Updated: Monday 4/09/2023
Chapter 3: Aramis and Porthos
The last 7 months hadn't been easy on the Two remaining Inseparables. After they lost Athos and D'Artagnan everything seemed to unravelling and falling apart.
When their brothers first went missing Treville had given them a month to find them or get a clue that they were alive before he would have to call it and declare them to be dead.
Aramis and Porthos did everything they could to locate their missing brothers. Went around all the small villages around where their brothers had been sent too. But there was no sign of them. Nobody seemed to have ever seen them.
Their belongings hadn't been found and there was no trail they could find to follow. They knew that Treville had been generous with the time he could give them to search. But it still didn't make it any easier when Treville had called them into his office and broke the news that they already knew would come. That the search was now being called off and Athos and D'Artagnan were no considered to have been killed.
It didn't make the news anymore easier. They had shouted and ranted to Treville and they knew he had been lenient with them as afterwards they remembered the pity, sympathy, grief and guilt in his own eyes.
They spent that first night after the call was made getting so drunk, they nearly had alcohol poisoning and it was surprising that their fellow Musketeers were watching over them to make sure they got back to their rooms safely. As they nearly didn't and they apparently nearly got into a fight with the Red Guards. Not that the Musketeers guarding their grieving brothers-in-arms would have minded. But they knew Aramis and Porthos shouldn't have to deal with the repercussions of a fight started during their period of grief. So, the Musketeers watching them had stopped it quickly and managed to coax the pair back to the Garrison. Where they would be safe. Well kind of safe as it might not stop them from somehow hurting themselves within the walls of the Garrison.
The next time they got that drunk was when Athos and D'Artagnan's memorial was taken place. Words and stories were said that nearly made the two remaining Inseparables become undone. With no bodies there wasn't much they could do in way of a funeral.
But Treville held a memorial in the Courtyard and spoke of Athos heroism and D'Artagnan's bravery and the bond those two had shared. How they would have surely gone down fighting. He spoke of the bond of the Four Inseparables. How hopefully their example would live on in every one of them. How Athos was the greatest of them all and how D'Artagnan was sure to follow in his mentors footsteps if past missions were anything to go by.
After the service and in the days to come Treville watched the last two of the famous quartet fall apart and become shells of their former selves. He watched as Aramis slept his way through the Ladies of Paris. He watched as Porthos won as many cards games as he lost. Both of them had lost their way as he saw them start to argue with each other. But still somehow managed to work together and they refused to try and work with anyone else. Treville could understand that in a way. To them it would seem like they were replacing Athos and D'Artagnan even thought that would be impossible to do no matter how long past.
Treville has reaching his limit with the pair of them as he noticed that they had gotten reckless and irresponsible. He knew if the pair didn't shape up soon, he would have to force them apart or even take their commission.
And he knew that was likely. Afterall 7 months had past since the deaths of Athos and D'Artagnan and still Aramis and Porthos acted the same.
So, what could possibly change that?...
(Line Break)
Aramis looked out over the Tavern. He had taken a spot in the darkest corner. Which had become the norm to him unless he was looking for company for the night. To starve off the nightmares of the guilt that was eating him up inside.
Most of the time since Athos and D'Artagnan were announced missing he had the deep seeded guilt hovering over him tightly like a blanket. It was suffocating him. All he could think about was how he had fallen them. One of his oldest friends and their new younger brother.
He thought about for how long they hadn't accepted anyone else into their group of 'Inseparables' and then D'Artagnan comes along and he just fit with them perfectly. They didn't need anytime at all to welcome him into the group. Well Athos did. But by the time they died they were best friends and they were seemingly like Porthos and Him. Not willing to be paired differently if they had to split up.
Aramis couldn't help but think that if he had insisted on going with Athos and D'Artagnan would things have had turned out differently. He knew their mission had been a simple one to deliver a message and package to a western port. But it SHOULD have been ALL four of them going! Bloody Treville hadn't thought they were all needed! This was HIS fault!
Aramis knew he wasn't being rational. But he just couldn't seem to help it. As his heart felt broken with the lose of his two brothers and the fact Porthos was disappearing more into the Court of Miracles again and he was playing cards more and more, and Aramis knew he was losing more then what he was winning.
But it hurt the Porthos was leaving him behind. So, in a way he had lost all his brothers. As Porthos, his best friend, had changed so much since the officiation of their brothers' deaths. He wasn't happy anymore and his temper was quick.
And he knew the brawls were getting started easier between he and Porthos against each other. And the pair of them against the Red Guard. Who took great joy of pointing out their failures of looking after their brothers and making remarks about how the GREAT Athos's skills hadn't been up to par enough to ward off death. They also said Athos had it coming.
With D'Artagnan they made similar comments and how Athos got his GREAT protégée dead. How a no talent farm boy got killed for not having the right skills to be a GREAT or even a Musketeer. And how much of a mistake it was for them all to encourage the brat when he didn't have an ounce of talent.
Those comments about the two of their dead brothers made Aramis so mad he could have killed the Red Guards who said it if it wasn't for his brothers-in-arms stepping them in and pulling him away from the vile Red Guards who dared to mock and disrespect the dead.
