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Before heading back to the monastery, Porthos and Aramis circled back to get the kids and monks. Aramis knew that Luc will do everything he could to protect them but the boy shouldn’t have that kind of responsibility. Once they caught up with them, Marie latched onto Porthos. She ran up to him and didn’t give him a second to consider not picking her up. Fortunately, Porthos just smiled and shifted her so that she more easily rested on his hip.
Carrying her through the forest wasn’t always easy but he didn’t think about setting her down, not that it would have been possible with how tightly she was holding on to him. She remained silent throughout the journey back even as the other children talked excitedly about going back.
“Porthos, Aramis,” d’Artagnan said, relief clear in his voice as he runs out to meet them. “We heard an explosion…” He trailed off, the implication of their thoughts clear.
“Just a few bruises,” Aramis assured him with a smile. “And some tired children.”
“Of course. We’ve already cleared the monastery. Athos is sorting out a few things inside.”
“The war is nothing new to these children, d’Artagnan. They’re from the surrounding area.” It’s weariness, not anger, that’s clear in Aramis’ voice. “Let’s get them in and cleaned up. If we’re lucky, we’ll get them to eat something and then into bed before the night is halfway through.”
Porthos and d’Artagnan don’t quite recognize their brother’s tone. It’s not light and easy as it once was. There was an exhaustion, a matter-of-factness to it. Aramis knew these kids and knew their issues. Aramis led them through the monastery to the room where the children stayed. It had a few bunk beds, a couple of tables, and toys. There was a comfortable lived in look and the children seemed at home, especially the younger ones who seemed instantly back at home. It was a resilience that Porthos knew wouldn’t last. Part of it came from their age but a larger part from the care and love that Aramis gave them.
As it turned out, Aramis was right about the difficulties of getting the children cleaned up, fed, and settled into bed in a timely manner. They were all quite talkative, wanting to know about Musketeer adventures and Paris. All, except Marie, who clung to Porthos and cried whenever he left her.
“I’m sorry, Porthos,” Aramis said to him one of the few times that Porthos had to get up to leave Marie. “They’ve all had their difficulties in adjusting to their new lives, but Marie has always taken it harder. There are few people she warms up to and when she does, she refuses to let them out of her sight. I believe she fears that something terrible will happen to them if she does.”
Porthos shook his head.
“These children have a right to be traumatized by what has happened to them. Their responses are going to be different and Marie is no trouble at all. She’s far easier company than baby-sitting a head-strong Gascon who decides to charge into battle without a lick of planning.”
There’s a pang in Aramis’ heart at the comment but he could see from Porthos’ smile that it was not meant as a barb, not this time. He was not foolish enough to believe that everything was resolved but they were on the path.
“Of course,” Aramis said, returning the smile.
* * *
“You ready to go to bed now, Marie,” Porthos asks. It was a long day and she was the last of the children awake. Even Luc gave up the ship after falling asleep sitting up a few times and being gently coaxed by Aramis to get some rest. Marie was determined, however, to remain awake, continually asking Porthos to tell her a story.
“No. I want another story. I’m not tired yet,” she said, ending with a big yawn.
“Oh, now surely, you must be. You see that yawn? I’ve seen yawns like that on d’Artagnan and it always means that he’s tired. And it’s not the first one. I’ve seen you hiding them all evening.” Porthos kept his voice light as he talked.
“Please, just one more story and then I promise, I’ll go to sleep.”
She put on her best innocent, pleading look. Fortunately, Porthos had grown immune to such looks after years with Aramis.
“That’s what you said two stories ago. It’s nearly morning and it’s going to be a busy day tomorrow. You’ve got your lessons and chores. You need to sleep.”
“But you’re leaving in the morning.” Gone was the look of innocence. Porthos saw fear and worry in her eyes and he knew what sort of things she was afraid of; things that she shouldn’t have to fear.
“We have to. We’ve been ordered to go back to Paris.”
“But what about us? What if the bad guys come again? Who will protect us?” Her words were rambled and mashed together, voice rising with her panic.
“The bad guys wouldn’t dare come here again. You’ll be safe.” He doesn’t want to dismiss her fears, but he was confident that they would be safe.
“Can I come with you? I won’t cause any trouble and Aramis knows how to take care of me. I’ll be real quiet.”
He won’t say it to her but the idea had already been in his head since he helped Aramis get them to safety. He wanted to take them all out of her, away from this danger and the potential that the war might interfere with their lives once more. But that was impossible. Taking them to Paris meant a life on the streets for them, a life that quite possible would lead them to the Court. He knew that that life made him who he was but it wasn’t ideal. He’d have traded it in an instant for a childhood where he never had to worry about the basic needs, about forming bonds not of friendship but of need and protection. Here, at the very least, they had people who looked after them because they wanted to, who taught them and fed them, who cared for them without expectations of being repaid.
