Updated: Monday 11th/9/2023
Chapter 4: The Inseparables Return
Two Days Later...
Athos, Porthos and Aramis were tired. After 2 weeks they were coming up to Paris. They couldn't wait to get back into their own beds and they couldn't wait to see their Youngest Brother.
"Do you think he has kept out of trouble?" Aramis asks with a tired smile.
"I better have if he knows what is good for him", Athos grumbles.
Porthos chuckles, "Come on Athos, lighten up! Our Pup will be waiting for us as soon as we walk through the Gates. He has a habit of doing that!"
"An annoying habit of doing that", Athos mutters.
"Well maybe we can sneak up on him this time?" Aramis asks hopefully.
"I wouldn't count on it", Athos mutters.
Aramis and Porthos look at each other. Athos was acting weird even for him.
"What is with you today?" Aramis asks him.
"You haven't acted like…you in a few days", Porthos states, "So what's wrong?"
"I have a bad feeling", Athos tells them softly, "A VERY bad feeling"
The other two Brothers look at each other. They knew better then to disregard Athos's gut feelings.
"Maybe we should pick up the pace then?" Aramis suggested.
"How much trouble could the Pup have gotten up to in 2 weeks?" Porthos asks them rolling his eyes rhetorically.
But then after a second of thought they look at each other before spurring their horses on. Oh, they knew that D'Artagnan attracted trouble. It was a miracle that he made it this far in life. But could he really be in trouble again when they were nowhere close to be able to help? Oh, course their Little Brother would be in trouble. They just hoped they could help him before he got hurt!
Now that Aramis and Porthos thought on it, the more they felt their guts churning.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong…
(Line Break)
Treville's day had only just started and it wasn't looking promising. Two days since D'Artagnan's death. Two days since he left his Godson to be tricked by the supposed 'Red Guards' and the only lead they had was that the Red Guards weren't actually Red Guards. How they got those uniforms were HIGHLY suspect. But it was a matter that he was going to have to tackle later. Many other matters had to be handled.
Just yesterday besides informing the King and Queen he had the difficult task of telling Constance of the Young Man's death and it had been heartbreaking to see the woman break down and let her regrets flow.
Treville closed his eyes remembering how Constance looked when he left her. She was distraught and told him it was HER fault. The if she had just let go of her fear maybe D'Artagnan would…Treville had tried to reassure her this was in NO way her fault. But he didn't know if he got through.
Suddenly a knock comes from his door.
"Come", Treville calls out with a tired sigh.
He sees Sebastian looking at him sadly.
"They have returned Sir and Sir…they…they are looking for their Fourth…"
Treville closes his eyes and says a prayer.
Hoping that D'Artagnan's spirit would give his brothers strength enough to get through this. Treville believed they would have the strength to find the Lad's killer but that just left after the killer was caught…
He didn't want to think what would happen to those three men afterwards…
"I'm coming"
(Line Break)
Athos, Porthos and Aramis rode towards the Garrison and thought they could sense themselves being watched. But they looked and just chalked it up to them being worried about what trouble D'Artagnan had gotten into in their absence.
When they rode their horses into the Garrison it was unnaturally silent and when their Comrades looked at them, they saw a flash of guilt, grief and sadness before they turned away from them and slowly left the area.
Only a few of the older ones remained and they looked sombre and ragged. Even Jacques the stable boy looked grief stricken as he moved to help them with their horses. But another Musketeer gently gestures him away and comes over instead to help them with their horses.
The Three Brothers noticed something else immediately.
It was the fact their Little Brother hadn't greeted them yet.
Something was wrong…
They just got off their horses when they saw a sombre Treville coming out of his office with Sebastian.
Treville looked at them and he knew right away he didn't hide his grief well enough.
They saw that grief and everyone saw something in the Three Inseparables break even when they hadn't had confirmation yet.
"Captain where is D'Artagnan?" Athos asks him.
"Why isn't the Whelp here to greet us?" Porthos asks trying to sound cheerfully.
"What do I have to fix this time?" Aramis asks with a resigned and strained sigh.
"We should go to my office", Treville tells them.
"Where is our Brother?" Porthos asks his eyes narrowing.
"I really think we should have this conversation in my office Lads", Treville tells them gently.
"Where is our Little Brother?" Athos growls his eyes flashing dangerously, but his tone seemed to be desperate.
They notice the older Musketeers who stayed flinch at Athos's tone.
Treville knew he wouldn't get these three men to move unless he gave them the answer. Which everyone, even the Three in front of him, knew what it was.
"I am sorry. I am so sorry", Treville tells them with true sorrow.
They flinch at those words.
"No…no…"
"You can't be saying..."
"D'Artagnan was killed four days ago", Treville tells them waiting for the TRUE denial to start.
And he didn't have to wait long.
Athos storms up to him and grabs his uniform and pulls him to him.
"Is this some sick joke for you?" Athos yells making everyone flinch, even the person nobody knew was there, on the roof, "Where is he?"
"I can assure you Athos. I am not joking. Your Brother died taking 8 of his attackers down with him. But losing his own before we could help him", Treville informs them.
"Where is he? Where is his body?" Aramis chokes out.
"He is NOT DEAD!" Athos shouts making everyone flinch and look at him in sorrow.
"I am sorry Athos. But the evidence…"
"He is NOT dead! I would know if he was!" Athos growls dangerously, "Whatever evidence you have is false!"
Everyone in the Courtyard flinches at his denial and the woman on the roof too flinches at the denial and the pain in his voice.
She was going to have to report this to the Second-in-Command until her Leader woke up. As it seemed Athos had stronger instincts then anyone could have predicted.
"Athos let the Captain go so he can tell us what happened", Porthos says with tears in his eyes.
"He is NOT DEAD", Athos repeats.
"Athos…"
"I thought it once. I will NOT think that again!" Athos exclaims much to everyone's confusion.
But the woman on the roof knew.
Athos knew who Charles was to him. But did Charles know?
"Athos, please let's go into Treville's office and talk about this", Aramis pleads trying to move their Brother.
"Please Brother I believe we need privacy for the rest of this conversation", Porthos begs, "I don't want to know the details in public"
"My either. Please Athos! We WILL sort this out but we need to do it in private", Aramis begs, "I'll even check to make sure the body is him", he flinches at that last bit.
The others flinch too thinking about their Little Brothers body.
Porthos manages to pull him away after their pleading finally reaches the distraught Lieutenant.
Treville gives a nod to Aramis and Porthos. He had no intention of reprimanding Athos. It was grief and denial fuelling his actions.
"Come on Lads we can have some brandy in my office"
(Line Break)
As they walk up the stairs the woman on the roof shreds a tear watching their grief. She wanted to go down there and comfort them. But she knew that if she did, she could be putting them in danger and it was best if she sort the Council of Shadows approval and their Leaders approval first.
She would leave soon and she was going to propose to the Council of Shadows, that a new Shadow Runner watcher would come soon to watch over them like Guardian Angels.
Which is kind of like what they were to everyone in one way or another. The Shadow Guardians were a name some people called them.
And that seemed appropriate at the moment.
As these men would need Guardian Angels watching over them if they were going to get through this…
~*~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)!~*~