Update: 1st of September 2023
Happy First Day of Spring Everyone!
Chapter 2: Long Road Home
Athos and D'Artagnan knew the way home was going to be difficult. Both mentally and physically and added to that they weren't sure who they might be up against. Since no messages have seemed to reach Paris, it meant they were intercepted. So somehow people, like their capturers, had to know what to look out for when it came to their massagers. So, their torturers would likely be looking for them too.
But they HAD to get back to Paris.
Both for the security of France and for the sake of their Brothers. At the moment they were considering their brothers welfare over the security of France.
They were also going to face a different dilemma. How to explain what happened to them to Captain Treville and Aramis and Porthos. They had had a few discissions on this and had decided that what they tell the Captain might not be as detailed as it would be for Aramis and Porthos. But it would still take time for them to be able to tell the full story.
"Brother do you think Porthos and Aramis will forgive us?" D'Artagnan asks Athos as they ride as close to each other as possible.
They rode like that for BOTH their comforts.
Athos winces at that question, "I hope they will. As it wasn't our fault that these events happened. Hopefully they will be so glad to see us that their anger might be kept at bay"
"Do you have any ideas how our messages were found?" D'Artagnan asks him quietly.
"I don't know. As we sent multiple letters to the Captain, Aramis, Porthos and even Constance and Flea. I don't see how that many letters could not get through", Athos replies.
"So, you don't see Flea keeping anything from Porthos?" D'Artagnan asks him.
"No, I don't. Especially if she sees Porthos in pain. What about Constance?" Athos asks him.
"I know we didn't leave things on the best of terms. But I don't see her holding back any information she gets on us", D'Artagnan replies wincing at the thought of how he left things with Constance.
From what he remembered it hadn't been a pleasant parting. But then again some of his memories were a bit muddled. So maybe he was missing something.
"Do you think Milady could be behind some of this?" D'Artagnan asks him.
Athos sighs, "I don't know what to believe with her. But if she wanted to get some revenge this might be the way to make me pay without killing me"
"Athos do you think the Musketeers will accept us back again? That Porthos and Aramis would accept us back again with how…broken we are?" D'Artagnan asks him.
Again, Athos sighs, "That is a loaded question. I would like to think Aramis and Porthos would accept us. But as for the Musketeers…with our injuries STILL healing it might be a while till we are back to full duty"
"I figured as much", D'Artagnan mutters wincing as he shifted his right leg.
Athos noticed the wince immediately. They had been drawn together much closer during their time in captivity that they knew each other inside and out. And they were truly Brothers in all but blood. They had been able to developed their bond farther then before. Where they could basically know when the other needs medical related help. And they could tell if the other was telling the truth or not. They could also read each other's facial expressions with ease. Even if Athos in particular normally had a mental mask up to hide what he was thinking and they with practice ease could read each other's body language.
"Do you need a rest Brother?" Athos asks softly on a voice he was sure would ONLY be reserved for his Baby Brother.
D'Artagnan bites his lip and rubs his leg with his right hand while his left held the reins in his left.
"There is no shame stopping. I told you that. I probably will have to stop a few times too", Athos tells him.
"How far do you think we have come? Can we afford to stop?" D'Artagnan asks him rubbing his leg more as craps started to go through it.
Athos lips quirk, "A few miles. Nobody is expecting us. So, we can afford to take as long as we need. Within reason. My hand is cramping up anyway. Lets go over to that crop of trees and have a break"
D'Artagnan nods and Athos could see the relief in his Brothers eyes.
They move over to the side of the road to a group of trees. Athos dismounts first with a wince on the pressure on his arm and hand.
He moves over to D'Artagnan and pulls out his Brother's cane before helping the Gascon to awkwardly dismount. His right leg shakes as it hits the ground making Athos's lips purse together.
"I believe you need some of the herbs that will help your muscles relax. Unless you want some of the mild pain draught before we continue", Athos decides.
"Muscle relax draught. I don't want to have a fuzzy head while we are on the road. I want to be able to defend myself if necessary", D'Artagnan decides gingerly sitting down.
