Chapter Nine: Truths and Half Truths

The Traveller's inn

D'Artagnan sat in a chair and rubbed the cut on the side of his face. Aramis slapped his hand away again. "I told you to leave it alone," he berated the young man.

"It's going to scar, right?" asked D'Artagnan even though he already knew the answer.

"Not as badly as your wrists," said Aramis pointing to d'Artagnan's still bandaged wrists. "Anyway, women loves scars, I tell you that for a fact."

Noticing d'Artagnan's unhappy look, Porthos said, "You just have to grow a beard to hide it" D'Artagnan rolled his eyes as Porthos and Aramis laughed.

"Very funny," huffed d'Artagnan.

"He's all grumpy," teased Aramis with a big grin on his face. "He must be feeling better... right Charlie – boy?"

"Stop calling me that" sulked D'Artagnan, getting annoyed. He had been stuck with Porthos and Aramis for a couple of hours, since Athos had gone back to Paris. Porthos and Aramis took the opportunity to wind d'Artagnan up as much as possible. "It's d'Artagnan," he added pointlessly. Porthos and Aramis laughed again, teasing d'Artagnan was so easy and so fun.

"I need to change the bandaging on you wrists and check your ribs," said Aramis when he stopped laughing. "Then it's back to Paris, you know Madam Bonacieux is anxious to see you..."

"... wanted to come all the way out here against her husbands wishes..." added Porthos.

"...but we told her that we would take good care of you," continued Aramis, smiling at the annoyed look on d'Artagnan's face. "And get you back to her in one piece..."

"...after we've taken you to the garrison to report to Treville." said Porthos "He wishes to talk to you since you're back on your feet and not so delirious."

The Musketeers' Garrison

D'Artagnan stood in Treville office with the three musketeers behind him. He was still pale and he had one arm wrapped around his ribs. They were still very sore, and the journey back to Paris hadn't helped. D'Artagnan gave an account of what he remembered although it wasn't a lot.

"Serge really hated me," said D'Artagnan. "Doesn't like Musketeers or something," he guessed

"He was former Red Guard," explained Athos from behind him. D'Artagnan turned his head in surprise. "Didn't you know?"

D'Artagnan shook his head. "No," he said. "All I know is he would have killed me if Pierre hadn't stopped him."

Treville paused for a moment, thinking about his old friend. He'd saved d'Artagnan's life (even if he didn't do it from the kindness of his heart). "Did Pierre tell you anything?" asked Treville. Deep down he knew if Pierre had told d'Artagnan, the boy would have already said something if he had even believed Pierre.

"Not much," replied d'Artagnan after a little pause, as he tried to remember what had happened. "Said I was a fool to trust you, said you lie more than he does." He paused, thinking of Degrand's face when he had said that. "What did he mean?"

"He was angry. He would have said anything to wind you up," Treville told him, silently begging the three other men to hold their peace.

"He knew information, about my parents," continued d'Artagnan. "He said you knew them?"

Porthos and Aramis looked at each other. So d'Artagnan didn't know about being the Captain's nephew, but it was clear d'Artagnan had questions how his parent knew Treville, and was not going to leave without some kind of answer. Athos just looked at Treville, wondering what he was going to tell the boy.

"I knew your mother well once, we were quite close," admitted Treville, not looking in d'Artagnan eyes. "Not in that way" he added hastily as d'Artagnan opened him mouth to speak "She was like a sister to me."

"Like?" said Porthos so quietly only Athos and Aramis heard him. Porthos' look told them he didn't want to lie to d'Artagnan. After all, he believed that everyone should know who their families were and where they came from.

"She never mentioned you, or Paris," challenged d'Artagnan, clearly not satisfied with Treville's answer.

"Well, things became a little bitter sweet after she was disowned," said Treville.

D'Artagnan looked down. It was clear that he was still angry about what had happened to his mother. "So you know why she was disowned?"

"I am guessing you are referring to the fact your father was a Protestant at the time when they first met," said Treville, calmly.

D'Artagnan glared at Treville then turned to look at the others with a wary look on his face.

"We know," said Aramis, quickly. "Don't worry, we're not going to tell anyone."

D'Artagnan nodded his gratitude and turned back to the captain. He looked at Treville for a moment before asking, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It never came up," said Treville. "I told Pierre when we were closer than brothers, he used that information to to trick you and lead me into a trap," explained Treville as he looked at his nephew. "You need some rest, I don't want to see you till your ribs are better," he ordered, gently.

D'Artagnan rolled his eyes to himself, which reminded Treville of his sister. "Fine, if I die of boredom I am going to hunt all of you," he sighed.

"Cheerful thoughts," said Aramis. "Porthos and I will taken him back."

