This story was harder to write than I had expected but we have now reached the final chapter. Thank you for the support as always.
Suspicious Minds
Chapter Twelve
D'Artagnan waited patiently until Athos walked out of the building. Even from a distance he could sense the tension in his friend's body. When Etienne joined Athos and they began to argue he took a chance on moving closer even though he couldn't risk getting close enough to hear what was being said. Then Athos punched his cousin and d'Artagnan's mouth dropped open in complete shock. Athos didn't wait to see the results of his actions. He turned and walked away without a backwards glance.
D'Artagnan scrambled to collect his horse and follow his mentor back to the city. Athos didn't take the route back to the garrison. Instead he turned into one of the less desirable parts of the city and dismounted outside The Wren. D'Artagnan considered going inside before deciding he needed reinforcements. He turned his horse and set off for the garrison where he found Porthos and Aramis sitting cleaning their weapons.
"Where've you been?" Porthos asked.
D'Artagnan dropped onto the bench, almost vibrating with excitement. "I followed Athos and Etienne."
Aramis laid down his pistol. "The Captain was looking for Athos and wasn't very happy when he couldn't find him."
"They went to see the Cardinal." D'Artagnan raised an eyebrow at the odd look on the marksman's face. It almost looked like panic.
"What business would they have with him?" Aramis asked, his voice tight and strained.
"I've no idea but when they came out they quarreled and Athos punched Etienne in the face." He couldn't disguise the satisfaction in his voice.
Aramis and Porthos exchanged puzzled looks.
"Not that I'm unhappy to hear that but why'd Athos do somethin' like that?" Porthos asked.
"I have no idea."
Aramis picked up his hat and settled it on his head. "Where's Athos now?"
"At The Wren."
Aramis stood up and buckled on his sword. "Come on."
"Where're we goin'"
"To stop him drinking himself into a stupor. If he has finally realised Etienne is working against the Musketeers he will take it hard."
D'Artagnan was on his feet immediately. "He won't welcome our interference."
"It isn't interference to support a brother who is in pain," Aramis said decisively. He didn't really know what to think. He didn't want to believe that Athos had told the Cardinal about his liaison with the Queen. Anne was due to give birth to his child any day and his worry was for them, not for himself. He took comfort from the fact that a pack of Red Guards hadn't shown up to arrest him.
They weaved their way through the crowds, arriving at The Wren quickly. Aramis held back, letting d'Artagnan take the lead. He was proud of the young man. Athos had done a lot of damage but still d'Artagnan's first concern was for his brother.
The tavern was quiet so it was easy to spot Athos sitting alone in a corner. An empty bottle rested on the table and he was in the process of pouring wine from a second. He looked at them and then away, raising the glass to his mouth.
"Are you alright?" Porthos asked.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
Aramis shook his head at the attempted deflection. "What did the Cardinal want with you?" He gestured to one of the serving wenches to bring more glasses. It gave him an excuse not to look Athos in the eye.
"How do you know I met with the Cardinal?" Athos asked suspiciously.
D'Artagnan flushed. "I followed you and Etienne. I saw you knock him down."
Athos drained his glass and reached for the bottle. "The Cardinal only has one aim." He glared at Aramis. "To bring down the Musketeer regiment."
"What's Etienne got to do with that?" d'Artagnan watched his brother with concern. Athos had a great capacity for alcohol but rarely drank it that quickly.
"He is working for the Cardinal. He thought he could subvert me. He was wrong."
"Subvert you how?" Aramis snagged the bottle to pour wine for the three of them before it was all gone.
"Blackmail." Again Athos gave Aramis a challenging stare.
"What hold's the little bastard got over you?" Porthos looked ready to murder someone.
"None, as it turns out. His threats have no foundation."
Aramis longed to get Athos alone to find out what really happened but that would have to wait. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Then why're you drinkin' on your own in the middle of the day?"
"I didn't think any of you would want to see me after all I've done."
D'Artagnan lowered his head so that his hair hid his expression. "When did you know Etienne was working against the Musketeers?"
"At Fontainebleau."
"Why didn't you tell us? Why make us believe you had chosen him over us?" There was curiosity, not censure in d'Artagnan's voice.
"I needed to find a way to deal with him on my own," Athos said quietly.
"Why? We would have helped you. Or perhaps you didn't trust us," d'Artagnan said sorrowfully. "After all, I made my views of him very clear and forced you to make a choice between us."
