Updated: Monday 11th/9/2023

Chapter 4: Two 'Dead' Musketeers Return

Athos and D'Artagnan had been travelling for over two and a half weeks with breaks in between for a day or even a couple of days at a time. They had stayed in inns if they could or asked farm owners if they could sleep in their barns. As neither wanted to scare the farmers and their families with their nightmares.

They had only been attacked twice and those attacks weren't all that serious. Only some small cuts and some strained muscles. Nothing life threatening and both of them knew life threatening. But they had made sure to keep their heads down most of the time even in the towns/villages. As Athos said you couldn't be too careful considering their past and present.

Now Athos had guided them onto the main road to Paris. Where to their discomfort more people seemed to be on the road. Making them have their guard up much more than it had already been. All of this was exhausting to the pair.
"We should be in Paris in the next hour or two", Athos tells his Little Brother quietly, "Do you want a break?"

D'Artagnan shakes his head no. The closer they got to Paris the more shut off they were becoming. Lucky they both could read each other very well so not saying much still worked.
Athos was worried about D'Artagnan as he seemed to be pulling back mentally. And it took Athos a while to pull him back out of his 'safe' mind space. It was a concept they had made to get through the torture. They both had those 'safe' mind spaces and they both knew how to get the other out. But sometimes it took time and careful skill and words to be able to pull the other out of that space. And you had to pick the right time to pull them out of it.

Athos was relucent to try and pull his brother out of it now. He knew D'Artagnan needed this if he was going to face the coming hours. And Athos had determined that D'Artagnan wasn't too far into his 'safe' mind space yet to warrant too much concern.

"We will be with Aramis and Porthos by nightfall hopefully", Athos states quietly.

"Do you think they are mad at us? Or will be?" D'Artagnan asks him again.

"I am sure when we eventually explain to them that they will come to see it our way", Athos says like he had said the other times D'Artagnan had asked.

D'Artagnan nods biting his lip nervously.

"No matter what happens in the next few hours Brother we are NOT going to be parted", Athos tells him firmly, "And I WON'T let ANYTHING happen to you again!"

He nods again but Athos could see he was still doubtful. Athos himself had some doubt but he was going to do everything in his power to make sure they weren't separated until their injuries were FULLY healed and until they finally got a goodnights sleep without the other nearby. But Athos doubted that last one would be doable for a while.

"Where will we stay?" D'Artagnan asks softly, "The places we used to stay at would have been given to other people and any of the things we had there would probably be long gone"
"We will stay at the Garrison. I will also if your comfortable see if Aramis and Porthos would like to be close to us after we explain a few things. I think our Brothers are going to be a bit overprotective and will be hovering and staying near us for a while", Athos jokes, "We will probably get sick of it pretty quickly"

He was pleased to hear D'Artagnan give a little chuckle.

"I agree", he replies, "But I don't think I'll mind it too much. Well, I won't mind it so much at certain times and to a certain extent", he amends.

Athos hums, "I agree there"

Finally, they come to a stop up the hill that overlooked part of Paris.

"Home", D'Artagnan states.

"Home", Athos agrees, "Do you want a rest before we face everyone?"

D'Artagnan bites his lip nervously for a few minutes before he shakes his head.

"I just want to get into the safety of the Garrison and see our Brothers. I don't want to waste time. WE can rest afterwards", D'Artagnan decides having noticed his brother stretching his arm and hand more so in the last few hours.

Athos had also noticed his brother's discomfort and he promised himself when they were safely in the Garrison, he would make sure his Brother rested for a while with a pain draught. Probably a strong one. As he saw D'Artagnan's right leg twitching a bit.

"Lets get going. We can't keep anyone waiting any longer", Athos decides adjusting his hat till it half covered his face.

Disguising himself if there were any people that would recognise him by face. He didn't need word going around Paris so fast.

He saw D'Artagnan move his hat the same way. Athos nods in approval and they spur their horses down the hill and slow at the bottom to blend in with the people coming and going through the gates of the city. Keeping their hats down and heads partially down.

