Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Meeting

One large black teen wolf walked through the forest in Gascon. He was exploring. He had convinced his parents to let him go exploring. His parents and Little Brother weren't far. But he wanted to find some adventure. And anyway, his parents were meeting friends in another Pack here.

Suddenly he hears whimpering. The whimpering of a werewolf pup.

The wolf sniffs and picks up the scent easy and could tell by its slightly weak scent that it was young.

"A young pup. Weak too", he says his instincts worried for the young pup.

He follows the trail to a bunch of brushes that made a small shelter and see a small silver furred pup hiding in it. Trembling violently.

"Hello there Little One", the wolf murmurs softly lying down on his hunches to appear none threatening.

The Pup whimpers.

"My name is Oliver. I'm not going to hurt you", Oliver murmurs to the terrified pup, "Can you come here so I can see if your hurt?"

Oliver murmurs comforting words trying to get the small Pup to trust him.

The Pup slowly crawls to the black wolf sniffing him and comes closer showing more confidence.

Oliver nuzzles the Pup gently and the Pup returns the nuzzle.

"We can't stay here Little One. Your parents will be wondering where you are for sure", Oliver says to him.

A small, cute yap comes from the Pup.

Oliver gives a gentle wolfy smile and stands up and gentle picks up the Pup by the scruff of his neck and the pup let's put a small, cute yelp.

"I'll take you to the closest Pack and hope for the best", Oliver tells him.

He walks with the pup gently hanging from his mouth.

Oliver follows the scents to a clearing where a large group of Werewolves were lounging around. But the adults were all looking worried and some in panic.

But then they see the Black teen werewolf carrying a small cub in its mouth.

"Charles!" A white female wolf cries running over to them as Oliver places him down.

Some of the wolves in the clearing howl to signal those that were out that Charles had been found.

The smile pup was quickly in the females grasp and the female sniffs him all over to make sure he is not hurt.

"Never run off like that again!" She scolds.

She then turns to her pup's saviour and smells his scent.

"Oliver?" She asks.

"Ma'am?" Oliver asks confused.

"Oliver! You found him!" He hears his Mother call.

Oliver sees his Mum and Father coming over to them with Thomas.

"Yes. I couldn't leave him there", Oliver replies.

"Oliver these are the D'Artagnan's. Isabella and her son Charles… and here comes his Grandfather and our Alpha Alexandre II and then Charles's Father Alexandre III and his Big Brother Alexandre IV or Junior", his Mother introduces.

Sure, enough two large dark grey wolves’ approach with a young pup. He was about 10.

They nuzzle and sniff their Grandson/Son/Brother.

"Thank you, Oliver,", Alexandre Senior says to him.

"I couldn't leave the Little One out there", Oliver tells him.

Oliver's Parents come over and smile proudly at their son.

"Charles this is your Godmother Jacqueline d'Athos, the Comtesse de la Fère", Isabella introduces them, "Her Husband Henri and Oliver's younger brother Thomas"

Having more confidence Charles runs back to Oliver and nuzzles his leg in thanks. Oliver leans down and nuzzles the pup.

Oliver couldn't explain it, but he felt a bond with the Pup.

He didn't know but, in the years, to come their bond will save their lives…and their sanity…

When Oliver meets the Pup in his human form at dawn, he saw those big brown eyes and his face adorable.

He couldn't believe that the toddler of 2-Years-Old could be that cute in both forms.

Oliver vowed right then and then that he would always protect Charles no matter what and that he would be in the youngster's life as much as possible…

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Years Go By

Oliver spent his summers in Gascony with the young Pup he had saved. They always eagerly greeted each other every time Oliver arrived and once or twice Charles and his parents and Brother made the journey to Oliver's place.

Charles loved Oliver like another Brother who he looked up to and adored. Oliver and Charles Brother Alexandre Junior taught the young Pup all they knew and in time Oliver's Brother Thomas joined them.

The four of them got up to so much mischief that it both amused and exasperated them.

