Chapter Nineteen
Slowly Aramis unwound the blue sash from about his waist and tied it to the side gate of the garrison. Early morning shadows still clung to the land, there was nobody to see him, but the feeling of being watched lingered. He paused there, one hand on the sash, one hand on the wrought iron. It would take just a moment to undo the sash, don it once again, and go about his day as normal. If he walked away and left it there he would set the plan in motion. This day would be one for betrayal. This day everything would come to an end.
Aramis bowed his head, shut his eyes, and whispered a short prayer.
And then he turned and made for the stables.
~oOo~
Aramis rode towards the palace with the others who were on guard duty. He wanted to make an attempt at being his normal jovial self, but knowing what was about to come he just couldn't. He hung towards the back while the others traded light hearted conversation ahead. Aramis only spoke when it came to arrange the guard detail, he made sure to claim a patrol in the area near the King's chambers.
As he walked down the palace corridors Aramis played with the vial in his pocket. He tried to shut down his frantic mind. Events were set in motion, he had made his choice, all he had to do was focus on the actions. Just like when he set fire to the fuse…
No, that thought did not lead anywhere good. Instead he turned his thoughts to the people he passed by, ladies with their faces hidden by fluttering fans. He heard whispers, laughter. There were so many eyes, friendly, unfriendly, how could he tell? He could not trust here, there was no one to trust but himself. Only he could do this. The faces thinned out as he went along. At last, the way was clear, aside from Feron. The Governor came hobbling towards him. Aramis stared straight ahead, a soldier on patrol, nothing more. But he felt Feron's knowing look.
They passed by each other without a word. Romero was involved with Grimaud and Grimaud had dealings with Feron. He must have been part of it. He must have known what Aramis was there to do, and he said nothing.
Aramis swallowed heavily, listening to the sound of Feron's cane receding into the distance.
There was quiet when he finally faced the door to the King's bedchamber.
~oOo~
Aramis returned to his duties until the King, pale and coughing, decided to retire. It would not be long until all was set in motion, he had to play his part. Aramis calmly made his way to the Queen's quarters, his heart was beating at a frantic pace. The air seemed too close, as if a gathering storm was about to break.
When he entered, the Queen's ladies got up to leave. Aramis bid her get ready to go as a matter of urgency. There was little time to say much, he could already imagine what was going on in the King's chambers… the commotion… the calls for a physician… But he asked her to trust him, and told her that she would be safe. There was nothing to fear, they would be protected.
Aramis took the Dauphin's hand and whisked them away, down to a door where he knocked a specific staccato rhythm. An answer came and the door opened to reveal two men standing outside with their faces covered. Beyond them was the carriage, the driver glanced over and tipped his hat. Aramis issued an instruction to take care of the Queen and the Dauphin. And then he went for his horse. There was one last thing to do.
Aramis rode quickly through the streets of Paris. Life went on as normal out here, the chaos would not have breached the palace yet. He tethered his horse some way from the garrison, and then walked through the archway.
His breath came quickly in the momentary shade under the stone work. Ever had this been a place of warmth and safety. Now one thing dripped with his sweat through every pore… danger.
It had to be done right. It had to be done. There was no going back now, he must see it through. This was the right thing to do, but deep in his chest there was a hollow feeling of betrayal. Aramis tried to stamp down on it and detach his mind from his feelings. All he had to do was act. His heart did not matter in this moment.
And then in a matter of moments the fuse was set.
~oOo~
The world only seemed to fully come back when Aramis was outside of Paris. He felt like he had been watching through the eyes of another, the hands that had done these things were not his. He could breathe again, he was himself again, and just in time.
For Romero was waiting for him on the hill ahead. And this was perhaps the most important moment of all.
Aramis urged his horse forwards and dismounted before approaching the Spaniard. "It is done."
"I saw the explosion, I knew you would not let me down." There was such pride in Romero's voice.
"The King is dead, the Queen and the Dauphin are being taken away, and the garrison is incapacitated." Aramis met Romero's eyes. "Your move."
Romero slowly turned to look behind him. Further up the hill a shadowed man sat on a black horse. Like a raven upon its perch, the figure silently watched proceedings.
Grimaud.
Romero looked back at Aramis and fixed a steady eye upon him. "You are a killer of Kings now. How did it feel?"
Aramis dropped his gaze and searched for the right word. "Just."
A satisfied smile spread across Romero's face.
"Remember this moment. Treasure it." He clasped Aramis' shoulder. "If you wish it you could have a place in our new world. And it will be a better world."
"I just want my new life. The one you promised me in exchange for all of this." A bitter look passed across Aramis' face. "You will let me have it, won't you?"
