Philippe 6
Adelynn woke up early the next morning, and walked to the barn where she knew she would find Philippe. She got near him and said, "Good morning Philippe." Then she leaned and kissed his cheek. He stood up, and wiped his hands on the rag he had hanging from his breaches, before hugging Adelyn and kissing her head, breathing in her womanly scent."
Then Adelyn asked him, "Do you think you can teach me how to milk a cow?" Philippe said, "Of course." He went ahead and let her watch him as explained the procedure. When he finished milking the cow, he told her, "I am going to let you milk the next cow, if anything that I do makes you uncomfortable let me know. I'll have to get pretty close to you to guide your hands."
Adelyn sat on the stool, and Philippe crouch behind her, with his body touching hers, and then put his strong hands over here's, and guided her expertly. They were both were both enjoying the physical contact, and he stayed in that position much longer than necessary, when they finished milking the cow, Adelyn turned around with a glorious smile on her face. He cupped one of his cheeks, and slowly approached her parted lips; the kiss was short and gentle. Adelyn put a hand on his shoulder throwing him of balance he fell backward pulling Adelyn with him. They looked at each other with big surprised eyes, and laughed. Adelyn knelled, and Philippe jumped to his feet, and helped Adelyn up. It should have been an awkward moment but it wasn't. They had felt perfectly comfortable with the physical contact as if they were meant for each other.
They walked back to the cottage, and Philippe told Adelyn, "We'll have to start breakfast, as my grandmother is having a hard time getting up early." The girl smiled at him and told him, "Go and get ready, I'll take care of breakfast." Philippe smiled gratefully, and said, "Thank you."
Adelyn spend the day helping Francesca who enjoyed her company. The older woman told Adelyn, "I hope you, and Philippe get married, you are a good woman." Adelyn blushed and said, "Thank you for your words Madame D'Artagnan."
That Sunday after church, Adelyn and Philippe went to the lake fishing. Adelyn was a good horsewoman but decided instead to ride behind her boyfriend, she liked being close to his warm body. Philippe helped her to put a worm on her fishing line, and they both sat enjoying each other's company. Philippe had rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, as he did not want to dirty them.
After a while, Adelyn caught a fish, and Philippe went to help her get it off the hook. Adelyn saw Philippe had a scar on his left forearm. She ran a finger over it and asked, "What happened?" Philippe threw the fish in the wooden bucket and said, "A rat bit me when I was a younger." Adelyn brought his arm to her lips, kissed the scar, and then asked, "Did the king have you in jail?"
Philippe poured wine in two coper cups, motioned her to sit near him. He was moved by her loving actions, he kissed her temple, held her hand and said, "Yes, I was in La Bastille from the time I was 12 until my father saved me when I was 15." He closed his eyes, and pain appeared on his face, Adelyn cupped his face tenderly with her hands, and kissed his lips. He kissed her back intensely, and she responded to his need. After a minute, they broke the kiss, and looked at each other with a newfound sparkle in their eyes.
The young woman said, "I hate the king so much, he has hurt everyone I love. How could he put you in La Bastille? You were only a child you could have died there! Philippe, pulled her close to him, and put his face on top of her head. He said, "I almost did, if my father had come a week later I think he would have found me dead. It took me a long time to recover, and I still have occasional nightmares about it, but I have forgiven my brother. I am glad I lived, to be able to meet you. I love you Adelyn, more than I can tell you."
Adelyn said, "I love you too Philippe, I never knew I could love so much." Then after a minute she confide in him, "I have nightmares too, about living on the street, my mother dying, and my father getting out of prison with his limbs mutilated." Philippe saw tears shining in her eyes, he gently kissed her and said, "Shush my love, all of that is behind you, all that suffering is over for both of us." He held her tightly until she gave him a brave tiny smile.
The months passed, and it was time to harvest the grapes. Philippe, his father, and his cousins went to deliver the grapes to different wineries, and kept the best for their wine. Serge was careful with each step of the wine production from choosing the grapes to transferring to the barrels to age. Soon they would start the bottling process.
Aramaris was on his way to Paris as ordered by hs superior from the Jesuits. He had heard from Athos and Porthos that his good friend D'Artagnan was living in Gascony with his son. He decided he would stop, and visit him on his way to Paris. He was curious to meet the son of the Gascon, and imagined him to be a few years old. He did not hear nothing about a wife, and who was the mother of the son of D'Artagnan.
