Updated: Monday 11th/9/2023

Chapter 4: Discussions and Dreams

Athos guided his Brothers along the road in search of bandits that had been plaguing the Northern Towns. He and his Brothers didn't really want to go. Wanting to stay in their own pools of grief. But Treville had been insisted and had told them in no uncertain terms that if they failed this mission that their trio being disbanded wouldn't be the worst thing that would happen.

But as soon as they had gotten on the road. Something in the Inseparables had stirred. A gut instinct that had told them in someway that this mission was going to turn into something unexpected.

Not that they would want to admit this too each other.

Other things they didn't want to share were how badly they had behaviour and delt with their grief the last few months. They ALSO didn't want to admit they were having nightmares about D'Artagnan. But since they didn't want to talk about this together, they didn't realised they were having the SAME nightmare of D'Artagnan laying somewhere crawling through the snow asking for help. All bloody and thin and looking near death. None of them told the other and maybe if they had they or Aramis might have read more into it.

Aramis already knew they hadn't been working well together and had seen the signs of their famous quadrat…trio was falling apart. He was surprised that Treville hadn't split them up by now. But he read between the lines of what Treville said about this mission this would be their last chance to show Treville they could stay together and not need to be split up. And Aramis honestly didn't see his friends/brothers staying very long in the Musketeers if they weren't together. No matter how much they fought with each other at the moment he knew they needed each other and if they were parted it would turn out worse then it already was. Maybe he should talk to Treville about what was going to happen in the future if they messed up this mission because of the emotions…this grief.

'Dear God please give me strength to get through this conversation we must have. Please D'Artagnan watch over our brothers and give them the boost they need to keep going', Aramis prays holding his cross for a second.

"Athos, Porthos we have to talk", Aramis tells them as they settle down in the wilderness for the 6th night in a row.

They had barely talked this whole time. And Aramis saw no other reason to delay any farther.

Athos just looks up with a blank expression on his face and Porthos looks reassigned.

"Brothers you all heard Treville and can read between the lines as well as I can. If we don't do this mission up to Treville's standard we are going to be split up. Do any of us want that?" Aramis asks them.

Porthos sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

"I don't want this. What do you have to say Athos?" Porthos asks their stoic friend/brother.

Athos just looks at them for several minutes before he sighs.

"Maybe it will be for the best that I resign my commission", Athos admits what he had been thinking of for weeks.

Everyone who gets close to him gets hurt and he didn't think he could handle it anymore.

His brother gap at him not believing the words that were coming out of their friend's mouth.

"You can't do that!" they both exclaim.

"Why can't I?" Athos asks them raising his eyebrow.

"Because we need you!" Aramis exclaims.

"No, you don't. Everyone around me ends up hurt one way or another and I can't take another brothers death. I am not strong enough. I am barely getting by as it is", Athos admits to them stroking their fire.

"Athos that is bullshit and you know it!" Porthos exclaims.
"You can't help it if we get hurt. You can't let D'Artagnan's death…", making them all wince, "…do this too you. We can't let his death", they wince again, "…do this to us!" Aramis exclaims, "He wouldn't want that! He admired us. He admired YOU Athos…"

"Exactly way I should quit why you two still live. I was responsible for him. I knew he admired me and I knew how he felt. That should NEVER have happened…", Athos tells them.

"Do you regret it?" Porthos asks him.

Athos winces, "No. I do not", he whispers.

"When we split up Athos, it was normally you and D'Artagnan that paired up with Porthos and I pairing up. You taught him your own secret moves. Something about D'Artagnan drawn you both together and changed you both for the better. He changed YOU for the better. Don't let what D'Artagnan made you disappear", Aramis pleaded with his friend, "You both filled a void left in each other's lives. I know it hurts. It hurts all of us. But we can't let this be our undoing"

"I don't think I can make it back from this Aramis. So just leave it. I think after this mission I will resign my commission", Athos tells them.

They go to protest.

"It is final. Just leave me alone", Athos replies quietly looking at the fire his mind starting to wander.

"Porthos?" Aramis pleads with his friend.

"I don't know where my heart is right know my friend. I don't know if I will resign with Athos or not. But if I do, I might head back to the Court of Miracles. Flea always needs a hand and has wanted me to come back for a while", Porthos admits to him.

Aramis looks at them helplessly. It doesn't seem he could talk his friends out of their decision.

"If you too go. I guess the Monastery is going to be waiting for me after you to resign your commissions and so will I", Aramis says in defeat.

No one talks again. Too lost in their thoughts.

They didn't know that very soon everything will be turned upside down again. As they are drawn closer by a mysterious force to their thought-to-be 'dead' brother.

Who was closer than they could have possible imagined if he was alive and waiting to be found…

(Line Break)

D'Artagnan groaned and twisted in his sleep. His leg really giving him grief tonight. But he still seemed to be under the spell of sleep as his dreams had turned from the usual nightmares of his capture and torture to a scene of his brothers.

They were camping in a forest just off the side of the road and seemed to be having a serious discussion. He couldn't make out the words but he could see the utter defeat and weariness on their faces. The grief was etched in each of their faces.

D'Artagnan didn't like seeing them like this. It wasn't right. But this had to be a dream, didn't it? He watched as they turned in to sleep and he found his self-walking over to Athos as his lifeless eyes stroke the fire.

That was a look that make the Gascon shudder. This was NOT how it should be.

"Don't give up Brother. We will be together soon. I am alive Athos please somehow feel that", D'Artagnan begged his Older Brother placing a hand on his shoulder, "It is NOT your fault. Come and get me Brother. I'm waiting to have ALL THREE of my overprotective Brothers hovering over me VERY soon. I'll even take all your fussing if it makes you feel better! And all your lectures too if I must! Just stop it with the guilt! Stop it with the guilt and might manage to tell you everything I have been through as long as you promise to stop with the pity party! So, snap out of it!"

It might have be his imagination but he thought his saw Athos eyes spin around trying to find him. But this was a dream, wasn't it?

D'Artagnan goes over to Aramis who looked to be having trouble going to sleep.

"Peace Brother have faith. I am not as gone as you all think. We will be reunited soon and I will even let you fuss over me", D'Artagnan whispers to Aramis giving him a gentle squeeze on the marksman's shoulder.

He also saw Aramis flinch and look around. Which was starting to confuse D'Artagnan more.

He made his way over to Porthos who was in a fitful sleep.

"Easy Porthos. I don't know what your seeing. But it is likely not real. Get some rest we will all need you at your best and I believe when we do reunite you will be determined to make sure nothing happens to me again. I think I am going to have Three VERY overprotective Brothers watching my every step soon. And you know me I am likely to find trouble. So, rest up while you can", D'Artagnan whispers to him squeezing his shoulder and it seemed like Porthos relaxed at his words or touch.

D'Artagnan started to get pulled into the waking world. He didn't know if what he just did was real or not. If it was real maybe he had managed to give his Brothers some peace of mind.

But what he did should be impossible shouldn't it?

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