As they grow Charles would often in wolf form cuddle up to Oliver to sleep during the night.

"He adores you more than he does me", Alexandre Junior jokes shaking his head as his cute baby brother curled up into Oliver's side.

Oliver looks at the sleeping pup and then at his friend.

"You don't mind, do you?" Oliver asks him.

Alexandre shakes his head.

"No, I don't. He will find out that having two overprotective Older Brothers annoying", Alexandre tells him amused.

Oliver lets out a barking laugh.

"Yes, that is going to go down so well!" Oliver agrees.

When D'Artagnan was 5, he and Oliver were exploring the woods for a while. Charles's parents wanted him to worn out because he has been hyper for several days. Oliver offered quickly to babysit his Brother Pup.

They had run and played for hours.

"Ollie my paws hurt", Charles whines at him.

Oliver nuzzles him and lies down.

"Climb on Kiddo. I'll carry you home", he says to the tired Pup.

Charles careful jumps on Oliver's back and snuggles into his Brothers fur. Oliver careful gets up making sure Charles had a good position on his back before he starts walking.

Oliver could feel his Pup relax on his back.

"Love you Ollie", the sleepy Charles whispers.

"I love you too Little One", Oliver replies.

"Will you ever leave me?" Charles asks him.

"Never. You'll always have me, nothing can change that, no matter what happens I'll always be your Big Brother and protect you"

Oliver didn't know but those words, were words he would come to break in a few years…

"Ollie! Ollie! You're finally here!" a 6-Year-Old Charles crows running towards him in human form.

Oliver chuckles and catches the excited boy.

"Have you been good while I have been away?" Oliver asks him.

Charles nods with a toothy grin.

"I think my canine teeth are coming in!" he says.

Oliver chuckles knowing that couldn't be possible until he was a teen.

Isabella D'Artagnan walks in and smiles softly.

"Sorry he pounced on you Oliver. He has been excited all week for your arrival. I could barely get him to turn human", Isabella tells him.

"It is no problem, Madame. I don't mind", Oliver replies.

"Can we go out and play Mama? Please!" Charles begs.

Isabella rolls her eyes fondly.

"Oliver might want to rest after his journey baby", Isabella tells him.

"I'll be fine Madame. Is there anything I should know?" Oliver asks.

"No. Just make sure he gets some sleep. Charles you're not to stray far from Oliver, alright?" Isabella tells him firmly.

"Yes Mama"

"Yes Madame", Oliver says at the same time.

Isabella smiles kindly at the 15-Year-Old. She had trusted him since he bought her youngest back home.

Oliver takes Charles's hand, and they walk through the village. It was always drilled into werewolves the meaning of secrecy. That they had to change out of sight of humans.

So, Oliver guides the jumping and excited Pup out.

"Careful Little One you don't want to change too early", Oliver murmurs.

Charles settles down with a serious look and Oliver chuckles at how adorable that made the boy.

They come to the forest and Oliver guides them after into the trees. He looks around to make sure that no humans were around, and he sniffs the air to double check.

"Ok let's change!" Oliver says smiling.

Their bodies begin to convulse as they let their wolves come out. They felt the familiar sensation of their bones twisting, turning, and transforming. Their fingers turn into long claws and their toes turn into claws. Their teeth sharpen and Oliver's canines come out.

They exploded forward and was on all four.

Oliver was larger than a normal wolf. His coat black with gold flecks. His canines were also longer than a normal wolf and his claws sharper as well. His eyes were the only human part of him that stayed the same crystal blue.

Charles was light silver with white flecks. His fur shorter and his true flecks of colour not coming in yet. His adorable chocolate brown eyes brimming in excitement.

"Shall we run?" Oliver asks him.

Charles doesn't answer but runs off laughing. Oliver shakes his head and races after him. Catching up within seconds as his legs were longer than Charles.

Oliver gently playfully pushes the excitable pup, and he rolls over he gets right back up growling cutely and goes to pounce on Oliver.