It was mid-day when Aramaris rode up to the cottage where the local priest told him his friend lived. He dismounted and knocked at the door. An elderly woman answered the door, she said, "How may I help you monsignor?" The priest said, "Madame, I am looking for Charles Sieur D'Artagnan, he is a good friend of mine, we were musketeers together. My name is Aramaris." Madame D'Artagnan said, "Welcomed monsignor, my son has told me about you, please come in."
Francesca had the priest sit at the table, and insisted on feeding him. After he was done, he asked, "Madame D'Artagnan, do you know where your son is?" She responded, "I think he is at the winery." She gave the priest directions, Aramaris mounted his horse, and headed to see his friend.
At the winery Philippe, his father and his cousins were working on getting their wine bottled, and labeled. They also had a few employees helping them. Aramaris dismounted, and knocked at the door of the building. Philippe answered the door, he immediately recognized Aramaris, as the man that had put him in the iron mask, and taken him to prison.
Philippe withdraw his sword, and charged at Aramaris, while he yelled "Father they are here to take me back!" D'Artagnan ran towards the door, his sward in one hand, and his musket on the other, they would have to kill him before he would let them take Philippe back to Le Bastille. Behind him were the cousins of Philippe, Jean, and even the employees who loved Philippe, and D'Artagnan for giving them a chance to work despite their background, and their deformities.
Aramaris recognized Philippe, he was grateful beyond words to find him alive and well, he had nightmares about the boy dying in prison alone and forgotten. His concise reproaching him daily, he had been doing penance for years, since the day he left the young boy crying in prison, with his face and head encased in an iron mask.
The men surrounded Aramaris, and he was sure his end had come; he did not even withdraw his sword, as he felt that whatever was coming to him was well deserved. D'Artagnan recognized Aramaris. He order everyone to stop, and send the employees back to work. Philippe's family still had Aramaris surrounded with their swords pointing at him. D'Artagnan turn to see his son who was pale, and sweating. He asked him, "Philippe what makes you think Aramaris comes to take you?" His son said, "Father he is the one that took me to Le Bastille, and encased my head and face in the iron mask."
D'Artagnan asked Aramaris, "Do you come alone or do you have people with you?" The priest said, "I come alone, and I mean no harm to Philippe, in fact my happiness could not be greater in finding him alive and well. My conscience has been torturing me, and I thought I was dammed." As soon as he finished speaking, he was knocked down to the floor by the fist of D'Artagnan. He did not try to defend himself as much as every muscle in his body told him too.
After a few minutes, D'Artagnan stopped realizing Aramaris was lying on the floor with his nose, and mouth bleeding, and not moving a finger to defend himself. He stood up, and told him "How could you Aramaris? How could you! You put my son in prison when he was a child, you condemned my innocent son to the most horrible existence, he almost died there of starvation! How could you!
While D'Artagnan was yelling at him, the priest had monished to get on his knees, and made his way to Philippe. He put his face to the ground, and his hands on Philippe's feet. He said, "I beg for your forgiveness your majesty. I deserve hell for what I did to you. I wish I had never done that, it would have been better to be imprisoned myself for disobeying the king, than to live with this weight on my conscience. I bless the Lord to find your majesty alive and well. I bless D'Artagnan for saving you, and adopting you. Again this unworthy warm asks for your forgiveness, even if I don't deserve it."
Philippe looked at the weeping figure of the priest at his feet begging for forgiveness. He struggled with himself. He had forgiven his brother, and the old King, but that was easier, he did not have nightmares about them encasing his face, and head in an iron mask, or killing his benefactors. Could he forgive this man? His father put an arm around his shoulders and told him, "Philippe no one will think less of you if you don't forgive Aramaris, he is asking too much from you." The young man looked at his father gratefully.
The young Files de France closed his eyes, and prayed while Aramaris was still weeping at his feet, after about five minutes he opened his eyes, and touch the shoulder of the priest who looked up at him. Philippe offered his hand, and when the priest hesitated to take it he said, "Please stand, a man of God should not be on his knees in front of a simple farmer. I forgive you first for killing my guardians, and also for condemning me to a life of misery with me being innocent of any crime. I no longer hold that against you. Please stand." Aramaris took the hand of Philippe, and stood up. He looked at the young man's eyes, and saw how kind there were, he said, "Thank you, I'll me in debt to your majesty for the rest of my life, thank you."
