This is the final chapter. Thank you for taking this difficult journey with me.

The Key to Salvation

Chapter Twenty

Athos paced impatiently from one end of the ante chamber to another. It had been an interminable wait since Aramis had been called to testify and it was tearing him apart that he wasn't there to support his brother. By the time the door opened again he was so wound up that he was ready to explode. He strode angrily into the court room, his fierce glare immediately settling on Baron Neuville, the man responsible for all Aramis' woes. The Baron's gaze skittered away uneasily.

He sought Aramis, finding his friend standing between Porthos and d'Artagnan looking pale and shaky. His eyes narrowed as his anger peaked. Then he was being distracted by the need to swear an oath which he did tersely. He took a couple of deep breaths and looked at Rochefort. He could imagine how much pleasure this was giving the Comte, who had seemingly embarked on a crusade to destroy the Musketeer regiment.

"We have heard Aramis' version of events," Rochefort said in a tone of voice that indicated he didn't believe a word of what had gone before. "Tell the King of your involvement."

"We arrived back at the garrison after the King's hunting trip to find that Aramis was missing. It seemed likely that he had gone to Provins to speak to Lemaire, the Queen's former servant."

"You followed him?"

"We did. Lemaire confessed that he had stolen the Queen's necklace and told us it had been on the orders of Baron Neuville."

"This is nothing more than hearsay," the Baron interrupted. "Where is this man, Lemaire?"

Athos' glare intensified. "He's dead, as you are very well aware."

"I am not kept informed of all deaths among the peasants," Neuville said with a smirk.

"His death is unfortunate. Is there any tangible evidence?" Rochefort asked.

"He left a written confession."

"Did he implicate the Baron?"

Athos licked his lips and glanced at his friends. Aramis was leaning against Porthos and looked ready to collapse. "No, he did not."

"Go on."

"Lemaire told us that the Baron's men had taken Aramis so we went to his estate to question him."

"What did he tell you?"

"He admitted that Aramis had been there but said he had left. We didn't believe him so we searched the house."

"And, found no sign of him." The Baron was beginning to look more relaxed. "It is as I have said all along. He was arrested, questioned, and released."

"We were on the point of leaving," Athos said, ignoring the interruption. "One of the Baron's servants told us that Aramis had been taken to Le Havre to be sold." He was pleased to see a look of shock and annoyance on the Baron's face.

"Who was this servant?"

"I don't know," Athos said, his frustration growing. "It was dark and I only saw him for a short time."

"Very convenient," the Baron murmured snidely.

"You went to Le Havre?"

"Yes. There was only one Spanish ship in the harbour. We boarded her and found Aramis chained in the hold. After we freed him he told us what had happened."

"This in an implausible story," the Baron said. "He could as easily have been taken on the road. These men would say anything to support each other's lies."

"Hey!" Porthos burst out. "You watch your mouth."

Athos closed the distance between him and the Baron and stared into his face. "I am going to overlook the fact you just called me a liar."

Neuville swallowed and took a backwards step.

"Gentlemen," the King said sharply. "This is a court of law. I will have decorum."

"My apologies, Your Majesty." Athos bowed towards the King.

"Do you have anything to add to your testimony?" Rochefort asked.

"Only that Aramis had clearly been beaten. You can see the bruises on his face. I can assure you there are many more you can't see. And, one more thing. If he had been taken to Spain he would have been tortured for information about the King's security. The Baron put the safety of France in jeopardy by his actions." He bowed again to the King and rejoined his brothers.

"You have heard the evidence against you," the King said. "What do you have to say in your defence?"

Baron Neuville stepped closer to the dais. "The Musketeer, Aramis, has no honour. He seduced my wife and ruined my marriage. He deserves to be punished but I deny playing any part in the events that befell him. How can you take the word of a philandering womaniser against the sworn testimony of a nobleman? Think of the precedent you would set if you accepted the evidence of a commoner. I will not say that I am sorry he was taken prisoner by the Spanish and it would have warmed my heart if he had been taken to Madrid. Not because of the risk to Your Majesty, but because he would have suffered as I have suffered by the loss of my wife."

"It's hardly the same thing," the King said. "He would have been subjected to excruciating pain."

"You think I haven't suffered pain? My life has been ruined by that man." He pointed an accusing finger at Aramis.

"I do not condone his affair with your wife, Baron, but I find Aramis to be a compelling witness. He is not just a common soldier. He is a member of my elite regiment and I do not make mistakes when appointing a man to be a Musketeer."

"You would convict me on his word alone?" the Baron asked in astonishment.

"I'm sure if we were to question your men we would find more witnesses to support his story. Between what he has told me and Athos' evidence I find sufficient proof of your guilt. By your actions you not only caused harm to Aramis, you also compromised the safety of the realm. That, Baron, is treason."

Athos unobtrusively slipped his arm around Aramis' waist to support him. His friend was shaking so violently that he was surprised the man was still upright. He could see the Baron wilting under the stare of everyone in the room even though he was clearly no coward. There was no begging and pleading for mercy and his expression was one of resignation to his fate.

"It is only because I accept that you were provoked that I have decided to spare your life. You will be taken to the Bastille and detained at my pleasure. One day, Baron, you may see the sun again. Oh, and your estates are forfeit to the Crown." The King stood up and everyone except the Baron bowed. "Rochefort, come, we have much to discuss."

Athos tightened his grip. "It is over." He felt Aramis slump against him. "It's time to go home."

TMTMTM

For a week after the trial Aramis kept mainly to his room. He would appear at mealtimes, eat sparingly, and then withdraw from the company of his friends. During that time his bruises faded and he began to put back some of the weight he had lost during the preceding eleven months. His friends gave him the space he needed to come to terms with events although they were becoming increasingly concerned. Then, one afternoon, he joined them in the yard.

"I think I would like to go to a tavern," he said.

They went to The Wren and Athos ordered two bottles of wine.

"How do you feel?"

"Better." Aramis toyed with his glass. "I have something I need to say." He drew in a shaky breath. "I owe you all my life and not just because you saved me from the Spanish. Your friendship gave me the strength to survive in the Bastille."

"You know we would never desert you," Porthos said, squeezing his shoulder fondly.

"I know. You helped me to see that withdrawing from this life wasn't what I wanted or needed. Without your persistence I would now be locked in a monastery regretting my choices."

"We would never have allowed that to happen," d'Artagnan said with a warm smile. "You are our brother and your place is here."

He acknowledged that with a fond smile that was almost restored to its former glory. "There's more. Your steadfast loyalty made me realise that I could only move forward by forgiving myself for what happened. That was the real key to my salvation. I will not regret the time I spent with Louisa. While I wish she had turned to me when she found she was with child, that wasn't to be. I would have liked to have met my daughter." He cleared his throat which had become clogged with emotion and raised his glass. "To brotherhood."

His three friends looked at him solemnly before raising their own glasses. "To brotherhood."

The End