I really hope when Season 3 starts that Aramis isn't separated from his brothers for four years. When I started to write this story I had a vision of them being reunited and everything being as it was before. Then I started to explore Aramis' feelings and emotions. His life has been on pause for 4 years while his brothers have faced hardship and danger. I realised that it wouldn't be as easy as I had thought for him to be integrated back into the Musketeers and that their relationships could never quite be the same again. I hope I am doing justice to his struggle to overcome these obstacles.
Insurgency
Chapter Twelve
The summons to the Palace arrived shortly after they finished eating. Athos and Porthos fetched their dress blue capes before Porthos went to retrieve Colonel Marquez from his prison. Aramis watched it all with a heavy heart.
"Are you ready?" Athos asked.
Aramis remained in his seat. "I will wait here. The King sent for you, not me."
"He wants a report and you have valuable information."
"I don't know, Athos. There's nothing I can tell him that will make any difference. The threat is over and the Colonel is in custody."
"Thanks to you."
"What's goin' on?" Porthos asked. He had a firm grip on the Colonel's arm and seemed quite content to cause serious discomfort and bruising.
"Aramis doesn't believe he should come with us." Athos glowered at Marquez who was listening with undisguised satisfaction.
"If you want your commission back you've got to start impressin' the King," Porthos said. "Hearing about Douai first hand is a good start."
Aramis sighed heavily. "I suppose you are right, my friend."
"My King would not welcome back a man who hid away while his brothers fought and died," Marquez said. "Perhaps your King is a weaker man."
"Shut your mouth." Porthos yanked Marquez away towards the horses.
"This is a bad idea. I don't deserve a commission," Aramis said sadly.
"You served faithfully for many years. The King will take that into account. Besides, what will you do if you don't rejoin the Musketeers?"
"There are other regiments."
"Absolutely not," Athos said firmly. "Come on. We don't want to keep him waiting."
TMTMTM
They stood in the throne room waiting for Louis. Aramis' heart thumped painfully behind his ribs. He had no confidence that he would be welcomed back. When the doors opened he had another reason for uncertainty. Queen Anne walked into the room at her husband's side, her eyes widening when she saw him. Then, all signs of emotion cleared from her face. He wondered if she hated him now. She had every right. He had broken his word to her. He remembered the day she told him she was expecting his child.
"I will watch over your son and guard him with all my strength and heart. I will lay down my life for him, if necessary. He will have no more devoted servant."
Instead he had abandoned her and the Dauphin without a word of explanation or farewell. He bowed deeply and, even when he straightened, he kept his eyes downcast in flustered embarrassment.
Athos was acutely aware of Aramis standing at his right shoulder. He couldn't risk even a glance at his friend to see how he was handling being in the presence of the Queen. After bowing he stood to attention and waited for the King to speak.
"Wonderful, Captain. You have exceeded all my expectations."
"Your Majesty is very gracious." Athos nudged Marquez forward, aware that the Spaniard had not bowed or shown any sign of respect towards the King. "This is Colonel Marquez. He led a troop of soldiers intent upon attacking the town of Douai."
"You are fortunate that I don't order your immediate execution," Louis said haughtily.
"I am of more value alive, as we both know."
Louis flushed angrily. "That remains to be seen." He gestured to one of the Red Guard who was standing on duty close to the throne. "Take him away."
"You will see that Aramis has returned to us, Sire," the Queen said.
There was no sign of welcome on Louis face. "Perhaps, Captain, you can explain why a former Musketeer is in your company."
"Colonel Marquez commandeered the monastery at Douai as his headquarters. Aramis was a lay brother there. When he found out what the Spanish were planning he risked his life to get word to the town."
"And now he is here expecting our gratitude?"
"No, Your Majesty," Aramis said. "I was only doing my duty to France."
"We expect nothing less of our subjects."
"I would formally request that Aramis' commission be returned to him," Athos said.
Louis frowned at him. "He had the exceptional honour of being one of our Musketeers and he chose to resign his commission. He left us at a time of great need. We do not easily forgive disloyalty."
"He was following his vocation, Sire."
"A vocation that he had apparently abandoned as well. No, Captain, he had his chance and made the choice to throw away his career. Now, we have much to discuss…in private."
Aramis struggled to keep the disappointment from his face as he bowed and backed out of the King's presence. He was conscious of Porthos following close behind him.
"Athos'll talk 'im round," Porthos said, after the doors had closed behind them.
"I believe you are wrong about that," Aramis said. "The King has made his decision perfectly clear. I will never be a Musketeer again."
TMTMTM
"Minister Treville sent word from the front. The fighting has noticeably decreased. He told you about the ambassador from my brother-in-law?"
"He did, Sire."
"The terms he was proposing were unacceptable, of course. Now, though, we have the upper hand. Colonel Marquez is quite the folk hero. His influence spread throughout the army. Without him Philip will find his troops morale to be greatly decreased."
"Is the ambassador still in Paris?"
"He is. I will send for him immediately. You did well, Captain."
"We couldn't have done it without Aramis."
Louis' expression darkened. "I am grateful for the part he played and for his past service, but there will be no commission."
"If Your Majesty would give me leave to tell you what he had to endure?" Athos took the King's curt nod as permission. "He was captured by the Spanish and tortured for information." He heard the Queen gasp and noted that she had become pale. "Forgive me," he said solicitously. "I didn't mean to distress you."
"The Queen has a soft heart," Louis said. "I am sorry to hear that he suffered in our service."
"He refused to talk until the Colonel murdered one of the monks and threatened the other members of the community. Even when grievously injured he still took part in the Colonel's capture."
"He is to be commended for his bravery."
Athos held back a frustrated sigh. "He is, Sire."
"You can return to the garrison and attend upon us tomorrow morning. By then I will have spoken to the ambassador and we will hopefully be a step closer to peace."
"As you wish, Sire." Athos bowed and left the room. Porthos and Aramis were waiting for him and he didn't have to say a word for them to know that his plea had gone unheard.
Tbc