Aramaris turned to face his friend and said, "I also beg for your forgiveness my friend, I beg you forgive me from treating you son in such a cruel manner. I was under the king's orders, but that one time, I should have disobeyed."
D'Artagnan gave Aramaris a handkerchief to wipe the blood on his face and said, "My son has forgiven you, and so do I. But I warn you if you ever put my son in danger again, I will kill you." Aramaris wiped his face and said, "Thank you D'Artagnan, believe me I will never put Philippe in danger again, I rather die, and if there is anything I can help with, tell me and I will do it if it is in my power." D'Artagnan hugged his old friend and told him, "What a priest you make, I think your flock will be holier than you are." Aramaris laughed thinking his friend was right and patted his friend on the back.
Philippe said, "Father I'll stay here, why don't you take Father Aramaris to the cottage so he can clean up, and rest. I will see you there for dinner." On the way to the cottage D'Artagnan decided not to tell his friend that he was the real father of the king and Philippe, he was afraid the priest might use this knowledge against his son's.
Than night the three men sat by the fire. The priest said, "I am glad I will be able to be of service to you and redeem myself in that way." The priest blessed the winery the next morning, and then left to Paris carrying some letters.
Adelyn and Philippe were out ridding, with Adelyn holding on to Philippe. She said, "Are you sure that priest will not betray you, I could not bear to be away from you or to see you suffer." Philippe said, "I am sure, he is man of his word. He did what he did to me because he was under the orders of the king, and is truly sorry. He is a former musketeer, and a friend of my father. Don't worry my love."
Five months later the queen mother was on her way to a spiritual retreat in a monastery near Gascony. Aramaris was with her. The king send a few musketeers to protect his mother, with an order to return after dropping her at the monastery. The queen took no companions as Aramaris said, it would not aid in her spiritual growth, and some nuns would take care of all her needs."
The musketeers left after leaving their queen at the monastery. Louis trusted Aramaris, and saw no need to send a spy.
Over at the Vineyard of the sorrowful D'Artagnan, and Philippe were busy decorating, and furnishing the country house they had built, so the queen mother could visit. Philippe had personally carved beautiful crucifixes for each bedroom, and a large one for the living area, his work was that of an accomplished artist. They had sold all of their wine, and made a nice profit, the following year they would have to double the production as the demand was high.
Once the musketeers were gone, Aramaris waited 3 days before bringing a carriage at night to take the queen to visit her son. Once they were a good distance from the monastery D'Artagnan, Philippe, and his cousins rode surrounding the carriage ready to protect their queen. The heart of the Queen was beating so hard she thought it would come out of her chest. She could not wait to see, and hug her son as well as the love of her life. It was hard to distinguish their figures in the darkness but she knew they were only feet away from her.
Finally, an hour and a half later they arrived to the property of D'Artagnan. Philippe open the door of the carriage, and offered his mother his hand, on the other side was D'Artagnan also offering his hand. The queen's heart was leaping from happiness. She took the hand of both, and let them guide her inside the house.
Once inside the house both Philippe and D'Artagnan bowed before her, and then kissed her hand. She was in no mood for formalities; she took their hands, pulled them both near to her, and embrace them the best she could crying from happiness. Her son and lover embrace her, and mixed their own tears with hers.
Michelle and Tangy discreetly took the luggage of the queen to her room, and left not wanting to disrupt the family moment. Anne broke the silence and said, "Philippe my son, you are so handsome and strong." Philippe smiled and said, "Thank you mother, I am so happy you are here thank you for coming to visit us" Anne kissed his cheek happy at seeing how healthy he looked, the last time she saw him he looked like he was at the doors of dead.
The queen mother turned to D'Artagnan and they looked at each other with lodging, she threw her arms around his neck, and he hugged her back. He wanted to kiss her but resisted, as he knew Aramaris could come in at any minute. Philippe decided his parents needed some time alone, and took the priest who was entering the house with him to the dining room. The priest saw nothing unusual as the couple managed to break the hug when they heard him nearing the door. D'Artagnan whispered in to her ear, "Anne you are as beautiful as always." She whispered back, "And you as handsome." There would be time to kiss, and much more later. They could not risk their secret in front of Aramaris.