"I can walk back myself," said D'Artagnan, stubbornly. The musketeers grinned a bit - it was good to have d'Artagnan back, as stubborn as ever.

"You have a habit of getting into trouble," said Aramis. "And I don't want to face Madame Bonacieux if we let you go by yourself. She was very worried about you, you know."

Once d'Artagnan, Porthos and Aramis were gone Athos waited until he was sure they were out of ear shot. He opened his mouth to speak but Treville got there first.

"I didn't lie to him," said Treville. "I just didn't tell him the truth."

"That's almost as bad," accused Athos. "One thing I learnt is that the truth has a way of coming out. And d'Artagnan isn't going to take kindly when he finds out. You're not going to be the only one in the firing line - me, Porthos and Aramis will be too when he finds out we didn't tell him." Athos paused, "Are you sure you did the right thing, won't someone else realise he's your nephew?"

"My father wasn't going to tell people he disowned her for marrying Alexandre d'Artagnan," said Treville. "He told people my sister has refused an arranged marriage and run away with a stranger with no name." Treville paused, "D'Artagnan is a fine young man without my involvement. It was also my sister's wish for d'Artagnan not to know."

"I hope you know what you are doing," said Athos before leaving the room.

The Bonacieux house

Constance had hugged d'Artagnan as soon as he walked inside the house. "Och, mind the ribs will you."

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were, I thought you ... dead," said Constance, trying to hold back tears as she looked at the the cut on the side of d'Artagnan's face.

"It will take more than that to kill me," laughed d'Artagnan weakly. "Don't worry, it could have been a lot worse."

"I hate to say it, but he's right," agreed Porthos.

"But still you can't do any training, fighting or moving heavy loads ..." Aramis started to list the medical conditions he had imposed on the injured man.

"I know," said d'Artagnan, wearily. "You can go now, and annoy Athos."

Porthos scratched his chin. "Annoying Athos, that is pretty close to suicidal" He and Aramis shared a grin. "Sounds like fun..." Porthos pointed at d'Artagnan. "You get some rest and as soon as you're fit to fight again, there are a few moves I need to show you."

"Look forward to it," said d'Artagnan.

"Good evening, Madame," said Porthos bowing to Constance before he and Aramis left. D'Artagnan and Constance didn't talk till they heard the door shut.

"Were you scared?" asked Constance, not sure she really wanted to know the answer.

"Not as much as I thought I should be," admitted d'Artagnan, thinking back. "I thought I was going to die, that scared me, but it didn't at the same time... does that make sense?"

"Not really," said Constance. "You should get some rest, you look like you need it."

D'Artagnan smiled, "Not as much as I need to talk to you."

Constance hid a smile with some difficulty. "Do you think your little lines would work on me?"

"Do they?" asked d'Artagnan, hopefully.

"Get some rest," rebuffed Constance. "If you don't, I'll get Athos, Porthos and Aramis to come."

"Oh no, please don't. They are worse than mother hens," pleaded d'Artagnan. "I'm going to bed I swear." D'Artagnan headed up the stairs. Constance smiled to herself as she heard the door slam shut, she had missed that sound.

Three weeks later – the musketeer's garrison

"Remember, only light fighting," reminded Aramis he turned to Porthos, "and no attacks to the ribs."

"Can we get on with it?" asked d'Artagnan impatiently. He had been itching for a fight for weeks. The past month had been the most boring of his life.

"Just take it easy," warned Athos. He knew from experience not to go into a full fight after breaking ribs. It really wasn't a good idea.

"Don't worry. I am not going to hurt our little Charles," taunted Porthos, grinning at the glare d'Artagnan was giving him.

Porthos and d'Artagnan stayed to fight. Athos walked to Aramis, "Do you think this was a good idea?" he asked.

"Not really," said Aramis, "but I think he needs to do this, or he was going to do something stupid and reckless."

"When has he ever done something stupid and reckless?" joked Athos as the two men settled back to watch their youngest member fight his way back to full health.

Cornwall – England

A young man sat by a bed of a old man "I... going to...die," said the old man weakly. "I... need you... to... something ... for me,"

"Anything, Grandfather," said the man.

"Go to... France" ordered the man. "Gascony... find... my son... Alexandre... d'Artagnan."

"My uncle?" asked the young man, "the one you disowned?"

"Find him," begged the old man. "Give him... this letter." The old man reached for a letter on the bedside table. "Tell him... I'm sorry..."

"What if I can't find him?" asked the man.

"Then... find his son... Charles... tell them... Sorry," said the man. "Give... them.. the letter... it's important... you have to..."

"I promise I will look for them, Grandfather," said the young man "If it's the last thing I do."

The End...

For now

Okay I am currently planning the next story called "Lies and Truths"

Thanks for reading my story and a big thank you to JenF for being a great beta