Those comments and other acts these days sent him into the arms of women if he wanted to forget his pain or onto to the shooting range and picturing those that mocked and disrespected his friends were attached to those targets. That was a GREAT motivator and VERY affective.
He knew on missions he and Porthos put up a mask to get through it. But that's all it was, was a mask. He KNEW they were reckless and making stupid errors. He knew he was being unfair on those that were teamed up with him and Porthos. But even in his state he believed that nobody could replace their brothers and another problem he had with others teaming up with them is that he didn't want to get THEM killed! So in a way him driving them off was his way of saving them.
On those darker days he thought about resigning his commission and retiring into the Abbey. As he knew he was broken. If Savoy hadn't done it the death of his brothers did. So why was he still around here?
He knew Treville was close to forcing him out and just maybe he should let him. He knew it would mean dishonour. But maybe that was what he deserved. Afterall he just got more people killed then he saved. And it cost him two of the five most important people in his life.
Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan, the Queen and the Dauphin.
Those had been the most important people in his life.
The Queen was out of his reach and so was the Dauphin unless he wanted them to get killed. The woman he loved and his son.
Athos was dead. The one who kept all his secrets and protected him was dead.
D'Artagnan was dead. The boy who had just fitted right into their group of misfits. And had shown such loyalty and honour. So much skill. Who was a little brother to him. Who had bought life and breath back into them. Was dead.
Porthos was nearly lost to him. He like him was caught up in grief. Gambling. Drinking. And going in and out of the Court of Miracles. But he also deep inside him knew that he and Porthos could be helping each other if they decided to face their grief head on. But it was only driving them apart.
So, what did he have left to stay in Paris for?
He didn't know why but something was still keeping him here.
But what was it?...
(Line Break)
Porthos was in one of the seedier taverns in the city. In a dark corner much like Aramis. But he wasn't alone he was playing cards again.
He HAD to take his mind off his guilt.
Of the guilt of not protecting his brothers.
Why did his brothers have to die? Sure, Aramis was still around but there just was too much history, grief and pain between them now for them to stand to be around each other for long periods at a time.
He when he wasn't gambling to make his mind forget Athos and D'Artagnan he was helping Flea at the Court. She had tried to be understanding. But she was starting to push him into coming back and he had to admit it was now looking VERY likely he would be going back.
Everywhere he looked at the Garrison it reminded him of Athos and then of D'Artagnan. Who had been so young when he died that it was a cruel reminder that life wasn't fair.
Athos had been the greatest of them and D'Artagnan had the potential to be just as great. Treville couldn't have picked better words at the memorial. But that didn't mean he wasn't mad at Treville for sending them of alone and not sending he and Aramis with them. Instead, he and Aramis had been training recruits. What was the point in that?
Then he was angry with Aramis for not trying to insist on Treville that they accompanying Athos and D'Artagnan on the mission.
He was anger at Milady for messing with Athos head and for likely putting him off his game.
He was angry that Treville kept putting others with him and Aramis. When they were having enough problems as it was! And he was sure the Captain knew that and it seemed he was playing with lives like his darker, paranoid and suspicious side was telling him that Treville was setting them all up to fail or be killed. Like he did with Athos and D'Artagnan. But the other part of knew that was beyond ridiculous. As it was meant to be a simple mission that barely needed two people!
Then he was angry at Athos and D'Artagnan for dying. He KNEW that one wasn't far but he couldn't help it! It was supposed to be an easy mission that was probably not even needing two Musketeers. So how the hell did they die? So he was unfairly angry at them.
He was angry at the Red Guards for their disgusting comments about the dead and for disrespecting his brothers that way.
And lastly, he was angry at himself for not doing more.
It was like he was just on a wheel of anger half the time. Or the other half he was stuck in depression. Much like Aramis.
He KNEW he and Aramis were falling apart. He KNEW they would probably be kicked out of the Musketeers soon. He KNEW Treville had nearly enough of them now. He KNEW that he and Aramis would be unlikely to get over this. He KNEW that he and Aramis could probably help each other in their grief if they gave each other the chance. And he KNEW his anger and gambling might just get him killed.
But he didn't find it in his heart to stop. It was the only thing besides from drinking and doing stuff for the Court that helped cover the void in his heart and soul for a little while. But it was more like patches on his heart and soul that kept tearing over.
A tear falls unnoticed down his face.
Why was here still here?
Why was he still a Musketeer?
Maybe he should just resign his commission now and disappear into the Court of Miracles. But where would that leave Aramis?
Aramis was his best friend. But they BOTH have been pretty piss ass friends at the moment. But grief does strange things to you.
Why else besides Aramis was he staying in the Musketeers for with all the painful memories?
Why did something tell him to stick it out?
He didn't know why he was staying or why something was keeping him here. Why had he waited 7 months to do something?
What kept him from leaving?
(Line Break)
A week later Treville forced the last two Inseparables hands. He told them to sort their grief and differences out or they would be dismissed and that would bring them dishonour.
So, while the two old friends sat down to talk over a few too many bottles of wine, with callous words and angry stares involved, their thought to be dead brothers were days away from Paris…
~~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)!~~
