Disclaimer: I do not own Albert the Fifth Musketeer, the original Three Musketeers works or any canon characters. They are the property of their respective owners. I do own Michel, Catharine, Beatrix and Aimee.
Notes: It has been a while, hasn't it? Well, I finally have a story to share. The idea for this one started as a dream I had, then it kept nagging at me some more while I had a bath. This is in four parts and while it is mostly sad, it does have a happy ending.
Andre is from the episode Her Majesty's Garden and I headcanon that he and Albert are childhood friends. Andre mentions Balthazar from the episode The King's Jester and references one of my fanfics called Smile!.
Aramis speaks of the events of Recovering from All Wounds, another fanfic of mine.
There are no pairings in this one, all relationships are platonic. There is mentioned cursing and minor OOC.
I hope you enjoy this!
(Linebreaks still hate me, so I will use APADA.)
APADA
"Sir, we regret to inform you..." Aramis started reporting to Captain de Treville, only to be silenced as he saw their commanding officer raise a hand.
"I understand, Aramis." Monsieur de Treville didn't want to hear in words that one of his men had been lost, least of all the son of a dear friend of his. "You should all go rest. I'll organise the recovery efforts."
They nodded solemnly and departed.
APADA
By that point of the evening, Albert had shut down. He stared blankly ahead as if in a trance, tears occasionally filling his eyes and slipping down his cheeks. He had to be guided back to his room and told to have some rest. Without changing out of his uniform, he lay on his bed and closed his eyes.
APADA
The Three Musketeers weren't faring much better. "I should've burst in there, found him and carried him out! Now, he's...he's..." Porthos muttered, dashing his fist under his eye.
Aramis sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder, a grim expression on his face.
"I knew something was wrong when Albert came out alone. I know he had to bring out the baby, otherwise he wouldn't have left D'Artagnan alone. Of course, if they hadn't even gone in there in the first place..." His sorrow was quickly replaced with anger. "How was the landlord unaware his daughter was still inside? Did his wife not say anything to him? If he had known and gotten her out himself, then D'Artagnan would still be here!"
"I understand how you feel, Porthos, but D'Artagnan went in there to rescue her while knowing how hazardous it was. He didn't count on actually getting trapped. If Albert hadn't gone in with him, two lives would've been lost. D'Artagnan would've considered not saving her to be his greatest failure."
"I know he would never forgive himself had he failed to save her, but..."
Athos sighed. "He gave his life so another could live. Foolhardy to the end, that boy was, despite his noble sacrifice."
"I'm worried about Albert. He's most likely experiencing survivor's guilt on top of grief. We've seen him distressed before, when we've all come close to death, but now..." Aramis stated.
"You're right. He seems to have ceased functioning normally. If after a good rest he seems the same, we should have Andre see him." Athos looked up at the others. "For now, we should try to get some rest ourselves."
Porthos and Aramis nodded, faces sombre.
APADA
Albert shot up in bed as he choked on a silent scream. His blue eyes were wide with fear, his heartbeat pounding in his ears. "A nightmare, just a horrific nightmare..." he tried reassuring himself quietly, though he trailed off.
As the events of the evening came to him, he immediately realised what had happened was not a nightmare. D'Artagnan, his best friend and brother, had perished in a burning building. His stomach churned and he leaned over the side of his bed as he started to gag.
They were supposed to leave together. A ceiling beam had prevented that. Albert had vowed to return to D'Artagnan's aid the instant he'd reunited Beatrix with her parents. But, before he had a chance to, the building collapsed.
He'd failed to bring up anything. He coughed twice and wiped the saliva from his lips with his sleeve. He shook violently as he brought his knees to his chest and hugged them. "D'Artagnan, I couldn't save you...you...you shouldn't have perished..." He rested his forehead on his knees and wept.
APADA
The next morning, the Three Musketeers noticed no change in Albert's condition. He constantly wiped fresh tears out of his eyes and only ate anything placed before him. If not for him pausing to wipe away more tears that stung his eyes, he would've seemed as if under hypnosis.
Once Albert lay down and they'd left his room, Athos declared they had to summon Andre immediately.
APADA
Andre le Notre, the Royal Gardener, had woken with the sun and had made his start on tending to some roses when a messenger approached. "Good mornin', Monsieur, can I 'elp you with anythin'?"
"Monsieur le Notre, I am here on behalf of Messieurs Athos, Porthos and Aramis of the King's Musketeers. They require your presence post-haste in hopes you may know how to assist Monsieur de Parmagnan."
He didn't understand at that moment why alarms sounded in his mind, but nodded. "I shall proceed there immediately, please inform Her Majesty of my absence."
"Very good, Monsieur."
Andre set his pruning shears down and hurried out of the royal rose garden.
APADA
Andre was surprised to see the Three Musketeers awaiting his arrival outside the grounds of the de Treville mansion. "Messieurs, I came soon as I could. Did somethin' 'appen?"
Athos immediately filled him in on the details.
"Mon dieu! My sincerest condolences. Where is Albert right now?"
"This way."
Andre followed the Three Musketeers.
APADA
"This is Albert's room. As you've noticed, it grants him access to his workshop," Aramis stated as they stood outside the room. He knocked twice on the door, then opened it. "Go ahead, we'll wait out here."
Andre quietly entered the room, closing the door after himself. He approached the bed. "Albert?" He sat on the end of the bed.
Albert's eyes opened and he sat up. He opened his mouth to greet his old friend, but paused as tears filled his eyes again. He wiped them away.
"Monsieur Athos told me what 'appened. You're not farin' well."
He shook his head.
"I've only seen you like this one other time. I 'ave to say it's a good thing Monsieur de Parmagnan ain't 'ere to see this. I know 'e'd be worried."
Albert wanted to apologise for causing more worry to those who cared for him, but he could only swipe away another onslaught of tears.
"No, don't apologise, Albert. You're allowed to feel this way. Take as long as you need to recover from such a grave loss, alright? For now, you should try to get some more rest."
Albert nodded, lay down and closed his eyes.
Andre sighed sadly as he rose to his feet. He looked back to the man he'd known since they were both children. Shaking his head with a sigh, he made his way out of the room.
APADA
The Three Musketeers sat with Andre in Albert's workshop. Andre let out a quiet sigh. "He truly loves D'Artagnan." At their mildly confused glances, he realised what he'd said. "Oh, not like that. It's just...there 'as only ever been one other time 'e was in this state, and that was after Madame de Parmagnan passed away."
"So, it is as I feared," Athos murmured.
"What can be done?" Porthos questioned.
Andre shook his head. "Aside from stayin' by 'is side, nothin'. This is the second major loss Albert 'as experienced. I doubt 'e'll ever be the same again."
"Then, Albert will have to retire and return home this time," Aramis uttered. At Andre's questioning look, he spoke of a time from years passed in which all but Albert almost lost their lives. "It took him some time to recover from that alone, he would still have days the memories overwhelmed him. I understand Albert has trouble coping with traumatic experiences in his life, but he was able to make it through his mother's passing."
"Only because of Monsieur Balthazar, and even then, only because 'e could say something to 'elp. Considerin' the circumstances of Monsieur D'Artagnan's passing..."
All went silent.