Oliver playfully 'allows' the Pup the push him over. Making the Pup believe he had managed to drop him.

"Got you! Got you Ollie!" Charles exclaims excitedly.

"Yes, you did", Oliver 'agrees'.

They playfully tumble around. Oliver knowing to pull back his strength as not to hurt the kid. As Charles gets on his back Oliver playfully shakes him off making him tumble and pout.

"Come and get me Little One!" Oliver calls laughing and starts to run slowly.

Charles runs as fast as he could to catch up to his 'brother/friend'.

But suddenly stops making Charles run into him. Oliver smell's company. And the scent had the smell of a Mongrel. A basically crazy werewolf.

"Ollie?" Charles asks nervously.

He smelt the scent, but he did not know what it was. As he never encountered a Mongrel Werewolf before having been protected by his Pack.

"Charles hide in those bushes behind me like the first time we met! Try and be quiet! Don't come out till I say and stay behind me!" Oliver orders, knowing even those first measures the Mongrel would probably still notice him.

Charles had frozen confused.

"Charles now!" Oliver orders.

Charles dashes into the bushes as a ragged werewolf comes out of the trees. His fur mangy and he was frothing at the mouth. His eyes were amber and crazing looking.

Oliver's snarls violently.

"Leave Mongrel. And you'll live", Oliver warns him.

As Mongrel werewolves needed to be put down or the risked exposure. Oliver had only killed one Mongrel before with the help of his Pack.

Now he would be standing alone. But he HAD to protect Charles. Besides, he learnt fighting from the very best of his Pack.

They charge at each other a mass of teeth and claws. Viciously tearing at each other. Teeth dug into each other and so do their claws.

Terrifying the Young Pup. He never seen this much violence before.

The Mongrel throws Oliver away dazing him and the Mongrel stalks towards Charles licking its lips. Oliver shakes off the stunning blow seeing Charles in danger. He leaps up and smashes into the Mongrel and sinks his teeth into its neck. And with a sharp twist breaks the Mongrels neck and it collapsed on the ground dead.

Oliver pants and winces in pain from his injuries but he had to check on Charles.

"Little One it's safe", Oliver calls softly.

Charles peaks his head out of the bushes and slowly makes his way to Oliver who had collapsed onto the ground. Charles nuzzles him and whines in worry.

"Ollie", he whines, "Hurt?"

"It's ok Charles. I'll be fine", Oliver says softly, "We need to get back"

"You need food to heal", Charles whines.

Before Oliver could do anything, Charles dashes off.

"Charles!" Oliver shouts and tries to get up.

But he couldn't after a short amount of time Werewolves rush into the area.

"Oliver! Are you ok?" Alexandre II Senior asks urgently.

"Where is Charles?" Alexandre III asks worried about his son.

"He…", Oliver starts but was interrupted by the boy himself.

Carrying a rabbit.

Everyone was shocked this was the Pups first kill and normally the Pups didn't hunt for a couple more years. And they hadn't even let the Pup on a Hunt.

Charles looked proud and drops the dead rabbit at Oliver's paws.

"Here Ollie. Will this help?" The Pup asks.

That had everyone stunned.

Oliver looked at the Pup and just knew Charles was destined for great things…

At 21 Oliver and Charles 7. Oliver came to the D'Artagnan farm to see new older werewolf talking to the D'Artagnan's while Charles was sitting on that man's lap.

Charles looks up sending and smelling Oliver and jumps from the man's lap and running for him.

Oliver scoops him up and hugs him tight. He knew he arrived late this year and felt bad for making Charles wait.

"You're late. I thought you weren't coming", Charles cries hugging him tight.

"Never doubt me Little One. I'll always be here", Oliver replies.

Oliver looks at the other werewolf in the room.

"Hello Sir, I am heir Oliver d'Athos, Heir de la Fère", Oliver says with a bow, with Charles still in his arms.