"Of course. You are released."
It was as if a cold wave had washed over Aramis. He closed his eyes and held onto those words. He was free… he was free, if only for a moment.
"What's this?" Romero's voice was tainted with annoyance. "Why are they here? They should be miles away by now!"
Aramis turned around to find the carriage approaching, with those two men riding to either side at the rear.
"My friend, I swear to you they were instructed to take the Queen and Dauphin to safety." There was a strange hint of nervousness in Romero's voice. It was as if he was unsure, and in all the time that he had known the man Aramis had never heard him sound unsure.
When the carriage drew closer one of the men jumped down from his horse.
"What are you doing here?! You fool, you were told to-" But Romero's chastisement was cut off as the man, still with his face covered, went to open the carriage door. "Your Majesty, rest assured we will have you on your way…"
The Queen came to the door, and Romero fell silent as he found himself staring down the barrel of a pistol.
He looked around the gathered men with confusion. "What is this?"
The Queen took down her hood and Aramis smiled. It was Constance standing in the doorway, levelling a gun at Romero's chest.
"Aramis, where is the Queen?"
Part of Aramis felt deeply satisfied at Romero's confusion, but another part of him was wounded. It was the part that felt he was betraying his friend.
"Aramis, explain yourself. What of the King… the explosion?"
Aramis looked away as the masked man stepped forwards.
"The King is alive, and those skilled with powder can arrange a blast with little damage." He pulled down the scarf covering his face to reveal himself as Athos. "You are under arrest. Surrender your weapons and come quietly."
Romero scowled and turned to Aramis. "This is your doing? You have betrayed me?"
Aramis looked to the ground, ashamed. But then a spark of defiance lit his heart, he met Romero's eyes. It was time to own what he had done.
"I did what was right."
"It is not right! You have let them win." Romero cast his eyes over Athos. "You have sided with the Comte and his ilk. You're not free, Aramis. You will be their dog forever now! Why did you betray me?!"
Aramis swallowed hard, he was fighting not to say those words… I'm sorry.
"Aramis! What of everything we worked for?!"
"I did what was right." Aramis grit out once again. He felt as if he were turning to stone on the spot.
Athos intervened. "Your weapons. I won't ask again."
Behind them the shadowed figure of Grimaud turned his horse about to run.
"Porthos!" D'Artagnan yelled from the driver's seat.
"He's mine!" The other masked man, Porthos, gave chase.
With the distraction Athos reached for his pistol, but Romero reached for his rapier.
"You are outmanned and outgunned. Stop this foolishness and surrender." Despite having a rapier aimed at his chest, Athos sounded as untroubled as ever.
Constance and d'Artagnan also had their pistols on Romero. Aramis' hands remained frozen at his side.
"Aramis, if you help me now I will forgive you. Tell your friends there has been a mistake…"
"He has told us everything. It's over. Even now the musketeers are on their way to your army, Grimaud will not get far, we have Feron and everyone in between who helped your cause. There is nothing and nobody left. It is over."
"It's not over." Romero hissed. "I still have Aramis."
"He is not yours." Athos growled.
A moment of silence passed between them, as if leaving space for Aramis to claim a side. But he was silent, torn between the two men. One at the end of a pistol, one at the tip of a rapier. With them here before him the confusion returned. He had done the right thing. He had followed the plan and played the game, it was time for the killing blow. But the kings stood facing each other now. He could see all that they were, or claimed to be. And in that moment the black and white seeped away. Two soldiers stood facing each other. Two men who had fought and lost and fought again.
As Aramis failed to speak up, Romero took the initiative. "I trust Aramis. He knows not to let me down."
And Aramis nearly flinched at those words.
"He knows because of what you did to him." Athos' calm voice belied the anger that lay beneath. Aramis could detect it, Aramis could tell. "He told us everything, including what you did. In those moments I wanted you at the end of a pistol. I wondered what I would do when I had you there."
"And here we are." Romero narrowed his eyes, a challenge. "What are you going to do?"
"I wanted to hurt you. For every hurt you inflicted on him I would visit it upon you tenfold. I would lock you in a dark room and wait for the creeping madness to take hold until you dashed your own head open upon the stone walls of your prison. You have been cruel, you have twisted his heart and mind. I would crush yours. But I won't." Athos slid a quick look towards Aramis. "I will arrest you and let the courts do their work. I will do what is right, just like Aramis."
"And look how well he uses his words, Aramis. He wields them like a weapon, taught from an early age how to thrust and wound and put you where he wants you. He wants you behind him, is that where you're going to stand? You do not have to. Forget his words, remember all he has done, leaving your friend to die, leaving his people to rot. He cares nothing for you, don't be fooled!"
