So, in case you were wondering, I only ever had the three musketeers on cassette tape as a kid- Fell asleep through it, so I got very confused as the story went on. I also only know bits and pieces about the sequels, (there were two); The second one had one of the best moments where my favorite musketeer readily agreed to come out of retirement, and the last one I will probably never read- for the simple fact I was told that one of the musketeers turned traitor, and got my favorite one killed for it. (Said favorite only went along because the traitor tricked him, and then chose to go out fighting). By the way, the third one is where the plot for Man in the Iron Mask comes from, so I will probably never watch any version of that movie …
Anyway, I decided I'd mess with history and the plot point mentioned above, however, much historical and creative license will be taken …
Together Again
The man once known as Aramis of the musketeers crouched on the field of skirmish, ignoring the fact he was stepping over the body of a man in a uniform that he himself once wore. He'd been working on his thesis to become a priest, when the land-owner next to the monastery in question had requested help, and somehow, that had spiraled until he was on a battle field.
He wasn't sure if God was testing him, or trying to tell him something.
The sound of sword on sword alerted him to two combatants, one a musketeer still fighting.
"D'Artangan!" A younger man's voice rang out, and Aramis' head snapped up, seeing the young man struggling up, trying to get between the musketeer and the musket held by another. The split second of distraction caused the musketeer to slip on the ground even as he disarmed his opponent.
Aramis blinked as the man holding the musket fell, the sound of the shot he had just taken still echoing in his ears.
"Damn you!" was the first sound that he heard, and Aramis fell back on years of experience as a soldier to dodge and then use the butt of his musket to take out the man that had rushed him. The force of the swing had him continue to turn, only to see the musketeer he'd just saved taking down the man who'd been behind him (Aramis had no idea he was even there).
The Musketeer lifted his head, and Aramis met his gaze with a rather odd feeling of detachment. His hair was still dark, but there was a short beard and mustache that reminded Aramis of how many years it had been.
"Aramis …" D'Artagnan started, only to clutch his side as he staggered. Aramis dropped his musket, catching the other and easing them both to the ground.
"You're hurt." Aramis noted, and got a soft snort in reply.
"'Tis a scratch."
"Scratches do not require needlework." It was a gash, and Aramis quite forgot the time and place as he held the younger man, keeping him against his chest as he began to tend the wound. They might as well been back in the days the younger man was still a wet-behind-the-ears pup, desperate for approval and the little brother they had all desired to see succeed.
"Get away from the lieutenant!" A click brought Aramis back to the present, and the heavy sigh from D'Artagnan reminded him the other had grown.
"It's alright, Raoul, he's my brother." D'Artangan said, with a strange confidence that made Aramis almost breakdown into tears.
He had been on the opposing side, he would have let D'Artagnan be shot if the young man now holding a gun at him had not yelled out the other's name. He would have let his brother die … Aramis almost reflexively tightened his grip on the other, one hand having reflexively gone to put pressure on the gash.
"Sir, he's with them." The other spat, and Aramis felt more than heard D'Artangan sigh in annoyance.
"He's my brother, soldier. Stand down and let him fix me up, go find du Vallon, if you wish to do something useful." The order was given in a tone that made Aramis' back reflexively straighten, and the young man quickly turned on the spot before rushing off. "Please tell me I was never like that." D'Artagnan groaned, leaning back a bit into Aramis.
"I'd be lying." Aramis felt his lips twitch with humor he didn't really feel. "Wait, Porthos is here?"
"Yes, I needed some help training the new recruits; Athos refused and I couldn't find you, but Porthos readily agreed." D'Artagnan chuckled as Aramis finally got the wound clean enough to start sewing. "He's been terrorizing the recruits, naturally, still as strong as ever, he tossed one into a trough without even looking."
"You are on the side of the Queen and her cardinal, then." Aramis felt the statement escape him before he could think better of it.
"I am still one of the King's Musketeers … he's not of age yet, and I promised his father I'd watch over him." D'Artagnan lifted his head to look at him. "Once upon a time, you swore the same."
Aramis didn't respond, just finished sewing and grimaced at the rather dirty cloth he had to wrap around the wound.
"Come with us." The offer was soft. "Porthos would like to see you again, and we'd protect you."
"… Given I just saved your life, I think I'd have to." Aramis notes, having seen the way the other had looked at the one Aramis had only knocked out.
The boy returns, and Porthos picks up D'Artagnan with a nod to Aramis. "Let's get the whelp back to the garrison, then."
Aramis follows, Raoul watching him warily, with frequent glances to the other two, confusion on his face.
Raoul runs ahead on Porthos' orders when the big man finally notices, and it's hard to say who's more surprised when they arrive at the Garrison (which hasn't changed, and Aramis feels like he's stepped back into the past again), the trio just returning, or Athos, who's just gotten his horse to come after them.
They take D'Artagnan to his room, and Aramis explains to Athos why he's there. The four do not part for the next several days, and the whispers of musketeers that remember the four (and the few that even remember the three) follow them as they help their youngest survive the infection that sets in despite Aramis' best efforts.
The Inseparables are together again.
From roughly 1649 to 1653 a rebellion occurred, where nobles rose up in protest. In particular, the protest focused on Queen Anne and her advisor Cardinal Mazarin (who actually disbanded the Red Guards, reformed them, and then gave them back to Louis so he had two companies of Musketeers) but Louis XIV was not unaffected by said rebellion. In fact, some historians believe this to be the start of his decision to move out of Paris and keep the nobles closer to him in Versailles, so there would not be a repeat.
Which gives me an idea, so this shall be continued in Together Again Part 2 …