The man bows his head, "I'm Jean-Armand du Peyrer, Comte de Troisville or Captain Treville of the Musketeers and Charles Godfather!"

Charles was 8 when he came across a werewolf Hunter. He cowers and backs up at the smirking human. He had been caught in a werewolf trap. A trap that normal hunters used to get game. His paw was trapped painfully in its razor blades.

Charles was crying loudly in pain.

"This is the exactly what you deserve. A painful trap and a bullet to the skull your devil creature. Filthy scum like you don't get to breathe the same air us people do", the Hunter tells him.

Suddenly a vicious enraged snarl fills the air, and a large black wolf comes out of the trees. The Hunters eyes widen at the furious wolf that was now it front of him. This wolf appeared to be an adult.

Oliver was in fact 22 and he was experienced.

The Hunter raises its gun but Oliver pounces on the Hunter viciously. A shot was fired but it missed and soon the Hunter laid dead at Oliver's paws.

Oliver turns around his bloody claws and teeth looks at his trembling and injured brother was cowing.

He whines in distress at his Little Brothers condition and fear. The smell of fear was heavy in the air.

"Little One your safe now. Can I come closer?" Oliver asks softly.

He could smell the tears and see them falling.

"I can free you Kiddo", Oliver tells the terrified Pup.

But he would see the Pup had retreated inside himself in fear. Like a normal pup would do.

Oliver slowly approaches and gets down and looks at the claw trap digging into his Little Ones paw. He sees the release button and gentle trips it and the trap springs open causing the Pup the cry out loudly.

Oliver lays down and looks at the paw before beginning to lick it to help clean it and help it heal. Charles continues whimpering through it and shaking.

He didn't want to leave but the Pup needed food.

Oliver nuzzles Charles and it pained him to see him flinch.

"I'm going to hunt for you. I'll be only 10 to 20 or so minutes", Oliver whispers.

Oliver leaves but was back within the time he said. He carried a fawn and laid it down in front of him.

He lays down next to his 'Brother' and curls around him. He nuzzles and licks his fur to help calm him. He was pleased when finally, Charles started to focus on him and the crying started to ease.

"Ollie?" Charles rasps.

"Yes, Kiddo it is me", Oliver states gently.

Charles whines and nuzzles into Oliver's side.

"Little One can you eat something? It will help you heal", Oliver asks softly.

He nudges him gently.

Charles crawls forward careful not to buy any pressure on his injured paw. He starts to nibble on the fawn and soon he begins to tear into it.

Making Oliver smile. The Pup would be alright but with a bad scar around that paw…

But he believed it was time to teach the Pup self-defence in both wolf form and with swords, guns and daggers…After all trouble seems to follow the Pup around everywhere…

When Charles was ten it was the last time, he saw Oliver as word reached Charles Pack that Oliver's Pack had been attacked and killed.

So, Charles believed his all, but Blood Brother was dead. His protector was dead and he had promised not to leave him!

He didn't even get to tell him his Mama was expecting his Little Brother or Sister…

As for Oliver he and his brother Thomas survived the killings and Oliver had to become the Comte de la Fère and by the time he got used to it he heard by word of mouth the attacked on his all but Blood Brother Charles's Pack and as far as he knew they had all been killed and it killed a large part of him that he let his Little One down.

And that was when he met her Anne the future Milady…

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Death

Charles could not believe he had lost everyone he ever loved. First Oliver his second Big Brother. Then when he was 12 Mongrels slaughtered his Pack, Grandfather, Big Brother, Mother and Younger Brother and Sister. And Charles and his Father couldn't save them. As they had been away hunting and when they felt a feeling of dread they ran back. But they were too late.

Charles had to live with the sight of the blood-soaked ground with wolf bodies and wolf human forms laying around and live with the knowledge he could not save them. Like Oliver did him.

All that death and the knowledge of all his family but his second eldest son were dead nearly sent Alexandre Senior insane. But Charles stepped up and helped his Father not lose his mind. And it helped him not lose his too.

