[spoilers for Muskteers 2x06]

[temperamentalsteel]

Twice now, he had acted only with the King's safety in mind. Twice he had tried to be the man of honor that Musketeers were supposed to be. Twice all he had earned was censure from his Majesty.

How could the King have believed that d'Artagnan would ever have done him harm? In taking the pistol, in playing Marmion's game, they should have known it was a blatant play for time, yet the King had only raged and admonished him. It was just as before, when they had obeyed their King's whims to go to the tavern because no loyal Musketeer would have gone out of turn to criticize his wishes, even in the name of safety. Then, again, because he had spoken out on behalf of his honor and on keeping his word.

Now, d'Artagnan had not been allowed to even defend himself, to say that he had panicked for fear of Constance's life and desperation to stall Marmion.

Instead, the King had let Rochefort take the glory in the same fickle breath that he had condemned d'Artagnan and turned his back on Milady. Though there was no love lost between them, he knew she'd had the nerve to risk her life and get help.

As they walked up to the doorway, the sliver of bright light almost blinded him. When his vision cleared, he saw a smooth, modern doorway and perhaps it made him a coward, but he was relieved to walk into the lobby of the Nexus. In its quiet, clean tranquility, d'Artagnan was ever more aware of the blood and dirt on his face.

Comments

[averygoodshot]

"Then I shall get it. Go clean up and I will return," Aramis tells him, turning to move quickly to fetch the wine.

He can bring it, then, to d'Artagnan's door, letting his friend know who it is as he knocks.

[temperamentalsteel]

He nodded, returning to his appointments and more grateful than ever for the immediate supply of water. Washing away the blood and dirt eased the feeling of disappointment. The King had made him a Musketeer on account of his true loyalty and now he trampled on any gesture made for his own sake.

[averygoodshot]

That makes him no less of a Musketeer. Aramis comes in, closing the door behind himself and he busies himself pouring the wine.

[temperamentalsteel]

Shortly after, d'Artagnan came out of the shower, dressed only in the convenient small clothes that the hotel shop had described as boxers. Other than that, he had only a towel on his shoulders.

"Perfect timing."

[averygoodshot]

"Here," Aramis says, handing over a glass.

So, now, at least, d'Artagnan knows (mostly) what he knows. There's a relief in that. He takes a drink.

[temperamentalsteel]

"Thank you," d'Artagnan said, taking the glass with relief before sitting on top of the covers of his bed.

"What did you remember about that day?"

[averygoodshot]

Taking a chair, Aramis says, "I remember everything. I remember leaving. I remember you kissing Constance," he says with a smile. "We were in the Garrison after returning. I was going to get washed up before someone took the glass from my head."

[temperamentalsteel]

"She...we kissed?" d'Artagnan asked, finally regaining a bit of his spark at the thought, the hope of it.

"We had barely left the building and then I found the door back in."

[averygoodshot]

"You kissed. She loves you, you know," Aramis tells him, smiling widely. "She most definitely loves you."

[temperamentalsteel]

Despite everything that had transpired, d'Artagnan broke into a relieved grin. He loved Constance so deeply, so fully, and that knowledge could buoy him against the worst mood.

"One good thing, then."

[averygoodshot]

A few more than that, but Aramis doesn't speak of those. His troubles are not d'Artagnan's, after all. "We must be wary of Rochefort," he says, his smile fading.

[temperamentalsteel]

"Of that, I'm well aware," d'Artagnan said, smile fading. The man wormed his way into the King's heart, further and further. The stronger his attachment to Rochefort, the more fickle Louis became.

[averygoodshot]

What the Queen told him, what they had already done, what he already knows makes Aramis very wary indeed. "If we could get back ... " he ponders. He would kill the man.

[temperamentalsteel]

"The door disappeared when I came through," he admitted. Now, removed from the situation, he felt so cowardly for having stepped through.

[averygoodshot]

There is no judgment from Aramis. He's more perturbed that the hotel seems to make it so difficult to return when lives are at stake.

"There must be others."

[temperamentalsteel]

"There must be," he agreed,. All of his brief joy at Constace's embrace had bled back out when faced with a reminder of his duty and what was to come.

[averygoodshot]

Aramis should apologize for that and he does look chagrined, really. It's just that he knows that it's complicated and he knows that things will get worse before they get better.

"Are you feeling all right?" he asks.

[temperamentalsteel]

"Tired..." he said. That was barely the start of it.

"Shaken. My faith in many things is...not what it was."

[averygoodshot]

With that, Aramis moves closer, sitting next to d'Artagnan so that their knees touch.

"There are some things in which your faith will not waver," he says, speaking of course of God. But people? There are so few who warrant faith; even he would admit that.

[temperamentalsteel]

D'Artagnan leaned against Aramis, glad for the support. Perhaps God did not play as dominant a role in his life as it did Aramis', but d'Artagnan had faith as well.

But sometimes it was not in his fellow men. "There are too many madmen about in France these days."

[averygoodshot]

"So, it seems. But we will do what we can to keep those we can safe."

And that means Constance and the Queen, as well as the Dauphin. Aramis put an arm around his friend.

[temperamentalsteel]

"For the good of the Kingdom," d'Artagnan agreed. For the good of the Kingdom, if not the good of the King.

[averygoodshot]

They are, after all, very different things. "Drink. We can get you some food if you need it," Aramis tells d'Artagnan.

[temperamentalsteel]

"You'll turn me into Athos if you talk like that," he said, managing a grim laugh. All the same, he poured himself a glass and drank deeply.

[averygoodshot]

They both know that is impossible, so Aramis smiles. "Are you up to going for food, or shall I fetch you some?"