"We were all manipulated by him. Your dislike just made that easier."
"We are all to blame for what happened," Aramis said. "Porthos and I shouldn't have been so quick to choose sides. We should have understood your impulse to support your cousin. I'm sorry for some of the things I said."
"Aramis is right," Porthos said. "We pushed you away instead of helpin' you deal with the discord."
"Can we put this behind us?" d'Artagnan asked hopefully.
"You would forgive me for disowning you?" Athos asked, amazed by the generous spirit shown by the young Gascon.
"You were provoked. I had fought Etienne once and I will admit I deliberately set out to humiliate him. You had every reason to believe his lies."
"No, I should have given you the opportunity to explain."
"This is a man you had known all your life. What reason did you have to doubt him?" d'Artagnan said reasonably.
"None, except for the fact that you are my brother and you deserved better from me."
A brilliant smile lit up d'Artagnan's face at that assertion and Athos couldn't help but respond with a smile of his own.
Porthos nudged d'Artagnan. "All this talkin' has made me thirsty. Come on, whelp, let's get some more wine so that we can toast our reconciliation."
Aramis waited until Porthos and d'Artagnan were out of earshot before turning to Athos. "What really happened with the Cardinal?"
"He knows about you and the Queen but he has no proof. I called his bluff which is working for now." Athos fixed Aramis with a piercing stare. "When the child is born you stay away from it and from the Queen. It is the only way, Aramis. You must see that."
"How can I?" Aramis asked, anguish clear in his voice.
"This baby is the heir to the French throne. Do you really think Richelieu will stop looking for evidence? Cut all ties with the Queen or you condemn them both along with you."
"I'm sorry, Athos. I should never have given in to temptation."
"What's done is done. Now the important thing is to keep it hidden."
"What about Etienne? He could still make mischief."
"He has let the Cardinal down by failing to persuade me to confess to your treason." He saw Aramis flinch at the word. "There is no profit in it now for him. I believe he will hold his silence despite his threats to the contrary."
"You have lost your only remaining family because of me," Aramis said contritely.
"It was his decision to side with the Cardinal, not yours." Etienne's betrayal had wormed its way deep into his heart yet he would never blame his brother for it. Aramis was one of the few people he could trust never to intentionally cause him hurt.
"None the less, I bear the guilt."
"I trusted him because we share the same blood. I was wrong. There are some bonds stronger than that and I am content. You were wrong to sleep with the Queen but you are blameless when it comes to Etienne. Let it go, brother. I have."
TMTMTM
Athos' head ached fiercely but his heart was lighter than it had been for days. His brothers had forgiven him and that was all that mattered. He left his room in search of breakfast and companionship.
"Athos. I need to talk to you," Treville called from his balcony.
He climbed the stairs and entered Treville's office. The Captain looked tired and somber.
"Sit down."
"Is something wrong?" For one heart-stopping moment he wondered if Richelieu had shared his suspicions about the Queen.
"What I am about to tell you must go no further until a formal announcement is made."
His heart missed a beat and he felt sweat on his palms. "Of course."
Treville looked away before taking a shuddering breath. "Cardinal Richelieu died last night. His heart gave out."
A myriad of emotions rushed up to choke Athos. The most overwhelming was relief.
"The King is understandably distraught and his Council is in chaos. He needs to pull himself together before announcing it formally."
"There are bound to be rumours."
"Yes. I am on my way to the Palace now. You are in charge while I'm gone. I want you, Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan on guard duty today. We don't know how the people will react. The Cardinal was not loved but he was respected. France is a poorer place for his absence."
Athos thought that was remarkably generous considering the efforts made by Richelieu to discredit the Musketeers. Then he remembered that Treville and Richelieu had known each other a long time. "My condolences, Captain."
"Thank you." Treville stood up. "I must go."
Athos joined his friends at their usual table for breakfast. He caught a glimpse of Etienne in the distance. His cousin's right eye was swollen shut and his stare was returned with one of undisguised hatred. Athos sighed and sat down. He let the conversation swirl around him while he considered the implications of the Cardinal's death.
"You seem distracted this morning," Aramis said.
"I have a lot on my mind."
"Etienne?" Aramis guessed.
"Among other things." He gave up pretending to eat and stood. "I have to hand out the day's orders. Treville is at the Palace. We are to report there for guard duty."