They were on their way to Paris to negotiate taxes when it happened.

It was pouring down and lightning flashes and thunder was rumbling. This weather as always louder to wolves with their sensitive hearing. Charles remembered when he was little, as a pup, hiding under Oliver’s body when a summer storm struck. Oliver always being the strong, protective wolf with the calming voice helped when Charles’s fear of storms was overwhelming. But not anymore.

Charles had a felt a sense of foreboding. His instincts were screaming at him something was wrong. But he was to hyped up by the storm to really pay attention.

‘I wish Ollie was here to make me feel safe in storms’, Charles thinks and shudders as another clap of thunder comes over them.

Since it was pouring Charles urged his Father to stop and rest. Charles could tell their horses wanted to stop too.

Their horses were well trained to be around wolves and to take orders. They could also find their Masters wherever they were.

Charles takes the horses into the barn as his Father goes into the inn.

"Come on Buttercup, Vinnie time to rest", Charles murmurs to the horses guiding them into the barn.

Suddenly he frowns as his ears pick up the sound of galloping horses coming to an abrupt stop outside.

Charles would never forgive himself for not going to investigate.

But he did have his own problems as he heard two people out of the group outside were coming up behind him and he hears a click of a gun cocking.

He slowly puts his hands up.

"Come over here!" One of them orders.

They stripped him of his sword and daggers.

But then he hears the gunshots, and he launches himself at the men kicking them hard earning pain grunts. And grabs the first man's arm twists it around and shoots the second guy. He takes his sword back pushing the first man into a wall.

He twirls his sword as they hear the main group galloping away. The man runs out seeming to be scared of him.

Charles follows but the man jumps on the moving horse. Charles decides not to go after them as his felt his Father needing him.

"Ahhh!" Charles shouts in frustration and pain as his mind started to spin.

He sees his Father come out looking shocked.

"I couldn't stop them as a human", Charles tells this Father.

But then he smells the blood and his Father collapses on the muddy ground.

"Father?!" Charles exclaims getting on his knees and turning him around.

Charles could smell the bullet, and he knew it was made to kill werewolves.

"Father!" he yells cradling his Fathers head, "Father…"

"Athos…please…", his Father gasps, "Athos…"

He Father then breaths his last.

Charles screamed out feeling his Father pass on. His grief and agonising pain in his mind nearly had him turn into his wolf and run after the group as revenge filled the suddenly orphaned Werewolf or even a crazed Mongrel.

But his Fathers…body needed to be buried with their Pack.

"Athos?" Charles mutters his eyes having turned amber.

That name was VERY familiar, but it couldn't possibly be the Athos he knew. As Oliver was dead and wound never have done this.

He moves his Fathers body inside and the innkeeper was standing in shock. Charles barely manages to get the innkeeper's account.

He smells the blood and death of another person in the room.

Charles sniffs the air good and picks up many fresh scents. One of them must be this 'Athos'. As the scent in the room was not Oliver even if he was alive.

Committing all the scents to memory he moved to take his Fathers body home and quickly bury the man he killed. Not taking much care in that body's disposal.

Now to return his Father home and then kill this Athos of the Kings Musketeers who besides from killing his Father was taking his Brothers good name through the mud…

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: Athos’s Pack

Athos had been steadily declining in mental health for 5 years. But he might even call it longer since losing his adored Charles.

But after his wife killed his blood brother Thomas and he sentenced her to hang. He was losing control and did not want to go on.

Why did someone have to kill Charles? His Little One? Why couldn't they kill HIM instead? His life was worthless and could be sacrificed. Charles did not need to die and neither did his parents and Thomas.

He did not know why he came to Paris. But he did where he meets Aramis and Porthos who after seeing him drunk and beating two Red Guards in a sword fight recruited him.

That's when Athos meet Treville again. They shared their grief of the D'Artagnan family before Treville recruited him and it was pretty quick he became the Captain's Lieutenant.