Since it was late, they offered their visitors cheese, bread butter and wine. Aramaris said, "This wine is excellent, where did you get it?" Philippe said proudly, "It is from our winery, I'll get you a bottle to take with you monsignor." The priest said, "Thank you, I better get going, I have a lot to do in the next 3 weeks." He stood up, bowed before the queen mother and said, "Your majesty I leave you in good hands, I will be back for you in three weeks." Anne said, "I appreciate your help monsignor Aramaris. God bless you." Philippe stood up walked down to the cellar, came back with a bottle of wine and said, "Monsignor let me walk you to your carriage." Aramaris did not know what to say Philippe was being must kind to him. He said, "Your highness there is no need."
Phillippe could not help himself from laughing candidly and said, "Forgive me monsignor, I find it most amusing for you to call me with a royal title. If you have not noticed, I am D'Artagnan the farmer, and son of D'Artagnan former musketeer, owner of a winery, farm and vineyard. Please call me Philippe or D'Artagnan the youngest."
The priest thought to himself, "What have you done Aramaris, if it was not enough to have him live in misery for all those years; you also robed his nobility from him. To the point that he rejects it completely, or maybe he does not even believe himself to be a noble. Look at what you have you done! Will God ever forgive me for such a crime?"
Aramaris said after bowing before Philippe, "As you wish your highness, I mean Philippe D'Artagnan the youngest." Philippe shook his head, and started walking towards the door. His father told him, "Philippe, why don't you stay with your mother, and I'll walk Aramaris out." The young man said, "Father but I don't want you to carry the presents we have for the monastery." His father patted his back, smiled and said, "Are you trying to tell me I am getting old, and decrepit?" Philippe smiled at his father, and said respectfully, "Of course not father, I am only saying that is the job of an adult son to take the harder tasks upon himself."
The queen mother was watching the men she loved interact; he could see how much D'Artagnan and Philippe loved each other, it filed her heart with warmth. She also saw the sincerity of Aramaris repentance. She smiled stood up and said, "I will walk to the door with you gentleman, of that way both of you can help father Aramaris." Philippe offered his arm to his mother, she took it, and could not help but to notice how firm the muscles of her son were, definitely firmer than Louis arms. It amazed her, she would have never guessed that Philippe would make such a complete recovery; he was stronger than Louis was. She put her head on her sons shoulder affectionately.
Aramaris stood by the carriage and D'Artagnan told him, "Aramaris we have a few sacks of grains, and vegetables that we would like to send to the monastery, along with a couple of hams." The priest said, "I assure you my friend that is not necessary. I owe you, your son and the queen so much." Philippe said, "Please monsignor, we are not trying to repay you, we only want to be good Christian, and send alms to the saintly monks that live in the monastery." Aramaris looked at the sincerity in the face of the young man, and thought that D'Artagnan was definitely doing an admirable job raising the young prince. He said, "In that case I cannot refuse, thank you very much your m…Philippe D'Artagnan the youngest."
The two D'Artagnans loaded the carriage with the food, and Philippe took his mother inside to give his father some privacy with the priest. Aramaris said, "Thank you D'Artagnan for everything. I have to commend you for your great service to the country in raising a Files De France to be noble and honorable, the best Bourbon I have ever met. You have sacrificed everything for France I admire you. However, don't you think Philippe should be able to accept his noble origins? Someday he might have to serve France as its King." D'Artagnan said, "I do not wish that type of life upon my son, but if some day he is called to serve France, I assure you he will be ready. He is a brave, honorable young man, and more capable that what you might imagine."
Aramaris boarded the carriage and said, "Goodbye D'Artagnan, you have built yourself a nice country house, I think it is a good place for the queen mother to visit with her son. I will see you in three weeks. In the name of the monks, I thank you for your generosity; you are sending them so much food. Are you sure you will not needed it later in the season?" D'Artagnan said, "I am sure Aramaris, it does not even put a dent in our reserves. Philippe is so generous with the poor that I think God blesses us with more than our fair share of food." Aramaris said more to himself than to his friend. "Another excellent quality. I wonder if the old king got them mixed up, and kept the youngest twin." D'Artagnan closed the door of the carriage choosing not to comment on what his friend said.
D'Artagnan walked back in to his house, and found Anne and Philippe sitting in the living room. He joined them it was well past midnight, and he did not want Anne to over tire herself. She heard her say, "I cannot imagine greater happiness than to be here with you and your father my son. We have so much catching up to do."