Athos made sure he was besides his Brother the entire time. Neither of them partially liked crowds and lots of people at a time.

"Easy", Athos murmurs for only D'Artagnan to hear as he senses D'Artagnan's fear.

And as Athos sees D'Artagnan's nervous ticks and D'Artagnan notices his. As they got closer to the Garrison the more unfortunately D'Artagnan's leg was playing up and Athos arm. But they were determined not to let anything show on their 'Grand' return.

The Garrison's Gates come into sight and Athos nods in signal to D'Artagnan and they both straighten in their saddles and their heads go up to show the Musketeers at the gates exactly who they were. As they knew that to get in, they needed to be recognised.

As long as there weren't any recruits doing the gate, they figured they would be alright.

So, heads up and shoulders back the two thought to be dead Musketeers approached the gates to their home and to the place they would hopefully be warmly welcomed back too…

(Line Break)

Treville never expected what was happening to happen. It just didn't seem like this would EVER be a possibility.

But when he heard shouting and cries come from the Courtyard, he goes to see what all the ruckus and chaos was about when Sebastian bursts in.
"Captain you're not going to believe this!" he shouts out of breath.
"What is it?" Treville asks.

"You got to see who are coming through the gates! You're not going to believe this!" Sebastian exclaims his eyes showing shock and excitement and a mirage of other emotions.

Treville follows him outside to the balcony and Sebastian was right he was not believing what he was seeing. Actually, everyone in the Courtyard and buildings beside it had Musketeers getting up and dropping what they were doing. To stare wide-eyed with disbelief and awe in their faces at the two worn figures sitting on their horses in the entry to the garrison.

The smaller of the two had messy brown hair poking out from under his hat and his brown eyes looked at the Courtyard and everyone with an unreadable expression. But those eyes used to have so much life and mischievous quality about them. But now they were dim but you could see he was looking at everything cautiously. But he seemed to also be looking for something.

The older man had dark brown hair and blue eyes with a bit of a scraggly beard. A serious expression on his face was marked with fatigue and an expression that Treville had hoped not to see on either that mans or the younger ones faces.

The older man too was scanning the crowd that was gathering. Looking for danger or was it something else? Or someone's?

Treville blinked and they were still there. Blinked again and they were still there. Rubbed his eyes and they were still there.

D'Artagnan.

Athos.

The Musketeers everyone believed to be dead. Where right there sitting aside their horses. Looking worn out and raggedy and a bit thin. But alive.

But when Treville's brain caught up to everything and started to believe what he was seeing, he realised that one of the only things these men would be searching for immediately were…Aramis and Porthos.

He quickly realised THAT was going to be a GREAT conversation.

But first he needed to make sure the two worn out, ragged and looking slightly injured men were in fact the famous Athos and his protégé D'Artagnan.

As he walked done the stairs the pair walk their horses into the courtyard as Musketeers parted now in silence watching the two Musketeers who everyone thought would never walk/ride into this Garrison again. Do just that. Ride in.

The crowd parted its way up to Treville who had reached the bottom of the stairs. He could clearly see his two men. And it was indeed Athos and D'Artagnan looking basically a mess but it was better then dead. He could see how much energy it was costing these two to sit tall and proud in the saddle. Their eyes held so many different emotions for a second before it was like a light switch flicked off in them and Treville couldn't get a read on them.

"Athos? D'Artagnan?" Treville asks them.

Athos and D'Artagnan bow their heads in greeting.

"Sir it is indeed us", Athos tells him gravely.

"The rumours we assume spread about us our obviously false we are very much alive", D'Artagnan says quietly.

Much to Treville's shock. As D'Artagnan didn't sound like he used to.

"We have come home as soon as we were able", Athos reports.

Athos then fixes his seating and Treville sees he lifts himself from the saddle strangely. Treville expects to see D'Artagnan getting off at the same time but he sees the young man grimace and look expectedly at Athos. Who strode the one and a half metres they were apart to D'Artagnan's horse. He pulls out a carved wooden cane.

