Sometimes Salvation is Found in Agony

Chapter Four

"Are you certain you really want to do this?" Porthos asked as he sat down on the bench at the front of the chapel beside Aramis, while d'Artagnan sat down on his other side and Athos stood to the side and lit a candle of his own, having watched Aramis and a few others do so a number of times before. "You are definitely better at playacting, as you have preformed a number of acts for us and the ladies you've charmed, but…"

"I'm ready," Aramis responded quietly as he stood up and finished taking off everything else that made him appear as a musketeer. "I'm sorry for the things I said, to all of you. I know you're concerned, but you needn't be."

Athos replied, "No apology is necessary. And we trust you. You'll be fine, but you need to be careful, Aramis."

Porthos quickly added, "We need you to stick around in order to keep the rest of us in line."

"You don't need my help for that," Aramis answered sadly as he handed his blue tunic, leather jacket, hat, and all of his weapons over to his friends, then loosened his shirt and replaced his fine leather boots with another pair that weren't nearly in as good condition as his others, making him appear as Paris' most poorest of citizens. "Hold onto these for me?"

"We'll keep them until this is over," d'Artagnan responded as he and Porthos each took his things.

Athos reached down and picked up one of Aramis' daggers, then held it out to him as he said, "You're not really planning on going unarmed, are you?"

Without taking the gold hilted blade, Aramis looked at his friend and replied, "That's a dagger belonging to a musketeer. It was a gift given to me by Captain Treville when I first became one. I need one that isn't so splendid."

"You should keep something with you that has served you well thus far," Athos answered worryingly.

"It cannot be that," Aramis responded as he finally took off the gold cross from around his neck as well and then handed it over to Porthos. "Nor can it be this. Keep this safe for me?"

Porthos nodded as he took the cross, then stood up beside his closest friend and spoke up saying, "If you won't take any of these, then you will take my dagger. It isn't nearly as fine, but…"

Aramis took the dagger as Porthos held it out for him, tucked it inside of his right boot, and then replied, "It's no less finer than a blade made for a king. Thank you, my friend."

"I was going to say that it will serve you just fine like it's served me," Porthos answered as he smiled. "You look ready. Are you sure you really want to do this?"

"One of us has to," Aramis responded. "I'll be all right. Besides, the three of you will be watching my back. What have I to fear?"

When Aramis headed to the chapel's exit to leave for their mission, Athos replied softly, "That's exactly what worries me."

D'Artagnan looked over at their leader as he stated, "You're really worried that he's going to do something that will get himself killed, on purpose?"

"I can see now that he is worse off than I feared," Athos answered fearfully. "His reckless behavior and his lack of fear when we fight against our enemies…. If we can't get through to him soon, we are going to lose him for good."

"That is if this mission doesn't get him killed first," Porthos said. "I swear, I will knock him out and force him to sleep if I have to."

Athos responded, "I'm okay with that."

D'Artagnan replied, "Come on, we should leave now too. I know that we can't be seen with him for this plan to work, but a fight could break out and he may need our help."

"He'll most definitely need our help," Porthos answered as they left the church and followed after their friend, who was far ahead of them by now.

Inside the tavern…

Aramis walked in and immediately felt out of place, even though he was confident that his disguise was enough so that he wouldn't be recognized. No musketeer ever came down into this part of Paris, as it was known for being where the vilest of the darkness that lived within the great city roamed, even worse than those that lived within the Court of Miracles. He and his friends were right about the kinds of people that hung around there. They were thieves, scoundrels, and killers, who had yet to confront the musketeers in one of their ploys, not to mention that they were rowdy and itching for some action. In the back, a fighting match was going on between two men, while men and women gathered around them were shouting and cheering as money was exchanging hands.

"Join in the fun, handsome," a woman cooed as she stepped up beside Aramis and placed her arm down on his shoulder. "There's good money to be made here tonight, if you're smart."

"I'm afraid I have no coins to wager," the musketeer responded truthfully as he pulled away from her. "Even if I did, I can't say I'm one for this kind of sport."

Another patron walked up behind him and said, "Perhaps you'd prefer to become the next challenger."

Aramis shoved the man away from him, as well as another man who had come to his friend's defense, and then prepared himself for a different fight as he answered coldly, "I said, I'm not interested. My business here has nothing to do with any of you, so I suggest you just back off."

"He's right," a woman stated from the corner table as she observed the newcomer and the patrons caught up in the fight, then stood and began to walk toward them. "This one's with me boys."

"And you are?" Aramis asked as he stared at the beautiful woman standing before him.

She smiled and responded, "Someone who is looking for someone strong and fearless, like you."

Aramis replied skeptically, "You just met me and that confrontation moments ago hardly showed you my character. What could you possibly want from me?"

"Some companions and I are looking for someone to help us with a little job and my instincts tell me that you could help us with the next step," she answered smugly. "However, to be safe, I need to know for sure that you have exactly what I'm looking for. I need to see how ruthless you really are and to do that, I want to see you fight whoever of those men becomes the victor of this match."

"As I told those men, I am not interested in fighting," Aramis responded in frustration as he turned his back on her and began to walk away. "I don't fight unless it's necessary."

She quickly called out to him before he could disappear replying, "Wouldn't you say that bringing down a tyrant is necessary?"

The musketeer stopped and turned around again to face her as he answered, "I'm listening."

"I knew that would get your attention," she said smugly. "However, if you want to hear more, I need you to do as I asked. I want to see you knock that man now dancing around triumphantly down to his knees. Show me your ruthlessness."

"If you insist," Aramis gave in dejectedly. "Although, you may not like what you see."