Treville introduced him to his Pack. The two he was closest to were Aramis and Porthos. Porthos being on of the largest wolves he had seen outside of an Alpha and Aramis being the fastest and the best Hunter. Four other Musketeers were wolves Etienne, Brujon, Marcel and Pierre. They were good men and worked together much like Athos did with Porthos and Aramis. Serge too was a wolf. He meet Treville’s wife and mate Anne and a dear friend Constance were also part of the Pack. The only two Female Wolves in their Pack. But don’t let their gender fool you. They were just as fierce as the others. Just like his Charles’s mother.

The new stable hand Jacques had just joined them. So, he was the pup of the bunch. Which for Athos made him hard for him to be around. As he reminded Athos of his Little One.

Having a new pack helped ground him. So, he did not become a Mongrel. But he always thought something, or someone was missing from his life.

He filled it with drinking his own brew for werewolves and fighting alongside Aramis and Porthos. Mostly. Athos was also dragged out on Hunts by the other members of his Pack.

But he could never bring himself to tell them his secret. Only Treville and his wife Anne knew about Little Charles and Athos thought it was probably for the best.

Treville was good to him letting him have the odd day off to grieve for Charles. As he knew just how close those two were.

He groans at the feeling of a hangover he staggered upright and grabbed a bottle and drank from it.

Athos now goes through his normal morning rituals before dressing and donning on his weapons and walking out into the harsh light.

He winces and puts his hat further down to cover his eyes as he makes his way to the to a tavern and saw Porthos cheating at cards again.

"What is going on?" He asks lowly just for Porthos to hear, but it wasn’t like he did not already know.

"Ah, Dujon and I were having a discussion about personal integrity", Porthos says with a smirk.

“You’re fleecing him, aren’t you?” Athos mutters so low that only Porthos could here.

“What else would I do to a Red Guard?” Porthos mutters rhetorically.

"Your friend had the King up his sleeve", the man says.

Athos already knew that and leans on a bench.

"Oh, that's slander", Porthos tells him, "Tell him Athos"

"Don't involve me in this", Athos replies turning away.

He hears the man stand up roughly and the gun was moved to point between Porthos eyes.

"Oh", Porthos says looking amused.

As he knew that particular gun wouldn’t be doing much damage to him.

Athos quietly groans it was too early in the morning for this.

"Shoot him and it's murder", Athos says only turning around slightly.

Porthos taps his chest mockingly.

"One less Musketeer, who cares?" The man asks.

"Fine words from a Red Guard . . .", Athos starts.

Athos turns around.

"There's only one way to resolve this", Athos states, "A duel between gentlemen supervised according to the strict code of honour", he says casually.

Walking behind Porthos.

"Fine. In a fair fight, I'm a match for anyone!" The man declares.

Athos hides a roll of his eyes. So predictable. Red Guards have huge egos.

"Confidence", Porthos says coming forward.

He chuckles getting up.

"I like that in a man", Porthos tells him.

Athos even other all the other smells in this tavern could smell the adrenaline and just a tad of fear coming off the Red Guard. He knew Porthos must be enjoying this.

'Well, he isn't totally stupid', Athos thinks, 'But I know Red Guards have no honour and the amount of adrenaline going through him he was about to do something stupid'

"Still, why fight fair when you might lose?" The man says and kicks Porthos weapons in the chair away.

"My sword", Porthos says.

Athos causally leans back watching the show. He knew Porthos did not need a sword to do some damage.

"Your problem?" The man sneers.

Porthos flicks the man's sword.

"Eh?"

Then the man begins to slash at Porthos with his sword. Athos just watches knowing Porthos could handle it and anyway him jumping in would be overkill.

"Attacking an unarmed opponent defies every principle of chivalry", Athos calls out as they fight.

Porthos smirks and puts up a fork and chuckles.

"Close enough", Athos replies shrugging unconcerned.

Athos smelt the man's fear spike at Porthos look and Athos casual words when Porthos picked up the fork.