After he does that, he along with everyone else watch D'Artagnan awkwardly and with a lot of wincing and effort manoeuvrers his right leg over. Treville could see the saddle was slightly different to normal ones and that the young man seemed to be in pain as he climbed out awkwardly from the saddle.

As soon as the young Gascon's feet BOTH touch the ground. To everyone's shock they buckle under him. And he would have hit the ground hard and painfully if it wasn't for Athos. Who to many's shock seemed to have expected this and had caught him and helped steady him. One arm not leaving from around his Brothers' thin waist.

And wordlessly with the other shaking hand, hands the younger the cane and Athos gives him a look before D'Artagnan gives him a small nod back. D'Artagnan had also reached out at the same time and squeezed Athos's hand a couple of times. Seemly an unknown signal for Athos to let D'Artagnan stand upright by himself.

Everything happened without words being spoken between the pair.

Athos turns his attention from his brother too his Captain.

"Are you two injured?" Treville asks them already knowing the answer in their body language and what just happened with D'Artagnan.

Also, he had noticed Athos arm and hand shaking as he handed the cane over to D'Artagnan.

"No more then cuts and bruises mostly Sir", Athos replies.

Treville raises an eyebrow disbelievingly at them.

Athos looks around at the crowd still watching them.
"Not here Sir. Maybe we can go to the infirmary with our bags. That's if Aramis and Porthos can finally appear?" Athos asks him.

Treville realised that the duo wanted privacy for whatever reason. And that they would only accept him and their Brothers to be part of whatever conversation that they were going to be having. And Treville just knew he and Aramis and Porthos weren't going to like what they heard. After all you can't disappear for nearly 8 months and it not be serious.

Unless they disappeared on purpose.

But Treville already knew these two would NEVER do that too their Brothers and they would never betray France and the King.

"Sebastian, Prosper go and get Aramis and Porthos. Don't tell them why. Otherwise, we will have a scene that I believe they don't want", Treville says nodding towards Athos and D'Artagnan who both nod.

"And if they are doing what they have been doing this last 8 months?" Sebastian asks carefully not knowing what he should share about the two to the returned other half.

"Drag them away", Treville replies shortly, "If you don't think you two can do it. Bring others with you and bring them outside the infirmary doors. Again, we don't want a scene and I'll handle breaking the news. Is that alright with you Athos?"

Athos nods moving closer to D'Artagnan's side who looked like he was having trouble standing upright.

"Go", Treville orders his men.

He then goes over to the horses.

"I'll take your bags myself. But you both need to go to the infirmary immediately because I don't like what I am seeing and if Aramis finds out your back and not in said infirmary where he can fuss over you, everyone will be hearing about it. Even up to the palace by nightfall and we can all agree Aramis WOULD do it, if you don't put yourselves in beds in the infirmary before he gets here", Treville tells them 100% seriously.

Athos rolls his eyes but Treville could see fondness in them and he also sees fondness come into D'Artagnan's pained and tired eyes.

"You heard him Little Brother. Infirmary", Athos tells D'Artagnan.

But he wasn't really telling him as both of them already knew the Captain would have sent them there anyway and once their Brothers found out about them. Aramis would have dragged them too said infirmary WITH Porthos happily helping him. And probably chuckling at their misfortune all the way. That's if he could get over the shock and anger at their return.
"Was there any doubt that was where the Captain and BOTH our Brothers would have made us go?" D'Artagnan asks rhetorically trying to appear somewhat normal.

Which to the pleasure of the Captain sees Athos's lips quirk up in amusement and agreement.

This was not how Treville expected the end of his day to go. This was much more alarming, shocking, baffling and unexpected then anyone could have predicted…

As two Dead Musketeers returned home…

And Treville just knew that whatever Athos and D'Artagnan had to tell him would be bad and to add to the headache he would likely be getting would be dealing with Aramis and Porthos reactions.

Maybe he should just leave those reactions to Athos and D'Artagnan too deal with. But he wasn't that cruel as the pair looked dead on their feet. They also didn't look well.

He winced as he realised they actually looked like two dead Musketeers returning home...

*~~Author's Note: What Do You Think? Please Review:)!~~*