“It’s not safe, Marie. The life we lead, you’d always be in danger. You’re much safer here. No one will hurt you here.”
Marie shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
“Daddy always said that. He said that the bad guys would never come and then they did. And mommy and daddy died and they all died and I was all on my own. Aramis said he was lucky to find me when he did. I was scared and I thought I was going to die.” She was shaky with tears, breathes hitching at times as she spoke.
“Aramis found you?”
“They burned everything and I was scared so I ran. And he found me.”
“That was smart of you to run.”
“But then the bad men came here. And you took care of them but what about when you leave? Who will keep us safe? I don’t want them to burn everything again. Please, can I just come with you?” The pleading was back and Porthos found it hard to resist. This wasn’t Aramis wanting to trade guard duty with him so he could see a new lady friend. Marie felt a real fear about being left here and he knew that as much as he could tell her she was safe here, she wasn’t going to ever feel it.
Porthos sighed. That part of him that wanted to grab all of these children and take them back to Paris where he can be sure that they’ll be safe, where he can watch them was back again. They’d wind up in the Court to be sure but he’d be able to look after them. They’d be away from here, away from potential danger. He glanced over at Athos, who was staring moodily out the window. He knew the man’s answer already. Taking them was impossible. As unsafe as the last few days were, the children were far better cared for here than they could be in Paris. Here they didn’t have to worry about their next meal or where they would sleep or if they would die from some illness. Here, their lives may be contained within stone walls, but they had few worries.
Porthos decided to take a different approach.
“You know, I grew up a bit like you.”
“You did?” Marie looks up at Porthos with a bit of wonder. The reddened cheeks and teary eyes were still there but so was a curiosity.
“There wasn’t the war but it was just me and my mother and my closest friends. Charon, he was basically my brother.” Porthos paused at the mention of his old friend. The betrayal still hurts after all these years.
“Like Luc?”
“Yes, like Luc. He always looked out for me, taught me what I needed to survive. We looked out for each other. We kept each other safe from anyone. But it was just the two of us. You have Luc and the other children and the monks. Do you think that they would let anything happen to you?”
Marie paused for a moment, clearly thinking about the day’s events. Eventually, she shook her head. “Luc hit the man who tried to take me.”
“Of course, he did because you are family here and that’s what family does.”
“But I don’t have any family. They’re dead.”
“Family is just a name. They don’t have to be related to you.” Porthos paused. “You know those stories Aramis told you about us?”
Marie nodded.
“Before the Musketeers, we were all strangers to each other. But we’re family now. We’re brothers and we do anything to protect each other. We trust each other, look after each other. That’s what family does, Marie. I have no blood family left but that doesn’t bother me because I have this family. I have my brothers who will always stand by me no matter what. Come whatever danger or adventure, we’re in it together.”
“Even Aramis?”
Porthos chuckled a little, in spite of the situation. Marie was perceptive, though he hadn’t done much to make his issues with Aramis a secret. A part of him felt ashamed of that but Aramis was family and his betrayals would always cut deep.
“Even Aramis,” Porthos said without hesitation. Their afternoon escapade didn’t mend everything, but Porthos knew, given time and, perhaps, some sparing, they would work through it. “Yes, he may have left our side for a while but that’s the beauty of true family. Time and distance doesn’t diminish the bonds. True family will always have your back.”
“That’s good because Aramis was sad a lot and he needs his family.” She looked very earnest and concerned.
“And what about you? Do you trust your family? Do you believe that they’ll protect you?”
Marie hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “I don’t know about Paul though. He’s annoying and he always cries.”
“That means he needs your protection. And the little ones are always annoying. That’s why we have d’Artagnan,” Porthos said with a smile.
“My protection?”
“Yes. He’s scared like you. He needs to know that he’s safe and has someone to look after him. Do you think you can do that?”
“I’d have to stay here.”
Porthos nodded. He could see her starting to change her mind as the idea of being a protector took hold. Some of the fear that was there was fading.
“Will we always have to stay here?”
“Wars don’t last forever. Eventually, it’ll be safe.” Porthos knew that even when the war was over, life for these children would never be easy. Having lost everything, finding their way in life would only be more challenging as society would be loathed to fully accept them.
“It feels like it won’t ever be.”
“That’s because you’re young. Wait until you’re my age and then time will seem like nothing. Now, how about you settle down and I’ll tell you one more story as you go to sleep.”
“I’ll be safe here?”
“Yes. I’d never let you stay here if I thought otherwise.”
“Okay. Then I’ll stay but Paul better be less annoying.”
“He’s your little brother, Marie. That’s never going to happen.”