"Stop talking." Athos raised his pistol a little higher.
The rapier advanced in return and the tension between them heightened.
"Aramis, my friend. We can escape this. Come with me, do not take the side of this Comte."
And some part of him wanted to. Aramis' fists clenched at his side. He had to do what was right, but what was right had suddenly become a lot less clear.
"Do not listen to him. He has twisted you to his own purpose since the beginning. You do not serve him, you serve the King."
"And you will live in chains with that servitude. To the King, to him. He is no better a man than you, Aramis!"
"No, I am worse." Athos spoke evenly. "Aramis is my brother, my better. He knows this, I trust he will remember it."
"Do not heed his honeyed words. Aramis, take your pistol and help me end this."
Amidst the raised voices and the confusion one small word came from between Aramis' lips… "No."
He would not turn his weapons on them. Romero might have been his friend, but they were his brothers.
Romero's look turned sour and his manner became more insidious. "I wonder if you really have told them everything? If so, you will end up hanging next to me. They will turn on you next. Do they know how filthy your hands are? Did you tell them about the man you killed who was too drunk to mount a defence? Did you let them know how you stabbed him just here?" Romero viciously pointed at the hollow of his collarbone. "Did you explain how his blood spewed forth like a fountain? How it stained your hands? How the hilt of your dagger was slick with it? That was you, Aramis, not me!"
Aramis trembled and grit his teeth.
Romero continued his onslaught. "You have caused more death than I. What of the countless you killed at the castle? Guards and helpless serving girls alike. You would have hung back there for your crimes! Now your so called friends will hang you here!"
"I didn't want…" Aramis seemed to speak without knowing it as guilt seeped into his heart. "If I could take it back…"
As if sensing the walls crumbling down around Aramis, Athos jumped in. "Aramis, listen to me, it was not you. It was not your will behind those killings. We know this. You are safe."
"He lies! They will not let you go! You are as dead as I am! We have to act!"
Romero thrust forwards and a pistol shot cracked the air.
Aramis stood still, with his pistol held out, smoke wound its way from the barrel. In the grass lay Romero, he clutched desperately at his arm. Red seeped between his rigid fingers.
The others watched as Aramis lowered his weapon and stared, dazed, between the two men. In that moment his heart had chosen, he had trusted it to do the right thing. Romero had sought to instil fear within Aramis, but guilt took it's place instead. Guilt and the realisation that everything they had done had been so very wrong...
Aramis came back to himself and strode over to Romero. He kicked the fallen rapier to one side and knelt by his former friend… former captor.
"You let me down." Romero hissed between clenched teeth.
"I know."
And I'm not sorry.
~oOo~
Days earlier...
"The pieces are in place.
It is time for checkmate.
Your move.
Do not let me down."
Aramis screwed the letter up in a tight fist and took a deep breath.
In that moment he knew what he had to do.
At morning muster the next day Aramis found his brothers. "I need to talk to you all. Come to my lodgings later."
Aramis was sitting at the table when they arrived. Athos had been there first, and though he asked what this was about Aramis refused to speak until the others had joined them.
They took seats and watched Aramis with a certain sense of anticipation. Each man near held their breath as they waited for him to break the silence.
Finally Aramis took in a deep breath and began. "You won't like what I have to say, and half of me doesn't want to say it. Maybe you'll wonder why I waited until now. Maybe I should have told you earlier. But I'm telling you now, and this is hard enough. Forgive me."
"It's hard to forgive you when we don't know what you're talking about." d'Artagnan raised an eyebrow.
"Romero is here."
That announcement was greeted with silence.
Porthos shifted uncomfortably. "Have you been sleeping?"
"Yes, why?" Aramis' eyes narrowed.
"It's just… lack of sleep can sometimes…" Porthos faltered as if he couldn't think how to frame his words.
Aramis understood all the same. "You think I have imagined Romero?" d'Artagnan and Athos shared the same skeptical look. "He is here. As real as I am. And he wants me to kill the King."
"Aramis…" Porthos started.
But he was interrupted by Athos. "Start at the beginning. Where did you first see him?"
Aramis got the feeling Athos was just humouring him, but they would realise the truth soon enough. "He found me in a church pew, and whispered such things in my ear. He has plotted with a man named Grimaud, an army has been raised, and Feron is involved as well. They want to kill the King and build a new France." He paused to see if his words were having an effect. "As I have access they want me to kill the King. In return Romero will arrange a carriage for the Queen and Dauphin. He says we can escape together, build a new life, be a family."