"What about Etienne?" Porthos asked.
Athos' mouth turned up in a slight smile. "I thought he could stay here and muck out the stables."
TMTMTM
The Musketeers stood to attention in the throne room, waiting for the King and Queen. The room was crowded and filled with an air of tense expectation. When the King entered it was clear that he had been crying. Aramis immediately looked towards the Queen, worried that something had gone wrong with her pregnancy. However, she looked well, if a little pale and uncomfortable. He could see that she was moving sluggishly and suspected that it wouldn't be long before their child arrived.
"I…" The King's eyes became bright with tears and his hands closed hard on the arms of the throne. "It is my sad duty to announce the untimely death of Cardinal Richelieu."
There was a collective gasp from the gathered courtiers. Aramis leant forward to catch Athos' eye, quickly realising that his friend was one of the few people in the room who didn't look surprised. He straightened up and glanced at the Queen. Had she known that the Cardinal suspected them? If so, she was hiding her relief well. Aramis felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders, yet he wasn't so self-absorbed that he couldn't see the consequences for the country. Louis was a weak King who had been bolstered by the genius of the Cardinal. Without him, who would Louis turn to for counsel? The whole dynamics of the country had changed overnight. He grasped his crucifix and said a brief and silent prayer for the Cardinal's soul.
"A state funeral will be held in three days," Louis continued with a catch in his voice. "He was a loyal servant of France and will be greatly missed."
The Queen reached out to catch his hand. "Your Majesty should rest," she said soothingly.
He threw her a grateful look before they both stood up. Everyone bowed deeply. As soon as the King and Queen had left the room it became a buzz of excited speculation.
"You knew," Aramis said to Athos.
"Treville told me this morning." Athos pulled him to one side. "Just because the Cardinal is dead doesn't mean the danger is past," he warned.
Aramis nodded but his thoughts were now flying ahead to the moment when his child would be born and his mind was already working on ways in which he could spend time with it.
TMTMTM
On the morning of the funeral Athos was summoned to Treville's office. He stopped abruptly when he saw that Etienne was already there. They hadn't exchanged more than a few words in the last few days and he knew that the Captain had noticed.
"Etienne has asked to resign his commission," Treville said. "I was hoping you could persuade him to change his mind."
"It is his decision to make," Athos said stiffly.
"He has the makings of a good Musketeer," Treville persisted.
"If his heart isn't in it then it would be a mistake for him to remain in the Regiment."
"I see." Treville frowned at Athos, clearly curious as to why he was being so accepting of Etienne's decision. "In that case I grant the request."
Etienne slowly unbuckled his pauldron and held it out to Treville. "Thank you, Captain. It has been an honour to serve with you."
When Athos would have followed his cousin from the room Treville called him back. "I have a mission for you. You are to meet a man in the village of Belves this afternoon and escort him back to Paris."
"Who is this man?"
"I don't have a name. I only know he claims to have information vital to the safety of France. You are to bring him here so that I can question him before we decide whether or not to inform the King."
"Understood, Sir."
"Take Aramis, Porthos and d'Artagnan with you. I have reason to believe he might be in danger."
"What sort of danger?"
"That is also unknown. Just keep him safe and get him back here as soon as you can."
When Athos left the room he found Etienne waiting for him. "I am surprised you gave up your commission."
"It must be a relief for you," Etienne said bitterly. "You are the one who is dishonourable yet I am the one who has to leave."
Athos sucked in a harsh breath. "No-one is forcing you out of the regiment."
"Yet we both know that you and I could never serve side by side."
"It was your choice to betray your family. Not mine."
"It was no choice. I had to help my brother."
"You betrayed me," Athos said harshly. "There are other ways you could have helped your brother."
"Don't be so sanctimonious. You and I both know the truth and one day the world will know. Your precious 'brother' committed treason with the Queen."
"I'd be very careful if I were you. You no longer have the protection of the Cardinal."
"I'm aware of that. Goodbye Olivier." With a final sneer Etienne turned away and descended the stairs.
Athos watched his cousin enter the stables before setting off to find his friends. It was a relief that Etienne was leaving even though it still pained him that he had lost yet another member of his family. He could feel his demons rising to haunt him again. It would be easy to slip into a black despair but he knew his brothers wouldn't allow that to happen and that gave him the strength he needed to carry on.
The End