Hello everybody, here is a new chapter for you.
Many thanks to: jwlinder, TheseWordsAreUnspoken, MusketeerAdventure, sheppy989 and dg101.
Thank you for add to follows, favs or reviews. You are great guys. :)
To MusketeerAdventure: Here is a memory, which brought a cheerful spark. Enjoy it. XD
Disclaimer: I don't own The Musketeers.
Athos tried to focus only on training, he really did. But look at the aspiring young musketeers and the morning again reunion with Gracelyn reminded him of his own beginnings with the sword. Actually one particular day.
FLASHBACK
Two months past from the Gracelyn's arrival to La Fere. The coming autumn atmosphere was already felt in the air. The days started to be shorter and colder. But Athos didn't take notice of the cold, when he entered into a large unheated room. He had, after a long time, training with his master. M. Fournier was three weeks on a private road and only after his departure, Athos realized how is missing their workouts. His master wasn't the warmest person, but the teaching of fencing, together with the horse riding was a pleasant cheer from the usual duties of the young Comte.
Since Fournier hasn't come yet, Athos decided he will start himself. He took up his sword and practised the latest attacks, which the master learned him before leaving. Already was preparing for his third lunge, when he heard the rattling of metal. He turned and saw his little cousin. She tries to take off the sword, which was draped securely high on the wall.
"What are you doing here?" he tried to sound authoritatively, but couldn't resist a smile. For the last month she has followed him perhaps everywhere he went. So for him it wasn't a surprise she came here.
"I want to fence too." little Gracelyn begged.
"You can't. You're too small." he explained, decided to omit the part about the fact the girls actually don't fencing and after a moment he added, "Why don't you play with Thomas?" he wanted to encourage her, because she started to look disheartened.
"He doesn't like me. He said he shall not play with the annoying girl." Gracelyn frowned at him. "And can I watch at least?" she asked with hope.
"All right." Athos couldn't resist her puppy eyes. He waited until she got a seat on the chair, standing in the corner of the room and continued with the training. After the moment a master swordsman has also arrived. He registered the girl in the corner and began to scowl.
"What are you doing here?" he repeated unknowingly question of his disciple.
"I wanna watch how you are fencing." she replied.
"There is no question, girls and swordplay don't go together. Especially not so small and nosy." casting out her from the room.
"But..." Athos tried to plead for Grace.
"No buts, we have already a delay, I don't need to babysitting little kids."
Athos, with the knowledge it doesn't make sense to guess with M. Fournier, was silent. But when he saw a few minutes later a little girl how was creeping into the room and stealing Fournier's hat, he decided won't bother master with such a detail.
END OF FLASHBACK
The rest of the day wasn't interesting. Training, Aramis' jokes, training. Just as usually. The sun was approaching the horizon and the musketeers were slowly finishing, when Gracelyn returned to the garrison. She took the horse to the stables and came to Athos.
"What about the book?" she asked.
"A book?" he turned his eyes on the package, which lay already from the morning forgotten on the table.
"Uh. I was..."
"Busy?" Gracelyn followed his gaze.
"Yes." he agreed quickly, and he looked somewhat the shamed.
"I need to give you a compliment." Aramis spoke to her. "You are perhaps the first person, who was able to bring him into embarrassment." and he began to laugh. Athos gave him a murderous glance, which made Aramis laugh even more.
"Never mind." Grace said, also with a smile, "Have you already gone off duty? I invite you all for dinner. You can choose the location."
Aramis looked at Athos who nodded. "Sure, why not? I'll get d'Artagnan with Potrhos. We still have to clean up the equipment but then we can go."
"Great." she agreed enthusiastically.
"What about the things you had to arrange?" Athos wanted to know.
"Not everything went according to expectations." she said, but Athos noticed she didn't look into his eyes.
But she has caused him from the considerations."We still missing one person." and she reached the stairs.
XXX
Captain Treville was sitting on the chair and frowning at the paper spread before him.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Enter."
"Captain." Grace's head appeared in the doorway. "If you have the time?"
"Actually, I don't." he admitted. "These days I think that those papers are multiplying."
"That's a shame." she looked sincerely disappointed. "I'm going with Athos and his friends for dinner, we hoped you add."
"Perhaps another time," Treville promised "but thank you for the invitation."
"You don't have to thank. You're welcome. So, good luck with the paperwork."
XXX
"So tonight without Captain." Grace said and went to the four men. "Are you ready?"
"Let's go." Porthos agreed.
XXX
"And did he seriously drop there a whole?" Aramis asked, meanwhile Porthos was laughing and d'Artagnan was being all flushed as he tried to suppress the laughter.
"I swear, to the top of his head" Gracelyn was smiling.
The evening was well. Grace was telling stories of Athos childhood and although Athos was trying to look offended, he couldn't quite suppress a smile, which appeared on his face.
"I hope you haven't forgotten you swam in the exactly same pond only a week later." he turned to her.
"It was different." Grace resisted herself.
"I jumped there on purpose" she added when he raised his eyebrows.
Everyone started to laugh again.
"What did Athos mean when he said you know all of the powerful men of France?" d'Artagnan asked, still not sure what that means.
"He overstated it." she said in explanation. "When I was eighteen I moved to Paris, so you know, I had naive dreams I will find a noble bridegroom, and we will live happily ever after." Gracelyn smiled and continued.
"I lived here a few months. I was standing on the marketplace when the royal chariot passed around. Everyone was waving, but I..." she blushed a little, "Well, let's just say I didn't agree with one trader. And maybe my opinion was a bit loud."
"A bit, yeah?" Athos snorted.
Gracelyn ignored him.
"His majesty saw me. He thought it is bold turn your back to the royal chariot. And you know him, he finds this behaviour appealing. Occasionally."
They all remember the countess De Larroque and nodded.
"Then he invited me to the palace for lunch and I got stuck there. Somehow."
"For five years." Athos added.
"But I have never been anything other than his friend." she said quickly to the suspicious faces of all around.
"Why did you go to England?" effect of Athos' question was immediate. The mood froze and their smiles fell down, when they were waiting for a response.
"You know." Gracelyn didn't look into his eyes and stand sipped her wine.
"No, I don't." Athos opposed "you told you're going to visit the father, but I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now."
"But it's true." she whispered, eyes still lowered.
"And how do you explain this. Your father died a month before you left." he attacked
At that moment she lifted her eyes and said softly "How do you know that?"
"The letter about his death didn't come only to you." he stood up and went to the exit.
Door behind Athos loudly shut. Everyone in the inn were talking away, laughing and drinking but there was silence at musketeer's table. They all watched Gracelyn and saw the anxiety in her eyes was changing into anger. She got up quickly and ran after Athos. Three men looked to each other and followed them. When they came out they saw how Grace was catching Athos and turning him towards herself. Three friends were standing aside, but in the hearing, if there were problems.
"What do you want to hear?" Grace started to scream "I regret I left you? Okay. Because I regret it! "
"I want to hear the truth." Athos said calmly.
"No, you don't." she opposed a little more calmly, tears were rushing into her eyes.
"Why?" Athos was confused.
"It's not safe." she said firmly, looked into his eyes.
"What are you talking about?!" in that moment, Athos had already shouted.
"I'm talking about the fact I was the king's spy!"
It took only a second before she realized what she said and the anger disappeared. Athos took a step back. The implementation of his gesture hit her like a stone. Grace again had a sense of losing someone who cares about and Athos had a sense of betrayal, because the other important woman in his life lied to him.
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