only two people talking in the quiet place. It would not do to turn down a direct order. It was not what was expected of a dutiful soldier. So he bowed again, taking one step to the side to give her room to resume walking.
They barely exchanged a word on their way outside, Aramis one step behind her as protocol required. She held her head high, her walk slow, slower than usual. For all their history, it felt odd to be so close and yet ignore each other.
"How is your wife?" she whispered when they reached the door opening on the gardens. There was nobody else around likely to eavesdrop on such a private question. If the Musketeer's hearing had not been sharp, he would have probably not heard her.
"She was fine when I left them. I should hope it has remained unchanged."
"She must be rather tired. It is such a luxury for me to have so many people at my service to help. Taking care of a newborn on her own, without you..."
The entourage and the servants of the royal couple may be numerous, it was a small world where everybody knew everything as soon as a news had been uttered publicly once. Aramis officially becoming a father was something well-known by now. Despite not having talked to her Majesty in weeks, it was not a surprise that she mentioned Elise's pregnancy. Moreover, they both knew Queen Anne had not forgotten one word of their last exchange in Saint-Germain, How could she forget anything that happened in the life of a person who was so dear and precious to her? Aramis used to be one of her only true friends, if not the only one she could freely speak to, how ever awkward and perilous their situation was.
"Elise is quite a strong and capable woman. I do wish I could be by her side to help, but since it is impossible, I comfort myself in her letters. And I pray God to keep them well."
It warmed the Queen's heart when he brought his hand up to the front of his uniform, absent-mindedly touching the crucifix that was there at the mention of the Lord.
"I will pray for her as well," she resolved.
"Her Majesty is too generous."
"May I inquire about your child's name?"
"His name is Mathieu, your Majesty. It was the name of my wife's late father," Aramis answered reluctantly. It was one thing for the Queen to know he was a father again, yet he would have preferred not to inform her that it was a boy. He was not mistaken when he supposed that it would worry her, as it worried him and Elise as well, even though they tried not to think too much about it.
"You have been blessed with a son, then..." Another son. The Queen could not help glancing at him, fear passing in her eyes. It disappeared too quickly for anyone else to see. They were coming close to where other guards were watching over the Dauphin. Porthos' loud voice was already filling the air. They would have to stop talking soon, but he could not leave her without reassuring her first.
"Yes, your Majesty. Even though it is too early to be absolutely sure of it, I do believe he will look quite like his mother, from the fair hair to the stubborn attitude to always have what he desires."
Queen Anne's smiled softly, although it did not entirely ease her tension.
"I believe my child will have the same attitude."
"A future King is never stubborn. It is others who are wrong in their opinions."
This time, the unexpected joke was enough to make her laugh. The sound was refreshing and comforting to Aramis, yet surprising, and he had to smile as well. She had laughed loudly enough for the heir to recognize his mother's voice. He was close to where the Queen and the soldier had stopped. He turned around on his little pony, hands extended toward her, Porthos catching him before he could even start sliding down the saddle.
"Maman!"
"Good morning, my dear."
"Your Majesty." Porthos gave a simple nod. Bowing would be too dangerous with the child so close. His friend was thankful for it. He could not have wished for a better protector for the heir. Aramis realized he was staring too openly, especially as he remembered the suspicions the other Musketeer used to have about his relationship with the Queen. On the other hand, the Dauphin was smiling and talking so fast in front of him that it would have been blasphemous to ignore him.
He doubted anyone could understand what seemed to be a lengthy explanation about his pony. The word "horse" came up too often to think otherwise. The rest was hardly understandable. Queen Anne listened intently, smiling and nodding from time to time, which led to the Musketeer smiling in spite of himself. It should have felt wrong to be so proud of the Dauphin, it was not his role. It did not stop him from doing it, until he noticed Porthos watching him intently, eyebrows raised.
What Aramis was doing was not proper behaviour, especially not so close to her Majesty. The Queen was so focused on her son she did not realize what was happening next to her. Swallowing hard, the soldier straightened his face before taking his leave. He gave the excuse of having to return to the King's side. He glanced briefly at the Queen after raising his head from his bow.
"Your Majesty." He wish he could have said more, but more was not required between them.