Athos nods in agreement and brings out the necessary herbs to make the draught. D'Artagnan takes the mortar out of Athos hands and brings to grind the herbs himself which makes Athos give a soft smile as D'Artagnan even in the mist of his own trouble recognised he would have trouble grinding the herbs.
Athos brings out the water and helps D'Artagnan by pouring it in and mixing it. And tipping it into two cups.
They both grimace at the smell but they nod to each other and both down the foul drink at the same time. Grimacing and a slight gag as they have it.
"We will give that sometime to kick in. Then I believe we can make it a few more miles before finding camp for the night", Athos tells him settling down besides his brother.
So there shoulders were touching.
"As we are taking the lesser used roads our time on our journey to Paris is going to be longer. But it will probably be the safer route for the two of use considering what we have been put through", Athos states.
D'Artagnan nods that made perfect sense. But he had a feeling like Athos did that their route would still have them facing some challenges. It was just a feeling he had and he knew Athos did too. But they had discussed this the night before when they couldn't sleep and this plan seemed to be the best out of the other plans.
Athos felt his Brother start to relax and felt himself relax too. They had found out quite early into their captivity and in their recovery that their moods often reflected the other.
"Ready to get back out there?" Athos asks him.
He nods and with Athos's help he was back into the saddle with a sigh of relief that the drought he took helped to make his seating on his horse more comfortable.
Athos and he travelled a few more miles at times at a fast trot and others at a walk. Both speeds they needed to get more practice with.
They found abandoned barn and Athos decided that would be their shelter for tonight. They slowly guide their horses towards it cautiously. Keeping their eyes out for danger.
Sensing none they dismount and split the jobs they had too do to spend the night here. Athos had scouted the permitter a bit and found nothing out of the ordinary, he had also gathered firewood. D'Artagnan had pulled out the blankets and the food supplies, as well as the herbs for a mild pain draught.
Athos started the fire and they begin to settle down as D'Artagnan hands him a cup of the draught. Athos dips his head in thanks for basically reading him correctly that he needed this.
After they had eaten, they had pulled themselves a nice distance from their fire and Athos pulled D'Artagnan gently, but tightly into his side.
"Sleep Brother I'll take first shift", Athos tells him gently.
D'Artagnan nods and snuggles into his Older Brothers side and sighs in relief of the comfort and safety being this close and in this position to his Brother gave him. Athos relaxes too feeling D'Artagnan breathing and his heart beating made him feel better. After nearly him losing him so many times. It also was a comfort to know that he was safe and that he could protect his Younger Brother who he believed he had failed too many times to count.
But he was determined to not fail him again. And they had been through too much to give up on each other now.
Athos really was having trouble thinking about how and why he didn't want the Gascon around in the beginning. As now he couldn't imagine life without him. If D'Artagnan died Athos knew he would quickly follow him. He wouldn't be able to live without his Younger Brother again.
He didn't even have to think about it. He just knew if D'Artagnan died he would find a way to quickly follow him into whatever was next for them and pray that wherever he ended up would be by BOTH his Younger Brothers sides.
But after everything he had done in his life, he didn't think he had earned a spot in heaven besides them.
After all, where else would Thomas have gone and where else would D'Artagnan end up going?...
(Line Break)
The days of travel where anything but smooth at times. Athos and D'Artagnan grow weary at stages and at where possible they would try and make it too the next town to sleep in a real bed for a few days while their aching muscles and injuries.
And the nights they slept nightmares normally found there way to them. Only a few times when they were in contact with each other from the start did they sleep peacefully.
It was 13 days into their travel that they were attacked by they hoped were just bandits. Four of them. Their pistols took out two of them before Athos and D'Artagnan resorted to swords. They were happy that they managed to take out their attacks with only minor scraps and some pain in their still healing injuries.
They had needed a couple of days rest after that. But soon they realised just how close to Paris they were getting each day. And for some reason that made them quieter as they dwelled on what was unknowing waiting for them when they reached Paris and the Garrison. And some of the nightmares had increased making them wear out more then what they had been at the start.
They just hoped that being near each other would help them gather strength they needed to be able to tell ad least Aramis and Porthos the WHOLE truth…
~~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)!~~
