Dear all, many thanks for reading this story and leaving comments.

This may be the last chapter until after the holidays so I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for 2025.

CHAPTER 54

CLAUDE

The column, led by the Captain, weaves its way slowly through the Paris streets an' at last the archway to the garrison comes into sight. It's evenin' an' the end of a long day for we were all up before dawn an' on the road as soon as there was enough light.

It had been mid-afternoon before we began our return journey and what had taken us just over two hours on the way to Bircann's estate has taken nearly double that as we have taken it steady, what with our bound prisoners on their horses an' not wanting to rush the cart or jostle its unconscious occupant too much.

I rode alongside some of the way an' looked down into the bed of the cart. As Serge sat up front an' handled the team, Aramis, lost in thought much of the time, was sitting behind him in the back, legs outstretched and one arm on the edge of the cart's side. His other hand rested on the bundle of blue Musketeer blankets that lay unmoving beside him whilst the spare weapons, ammunition and the now empty food boxes were stacked against the wood on the other side of Athos.

As I watched, Aramis peeled back the blankets to reveal his friend's face and gently touched a wan cheek to check his body temperature.

"He any warmer?" Porthos asked as he rode on the opposite side of the cart from me.

"He doesn't seem quite as cold as before," Aramis answered, "but that could just be wishful thinking." He looked and sounded exhausted.

I could see that Athos was lyin' on his side with his knees drawn up a sfar as he could get them an' hands fisted in front of his face.

"He looks comfortable curled up like that," I said, tryin' an' failin' to lighten the mood.

"It's defensive," Aramis retaliated, an' I must've looked a bit confused as he sighed heavily an' went on to explain. "He only curls up like this when something's wrong or he's ill or injured. Mostly, he stretches out on his back, or on the side that faces a door, or in the direction of any possible danger. Besides, this is more like the position he was sitting in for weeks down that hole. His body probably doesn't know anything else right now."

It made sense and I couldn't think of any suitable reply, so I spurred on my mount to join the Captain at the head of the column.

We stopped twice to let the horses drink and rest and for the men to dismount and stretch their legs. The prisoners, surrounded by Musketeers at the rear of the column were all bein' well-behaved durin' that first break an' there was me thinkin' that they'd come to the realisation that any attempt to escape would prove futile and, like as not, end up with them bein' killed. I don't know, but would that be better than what faced them back in Paris? They'd be tried, for sure, but would they be executed or condemned to a long imprisonment in the Chatelet? After what they did to Athos, the latter would be the just an' appropriate option. During the journey an' if they'd any sense, they might've started thinkin' they could do themselves a favour by turnin' against Bircann an' givin' as much information as they could on him.

But it wasn't so straightforward the second time we paused the journey when one of 'em decided he'd take advantage of a lax moment and made a bid for freedom. Not sure where 'e thought he was goin' nor how far he expected to get on foot, an' it would've been so easy to 'ave brought 'im down with a pistol shot, but there seemed to be an unspoken agreement amongst the men that that is what it would be – too easy. Feelin's were too raw about Athos an' eight of them took off after the prisoner whilst many of the others surrounded the remainin' ones and looked mean as they trained their weapons on the cowerin' men, who must've been wonderin' what might befall them should their fleein' comrade be successful.

"You think they might kill 'im when they get 'im?" I asked Tréville. I was a mite worried, not wantin' the Captain to be left with handing out some nasty punishments once we got back to Paris if the high feelin's of the men got the better of them an' they overstepped the mark.

I'll never forget the way he turned to me with those ice-blue eyes of 'is an' said grimly, "The man has tried to escape. If he dies during that attempt, then it is unfortunate, but it was the choice he made; no doubt the men will do all they can to apprehend him with as little force as necessary, just what I would expect of my Musketeers, but if the worst should happen …"

He let his words tail off an' that was it. If the man died, the Captain would not question it further or hold his men to account. In that moment, I knew his own feelin's about Athos' imprisonment were in turmoil and maybe he wasn't thinking' very straight, but I sent up a quick prayer that 'e wouldn't live to regret it.

As it happened, the man wasn't killed. He had taken a bit of a beatin' though, but he was walkin' – stumblin' more like – as they marched 'im back into the clearin' where the rest of us were. They passed by Tréville, castin' 'im a sideways glance an' he responded with a curt dip of the head. Was it his tacit approval that they'd not killed the prisoner, or rather that they had at least taught him a lesson he wouldn't forget? I don't know an' I never will.

Serge had been instructed to bring food for breaking the fast on the ride to Bircann's estate, but somehow he had brought a surplus of supplies for we all ate again before we left for Paris and we finished the remains during that second stop. I did wonder what he had left at the garrison for the noon meal and whether or not the kitchen boy would be able to cope with preparing the evening one, for it soon became obvious that Serge would not be back in time. I thought it strange that the Captain ordered the cook to be the one to bring the cart but after careful consideration, it made some sort of sense, given the fondness the old soldier has for Tréville's three Inseparables, as do I if I'm honest.

We've all been worried sick about Athos, an' rightly so, but Serge an me have spent some evenin's doin' that worryin' together an' reminscin' about some of the scrapes those boys have got themselves into. It made us feel better as we laughed at the stories an' how they'd driven the Captain to distraction. Serge had joked about Tréville's hair thinnin' because of all the times he sat there pullin' at it when he heard of their latest mischief, or yet another run-in with the Cardinal's Red Guard. Other times, he probably had worked out for himself the risks they had taken to succeed in a mission, probably details that Athos had omitted when he gave his report.

