"You had always earned your place amongst us. A pauldron does not change your merit or worth," Athos says and perhaps he sounds dismissive of the Musketeers, but it is not his meaning. He has watched many people, including d'Artagnan and Porthos both work their way up through the ranks without a pauldron, yet never flinching as they accepted dutiful and difficult tasks. "Now, the King merely commands you officially."