"What have you done with my lieutenant!" Treville screeched.
Sometimes he wondered what he did to annoy the almighty and deverse these four and their antics! His musketeers had one job - just one - it was not even that hard of a job! This training mission was standard for all musketeers once they were deemed capable. Somehow they managed to get attacked by bandits and turn Athos into a child. Well technically he wasn't a child- the boy looked about 15 years old, about a foot and a half shorter than the Athos he knew and had a rather impressive amount of facial hair for someone his age however it failed to hide a scar on his top lip and a prominent birth mark just above it. This was not the Athos of their time, according to what Aramis reported, this was Oliver D'athos Vicomte De La Fere. That was all he was able to learn from him while he was with the other inseparables. Treville sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This was going to be fun and give him more grey hairs than he already had. He had known Athos' parents through his uncle who supposedly died at sea. His father and brother were assumed dead and Athos as a child had been left to run the estate by himself. His mother had been murdered when he was ten and needless to say he was very emotionally scared. His father had a good relationship with King Louis' father and made regular trips to the palace with Athos and the now king and Athos regularly played together when his father wasn't watching.
"You know what" Treville started as Aramis opened his mouth to answer " I don't want to know. D'artagnan if you will escort our young guest outside"
As D'aragon left with the small boy, Treville turned to Aramis and Porthos.
Treville sighed out loud.
"Sir-"
"When I met Athos I was still a young man, Long before the musketeers were the regenment they are now. I was on guard duty and the Athos I met that day was not the man you know. Bound to his father in every sense of the word. However I had been introduced to Athos as I was to guard him whilst he was in Paris for the month. I was to make sure he was safe and acting as a nobleman. However, much to his father's displeasure we became friends. Athos taught me all he knew about court and I taught him the life and skills of a soldier." Treville explained he turned. " You should be careful with him. Athos or rather Oliver, is a close friend of the king. If he finds out about anything of threat to him it will be considered treason"
Aramis and Porthos looked at each other very concerned . They knew he was a higher standing nobility but not that high standing! They had looked after Nobles before, it was apart of their duties serving the King, however this was not some noble. This was their brother! A brother who had been reduced to a child.
'We will do our best captain.' Aramis tried to assure his captain.
'Make sure you do. Keep him in the garrison and if he goes in public make him wear a hooded cloak. If news were to spread it could become problematic. As you know attacks on high standing nobility are unfortunately common.' Treville stated
—-
Apparently, even though he was a child, Athos still felt the need to train d'artagnan. As Aramis and Porthos were walking down the stairs, Athos (Oliver, Aramis had to remember,) had decided to 'inspect' d'artagnan's foot work.
'This is amazing! Though I would expect such from the finest soldiers in France.' Oliver was saying as Aramis and Porthos approached their bench. Upon noticing that they were there Oliver turned to the men 'What did Treville have to say?'
'We are to stay here until further notice.' Aramis responded, mostly to D'artagon who was equally curious as to what happened in Treville's office after he left with Athos. Aramis relayed the details of their conversation with Treville to d'artagon and as he was doing so, Athos had apparently wandered off.
'According to the mythology and stories, the effects of the fountain of youth should last about one month. We don't know what he was like when he was younger but if our prior experience with young nobles is anything to go by, they can be quite troublesome. So it is absolutely essential that we keep Athos in our sights at all times.' Aramis was saying as he finished relaying the details to d'artagnan.
'Hey guys, where is he anyway?' Porthos asked
'Well he's right-' D'artagnan started to say but then realised that Athos had in fact wandered off
'Crud!' Porthos muttered
They split up and eventually found Athos in the stables with Roger, his beloved horse.
'I found Roger!' Athos, or rather Oliver announced with a childlike glee in his speech. This name change was going to need some getting used to. Seemingly unaware that the musketeers were still with him, Oliver continued while petting his horse ' I'm surprised he's here! I thought you would have stuck him outside, that's what Father does. He sticks Roger outside and he does not like Roger But he is my only friend. He doesn't leave like others have and Father cannot fire him.'
Unsure how to deal with this, Aramis decided to get to business. 'My lor-'
'Athos.' Oliver interrupted. 'Call me Athos, it is too confusing when my father and I are both called Oliver when we could be called so many other things. That and I am not a Viscount here. I may be born noble but aside from accompanying my uncle, I have no military experience. Therefore you are my superiors.'
'Ok. Athos It is' Porthos stated.
Ok, they were not expecting this. This was going to be interesting… however long this ended up being.