Aramis let his words sink in, nobody spoke, but the eyes around the table seemed a little less skeptical. He took a deep breath and continued. "It's all I ever wanted, and Romero offered it to me on a plate. I just had to commit one more murder."
"And how would you do that?" Athos asked.
"With this." Aramis pulled the small bottle out of his pocket and placed it in the middle of the table. "Arsenic."
His story suddenly became a lot more believable judging by the expressions on their gathered faces.
"I am to lace the King's medicine. Get the Queen and Dauphin to their carriage, and then blow up the garrison."
"And then what?!" Porthos barked.
Athos gave him a knowing look, as if recalling the moment he found Aramis contemplating the powder stores.
"We need to arrest him." d'Artagnan leaned forwards conspiratorially. "When next you meet Romero we can take him in. On your evidence he'll surely hang."
Athos looked thoughtful. "No."
"What do you mean 'no'? The man should be under lock and key!" d'Artagnan turned to him with surprise.
"And he will be. But this is bigger than one man. If we arrest Romero we are felling a tree and leaving the rest of the rotten roots in place. We have a chance to take them all out if we act carefully. Feron, Grimaud, and anybody else in their pay."
"What are you thinking?" Porthos asked.
"Give them enough rope to hang themselves." He looked around the gathered faces. "I think we should let Aramis kill the King."
They looked at Athos with confusion.
"Let them think the plan is working. On the King's 'death' they will make their move and reveal themselves beyond doubt."
There was a quiet moment of acceptance around the table.
"We need to arrange a meeting with the King, and you need to tell us everything." He reached a hand to Aramis' arm. "I know this cannot have been easy for you."
Aramis looked at the table top, suddenly taken with the pattern of the grain. His words were slow to come. "I'm betraying him… but rather that than betraying you, and myself."
He felt the phantom touch of fingers at his hand and closed his eyes. He was letting go of her too. It was only ever a dream, he told himself, it could never have been.
~oOo~
Earlier…
It started with a blue sash.
And then the palace. Feron. A snake. He wouldn't get far, the musketeers awaited his arrival in the throne room.
Aramis went into the King's bedchamber, he had a vial, but it contained something much less harmful than arsenic. The feeling of betrayal was still all pervasive. This was the moment Romero had prepared him for, this was the moment he turned his back on Romero, this was the moment he let Romero down...
The plan relied on the King next. He would need to act the part, and when told about his role he seemed strangely excited. It was as if he were playing the part of some hero on stage rather than acting out a deathly deception.
Aramis returned to his duties and soon after the King started coughing fit to wake the dead. As he retired Aramis began to wonder how much was real, and how much was put on. But he did not have time to wonder for long.
The Queen came next. When her ladies were ushered out Constance remained behind, together with her "nephew", a small boy of the Dauphin's age. Aramis had no idea if they really were related, or if it was another part of the deception. He urged them to hurry behind a screen and change into the Queen and Dauphin's finery. Even now the King would be putting on his show. A physician would be summoned, and chaos was about to descend. They had to leave quickly.
The Queen approached as he paced a small hole in the carpet.
"Please, keep them safe. Constance is very dear to me, as you know." She seemed as if she wanted to reach out to Aramis, but managed to resist.
Just then Constance and the boy emerged, with cloaks and hoods up they were indistinguishable from the Queen and the Dauphin.
"Trust me, Your Majesty." He turned to Constance and gave what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "You will be safe, there is no need for fear, you will be protected every step of the way. I swear it."
"God's grace be with you." Anne whispered as they rushed out of the door.
Aramis had hold of the boy's hand as they made their way to the carriage. He took the less used corridors and passages, hoping to avoid being seen. Between Romero, Feron, and Grimaud there were many eyes at the palace who knew of their plight and were primed to act. Aramis didn't know all the men in their pay, but should the three of them be seen it would look like everything was going to plan. He was whisking away the Queen and Dauphin, just as he was meant to.
When they reached the carriage Aramis ushered the pair over to Athos and Porthos. Their faces were covered and their identities concealed. d'Artagnan tipped his hat from the driver's seat.
"Take care of them." It didn't need to be said, but Aramis said it anyway.
And then he went for his horse. There was one last thing to do.
Aramis walked through the garrison archway. This was possibly the most dangerous part. They had cleared out the men and horses, all but the skilled few who had helped set the powder. But there could still be untold damage and loss of life. It had to be done right. It had to be done. He trusted these men, just as Romero had trusted him. And look how that has turned out… A voice came unbidden. Betrayal. This is betrayal. Aramis tamped those feelings down and turned his thoughts to the task at hand. All he had to do was light the fuse. A lit piece of parchment was held out before him. He took it.
And then in a matter of moments the fuse was set.