7 - Not One Is Lacking

'They want you back home? So soon?' Raoul asked after reading the letter a second time. I nodded pensively.

'Roberto doesn't come into port often these days,' I said absently, thinking back on the contents of the letter. Raoul sat up a little straighter in his bed.

'Well, why is this Roberto character so important?' he asked. He had put on his 'responsible' air. Raoul was usually soft-spoken and shy, but when someone needed his help, he took it very seriously. Times like this were when his true character came through.

'He has been paying his attentions to me for quite a while. Shortly before I came here, I sat down with my parents and they made it very clear that the next time he came to the house I was to encourage his attentions any way I could.'

Raoul studied my face for a long moment. 'Do you love him?' he finally asked quietly. I looked up at him awkwardly.

'I don't know him. I couldn't possibly love him... but he cares for me, and he's made it clear that he will take care of me. My place is to honor my parents, and they feel that Roberto is a good prospect for me.'

'Well, Marie, it sounds like you've already made a decision about this letter. We will all be sad to see you go, though,' Raoul said, examining my face knowingly. I tried to evade his glance, but ultimately knew that I couldn't.

'I don't want to go,' I whispered, looking down at my lap. Raoul reached over and held my hand.

'I know.'

'They will make me marry him, Raoul,' I said, my voice still low.

'You don't have to go,' he replied comfortingly. 'I'm sure you could stay here...'

I smiled. 'I wish I could, but to be honest with you I don't know when -or if- I will get another offer for my hand,' I told him uneasily. Raoul immediately opened his mouth to protest my statement, but I put up a hand to stop him. For a long moment, Raoul and I sat in silence. That silence was eventually broken, however, by the door downstairs opening and swinging closed.

'I suppose it's the moment of truth,' I said, forcing a smile. Raoul smiled back as reassuringly as he could as I rose and headed toward the hallway. Just as I came down the stairs, I saw Athos turn away from the coatrack and into the kitchen. I took a deep breath and followed him into the kitchen quietly.

'Hello, uncle,' I said, plastering a cheerful expression on my face. 'How was your day?'

'Uneventful,' Athos replied with a sigh. I didn't have to ask him to see what was wrong. He missed action, just like his companions. His looming retirement was not treating him well. I hated to bring up my problem when my uncle seemed so despondent, but he needed to know.

'Uncle, I received a letter from mother today,' I began, watching as Athos sat at the large dining table. At the mention of his sister, he perked up slightly.

'Really? How is everyone?' he asked, a smile finally gracing his lips. I sat across from him slowly and smiled, putting the letter flat on the table in front of me.

'Everyone's fine. However, the letter brought up a subject that I need to speak with you about-'

I was interrupted by the door opening and D'Artagnan walking in.

'Good morning Athos, Marie,' D'Artagnan greeted with a nod to each of us. Behind the two of them I could see Raoul on the landing, wondering if he should make his way down the stairs or not.

'Good morning, D'Artagnan,' Athos said, distractedly. 'Marie was just trying to tell me something. What's wrong, Marie?'

I smiled thankfully, and began again. 'It appears that there's a young man waiting for me at home.'

'A young man, eh?' D'Artagnan joked, placing his hands on the table and leaning toward me. 'What sort of young man?'

'That's hardly relevant,' I told D'Artagnan, trying my best to brush off his comment. 'The point is, my parents feel that I should come home to greet him, as he is not often in our part of the country. It is their opinion that I should try to make the most of this possible time with him.'

For a while, no one spoke. Athos finally piped up.

'How do you feel about this, Marie?' he asked compassionately. I smiled, letting myself relax a bit at his tone and expression.

'I loathe the thought of leaving you all so soon, but I feel I should honor my parents' wishes.' I accompanied my response with my best attempt at a reassuring smile. Athos nodded. He wore a smile on his lips, but I could tell his eyes were disappointed. To his right, D'Artagnan stood up straight.

'If that is what you wish, my dear,' was his only response. I decided to turn the conversation slightly.

'You needn't tell Porthos or Aramis the details of this. I'm not sure they'd look upon it favorably. Only say that my family required me at home; that it is urgent, but not dire, so they won't worry. Once I am home, you may tell them everything I have told you.'

Athos and D'Artagnan agreed not to give the others too much detail before I left, but under the condition that they would give me one final dinner as a sendoff in two nights' time, after all the arrangements for my travel were in order. I agreed happily and looked back up to Raoul on the landing, who gave me an approving smile.

