Hi,

I forgot to mention that is the first time I attempt a FanFiction in a different time period, also english is my second language. Ideas, suggestions and corrections are appreciated.

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vonny25

Chapter 3

The winter came to the meadows of France. D'Artagnan found a teacher for Philippe, his nephews and nieces. He was a former seminarian that had decided to get married, and now was a farmer, but supplemented his income by educating the very few wealthy people in the community. He was not surprised that the former Captain of the musketeers would want his son, nephews, and nieces educated. He had heard he was a man of means.

Philippe said, "Father why is it that I need to continue my studies, when grandfather thinks that I already know too much for a farmer." D'Artagnan told him, "What is too much for a farmer is not enough for a Fils de France." Philippe obediently sad, "You are right father", but then he could not stop himself from laughing, and said, "more like Fils de Bastille, I would say" D'Artagnan laughed with his son, amazed at the apparently endless capacity of his son to laugh at himself. He told him, "no matter what, you are not getting out of this, I promised your mother. If it is any consolation, your cousins will be studying this winter with you."

The professor went to the D'Artagnan farm three times a week for 4 hours. He dedicated two full hours to Philippe each time; as he was more advance that his cousins. They were using the cottage that Athos had stayed in as a school. Philippe helped him to teach his cousins, and that gave him a chance to use his knowledge, increase his confidence, and self-esteem. D'Artagnan accompanied his son to the cottage, and learned a lot himself from the good professor. Messier Stephan told D'Artagnan that Philippe obviously had been under the guidance of good teachers, and his intelligence was superior. He praised him for his dedication to the education of his son.

On a cold winter morning, the D'Artagnan family was enjoying breakfast. D'Artagnan told his son, "Philippe we are going to go to the woods today to get a tree for Christmas." The lad said enthusiastically, "I'll be ready in no time father."

D'Artagnan went to saddle the horses, and Philip was with him in no time. The older man had to smile at the enthusiasm of his son who was acting more like a six year old than a soon to be sixteen year old. He indulge his son, as he had lost so much of his childhood locked away in that horrid cell. The thought of his gentle Philippe being in prison revolt him. He had to get the image of his son laying on that floor half dead out of his mind. He smiled at the lad ruffled his hair, and told him, "Philippe, you are going to need your coat, and your hood it is snowing." The lad said "Oh! I forgot father. It is the first time in my life that I have proper clothing for the winter, and it is easy to forget. I am used to being cold." Then the boy took off running to get his coat and hood, not noticing the concern on his father's face.

Father and son rode through the meadow at a gallop, the boy was now a good horseman, and had complete control of his horse. Once they entered the woods, they slowed down, and started looking for a tree. They soon found a tree that was perfect for them, and dismounted, tying their horses to a tree.

D'Artagnan took an axe out of a leather pouch that was attached to his saddle, and said, "Philippe do you know how to use an axe? The lad said, "No, Sir Peronnet said I was too young to use one back then" His father said, "Come over here my son, you certainly were to young back then, but now you are old enough, let me teach you." The musketeer proceeded to explain, "First you place your hands firmly on the axe handle then we are going to cut the tree on the direction we want it to fall and make a wedge like this one going about 2/3 of the deepness on the tree, now I am going to start with the back cut we want it on the opposite side and about one inch higher than the front cut, we want to cut through about half the thickness of the tree but not all the way."

D'Artagnan demonstrated the technique to the lad and then asked, "Do you think you can cut down a tree to take to my sister?" Philip said enthusiastically, "I'm sure I can father." The boy took the axe from his father, and his father questioned him regarding the procedure once D'Artagnan was sure that Philip understood the basics he said, "You may start my son." He carefully guided the boy through the whole procedure until the tree fell.

Philippe had a proud grin on his face, and said, "I did it father! I really did it!" His innocent enthusiasm was contagious, and his father patted him affectionately on the back and told him, "You sure did son, I'm very proud of you. Now come over here we should eat before we go back." They sat on a large fallen tree and the musketeer took slices of bread, and a chunk of cheese out of a pouch as well as a bottle of wine.