Athos would not necessarily tell an outright lie, but he had a canny way with words and could be economical with that truth or details so it might skew the listener's interpretation an' I know Tréville, over the years, has learned how to question him to find out more than he initially tells 'im. The same goes for the other two but to a lesser extent I doubt the Captain ever knows the full story of everything though!

But now we 'ave him; Athos, that is. He's safe but far from sound and I can't help thinkin' it's goin' to be a long road to recovery, but there'll be plenty of us around to give him a helpin' hand and support. After all, we brought Aramis back from the brink after Savoy, although Porthos was the main one responsible for that; all credit to 'im for he was not goin' to give up on his friend.

I know the pair of 'em won't give up on Athos; they haven't this far, but I know they're bein' eaten up with guilt by not findin' him when they stopped at the estate before. They weren't to know that those holdin' him had done such a good job of hidin' him. I'm sendin' another prayer up that it all comes good in the end.

As we approach the garrison arch, one of the two men on guard disappears inside an' I hear his raised voice heraldin' our arrival. By the time we file into the yard, men are waiting, some to take our horses for us and all to hear our news, eyes glancin' nervously towards the back of the cart as Serge brings it to a stop. Whispered words from the new arrivals travel quickly through those waitin'.

Porthos is first out of his saddle and round to the back of the cart and, with Aramis, they ease the pile of blankets to the edge. They're swiftly joined by the Captain who immediately starts issuin' orders to the men around him.

"Take the prisoners to the holding cell with a two-man guard outside changed at hourly intervals. We'll transfer them to the Chatelet in the morning. You two go and light a fire in the infirmary to warm the place and you two," he indicates towards the men as he speaks, "make sure Aramis is supplied with buckets of cold and hot water until he says he doesn't need them anymore."

Those not assigned to a specific task are soon bustling about with things they can see need doin'. Horses are taken to the stables to be tended with a good rub down and given food and water after the busy day whilst more men help unload the other contents of the cart and, with it now deprived of its horses, several take the responsibility for wheeling it to where it is stored.

Meanwhile, Aramis 'elps Porthos get a good, firm hold of the bundle he's carryin' carefully in his arms as Tréville turns to the pair of them, giving them both his full attention.

"Get Athos settled in the infirmary as quickly as you can. Do you want me to send for a physician?"

Before Aramis can respond, someone calls for the Captain and, walking towards the group, is Delacroix with a supercilious expression on his face, especially when 'e glances sideways at Porthos with his precious burden.

"What is it?" Tréville demands. There's an edge to his voice an' I can tell he could do without Delacroix objectin' or complainin' about somethin' right now.

I can't stand the man, or how he came to join the regiment. He's always got such a lot to say for 'imself an' I don't like 'is conceit or 'is conviction that he's somehow better than the rest of us. I wouldn't mind if there were an element of truth in the view he has of himself, but I've not seen anythin' that'd set 'im apart from most of the regiment. I particularly don't like the way he's taken against Athos and, by association, Porthos an' Aramis. There doesn't seem to be any reason for it, except that Athos is by far the better man.

"I took a message for you that came from the palace this morning after you had left the garrison," Delacroix says unnecessarily loudly as if 'he's wantin' all to take note of what he 'as to share an' to praise 'im for doin' his job. "The King and Cardinal were demanding that you attend upon them immediately." His face changes momentarily to look ridiculously innocent when I know he's anythin' but!

"I told the messenger that you were gone from the garrison with a contingent of men to search for and rescue our missing Musketeer, but that I was sure you would hasten to the King as soon as you returned. I hope I did the right thing."

Hope I did the right thing indeed! He knows damn well the Captain was instructed not to go searchin' for Athos and if those were Delacroix' exact words, then he's deliberately been stirrin' up trouble for Tréville. Now he 'as the audacity to look smug an' I want nothin' more than to wipe it off 'is face. He knows exactly what he's gone an' done because the Captain 'ad to explain to us all why 'e was reducin' the search for Athos an' makin' me lieutenant instead on account of it bein' a direct order from Louis 'imself. I know for a fact Delacroix wasn't 'appy with the decision. He didn't hide it from me or anyone else. No doubt he thought me too old an' that the opportunity should've been given to 'im. He always claims he's been waiting a long time for a promotion an' he should have been given it ahead of Athos.

I'd give anythin' to be the one to tell 'im that he'll 'ave to wait a very long time for that promotion as he'd be the last person the Captain would appoint; not that there'd be any reason to make 'im the second-in-command then - if he were the last person, there'd be no-one else to command!

Tréville sighs and shouts for a stable boy to bring 'im a fresh horse. He looks ready to drop with fatigue an' I hope the King and Cardinal aren't about to give 'im too hard a time.

But we've got Athos an' we've brought 'im home; that's reason enough for rejoicin'. We didn't really 'ave to go searchin' for 'im as Tréville knew he was at Bircann's estate and the steward took us directly to where Athos was so, in truth, the Captain didn't disregard Louis' order. That's what I'd be saying to His Majesty an' Richelieu anyway if I were in the Captain's shoes.

He climbs into the saddle and nods to me as he turns the animal around an' heads off to the palace. I watch 'im go and then wander off slowly to the infirmary where Porthos an' Aramis have gone with Athos. I want to 'elp but I don't really know how.

Except by bein' there with 'em an' for them. All three of them.