"Uh?" the man says confused.

'All Red Guards are sooo intelligent', Athos thinks, 'Charles could probably kill a man with a fork too . . .’

He winced thinking of Charles. Charles had been on his mind a lot lately. But he didn’t know why.

"En garde", Porthos says.

They start to fight again. Sword versus . . . fork. It was entertaining to say the least. The grunt and when Porthos lunges Athos smelt blood of the Red Guard from where the fork hit its mark.

Athos finishes his drink and puts back on his hat as Porthos kicks the man away towards him and Athos decides to end this and knock him down, so he was groaning on the floor.

"What happened to the code?" Porthos asks him.

"Oh!" Athos says tiredly, "Who has time?" He asks rhetorically and walks away, "Treville wants to see us"

Porthos smirks as he collects his winnings, and Athos grabs his arm revealing the cards up his sleeve.

"Porthos", he scolds not showing any emotion.

"Yeah, I need to work on that", Porthos replies.

"Where's Aramis?" Athos asks, but he basically already knew.

Porthos gives him a look.

"Tell me he's not that stupid!" Athos states annoyed.

He did not know if Aramis knew that he knew that Aramis was sleeping with the Cardinals mistress. Just by scent alone he figured that one out the first time Aramis came near him smelling like her. And no amount of bathing would hide it. As Aramis had taken to using baths and other things to mask the scent of sex. But Athos was a Master tracker, and his senses were not fooled easily.

But yet Aramis kept trying. But who knows it might come in useful in the future.

They find Aramis hanging from the Cardinal's Mistresses window and Porthos chuckles.

Athos internally groans, 'Why does it seem all my brothers from Thomas to Charles to Porthos and Aramis seem to find trouble?'

The arrive at the Garrison to find Treville waiting for them.

"You three!" He calls from the balcony, "My office now"

"He looks happy", Aramis states.

The reach his office and Treville was bending over the front his desk.

"I've had complaints", he tells them, "An allegation you've been duelling with the Cardinal's Red Guards. Is it true?"

"Let me think . . . No, because that would be illegal", Athos says.

Treville straightens.

"I can't protect you from the Cardinal if you keep fighting his men", Treville tells them.

Treville walks to behind his desk.

"Captain Cornet and his troops are missing", Treville informs them changing the subject, "I need you to find out where they are"

"I thought you sent him to Chartres", Athos states.

"I did", he replies, "He should have been back yesterday. There's been no word"

"Well, what was he doing there?" Porthos asks.

Treville sighs heavily, "He was carrying a number of confidential items to an important meeting at the monastery. Don't bother asking me any more questions, because I can't answer them. He was engaged in the King's work, that's all I can say. Just get yourselves to Chartres and find out what's happened"

They nod and turn to leave.

"Boys, if you can sniff out our missing men that would be helpful", Treville tells them.

“Of course, Sir”, Athos replies.

“And if you need to use OUR set of skills then do so”, Treville adds.

“We will keep that in mind”, Aramis states.

They go to leave but Treville stops them again.

"Athos a word", Treville calls out.

Aramis and Porthos exchange looks. This wasn't the first time this had happened. Those two always seemed to be having private discussions.

"Yes, Sir?" Athos asks as the door closes.

"Are you up to this?" Treville asks him.

"Of course. Why?" Athos asks.

"Because I know that time of year is coming close. And I want to know if you would want to travel to Gascony with me. I believe it is time we paid our respects to our dearly departed friends and Anne wants to go as well", Treville explains, but he already knew the answer.

Treville knew that Athos had never been able to face it. Charles had been beloved to both of them. And neither had gone to see him and his families' graves.

"No Sir, I don't need to go", Athos replies stiffly and with slightly pained eyes.

"Someday you'll have to face it Oliver, we BOTH do", Treville advises him.

"I believe I have a mission", Athos says abruptly.

Athos puts on his hat and walks away.

Trying not to think on what Treville had to remind him of.

The anniversary of his Pups death . . .