'You must come back as quickly as possible,' Porthos stated matter-of-factly in his booming voice. Dinner was almost on the table, and the five of us were sitting around the table with glasses of wine as Athos buzzed around the kitchen. At Porthos' comment, I glanced at D'Artagnan. We both knew that if my parents had their way, I would soon be married and have a very difficult time travelling here. All the same, I kept the smile on my face.

'I swear I will come back the very moment I am able,' I promised, seemingly satisfying Porthos. He continued to drink his wine and spread out in his chair. A sudden sadness washed over me as I examined the men around the room. The last time I had visited France, I had not yet turned thirteen. At the time, I had enjoyed their company but had soon turned my attentions to other pursuits when I had gone home.

This time, I could fully appreciate them. Not for the first time, I realised how dearly I would miss them when I went away.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Aramis standing at the back door. I turned to meet his gaze and he smirked at me quickly before ducking out the doorway. I furrowed my eyebrows in confused amusement and excused myself from the table.

When I followed Aramis, I saw him standing before a blanket on the ground with a small package lying on top of it.

'One more tour of the skies, Marie?' he asked softly. I smiled and walked over, sitting on the blanket. I eyed the small package as Aramis sat beside me.

'I'm not supposed to tell you this, but they will be giving you presents later.'

I shot him a surprised look. 'I didn't want anyone to go to any trouble,' I protested. Aramis put up a hand to stop me from objecting.

'None of them have daughters to spoil or wives to indulge. Let them take that out on you. Few young women would put up with us as you do.' He finished his statement with a soft smile that made the corners of his crinkle slightly.

'Fine, fine,' I said lightly, thankful for the night obscuring my blush.

'This,' Aramis commented, picking up the package on the blanket, 'is my gift to you.'

I thought to object, but thought better of it. I took the package from him and laid it in my lap.

'What is it?' I asked, tracing the twine around the brown paper with my forefinger. Aramis smiled and looked down at his gift.

'It's the reason for my stargazing,' he said simply. I grinned and redirected my attention to the gift in my lap, beginning to pull away the twine.

'Aramis!' Porthos bellowed from the back doorway. 'You are keeping Marie all to yourself again!'

Aramis shook his head at his friend's shaky, obviously inebriated stance, but he smiled in spite of himself. He stood quickly and brushed himself off before offering me a hand to help me up. I was eager to open his gift, but I took his hand and we both went back into the house.

That night, I sat in the room my uncle had given me for my stay. The room was bathed in moonlight, and I sat on the bed looking over the gifts my dear friends had given me. From Athos, a simple silver chain. From D'Artagnan, a training foil and plain -but comfortable- clothes made for exercise and maneuverability. He told me that he expected me to keep practicing. From Porthos, another extravagant dress that I almost couldn't accept. From Raoul, a stack of books to occupy me on my journey.

I had not yet opened Aramis' gift. I held it in my hands gingerly and for the second time that night began to remove the twine. I unwrapped the brown paper slowly and was greeted by two words illuminated by moonlight. Holy Bible.

I thought back to what Aramis had said. He told me that this was the reason for his stargazing. I flipped through the pages and noticed that there had been a page marked. I opened to that page and saw what was marking it. A pressed flower. One of the small, white flowers that Aramis had been plucking at behind the house. On the right page, there was a short passage that stood out to me:

Lift up your eyes on high, and see who hath created these, that bringeth out their host by number; he calleth them all by name; by the greatness of his might, and for that he is strong in power, not one is lacking.

I read the passage a few times and then looked out the window and up at the stars with a smile.

He calleth them all by name, I thought, and not one is lacking.

Suddenly, I knew why Aramis said this was the reason he enjoyed stargazing. I put all my gifts away and laid back in my bed, still looking out the window. I let sleep take me, trying not to think about my journey tomorrow.

A/N: Well. That only took forever and a half. Don't hate me. I'm married now! :D Anyway. I'm really very sorry this took so long. I had a ridiculous amount of writers block for over two years and couldn't write a single thing, and all my stories suffered. It really killed me seeing all my stories wither, but I literally had nothing to write. It was that really crappy feeling of staring at a blank screen and not knowing what to do.

But, hopefully, I'm back in the saddle! I have a lot more ideas for this story and some of my others. :) Thank you so much for reading and your patience. Please R&R and have a freaking awesome day!