They started eating in silence and after a while D'Artagnan asked, "Philippe, if you did not have a coat or a hood when you were living with the Peronnet's then how did you keep warm in the winter?" The boy thought about it and said, "Lady Peronnet made our clothes out sackcloth from the wool of the goats we had. I wore a large shirt more like a short tunic and breeches. In the winter Sir Peronnet made me wooden shoes, when I went out I covered myself with my blanket, and I was warm enough. During the summer, they allowed me to run around in my breeches if it was very hot, if it got cooler I would put my shirt on. I certainly had nothing as the clothes that mother gave me, not even as good as the ones that grandmother makes me from the wool, linen and silk you buy. Sir Peronnet said we should not be that concerned about clothing."

D'Artagnan smiled at his son, the boy certainly had a very humble early childhood, but obviously, he had been happy with the Peronnet's, and that was most important. Unexpectedly Philippe hugged his father, almost knocking him off the tree branch, and said, "Thank you father for getting me such nice clothes, and shoes. They are very comfortable and warm. Not itchy like the sackcloth ones. I never dreamed of having such nice things, as you are giving me. But to me the most important thing is being with you, I've never had someone that loved me as you do. I want to tell you that I love you very much, and consider myself extremely lucky to be your son. I don't care if I have nice things or not, all I want is to have your love."

The musketeer embraced his son, and ran his hand over the lad's hair, he told him, "Philippe I am the lucky one having you as my son. I never dreamed of having such a close relationship with my son, nor did I know that being so proud of your child was possible. You have changed my life for the better; my only regret is not having known about you earlier to save you all that suffering. I would have loved to have you since you were a newborn, but since that cannot be, I'm thankful for each day we share. I wish I could give you even nicer things, as your brother has. But it helps knowing that you like what you have. You are my joy and pride Philippe. The love I have for you is endless and unconditional, always remember that."

They remained in the embrace for a while longer enjoying the closeness, and love they felt for one another. After they broke the embrace, they continued eating, and drinking wine from the same bottle. D'Artagnan told Philippe how he use to go with his father each winter to look for a Christmas tree.

Slowly Philippe's mind and soul were healing with the love of his father. The demons that hunted him were slowly leaving. The lad was no longer worried about going hungry and thirsty, or being cold and sick with no one to help him. He started accepting the fact that he had a nice house with a family that loved him. Philippe no longer jump in fear each time someone got close to him, he knew his father would not let anyone hurt him. The boy was enjoying human touch again, now that he received hugs and kisses instead of beatings. Philippe was starting to see himself as a human being again, and his capacity to love already naturally big was growing even larger.

As they were ridding toward his aunt's cottage a group of armed men started following them. D'Artagnan told his son, "Philippe I want you to gallop as fast as you can, and don't turn back no matter what you hear." Then he cut the trees that the horse were pulling off and let them fall. The boy started doing as his father said, but then turned around, and stop when he saw his father surrounded by eight men. He saw the men, and his father dismount. His father valiantly confronted them, and rapidly disarmed, and wounded two men, then a third one. One of the men took a musket out and pointed it at his father; his father was able to disarm the man but the bullet gave him a superficial flesh wound on the side of his right leg. Philippe started galloping towards his father who was able to use his own musket to get rid of other three men. Philip got rid of the last man when he wounded him with his sword. His father was able to get back on his horse, and they both took off forcing their horses to gallop at maximum speed until they were at their cottage.

The wound of D'Artagnan was superficial but painful. Philip help his father to dismount, and then supported him as they walked to the cottage. To say the lad was worried would be an understatement. He felt like his whole world was collapsing once more; the only thing that kept him going was the need to help his father. Once inside the house, D'Artagnan went to his bedroom, and Philip helped him to take his outer clothing off, Francesca was already preparing hot water to clean the wound. After Francesca cleaned, and bandage the wound she gave her son wine to help numb the pain.

Philip was looking at his father with a frighten face. D'Artagnan told him, "Come here Philippe, and take a sit." Philippe sat in a chair close to his father thinking that maybe he would reprimand him for disobeying. But he felt it would be well worth, as he could have not abandon his father. Instead, D'Artagnan took his hand and told him, "You did well Philippe, I am proud of you, even if I am concerned that you did not obey me, and put yourself at risk. But I understand what I asked you to do was impossible, you had to obey your heart. Now don't look that worried, it's a superficial wound, and it should heal in no time." The musketeer knew his son was still in shock, he continued, "My son, the horses need to be tended to, I count on you for that." The boy said, "Of course father, I will go and take care of them immediately." Brushing the horses, drying, and feeding them helped the boy calm down.