The former captain of the musketeers said, "I cannot imagine greater happiness than to have you here Anne, but it is late, and you have had long day. Let us retiree for the night, and we can start catching up tomorrow." Philippe stood up, and kissed his mother's cheek then said, "Good night mother. I hope you sleep well. I feel like I am dreaming, I will not believe you are here until I wake up, and find you here in the morning." Anne stood up with the help of D'Artagnan, and hugged Philippe. She said, "I assure you I will be here in the morning, good night my son."
Philippe walked up to his room, and closed his door, he was not sure what type of sleeping arrangements his parents would have, and did not want to intrude. After Philippe left, Anne and D'Artagnan stood looking at each other. Anne parted her lips offering them to D'Artagnan, he cupped her face tenderly between his hands, and kissed her. The kiss grew in intensity fueled by the need they had for one another.
They started walking up the stairs and Anne said, "D'Artgnan, I would like it very much if I could share your bedroom while I am here." D'Artagnan kissed her ear and said, "I would like that very much too Anne. I cannot imagine anything that would make me happier."
D'Artagnan helped Anne to get undressed, and she put on a nightgown. He undressed himself, and put on a nightshirt with matching breaches. He sat on the love sit, and waited for Anne to join him. She smiled at him, and sat down reclining her body on him, and looking at his face. He put his arms around her, and admired her timeless beauty. D'Artagnan said, "I have missed you very much Anne, it is extremely difficult to be away from you, even if all I could do at the Palace was look at you from a distance."
Anne took her fingers and ran them over D'Artagnan face as to convince herself that he was real. She looked at his handsome blue eyes and said, "I love you D'Artagnan, the only reason I can bear being without you is because of Philippe. I wish that things were different, I am a widow now, and how I wish we could be married."
He kissed the tip of her nose, her eyes and her lips. He separated from her gasping and said, "That would be a dreamed come true my love, but our social positions are so different that it seems impossible." Anne put her hand behind his head, and pulled him in to another passionate kiss while running her hand over his back. He kissed her neck, and touched her body tenderly before standing up, and carrying her to bed. In their need they undressed each other…They were no longer queen and subject but man and woman.
Philippe woke up early as always, and mounted his horse to go, and get Adelyn who had offered to do the cooking while the queen was visiting. As it was their habit Adelyn rode holding on to him and enjoyed his manly scent. When they arrived at the house. They both walked through the back door, and in to the kitchen. Philippe placed water over the fire as he was planning to fill the bathtub up for his parents. He gave a quick kiss to Adelyn, and told her, I'll be back as soon as I finish milking the cows, and picking the eggs.
Adelyn started baking the bread and some pastries. She decided to wait before frying the ham, and the eggs. She heard Philippe entering and told him, I think I'll use the fresh eggs for this morning, and I might have time to make fresh butter. Philippe told her, "Let me go and clean up, I'll be right down to help." He was back clean, shaved, and wearing a new custom. Adelyn told him, "You look very elegant Philippe." He kissed her and said, "So do you in your new dress." D'Artagnan had order some new clothes for all of his family, and Adelyn, as they would be in close contact with Anne.
Philippe helped with the tedious work of making butter. When sunrise came, he went over to the washroom that connected to his father's bedroom, and entered quietly though the back door. He prepared the bathtub for them and left quietly. Adelyn had put some dried rose petals to boil with the water to give it a pleasant smell.
D'Artagnan woke up when he heard Philippe filling the bathtub, he smiled thinking that his boy was the kindest person he knew. His son had gone to all the trouble of preparing a bath for him and Anne. He hoped that next year they would be able to afford some servants.
The Gascon started kissing Anne and she woke up smiling at him. He told her, "There is a bath waiting for us." The queen mother got out of bed with him and they both entered the washroom. Anne said, "The water smells like roses, how thoughtful of you." D'Artagnan said, "Actually it is our son who thought of it, he always tries to make others happy." Anne told him, "Then he takes after you."
Anne got in the tub with the help of D'Artagnan and he submerged himself right after her. They were both a little shy as neither had ever taken a bath with someone else. All the shines disappeared as they starting washing each other, and then caressing each other's bodies.
Philippe told Adelyn, "I'm starving, are my parents ever going to come down for breakfast?" He had not even finished his sentence when he heard food steps in the dining room. He grabbed his love by her hand, and started pulling her to the dining room.
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