Breathing

The Luckiest Man

d'Artagnan

"I'm sitting by the bed holding the hand of the man I consider to be my brother and my mentor. I remember when I came to the Musketeer garrison looking for you, I wanted to kill you; though I knew nothing about you." d'Artagnan huffed in amusement at the memory.

"You have worked by my side as brother and have taken me under your wing as protégé. You have allowed me to make mistakes, knowing that I must learn from them. You have instructed, guided and advised me; and I have soaked it all up like a sponge."

"I yearned for the influence of one I so highly esteem. I hoped your skill and talent would help mold me into the kind of Musketeer I aspired to be."

"Yes, I came to the garrison looking for blood; but I stayed because I wanted to belong. Over time, I watched the closeness, the brotherhood of the trio everyone referred to as the Inseparables."

"I remember thinking that I would give anything to be a part of a friendship such as that. I didn't set out to infiltrate your brotherhood; I considered myself lucky just to have the occasional sparring session with any of you."

"I never imagined it would be so easy to fit into your tight-knit group, let alone be considered a little brother." Tears form in d'Artagnan's eyes at the memory. He wiped his eyes and paused to collect his emotions.

"How did I ever get to be so lucky?"

"Do you remember when your house was on fire? You were kneeling in the grass watching the house burn and I came to flush your eyes out with water. You grabbed my doublet and poured your heart out to me about what happened with your wife—the excruciating duty of having to 'uphold the law' and see your own wife hang."

"I wanted to tell you then how much my heart ached for you and how I felt your pain at that moment, but it was not my place. I am sorry that you had to endure such torment all those years."

"I can't imagine having to watch such a thing as executing your own wife. No one would blame you for not staying to watch her die. My God, that you had the courage to carry through with the hanging is befitting of your noble character."

"I saw what you gave up when we went back to Pinon for you. You could be living the life of luxury, power and prestige as comte; but instead you choose to live the simple life of a soldier. Yet, as a distinguished King's Musketeer—even as a soldier, you are anything but simple."

"Though I must say, perhaps, you missed your true vocation as an actor." d'Artagnan laughed.

"You are a very good actor, Athos. However, I am not really sure how much you were pretending when you had Milady seized by the throat in the street. I'm sure somewhere inside, you could have choked her with your bare hands, if your conscience would have allowed it."

"But when you told Milady to kneel in the tunnel. . . whew." d'Artagnan blew out a breath, like a whistle.

"I really thought for a minute you might kill her in front of us. I remember saying that I was glad you saved her—though I had my doubts later."

"Of course, your threat to kill Milady if she ever showed her face in Paris again. . . well, that flew out the window, didn't it?" d'Artagnan chuckled.

"I guess we both have our soft spots for the fairer sex, don't we? When it's all said and done, you are still a man of honor—whether they are deserving of that honor or not."

"That I can call myself your friend—your brother—I am lucky."

"I am the luckiest man on the planet."