The next morning D'Artagnan open his eyes to find the head of Philippe reclined on his bed with a rosary in one of his hands. The pride he felt was indescribable, how he wished someday Louis would give him a reason to be proud of him. He decided to close his eyes, and went back in to a light sleep that came to an end when he felt Philippe lifting his head. He smiled at his son, and told him, "You should go to your bed, and get some rest." The boy smiled seeing that his father was better and said, "I had enough sleep, let me go, and get you breakfast."

A few minutes later Philippe came back with a plate piled with eggs, fried ham, and buttered bread as well as a glass of wine. The boy started to feed is father, but D'Artagnan told him, "I can eat by myself Philippe, now why don't you go, and get yourself some breakfast." He did as his father told him but was back with his plate in no time, and eat quietly by D'Artagnan, he was determined to stay by his father's side until he was well.

After Breakfast D'Artagnan decided to try to walk. Philippe helped him, and he leaned on him as he carefully walked around the house. They noticed Alexander and Francesca were gone. They assumed they were probably milking the cows. But returned a half hour later with the local physician who examined, and cauterized the wound of D'Artagnan. He gave the musketeer an ointment and instructions of how to take care of the wound. He said to call him if he developed a fever.

D'Artagnan paid the doctor, and ask him to report the thieves to the authorities. The governor of the town gathered a few men, and went to retrieve the surviving vandals, and remove the body of the decease. They were wanted men, and D'Artagnan had been in his own land with every right to defend himself.

Later that day after the musketeer heard the men were off his property he told Philippe, "Son I want you to get the wagon ready, we are going to go, and get our Christmas trees, and check on your aunt to make sure those vandals did not harm her." Philippe was going to protest, but seeing the determined look on his father's face he simply did as told.

A half hour later Philippe was lifting the trees in to the wagon. D'Artagnan realized that the boy was getting very strong and muscular, probably as a result of good food combined with farm work, and the fencing and riding lessons. There was little physical evidence left of the starving boy he had rescued almost a year ago. But his heart was as gentle and pure.

They rode to Giana's cottage, delivered the tree, and stayed to drink tea, and eat a few pastries Giana had made. Philip went off to be with his cousins. Michelle the boy closets to his age told him, "I wish I would have been there to help you, and Uncle with those thieves'" Philip told him, "We could have used your help. I also wished you would have seen how father handle those men even if he was outnumbered." His cousin said, "Your father is a legend, one of the four inseparables. You are lucky to have him. I wish my father was still alive even if he was not a legend, and knew little about swordsmanship." The mood became somber for a while, and then Philippe said, "Loosing loved ones is very hard, it can take a long time to recover. But I think that as long as we remember them, there is a piece of them living with us."

At the kitchen, Giana was telling her brother, "I don't have enough words to thank you. Last winter was very hard, and we had to skip some meals. This year however we have so much food that I don't think we will be able to eat it all. Also, my children have nice warm clothes, wool stockings, and leather shoes. They are even learning how to read and write like the rich. God Bless you brother."

D'Artagnan said, "Don't forget you and your children worked hard for what you have. And what type of brother would I be if I did not help my favorite baby sister?" He smiled at her and said, "I love your children almost as much as I love my Philippe; it's a joy to help provide for them. Your husband was a good man, and I am sure he would have done the same for my son." Then he kissed her hand gently, and his sister told him playfully, "You are no longer in the court brother, start acting like a farmer." They both laughed. The mention of the court made D'Artagnan think about Ann he missed her terribly even if when he lived at the palace they rarely were able to speak, but he could see her daily even if from a distance. He wonder about Louis hoping he would still become a King worth serving.

Later that week the family celebrated Christmas. Philippe was all eyes when he woke up to find the tree decorated with apples and pears. They attended midnight mass and eat all type of good foods, a guise, Christmas pudding made with breath, dates, wine and raisins, fresh baked bread, cheese, butter and wine. They attended the life nativity presentation, and did some caroling at their home. Then D'Artagnan started distributing gifts. He gave Philip a brand new musket, and his own sward, the boy was beyond happy. He gave his nephews their own swards, and the lads were very excited. Each of his nieces received a small silver cross with a leather cord. They put them around their necks right away. To his sister he gave linen, silk, and wool, for her to make a couple of dresses, and a new pair of shoes. His mother received a new spindling wheel and new shoes. He gave his father a bottle of aged wine and a new cane. His sister gave everyone wool stockings that she made herself. Their parents gave the grandchildren small sacks filled with dates, raisins and pine nuts. His mother made D'Artagnan a nice wool shirt for the winter, and Giana received a wool skirt.

Philippe kept admiring his sword and his musket throughout the day. He had already thanked his father to many times to count. D'Artagnan could not help but to smile at his son's happiness. He was easy to please.

Later that night after every one left, D'Artagnan sat with his son by the fireplace, he told him, "At the palace there is a Christmas ball each year. They serve the finest wine and the best foods. I hope that your mother is having a good time, she is not much for dances." Philippe asked innocently, "But Louis would not leave her by herself on Christmas, right?" D'Artagnan decided not to answer; he did not know how to explain the type of person that Louis was to his younger son. If he had not realized it after all that, the King put him through, what could he say to help him understand?

Instead, he asked, "How did the Peronnet's celebrated Christmas?" Philippe said, "A priest who was a hermit would come over to celebrate mass, and guide us in prayer. Then we would carol, and Lady Peronnet would serve cheese, bread with butter and honey, and a chicken, if we had one to spare." His father asked "what about presents?" He said, "They would give me a little jar with honey in it. When I turned 10, they gave me my own Bible. I was so excited, that I slept with it for the next month, until they discovered what I was doing, and they told me it was not respectful to do that. The old priest once gave me a cross he made, and I hanged it above my cot."

'

Philippe hesitated to continue and D'Artagnan said, "Is there something wrong Philippe?" The boy seemed shy, almost like when he first brought him home, and then walked to his room and came back. He told his father shyly while handing him something, "I made this for you." Philip sat down to observe his father's reaction, scared that he would not like his present.

D'Artagnan looked at the wooden carving of the horse that Philip made him; it was well carved and polished. He said, "Philip this is beautiful! You are very talented. I did not know you could carve like this!" The boy blushed, and was obviously pleased with his father's reaction. He told his father, "I learned from the old priest, and I was not sure if I could still do it, but I wanted so bad to give you a present that I had to try. "

D'Artagnan ruffled Philippe's hair and told him, "Thank you son, it means so much more because you made it for me with your own hands, and knowing how much you pushed yourself for me, makes me extremely happy, and proud of you. It is beautiful, you should continue carving." Philip had a big grin on his face. He said, "I'm happy you like it, I ruined 3 carvings before I made this one."

Once in bed D'Artagnan realized how much he meant to Philip, it must have taken him many long hours to make that beautiful horse carving for him. Of course there was the incident when he came back to help him with the thieves, despite the risk to himself. Feeling loved by his son had him feeling like the luckiest man on earth. Louis had never appreciate him, not even as a musketeer and his personal body guard. But no matter what he still loved Louis as any father loves his child. However, the relationship that he was developing with Philippe was the most important thing in his life at that moment. The love for his two son's was equal but the quality of the relationship was not.

A few days later, the family got together again to share the Kings cake. It was a beautiful family celebration, and Philip enjoyed every bit of it. He was thankful for the life he was living now, so different from his life in prison, even better than his life with the Peronnet's.

Later that day D'Artgnan noticed that Philip was lost in thought, he sat near to him, waiting for him to talk if he needed to. After realizing his father was there he said, "I was thinking about my fellow prisoners in La Bastille. I wish I could do something for them to be able to enjoy at least a little of what I am enjoying now. It makes me sad to think that they are probably cold, and starving, with no one to tell them a kind word. I don't understand why I am so lucky, to have you rescue me from that hell, while the others continue to languish there."

D'Artagnan put an arm around his sons shoulder, and kissed his temple. He told him, "My boy you are only a child, you committed no crime, and were unjustly incarcerated. I am glad I was able to get you out of there; you should have never been there in the first place. I think God could not tolerate that injustice any longer, and took you out of there himself. I am glad to see that you don't forget those that you suffered with, and that are still suffering. I think the only thing you can do for them is pray." Philippe nodded his head in understanding, and a few minutes later went to his bedroom where he prayed on his knees for the next hour on behalf of the prisoners of La Bastille.

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